Sony 11-inch VAIO TT notebook - world's lightest Blu-ray laptop

[tarannau]

Exactly, it's a status laptop in the main.

This tries to be more of a jack of all trades, but to be honest neither would convince as someone's sole machine. They're a luxury to be used with the other kit you own.

 

[editor]

This tries to be more of a jack of all trades, but to be honest neither would convince as someone's sole machine. They're a luxury to be used with the other kit you own.

The only high-end, small form factor laptop I've seen that manages to mix real functionality with ultra slim looks and a useful battery life is the Lenovo X300.

That machine is a beaut.

 

[pk]

I don't think the MB Air is much cop either, but you can see the appeal as a set of staff machines for basic office apps. The slim design is a major factor in the deal.

 

[tarannau]

I think a lot of the Air criticism was a bit unwarranted really. It's fine for what it does - I could imagine it being a perfect portable machine for a old school ad creative. It looks good, has a proper size screen and excellent keyboard, ample for showing presentations and a bit of research, the occasional finishing tinker on photoshop or Quark and so on.

It wasn't designed to be a workhorse, more a frippery for people with more money than you and I. I feel much the same about the Sony here - it's a cracking technological achievement, but it's not a machine I'd choose for the buck. I can't help feeling that I'd rather get a cheap netbook and something else with a bit more grunt and a proper size keyboard/screen.

 

[editor]

I think a lot of the Air criticism was a bit unwarranted really.

Well, you would think that, but for the massively inflated price the lack of ports (one USB port really is a joke), the non-expandable memory, lack of wireless broadband, non-removable battery, lack of microphone port and absence of an ethernet port really made the thing a whole load of style over very little substance.

Even £200 netbooks offer more connectivity options, and for an ultra- portable device, connectivity is everything.

 

[Xanadu]

Looks nice, although I fear that it may suffer from the same problem as some of the Toshiba Portege range. Beautifully small and very lightweight, but the counterside is that they feel like flimsy, cheap machines with an awkwardish keyboard, not something you've spent the best part of 3k on.

Surely the success of netbooks would cut into the market for these machines more than anything else.

Don't think the Sony machines have that problem at all. Will wait to see the UK price to see if I am up for wasting money...

 

[lobster]

Dual channel hard drives? What the fuck are they?

I can only imagine it means two ssd drives next two each other. Sound like a marketing term to me.

 

[lobster]

Do Vaios still have all that weird proprietary shit that makes them horrible for Linux or am I out of date? (I probably am, given that I tried this years ago)

Well, for a start Blue-ray does not work on linux without having to rip and decode the video.
In a nutshell its not worth the hassle.

 

[pk]

the lack of ports (one USB port really is a joke)

Simple USB hub adaptor would sort this.

the non-expandable memory

80GB is perfectly adequate for an office machine.

lack of wireless broadband

Eh? Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless.

non-removable battery

You get 5 hours according to Apple, and they can be replaced instore.

lack of microphone port

The mic is built in. Plus there are countless USB audio I/0 solutions.

absence of an ethernet port

There's USB ethernet adaptor that comes with it for an extra £19.

I think they're a waste of time for me personally because they don't have a Firewire port of any kind, and for a grand of your hard-earned, you're right, there are way better options out there.

But at least it has Bluetooth!

 

[tarannau]

Well, you would think that, but for the massively inflated price the lack of ports (one USB port really is a joke), the non-expandable memory, lack of wireless broadband, non-removable battery, lack of microphone port and absence of an ethernet port really made the thing a whole load of style over very little substance.

Even £200 netbooks offer more connectivity options, and for an ultra- portable device, connectivity is everything.

Blimey. Where did that all come from?

Innaccurate as PK points out, and a bit hyperbolic - any connectivity issues, bar the firewire, are surmountable easily enough. The whole market's style over substance fwiw - that's why you're paying such a premium.

You sound like one those people moaning about the lack of a floppy drive on the imac all those years ago. The lack of an ethernet port and multiple USB ports are hardly worth getting that animated about.

The Air's not for you, nor me, but nobody's forcing you to use the thing.

 

[editor]

You sound like one those people moaning about the lack of a floppy drive on the imac all those years ago. The lack of an ethernet port and multiple USB ports are hardly worth getting that animated about.

Look out! Someone's dared not to declare their love the pretty but over-priced and underpec'd Air - call in the combined tarannau and pk Apple defence team!

