Sony Recovers and Offers Killer New Hardware Designs

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1550233,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1550233,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"Sony is the closest thing the Windows world has to an Apple Computer. It is also the company that should be the natural winner when it comes to the upcoming convergence in the consumer electronics space. Unfortunately, Sony has had execution issues that have made me doubt it will ever step up to its potential. That may have changed. The other day, when I sat down with Sony to look at their new fall laptop and desktop lines, I saw a new Sony—one that should keep Steve Jobs up at night. It probably won't, but I'll get to this later. Now, until Sony announces the new products, I can't give you any details, no matter how much you beg. I will say that what I saw indicates that Sony is coming back, and I can chat a bit on the why behind this."<br /><br />There's no doubt about it - I love the way Apple designs their hardware. In fact, I'm amazed that there aren't more companies who are developing hardware "the Apple way". Or did Apple buy up every talented industrial designer on the market? Apparently not as eWeek's Rob Enderle found out - he can't say much about what he saw, but he seems to be excited about it. Still, I find myself hard-pressed to think about seriously buying a Sony computer...

[backpackerx]

Still, I find myself hard-pressed to think about seriously buying a Sony computer...

Why is that?

[marlof]

Yeah, why? My original Sony Vaio laptop is now 5 years old, and still works without a problem (and looks better than any laptop out of that era, Apples excluded from this equation). Our Sony Vaio desktops are about three years old, still running and looking great. You just need to get rid of all the junk software that comes installed with a Sony, and replace it with generic software.

On the other hand, my Apple iBook is one year two months old, and so far I've replaced a battery and a battery charger. Both just out of warranty. And I'm not alone in that experience, since most Apple users advise buyers to get the 3 year Apple Care, and I would have other individual horror stories to tell. So you end up having to get yet another premium to pay to an already premium price.

Don't get me wrong, I love my iBook, since I'm a sucker for design and boy, is this thing designed. But I do think Apple might be interested a little too much in design, and a little too little in QC. If my notebook comes up for replacement in a year or so, I'll be more than happy to replace it with a Z1 or something like that. Or Apple would surprise me with getting a really cool new case for their next generation iBooks. Than, the sucker in me would still end up paying for Apple Care. ;)

[Andy Manea]

I like Sony's hardware design, but hate their proprietary formats. It sucks that a company thinks by using them, consumers can be pushed towards more products of the same company. Their laptops come with a Memory Stick slot, but I don't own and never would buy a device using MS. So what's that slot gonna do for me?

Sony sells MD players and recorders, but their newer devices ("Net"-MDs) don't have a line-in any more, so that you have to use a USB cable, which of course is pointless if you are trying to record a CD from their own music label - those don't even play on computer drives in Germany, if I am not too mistaken. THUS, those recorders are just plain pointless!!

I dislike Sony for the above reasons - it seems like they are working AGAINST consumers, and until they change that, I don't find it worth supporting them with my money.

OOOPS, I guess that was a rant :oops:

[Suhit Gupta]

I like Sony's hardware design, but hate their proprietary formats.
Dude, well said. What the hell is with the MS?

Suhit

[Janak Parekh]

Yeah, why? My original Sony Vaio laptop is now 5 years old
Ironically, I've heard many compaints about Vaios, as well as Sony tech support. I bought two of them, and both developed problems -- one of them got the mainboard replaced as it didn't turn on (flawless support in my case), and the second has a defective PC card slot (although I can't do squat since the warranty is gone). I liked both very much, but I suspect we're too small a sampling group to decide anything conclusively.

Dude, well said. What the hell is with the MS?
The prospect of market control. It won't happen, but Sony's not giving up -- they've invested in MS very heavily, and enough people have bought into it. You'll just have to accept it as another format. :|

--janak

[Suhit Gupta]

The prospect of market control. It won't happen, but Sony's not giving up -- they've invested in MS very heavily, and enough people have bought into it. You'll just have to accept it as another format. :|
Of course, and to that end I use SD and CF II exclusively. And actually Sony may be realizing their folly to some extent as they have switched a couple of their DSC-F828 to CF II (well actually it can take MS as well).

Suhit

[Janak Parekh]

And actually Sony may be realizing their folly to some extent as they have switched a couple of their DSC-F828 to CF II (well actually it can take MS as well).
Only in their prosumer cameras. Every other product in their line uses MS only. Even the CLIEs with CF slots have very limited CF support -- they're designed for Sony-branded 802.11 cards.

--janak

[Jason Dunn]

Why is that?

1) I have nothing that uses memory sticks, but many devices that use SD and CF cards. Sony will never include memory slots for those types of devices, and I'd expect any laptop I'd buy to accept them. This also applies to desktops, although to a lesser degree because I have an external reader.

2) Every Sony laptop I've seen has been physically attractive, but a complete dog in the performance department. Sony loads them up with so much crap they are dog slow (in my experience). Yes, it's possible to cut it all out and re-optimize the system, but why should I have to do that with a brand new computer?

3) I feel that by supporting Sony I'm supporting their philiosphy of "Memory stick is all that matters", which doesn't sit well with me. I'd rather see my money go towards supporting a company that understands the importance of industry standards and device interoperability.

The only Sony products I own are various headphones and a Walkman - and all are based around industry standards. ;-)

[backpackerx]

Yeah, the memory stick is what kept me away from them when I bought my digicam and what will most likely exclude them from my Video Camera purchase.