Just read PC Pro's review...

[Marcos]

latter they made a program that alowed the pip-pin to play anygame if u used a specal burning soft were

wow, from the Apple Pippin wiki

[TheAnimus]

i really don't like the keyboard on macbooks, but mabye the air will be different.

my favourate for looks and feals has to be the sony's, but the price premium for their magnisum cased models is simply too much, i don't use a laptop enough to justify it (i work as a developer, so keyboard and anti-RSI virtues are FAR more important)

[Marcos]

i really don't like the keyboard on macbooks, but mabye the air will be different.

my favourate for looks and feals has to be the sony's, but the price premium for their magnisum cased models is simply too much, i don't use a laptop enough to justify it (i work as a developer, so keyboard and anti-RSI virtues are FAR more important)

Thats my weapon of choice, the Vaios, havent let me down in 6 years or so

I've been working on ultraportables since i first got a laptop so i know this type of product really well. Now that im coming to the end of University i feel like upgrading to a 15.4" laptop now that i dont need the portability as much.

Like i pointed out in the first page, the SZ Vaio comes with Geforce Go 7400 cards and built-in DVD+/-RW for just 25% increase in weight. Mighty powerful for an ultraportable.

Best of all, they look and feel great

[DR]

Then the Macbook Air must be a solution looking for a problem. Sorry, DR, but I don't buy it. Apple realised that their own OS was crap, and basically opted for a tarted about with BSD Unix. This they are now installing on some relatively generic hardware. They DON'T control everything; unless of course X3100 integrated graphics for instance is somehow different on their machines compared to everyone else's.

MS cooperate closely with leading OEMs and validate their hardware solutions; you don't get that "Designed for..." logo unless your hardware is validated. Dell, HP, Lenovo and others don't just "bolt on" Vista (or any other version of Windows); their hardware is designed from the ground up to work with it - and they've probably got just as much say (if not more so) with people like Intel over hardware development as Apple do.

We can argue that Windows is crap (I wouldn't disagree in a lot of cases), but I think the difference between Apple and MS/their partners is far less than a bald "Apple control everything and Dell just bolt stuff together" statement allows.

I am saying that the MacBook Air is a solution looking for a problem. I know that Apple don't make physical chips - far from it - but they provide you a solution - just like Dell or others, the fact is normally their kit is percieved to be better engineered or designed. I agree - The XPS 1330 is an amazing machine - we have a fair few here, and if I were buying a notebook with my money - that is what I'd get. My Sony TZ has a hell of a lot of features but costs a ton for it.

I think what I was trying to state was unlike Dell/HP whoever - Apple control their software stack and hardware - which is the case, so instead of getting Micrsoft to fix a bug - Apple are responsible for it.

The reality is there are many PC's solutions out there - some are engineered better, some are built better some are just good - and some are crap. I got to say the overall perspective of Vista seems to be nothing but dire with many OEMs and Corporates not looking to roll it out. Myself? Well I run it on my Sony and have no issues with it now (since I removed the Sony 'cack')

I'm not interested in getting to an Apple vs PC debate - I've far too many other things on my plate to deal with today What I am saying is - Apple have a far bigger oppotunity to get things right (and a hell of a lot less excuses) since they are not dependant on relationships with 3rd parties for Software stack to fit on their relatively small product line - compared to the likes of Dell.

I'm conviced that if Dell shipped it's own OS which it developed from a good starting block it would have a lot less headaches than having to use Microsoft Products and WHQL.

just on a side note - the 'designed for Vista' isn't dependant on certification - it is dependant on the products inside being certified - so you could have an Intel chipset, cpu, etc - and becasue they are certified then the system could be regarded as that. Not every SKU has to go through WHQL.

[Bob Crabtree]

Thats my weapon of choice, the Vaios, havent let me down in 6 years or so

- SNIPPED BY BOB - Best of all, they look and feel great

I know that look and feel are important in any product but, "Best of all", surely not!

My take on VAIO laptops - as a non-owner but a regular looker - is that they're overpriced for what they are, typically.

A bit like Apple laptops, in fact, though both product lines are very likely coming out of the same factories.

Bob
(walks away quickly, looking for cover!)

[Marcos]

I know that look and feel are important in any product but, "Best of all", surely not!

My take on VAIO laptops - as a non-owner but a regular looker - is that they're overpriced for what they are, typically.

A bit like Apple laptops, in fact, though both product lines are very likely coming out of the same factories.

Bob
(walks away quickly, looking for cover!)

Well, the way i look at it is, i can get a good spec from any of the manufacturers, but if i pay a bit extra and go with sony i get a good experience and a machine i can be proud of. Sounds silly i know but i've worked on dells and acers and you'd be surprised what a difference it makes subliminally to work on a nice machine, especially if you only use a laptop as your main machine like i do.

On the other hand, i've never paid retail price for my Vaios and i can't say i'd be prepared to do so. i got my S series 3 years ago for half price so it was a superb bargain.

[Marcos]

*EDIT* Oh yeah, i know sony can have rubbish customer service and luckily i've never had to deal with that, so when i say "good experience", thats if you get no hardware faults.

[Bob Crabtree]

Marcos,

Thanks for the clarification - your further postings do put your original in a more understandable context.

Cheers

Bob C