RANT Sony laptops are crap.

tpunx99GSX · 08-28-2008

So i need to explain this. Around 6 months ago we purchased 4 sony TZ195N laptops. THEY ARE COMPLETE JUNK. Every single one of them have had something wrong with it.
The TZ195 is the cadalac of the sony laptop line. We got the one with all the bells and whistles, SSD Drive, 4GB RAM, everything.
The good: They are really sexy laptops. I must say that they are sleek and very light.
And thats about it.

The bad:
First off when i got the first of these laptops, i had to uninstall so much freakin crapware that it would take over 3 hours getting everything out. The remaining ones i just ended up reinstalling windows completly to get everything off.
SmartWi connection utility is a POS and is constantly bugging and slowing the computer.
One of the laptops, 3 days after the user had it in his possesion he started getting BSOD, So im looking at it like what did the user do, But no it turned out to be the RAM took a shit on me. So i put in some other ram and it has run fine (the ram was out of one of our dells. )
Our Co-CEOs sony lasted him maybe 2 weeks, before it went from fast, to COMPLETLY SLOW. I ended up switching him to a laptop to be mencioned later.
So to what sparked this whole thread...
Last night at 4:50 (i ususally work till 5 so of course it was gonna happen right before im supposed to go home.) Our CTO asks me to take a look at this sony laptop. The POS is just booting into windows, BUT IS TAKING FOR EV ER! Of course smartWi bugged out, it was giving an error about the video card driver. I try to go into the task manager, but thats hella slow as well. Takes at least 2 min to end process on one item. Finally i tell him ill get him a new laptop and we will switch him over to that quickly. Lucky hes not one that has any other programs besides Office 07. To get his files over i was going to pull the hard drive and drop it in a external Case, but NOOOOO cant take apart a sony because its a fucking sony. I managed to get one side up so i could look into there, and i couldnt even see the freakin hard drive. and i got it down to 4 more screws, and even with my small screw driver it wouldnt go into the sony screws. Fucking BS.
Same computer different situation, Previously about maybe 2 months ago, the CTO came to me saying his computer wont boot. You push the button and it blinks at you and doesnt turn on. He said that if he shakes the computer then tries it usually works. So i try just pushing it for maybe 30 minutes, and then get so pissed off that i start shaking it here and there and pushing the button, and the thing finally turns on. Last night i put it in sleep mode, this morning go to turn it on and its doing the same shit, so i shake and shake it until finally the bitch turns on, Im ready to throw this fucking thing through the window.
Support:
LMFAO, worst support ever. Hands down. i dont even want to get into that.

The new Hottness:
So after the first batch of sonys i vowed never to get one of these sonys again. For a month i was ordering dells and returning them to get a good spec we can use for all of our laptops. Finally we settled on the XPS M1330. I have never been happier with Dell in my life. We ended up getting these laptops for LESS THEN HALF of what we paid for the sonys. they weigh almost the same, have a MUCH faster processor, Better video card, 4GB RAM, LED backlit monitor, we got a couple with SSD drives, but even the ones with the 250gb regular hard drives are faster then the sonys.
I HAVE NOT HAD ONE SINGLE PROBLEM WITH THESE DELLS. Not one. And if i did, i have the peice of mind to know that i can call dell and they will overnight the parts to me for FREE.

Cliff notes: Sony Laptops are complete overpriced SHIT. Dont buy them. Believe me i can make any computer fast, but these sonys are beyond help.
Get a dell.

A//// Guy · 08-28-2008

Lenova ftw. /End

GSXMatt · 08-28-2008

Dude you got a dell!!!!!!!1111!!!!11!!!!11

Matt D. · 08-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by M/// Guy

Lenova ftw. /End

Lenovo FTW +2 - We use all IBM/Lenovo desktops, workstation and laptops here and love them. Their tech support is US based (Atlanta) and you simply have to describe the problem, tell them the troubleshooting you've done and they will ship you the needed parts no questions asked and you'll have it in your hands in usually 2 days or less. Every other computer manufacturer wishes they had service like that.