And it's all happening in a thread about a Windows laptop too. Crazy!

Simple USB hub adaptor would sort this.
You get 5 hours according to Apple, and they can be replaced instore.
The mic is built in. Plus there are countless USB audio I/0 solutions.
There's USB ethernet adaptor that comes with it for an extra £19.

So that's an extra USB adapter and an extra USB ethernet adaptor you'd have to lug around, there's no chance of replacing the battery on the road (with an enforced trip to Appleland to get it replaced), there's no chance of plugging in a Skype headet with a mic (they're rather handy on the road) and there's no 3G wireless broadband onboard (they're rather handy on the road too).

The Lenovo X300 pisses all over the Air for on the road, real world usefulness, unless you're one of those daft people who thinks style is the be all and end all. In fact, in some regards, even cheapo netbooks whip the Air for specs.

But like I said this is a thread about a Windows laptop. Perhaps you and tarannau could start a new Mac thread for your continuing iEvangelism?

 

[tarannau]

Who's declared their love for the Air? In fact both PK and I have gone out of our way to say that it's not for us.

You should maybe like calm down a bit. Nobody's declared love for a laptop anywhere, but neither have they gone into hyperbolic, inaccurate rants about laptops that don't appeal to them. I can accept that people may well have differing requirements and wants, some of which the Air's more than adequate at filling.

Your reaction's a bit hair-trigger and weird if I'm honest.

 

[editor]

You should maybe like calm down a bit. Nobody's declared love for a laptop anywhere, but neither have they gone into hyperbolic, inaccurate rants about laptops that don't appeal to them.

Where have I been inaccurate please? And where have I "ranted"?

Mind you, when it comes to going over the top, your childish comment comparing me to "one those people moaning about the lack of a floppy drive on the imac all those years ago," really scraped the barrel. Maybe you should calm down a bit.

And what are you doing on a Windows laptop thread anyway if not to bang on about Maczzzzz?

 

[Crispy]

Nobody is looking good here, if you ask me. It's just a computer. In fact, it's just a discussion on the internet about a computer that nobody here can afford or would actually buy. The weather's lovely today, isn't it?

 

[pk]

And what are you doing on a Windows laptop thread anyway if not to bang on about Maczzzzz?

I'm confused. Who first mentioned the Macbook Air on this thread anyway?

Ah... Post No.30 - you did!

 

[tarannau]

Where have I been inaccurate please? And where have I "ranted"?

, lack of wireless broadband, .

As for the ranting, you don't think that this seems a little provocative and unnecessary:

pisses all over the Air for on the road, real world usefulness, unless you're one of those daft people who thinks style is the be all and end all

What you seem to be incapable or unwilling to understand is that 'usefulness' is a personal term, not something defined by by how many features a laptop packs in, or how removeable the battery. Some people may just find that the Air's bigger keyboard, better screen and thinness are far more 'useful' to them than a succession of ports which they don't need. Other people may really want a Blueray drive. And therein lies the rub - I think that all the ultraportables here are overpriced and not for me, but I'm not going to start calling people 'daft' and getting all animated because they don't share my idea of 'real world usefulness'

Calm down

 

[editor]

I'm confused. Who first mentioned the Macbook Air on this thread anyway?

I'm confused Who brought up Macs in the first place in tjhis thread about a Windows machine?

Oh look - it was you in your first post (#12)!!!!

And then you went on and on and on about Macs in every post after.

It's so boring.

 

[pk]

Nobody is looking good here, if you ask me. It's just a computer. In fact, it's just a discussion on the internet about a computer that nobody here can afford or would actually buy. The weather's lovely today, isn't it?

I would buy it as an additional system on my company if it was trustworthy enough to be able to stream HD-SDI into a 30TB Raid via eStata ports on the ExpressCard.

There's always a demand for reliable and portable large storage systems for this purpose, and Avid customers on PC are still waiting for such a system to do the job without trouble.

It isn't trustworthy enough. There's no Firewire800 port for my videocard anyway.

Which is why I purchased yet another Macbook Pro on Tuesday for this very purpose.

 

[pk]

I'm confused Who brought up Macs in the first place in tjhis thread about a Windows machine?

Oh look - it was you in your first post (#12)!!!!

And then you went on and on and on about Macs in every post after.

