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"Great, compact, loaded with features, very expensive!" on by racolon
Pros: Loaded with all available features. Super portable. Excellent screen! Great performance.
Cons: Not upgrade friendly. GPRS/Cellular only works with Cingular right out of the box!
Summary: I have been a Sony customer for about 2 years now. I have purchased the VGN-T140, T150, T250 and finally the T350. Yes this is a good expensive buy. For the user that buys the unit and leaves it "as-is" with no modifications this is a good buy. For those of us that like to format the hard drives and take all the factory loaded stuff out, you will have a hrad time!
First of all, The hard drive is not upgradable. The hard drive is not the standard 2.5 laptop hard drive. Instead it is a smaller version very similar to the ones found in Ipods. The only thing you can upgrade is the memory and software.
Loaded with a lot of junk software! And if you plan on formatting the drive and install a fresh copy of Windows, good luck to you. The drivers are not available. Not for every piece of hardware!
GSM/GPRS EDGE software that is preloaded is only for Cingular Wireless. I had to un-install and install a different version to make it work with an AT&T SIM card, but it finally worked which make me believe that it is not sim-locked to Cingular.
I love my new toy and I just need to make it work with T-Mobile sim card who offers Unlimited Data for only 30 dollars instead of 80 dollars for Cingular. -
"Excellent. Excellent computer" on by mikemj23
Pros: Portability, connectivity, screen, features
Cons: haven't found any yet
Summary: I have to be honest, I was a little skeptical about this machine . . . but I am very, very pleased with the overall function and performance of it. It is absolutely the most connected and easy to use machine I have ever owned. For me, it's absolutely a desktop replacement. I had a Toshiba Libretto a couple of years back and this blows it away. I personally don't feel that the keyboard is cramped . . . I like the tactile feel and overall quality of the keyboard. Wi-Fi, Edge, Bluetooth . . . this baby has it all and makes it extremely easy to verify and switch connections. It is a bit on the expensive side but I think it is well worth it simply because of it's size and cutting edge features. Definitely recommend picking one of these up!!!!
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"Product warning" on by AnthonyHS
Pros: VAIO screen resolution
Cons: appalling reliability
Summary: I bought a Sony VAIO laptop for £1,350 in 2003 having chosen the machine mainly for its large, high-resolution screen (16inch, 1600 x 1200) and in the belief that Sony laptops were some of the most reliable on the market. However, when the computer was just over 14 months old (not quite three months out of warranty), the keyboard failed completely, and I had to purchase an external USB keyboard to be able to continue using it. I wrote to Sony, arguing that such a major fault was unacceptable, and asked them to repair the product at their own expense. Their response was to offer me a derisory 10% discount on the cost of repairs.
Then, about a month later, the screen flickered briefly and died completely! I was left with an expensive laptop that was effectively reduced to a desktop machine that could only be used with an external keyboard and an external monitor.
So, here was a laptop that had been used carefully for about five hours a day, in a benign environment, had never suffered any kind of physical damage, and had only been taken out of the house on a handful of occasions, and yet had developed two major faults in the space of just sixteen months! Sony’s response to my complaints was simply to argue that their machines “are some of the most reliable available on the market”.
Not one, but two major faults in just over a year. Reliable? Judge for yourself. My advice: think very carefully before purchasing a Sony VAIO laptop – unless, that is, you intend using it as a desktop machine. -
"Nice design. Not working after 2 years." on by adrianTNT
Pros: Nice design and performance
Cons: Hardware sensitive, expensive
Summary: I bought the VGN T350 P from CompUsa 2 years ago for $2300. After 2 years it stopped working, I found a forum with few hundreed VGN users with same problem. A hardware problem cause it to freeze 1-2 seconds after it is turned on. Other bad things are that you cannot use wireless network card and GSM/GPRS card in same time. The GPRS card is useless for me in Europe.
GPRS card was also locked to Cingular. Why does Cingular need to control my hardware?! I bought a Sony laptop not some discounted Cingular phone.
I had a 30 days "free internet trial" then I had a hard time canceling the subscription after 30 days.
Its performance and design are good things. Integrated bluetoth was also handy. The display is nice and clear.
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"Best-In-Class" on by ivybrick
Pros: Size, Screen, Battery, Bluetooth
Cons: Power Button while Docked
Summary: This is a must have for those that want the flexibility to move away from dreaded desk or those who are on a first name basis with most airline employees. Being a software engineer and 6'5", one might think this laptop would be entirely too small. Quite the contrary. It spend 50% docked and the other on my lap where I get a much needed break from the shackles of my desk. Besides the awkward power button (while docked), and periodic video driver issues (blank screen for login with DELL 20"+ monitors -- same issue is found with Dell Latitude line as well), this laptop is a dream. Being a big Dell fan in the past, I switched to SONY due to poor screen performance, weight, and periferals found in the lightweight models of the latitude. Not to mention the horrible overseas support and now SALES department. Sony's sales have been nothing less than perfect. The website needs some help with ordering but one call handles everything quick and easy. I have already referred 3 to purchase this great tool and is worth atleast a quick review.
*** Go with the T370P for added RAM ***
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