LED backlit laptop screens - worth the extra?

[miami91]

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FWIW some of you might be interested to know that I've just got hold of this:

 

VGN-SR41M/W (VGNSR41M/W) : Technical Specifications : VAIO Computing : Sony

 

It's not the latest model but is eligible for a free upgraded (well - £20 for media/packing/transport) Windows 7 64 bit upgrade package... Good news from where I stand is that it's a non-reflect, backlit LED LCD screen, 2 GHz dual core processor, decent dedicated graphics card, 4 GB Ram / 320 GB HDD and it only weighs 1.9 kg.

 

For the money - GBP 800 - there's nothing I've been able to find to beat this spec. Sorry in some ways that it's not a MacBook pro - but that was heavier and more expensive than this - and not so great spec wise... and the screen on the Sony compares favourably...

 

Anyway - thanks again for advice and comments. For anyone making the same decision - I'd say that the LED backlit LCD screen is a real must for photo-editing/

 

Good work Chris! The VAIOs are nice machines.

 

Jeff.

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[chris_tribble]

So we Mac users must now ditch our desktops for the latest incarnation 27in with LED backlit displays....

 

Nope - but I had an interesting time in the Mac and Sony centres in London looking at a range of screens... The conclusion for me was:

 

1/ LEC backlit LCD screens are better than standard LCD for viewing images (I took in a set of full resolution JPEGS to play with)

 

2/ non-reflect screens are better too.

 

I have to say I really liked the screen on the Macbook Pro - but the weight / cost / spec compared to the Sony (my budget's really tight after outlay on M9 ) + a slight concern over getting involved in mixed systems brought me to my decision.

 

In terms of the kit you've got - hey, if it's working it's working. I'm replacing my laptop because the processor / RAM / drive size (1Ghz / 2GB / 100 GB) meant it was grinding to a halt on big jobs - especially with 5D2 and uncompressed M9 files...

[danyves]

Looks like a real good choice !

 

I would even consider it for photo work. Just that I am afraid Sony would not shipped to France, as do Toshiba. My Tecra was bought to France by friends to which I have it delivered.

[chris_tribble]

Dan - bizarre that you can't get this in France.... Buy the lower UK cost could be worth the trip to London given the Euro / Pound difference!

[JHAG]

Chris,

If I may.

Ordering a Mac on the Apple Store gives you one opportunity :

test the machine for 14 days, then return it at no cost (RMA

are free of charge) and get integrally refunded, provided the

package is complete and the machine (screen, unibody) unmarked.

No questions asked.

I did it with two iMacs last year to test the best configuration for me.

I did so with a Mac Book Pro 17" last summer, because I needed

to test it. I even kept it 23 days, carrying it abroad. Apple gave me

the go to overshoot the 14 days RMA date, I finally returned the

machine not because it did'nt suit my need (it is very fast and has

very crisp screen, giving much more tiny details than a large iMac screen),

but only because

I learnt Apple would update its Mac Book Pro line in january 2010.

 

This could be an opportunity for you to test it in real time, see if

virtualization suits your needs and if compatibility with your PC

environment is manageable or not.

Needless to say, during that period, you'd have full access to the

Apple technical support to ask them how to switch, etc, etc.

 

I've been on Toshiba for years (years ago), then the magazine

where I was editor in chief at the time switched to Mac. I never

looked back.