MacBook Air vs. Sony Z

[mrcharlie91]

Here comes, MacBook Air challenges Sony Z series !

Let me know your thoughts !

Updated with basic specs of both great piece of arts !

1. MacBook Air ( 1.6Ghz , 120GB HDD ) ( http://www.apple.com )
- 2GB Memory
- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
- 13.3 Inch great display
- Multi Touch + 3 Pounds
- Great Design !
- Price = $1799 + Tax !

2. Sony Z ( 2.40 Ghz, 250GB HDD ) ( http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-Z550...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1225159984&sr=8-4)

- 3GB Memory ( upto 4 )
- Intel GMA 4500MHD & Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS
- 13.1 Inch XBrite Display
- 3.31 Pounds ( Almost same weighs compare to Air )
- Price = $1800 with no tax and free shipping !

I can't decide besides, I wanna know what macrumors think!

I love your replies!

 

[Phrasikleia]

It would help if you got things started with a basic side-by-side summary of specs and price. I don't want to have to go do the research myself.

 

[mrcharlie91]

It would help if you got things started with a basic side-by-side summary of specs and price. I don't want to have to go do the research myself.

Thank you for advising! I will update post right now

 

[mrcharlie91]

Ok

I've updated post with basic specs and link to find both of products.

Thank you again in advance !

 

[wordmunger]

You forgot one key spec:

Sony:

8.3 x 12.4 x 1.3 inches

MBA:

8.9 x 12.8 x 0.76 inches

The MBA is nearly half the thickness.

 

[gooddeal]

1. Do you need the optical drive?

2. Do you care about the height? (Air = 0.16 to 0.76 inch v. Z = 1 to 1.3 inch)

3. Can you live with Vista (you might be able to downgrade to XP)?

 

[mrcharlie91]

You forgot one key spec:

Sony:

8.3 x 12.4 x 1.3 inches

MBA:

8.9 x 12.8 x 0.76 inches

The MBA is nearly half the thickness.

Oh yes, that's right. But I don't mind if it's little thicker or thinner. Both looks

very nice, and portable. Thank you for pointing that out !

 

[wordmunger]

Oh yes, that's right. But I don't mind if it's little thicker or thinner. Both looks

very nice, and portable. Thank you for pointing that out !

If you don't care about that, and you don't care about not having MacOS X, then get the Sony. Not a tough decision at all.

 

[mrcharlie91]

1. Do you need the optical drive?

2. Do you care about the height? (Air = 0.16 to 0.76 inch v. Z = 1 to 1.3 inch)

3. Can you live with Vista (you might be able to downgrade to XP)?

I always thought optical drive is essential for my computing among with others, after MacBook air, it changed my entire thought on optical drive on laptops. I never use rom except couple times installing airport ( which you can download directly from internet ) sofware and others.
1. So no need for optical drive.
2. No
3. Iam having absolutely no trouble with xp right now but might try mac now,
along with xp. I love how mac people think about their product and Apple's some magical power to make me buy their products and accesories!! Now I want air. Also, I need Windows for watching videos ( need active x to use that website )
Can Air run windows like native? not the crippled one? Then Iam sold.

 

[mrcharlie91]

If you don't care about that, and you don't care about not having MacOS X, then get the Sony. Not a tough decision at all.

Iam little scared to mac os. I used windows for my life, and not sure if i can live without windows due to programs that I run..

 

[Essjay]

Iam little scared to mac os. I used windows for my life, and not sure if i can live without windows due to programs that I run..

I switched over from XP a few years back, it is really not that hard to pick up. If you know how to use a computer you should be fine after a week or so.

 

[mrcharlie91]

I switched over from XP a few years back, it is really not that hard to pick up. If you know how to use a computer you should be fine after a week or so.

Is that really?
May I ask few questions !

1. Do you run safari web browser? Does it supports all the flash just like the
IE?

2. Do you use 'only' mac os or use both windows and mac?

What's your overall experience?

You are so kind, respect !

 

[Phrasikleia]

The Sony Z is clearly better in terms of specs. It has two USB ports, an ethernet port, an HDMI port, an optical drive, a faster processor, more RAM...the list goes on. What it doesn't have is OS X, a low profile, and a multi-touch trackpad.

If you're used to Windows, and it hasn't been letting you down, give that Sony Z a long hard look. I've never purchased a PC in my life, but I've been considering it more and more lately. If you jump in with Apple, you'll always be very limited in what hardware configurations are available. OS X is a great operating system, but it comes at a steep price and means living with a narrow range of options.

 

[mrcharlie91]

The Sony Z is clearly better in terms of specs. It has two USB ports, an ethernet port, an HDMI port, an optical drive, a faster processor, more RAM...the list goes on. What it doesn't have is OS X, a low profile, and a multi-touch trackpad.

If you're used to Windows, and it hasn't been letting you down, give that Sony Z a long hard look. I've never purchased a PC in my life, but I've been considering it more and more lately. If you jump in with Apple, you'll always be very limited in what hardware configurations are available. OS X is a great operating system, but it comes at a steep price and means living with a narrow range of options.

Again... THANK YOU !
I always thought as you and yes windows are fine platform
I think.
Sony Z looks real attractive in terms of design and performance.
Guess another time...

 

[UltraNEO*]

The Sony Z is clearly better in terms of specs. It has two USB ports, an ethernet port, an HDMI port, an optical drive, a faster processor, more RAM...the list goes on. What it doesn't have is OS X, a low profile, and a multi-touch trackpad.

