[quote author=“linc”]i thought people were turning their optical drives off to save power..
it does come with an external dvd burner..

You really don’t save much power turning off the optical drive…especially if there’s no disc inside to begin with.

Depends what you use the laptop for tho.  If you just use if for internet/office work while travelling all over the place, and you have a good job (ie money to burn) then why not go for the more expensive and exclusive X505?  It’d make anyone on this forum :drool:  if we saw someone get one out their bag, and that’s what it’s about sometimes!  That’s why many of us got the TR… it’s a stylish wee beastie 8)

[quote author=“linc”]i thought people were turning their optical drives off to save power..
it does come with an external dvd burner..

you sure about that?? I thought no optical drive was included with the X505 at all :?

[quote author=“Rahul”][quote author=“linc”]i thought people were turning their optical drives off to save power..
it does come with an external dvd burner..

you sure about that?? I thought no optical drive was included with the X505 at all :?

according to the sonystyle website it does. 

Totally true.  However, I thought Erik liked to ride on the practical side.  Don’t get me wrong.  It is a very appealing notebook.  Unfortunately, for the money, it carries a few downsides.  The TR is the best bang for the buck, IMO.

I’ll be honest, most of the time when I’m mobile I don’t need the optical drive. It’s just that when I do, it would be bother packing the extra unit or an irritation when I forgot to.

I wonder how much weight the Sony engineers could have stripped from the TR with a little tinkering and the much lauded Nickel Carbon case.

I can see where the x505 would appeal to Eric - if his daily need is for a keyboard in a classroom and he’ll feel every ounce he has to pack around all day.

I found the X505 to be too small. The screen is smaller (and less vibrant for that matter) than the TR and the keyboard placement is somewhat awkward as there’s no palmrest and you’re forced to use the “nipple aka eraserhead” which i find less than ideal.

Also, the battery life on that thing pales in comparison to the TR. Ultimately, that’s what kills it for me. Given the newer materials and some design changes, the TR could probably lose a little weight while remaining solid and satisfy both needs of being really small but much more usable.

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]I found the X505 to be too small. The screen is smaller (and less vibrant for that matter) than the TR and the keyboard placement is somewhat awkward as there’s no palmrest and you’re forced to use the “nipple aka eraserhead” which i find less than ideal.

Also, the battery life on that thing pales in comparison to the TR. Ultimately, that’s what kills it for me. Given the newer materials and some design changes, the TR could probably lose a little weight while remaining solid and satisfy both needs of being really small but much more usable.

If I had any lingering doubts, you’ve laid them to rest.

I wonder if Sony considers the TR a success and will really build on it or if they’ll just blunder off on more tangents like the x505. IMHO the TR has been a great proof-of-concept machine. Here’s to IBM and Toshiba running with it, a little competition would be good.

[quote author=“dbs”][quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]I found the X505 to be too small. The screen is smaller (and less vibrant for that matter) than the TR and the keyboard placement is somewhat awkward as there’s no palmrest and you’re forced to use the “nipple aka eraserhead” which i find less than ideal.

Also, the battery life on that thing pales in comparison to the TR. Ultimately, that’s what kills it for me. Given the newer materials and some design changes, the TR could probably lose a little weight while remaining solid and satisfy both needs of being really small but much more usable.

If I had any lingering doubts, you’ve laid them to rest.

I wonder if Sony considers the TR a success and will really build on it or if they’ll just blunder off on more tangents like the x505. IMHO the TR has been a great proof-of-concept machine. Here’s to IBM and Toshiba running with it, a little competition would be good.

They probably do, however, if you know Sony’s internal infrastructure (the pitting of various interconnected yet independent mini-companies against each other, without due internal communication or feedback, and thus, the bickering between products that goes on, a la Gigapocket & Network Walkman HD1) it’s highly likely they’ll shoot themselves in the foot with this one, as you can see with the GigaPocket + ATRAC.  But still, they’ve managed to carry the ball this far. I hope for possibly more Sony goodness.

~nox

[quote author=“linc”][quote author=“Rahul”][quote author=“linc”]i thought people were turning their optical drives off to save power..
it does come with an external dvd burner..

you sure about that?? I thought no optical drive was included with the X505 at all :?

according to the sonystyle website it does. 

the default model doesn’t include it…the one above it is just the x505 with external dvd burner (they are charging extra money for the dvd burner).

didn’t notice the price till just now..  :shock: sorry rahul. :mrgreen:

Well I guess it is great news to hear of good customer service - bad press tends to get out more than good, but I suppose it depends on where in the world you are and the people you talk to. To be called up by Sony and told that the engineers have refused to run another test seems a little odd to me.

Glad your experience was good though!

[quote author=“Wadham”]Well I guess it is great news to hear of good customer service - bad press tends to get out more than good, but I suppose it depends on where in the world you are and the people you talk to. To be called up by Sony and told that the engineers have refused to run another test seems a little odd to me.

Glad your experience was good though!

I think Sony USA is busting butt after the recent PC Magazine (US) Reader’s Opinion Poll gave them bottom marks for support/service.

[quote author=“dbs”][quote author=“Wadham”]Well I guess it is great news to hear of good customer service - bad press tends to get out more than good, but I suppose it depends on where in the world you are and the people you talk to. To be called up by Sony and told that the engineers have refused to run another test seems a little odd to me.

Glad your experience was good though!

I think Sony USA is busting butt after the recent PC Magazine (US) Reader’s Opinion Poll gave them bottom marks for support/service.

Yes.. i think i red that from PC-World also.

[quote author=“dbs”]
I wonder if Sony considers the TR a success and will really build on it or if they’ll just blunder off on more tangents like the x505. IMHO the TR has been a great proof-of-concept machine. Here’s to IBM and Toshiba running with it, a little competition would be good.

IBM…  :shock:

How could IBM compete with Sony…. at least in design. 

IBM   = Black Rectangular Thingy
Sony   = Speechless Work of Art :drool: