[Thinkpad] Sony Notebooks; was Re: new laptop specs

I second Ray's assessment of Sony laptops. They are a bear to take apart for an upgrade or repair. Try finding the equivalent of IBM/Lenovo's on-line hardware manuals. Then, try finding the spare parts, especially for a machine that is more than a year or two out of production.

Also, I don't believe there is an equivalent of Bill Morrow's Thinkpad forums where owners have gathered to create a robust secondary market and share knowledge and tips.

Then again, Sony used to have a nice 13" LCD model that would have filled the niche that the 600 series used to have.

Mitchell

----- Original Message ----
From: Desertech <canyonlands@gmail.com>
To: Matt <mwtech@ameritech.net>
Cc: Thinkpad list <Thinkpad@stderr.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 10:04:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Thinkpad] new laptop specs

I don't know of a less welcome choice for long term reliability. Try
 buying
parts for a Sony. Darned near impossibile once the warranty expires.
 See
what the life expectancy of the inverter and LCD screen are usually.
  See
the number of parted out Sony laptops on eBay.

On your model, see it in person. Do not buy until you have thorougly
examined it for appropriate cooling channels, air movement over the
 cpu,
capacity for dealing with dust, hair, and carpet higher. The Sony
 designers
go for pretty over cooling.

It is right up there for reliability and long life with the eMachine,
Compaq, Alienware, and Acer. If they do not offer a long warranty at
 extra
cost, that means Sony doesn't believe in it either. If they do, get
 the
warranty with the computer.

We have been repairing portable computers since the first one in 1981.
There are few for which we have less respect than the Sony laptops...
 though
a few costly ones are excellent. On the others, the inverters and LCD
screens go quickly. Any component susceptible to damage from high
temperatures will go quickly.

Just one technician's opinion... but based on a lot of Sony customers.

And remember, this is a Thinkpad list, were we are accustomed to good
engineering, reliability and long life.

Good luck to you.

RayBay

On Nov 20, 2007 9:42 AM, Matt <mwtech@ameritech.net> wrote:

> Browsing through the officedepot ad, there's a sony, (I know, I know)
 for
> cheap dough.
>
> CoreDuo T7250, 2Gb ram, 200Gb hd, DVD burner, 14" Widescreen & Vista,
> which
> I'd replace with XP - for $999. Model CR220E
>
> Does that sound like a decent deal?
>
>
> Matt
>
> _______________________________________________
> Thinkpad mailing list
> Thinkpad@stderr.org
> http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
>

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