If you're used to Windows, and it hasn't been letting you down, give that Sony Z a long hard look. I've never purchased a PC in my life, but I've been considering it more and more lately. If you jump in with Apple, you'll always be very limited in what hardware configurations are available. OS X is a great operating system, but it comes at a steep price and means living with a narrow range of options.

Personally, I think multi-touch trackpad is a pain in my rear. For many of the features multi-touch offers, we could do with keyboard short-cuts, so the fact of having it doesn't mean we have more features, just means we can do it in different ways. But the worst thing, you can't disable it, should you want to!

 

[six.four]

Comparing the Sony Z and the MBA is like comparing apples and oranges. The sony is a full blown laptop, the MBA is meant to be an ultraportable.

I think a more fair comparison would be the new aluminum macbooks vs the Sony Z, or the MBA vs the Sony TZ.

The Sony Z has no compromises -
it uses a standard 2.5" hard drive (which means the hard drives are cheaper and much faster), standard sodimm slots (4gbs of ram for cheap), optical drive, and even a hybrid graphics engine (like the new macbook pros). If you are looking for a primary laptop, there should be no reason unless you're a glutton for pain to choose the MBA over the sony. This is all coming from someone who owns a Macbook Air.

Now it would be more of a toss up if you were comparing the Aluminum Macbook to the Sony Z.....

 

[twist2b]

The sony is still so damn ugly though -_-
I would still go mac since i don't need too much. Just light browsing and some college assignments. Plus its sexier and still the thinnest.

 

[six.four]

the post above brings another point:

you're posting it in the macrumors forum... in the Macbook Air subsection.... you'll have to sift through the fanboys that will rave about how thin and sexy it is and somehow that makes the MBA better.

Don't get me wrong, I love my MBA, but if you want something practical for a primary laptop, the MBA isn't even in the same league.

 

[Phrasikleia]

Comparing the Sony Z and the MBA is like comparing apples and oranges. The sony is a full blown laptop, the MBA is meant to be an ultraportable.

I think a more fair comparison would be the new aluminum macbooks vs the Sony Z, or the MBA vs the Sony TZ.

The Sony has a smaller footprint and only slightly more weight (0.31 lbs more) than a MBA, so it would seem to fall in the ultraportable category even more than an aluminum MacBook, which is larger and weighs 4.5 lbs.

 

[six.four]

The Sony has a smaller footprint and only slightly more weight (0.31 lbs more) than a MBA, so it would seem to fall in the ultraportable category even more than an aluminum MacBook, which is larger and weighs 4.5 lbs.

Yeah... I only meant that the internal components of the Sony Z are far more robust and expandable than that of the macbook air and is more comparable to a standard laptop than the MBA.

 

[mrcharlie91]

Comparing the Sony Z and the MBA is like comparing apples and oranges. The sony is a full blown laptop, the MBA is meant to be an ultraportable.

I think a more fair comparison would be the new aluminum macbooks vs the Sony Z, or the MBA vs the Sony TZ.

The Sony Z has no compromises -
it uses a standard 2.5" hard drive (which means the hard drives are cheaper and much faster), standard sodimm slots (4gbs of ram for cheap), optical drive, and even a hybrid graphics engine (like the new macbook pros). If you are looking for a primary laptop, there should be no reason unless you're a glutton for pain to choose the MBA over the sony. This is all coming from someone who owns a Macbook Air.

Now it would be more of a toss up if you were comparing the Aluminum

Macbook to the Sony Z.....

Thank you it will replace my current primary laptop
I would definitely get Sony.
I thought both laptops were aiming same target as they are so small and portable. Also I was quite surprised how Sony managed to make such a high end laptop with size that small!
I can't imagine myself without you all , macrumors and of course our Apple
I will post pictures of my new laptop and gadgets around next month when I get new camera and laptop!
Have a great day guys!!

 

[gooddeal]

The Sony has a smaller footprint and only slightly more weight (0.31 lbs more) than a MBA, so it would seem to fall in the ultraportable category even more than an aluminum MacBook, which is larger and weighs 4.5 lbs.

Actually, the new macbook is a lot thinner than the Z (0.95 v. 1 to 1.3). It's a little bigger b/c it's 13.3" v. 13.1" on the Z. Actually if you don't care about the extra pound, the new macbook is a better deal. Also, the macbook holds the value better if you decide to sell it.

 

[eXan]

I don't understand that if you don't care about thickness why don't you consider a regular MacBook? Its waaaaayy faster than MBA, has standard laptop parts (RAM, HD, CPU) and will last you longer. All that for 1300 or 1600$..

 

[UltraNEO*]

Thank you it will replace my current primary laptop
I would definitely get Sony.
I thought both laptops were aiming same target as they are so small and portable. Also I was quite surprised how Sony managed to make such a high end laptop with size that small!
I can't imagine myself without you all , macrumors and of course our Apple
I will post pictures of my new laptop and gadgets around next month when I get new camera and laptop!
Have a great day guys!!

Good to hear you've decided...

I'm still stuck...

 

[mrcharlie91]

I don't understand that if you don't care about thickness why don't you consider a regular MacBook? Its waaaaayy faster than MBA, has standard laptop parts (RAM, HD, CPU) and will last you longer. All that for 1300 or 1600$..

I know it sounds little weird but I always try to get high end ones instead regular and normal ones besides MacBooks are great but not my type ;(