Tom, please tell me you're not using Vista. If you are, please tell me it's 32-bit. You, of all people, should know that in a business setting you can't just open up a computer out of the box and use it. There is so much shit on the computers these days from the manufacturers that you are dumb if you don't just reinstall Windows first thing. Use an imaging system if you don't already.

The RAM could have easily failed in any other computer. I've deployed a few dozen computers over the past year and a half and have had a couple with bad RAM out of the box. It happens, but saying Sony sucks because of it is a bit much.

**JET** · 08-28-2008

Yeah, I won't buy anything but Lenovo again. They are built tough and have great reliability, especially the T series.

tpunx99GSX · 08-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D.

Lenovo FTW +2 - We use all IBM/Lenovo desktops, workstation and laptops here and love them. Their tech support is US based (Atlanta) and you simply have to describe the problem, tell them the troubleshooting you've done and they will ship you the needed parts no questions asked and you'll have it in your hands in usually 2 days or less. Every other computer manufacturer wishes they had service like that.

Tom, please tell me you're not using Vista. If you are, please tell me it's 32-bit. You, of all people, should know that in a business setting you can't just open up a computer out of the box and use it. There is so much shit on the computers these days from the manufacturers that you are dumb if you don't just reinstall Windows first thing. Use an imaging system if you don't already.

The RAM could have easily failed in any other computer. I've deployed a few dozen computers over the past year and a half and have had a couple with bad RAM out of the box. It happens, but saying Sony sucks because of it is a bit much.

Yes we are on Vista Business SP1 32bit. The reason for this is that eventually we will have to go there as manufacturer support for XP will eventually end. And these XPS laptops make vista their bitch and run it like xp. I actually dont mind Vista as much anymore since SP1 came out and took care of a lot of the bugs.
Dell IMO is equal to Lenovo, Esp on the tech support. I have always loved dells tech support. Their server support is great, and anytime i call there and just tell them im the IT admin and i need a new ram chip or a new motherboard they give me the option to either have one of their guys come out next day, or they can ship me the parts next day.
Every dell computer we have ordered has come without any crapware or extra stuff that we dont need. And i never needed to select an option to do so.
Yes RAM can fail in any computer, but we arent talking about just ram here. The build quality of the Sonys are horrible, the shaking thing sucks ass. and just the overall price for performance is crazy.
Ill stand by my Dell XPS any day. Cheap, Reliable, and great support. Gotta love it.

Super Bleeder!! · 08-28-2008

Good to know. I was eyeing sony laptops lately just because they felt so nice, but i had no idea if they were piles or not.

Guess i should just get one of the tough ass IBMs that come with the magnesium rollcages (not a joke)

tpunx99GSX · 08-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Bleeder!!

Good to know. I was eyeing sony laptops lately just because they felt so nice, but i had no idea if they were piles or not.

Guess i should just get one of the tough ass IBMs that come with the magnesium rollcages (not a joke)

Actually if your looking at a new laptop. Check out Dells New latitude. It looks freakin sweet. And it has the feature i wish i had (and was actually looking at alienware because of it) A light up keyboard. Im serious about that. I always have wanted one for tuning at night and working at night.

311evo · 08-29-2008

hehe this thread wins because im on my cousins new sony laptop currently, but it seems to be going good sofar!

mdost03 · 08-29-2008

Looks like you got a bad batch Tom haha. I just purchased my 1st Sony laptop and LOVE it so far. I had an older Sony laptop that they gave to us for free about 10 years ago now and it still works to this day. Always been a fan of Sony computers and my new one is awesome.

tpunx99GSX · 09-04-2008

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26543514/ Now there is a freakin recall on them.

x-pride · 09-04-2008

I see you are not the only one having problems with Sony. Sony is ok for home use but I would not use it for business. Dell is OK but we had a batch that had hard drive and ram failure. Dell does have the best warranty on the market when it comes to corperate usage. I will take a IBM T model over any other laptop when it comes to business applications though.

**cmspaz** · 09-04-2008

Even on a standard personal warranty, I can email Dell and say hey, I need this, and it's on my doorstep the next day, no questions asked. Sometimes, they'll ask me to send the broken components back, but usually not. It's wonderful.

09-04-2008

Sorry to hear that. I have had my Vaio for over 2 years now and have never had any problems and I use it ALL the time.