It's so boring.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to highlight the fact that this machine is - going by the pricetag - attempting to chip away at the Mac market for powerful laptops.

Is it not possible to even discuss this without you going on the defensive?

And I've spent the last few posts pretty much slagging off the Macbook Air anyway!

 

[editor]

As for the ranting, you don't think that this seems a little provocative and unnecessary:

Could you produce a list of these "hyperbolic inaccuracies" in my original post please?

You do understand that "wireless broadband" relates to a mobile/3G card, yes?

MacBook Air: top 10 things wrong with it

5. No wireless broadband: if anyone's going to buy this notebook, it's the regular traveller who is tired of toting 3KG of extra cabin baggage everywhere. These people are also exactly the same people who find wireless broadband really, really useful.

But despite the fact that HSDPA modules can be manufactured as small as a postage stamp, Apple didn't include one. Guess what you'll be using that one USB port for? A soap-on-a-rope style wireless broadband dongle, or a fat broadband stick. It's not a very elegant accompaniment to the world's thinnest notebook.
http://apcmag.com/macbook_air_top_10_things_wrong_with_it.htm

 

[editor]

I think it's perfectly reasonable to highlight the fact that this machine is - going by the pricetag - attempting to chip away at the Mac market for powerful laptops.

You compared it the MacBook Pro.

That sure seems to be a strange thing to compare an ultraportable BluRay laptop too, but there you go.

 

[Crispy]

"Well, the preliminary engagement has seen points scored on both sides and now they have the measure of each other. At this decisive point, the call for a list has been made. It's a common tactic."
"Yes John. In fact I remember several notable contenders used the tactic in last month's contests. A good way to buy time, nobody like going back on old ground"
"Although we shouldn't forget that great semi-final last year when the list came back full of scoring points. Keyboardjockey versus... oh, I forget. A gripping match though, I think we'll all agreee"
"Absolutely. A real world-class confrontation that one. Fingers crossed we'll see some of that white-hot action here tonight"

 

[editor]

"Well, the preliminary engagement has seen points scored on both sides and now they have the measure of each other. At this decisive point, the call for a list has been made. It's a common tactic."
"Yes John. In fact I remember several notable contenders used the tactic in last month's contests. A good way to buy time, nobody like going back on old ground"

I guess we should be honoured that you're putting so much effort into trying to entertain the troops on this thread when the weather's so lovely outside.

Back on topic, I would like tarrannau to point out my "hyperbolic inaccuracies." Seems a bit of courtesy in my book, even if asking fails to impress Crispy.

 

[pk]

It has an Express Card slot, so 3G can be added.

How come this is good enough for you on the Sony Vaio, but not good enough for the Macbook Air?

 

[tarannau]

Apparently, that's not a hyperbolic innaccuracy, nor all the bibbling nonsense about 'usefulness.' Bless, he's getting very precious.

 

[Crispy]

The air doesn't have an expresscard slot

 

[pk]

You compared it the MacBook Pro.

That sure seems to be a strange thing to compare an ultraportable BluRay laptop too, but there you go.

Pricewise, it makes perfect sense to make such a comparison.

If someone is spending £1700 or thereabouts on a high end laptop - would you not consider it prudent to make such a comparison yourself?

You do realise that it isn't anyone else pitching in with pro-Mac fanboy shit - it's actually you pitching in with anti-Mac fanboy shit 99 percent of the time.

Anyway - I'm certainly not going to labour the point any further.

As you said, it's a nice day outside. I'm going to test my new Edirol R-09.

 

[Crispy]

I would like tarrannau to point out my "hyperbolic inaccuracies." Seems a bit of courtesy in my book, even if asking fails to impress Crispy.

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, you're all impressing me very much. At least 3rd best thread of the day, imo.

 

[tarannau]

..but it has a USB port, which can manage the same

Besides, I think we're miossing the point. At no point in time have I mocked any of the fine laptops mentioned on this thread. They all have pros and cons and I wouldn't mind any of them falling accidently into my lap gratis. Gawd knows where all the torrents of criticism came from

 

[editor]

..but it has a USB port, which can manage the same

That's like saying an Asus Eee has a DVD rewriter "because it has a USB port."

Why don't you just admit you're wrong here, because you most certainly are.

The Air does not come with 3G/mobile wireless broadband. I've even produced a link to back that fact up.