Sony VAIO Laptops

SebastianM · #1 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 11:42 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm seriously considering either a VAIO A417M or A417S for editing amateur footage from my Panasonic GS400 camcorder using the built in Premiere software on the laptop.

Just wondered if anyone thought this would be a good enough setup?

A417M specs:
Pentium M750 1.86GHz
512MB Memory (2x256)
2GB L2 Cache
80GB 5400 SATA HD
ATI Mob Radeon X600 (256MB video mem)
17" screen
Price: £1300

A417S specs:
Pentium M760 2GHz
1024MB Memory (2x512)
2GB L2 Cache
100GB 5400 SATA HD
ATI Mob Radeon X600 (256MB video mem)
17" screen
Speakers / TV Tuner
Price: £1600

Can I get away with buying the cheaper one for editing or will I notice a big difference?

Cheers,
SebastianM.

irishmark · #2 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 03:19 PM

Laptops and Video editing dont really mix that well (unless its a GB powerbook)but if you must choose one of these fo for the 2nd one but you will have to get a USB2 or a Firewire drive as the Hardisks in both those machines wont be fast eneough to handle video

Mike Thorpe · #3 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 03:41 PM

Unfortunately the Pentium M doesn't fare well with video encoding at all - you're probably best getting a notebook with a desktop processor in it, even though that will probably make it bulkier.

From a maintenance point of view, i'm also not a fan of Sony Vaio notebooks, because sony seem to have a monopoly on parts, adn won't actually supply any spare parts to any company to use in a repair - any out of warranty faulty vaios have to be sent back to sony for a ridiculously inflated fee :-S

SebastianM · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2005, 10:43 AM

Thanks very much for the replies. I appreciate it guys.

From what you've said, I'm tempted to just get a desktop PC now, as I'm concerned that a P4 laptop may have issues with overheating / noisy fans / breeze block appearance etc! Seems to defeat the object of portability and I'd be paying more than the equivalent desktop.

So...can I be cheeky and ask you to recommend a good off-the-shelf desktop PC for about £1300 that won't be too bulky but has the oomph I'm looking for and will be reliable? Ideally it would have Adobe Premiere included like the VAIO too

but of course that is a long shot I guess!

I'm not a techie unfortunately so I really need something simple that I won't have to fiddle around with too much (though I'd pretty much written off Apples as too pricey and not so good for non-editing duties?).

Any views you can give will be really appreciated.

Thanks again.
SebastianM

Mike Thorpe · #5 (**permalink**) 09-29-2005, 10:49 AM

Do you need Premiere Pro or will Premiere Elements do?

SebastianM · #6 (**permalink**) 09-29-2005, 10:54 AM

Ooh erm. To be honest Mike I don't know! What's the difference?

I'd just heard that Premiere was a great package and I liked that VAIOs had a version of it included.

This would be my first time editing so I guess I won't need all the advanced stuff yet, but I'd just like an application that will be able to give me a great looking result as I'm trying to make proper short films rather than home movies.

Thanks a lot.
SebastianM.

Brian Gardner · #7 (**permalink**) 10-03-2005, 12:55 PM

ive a197xp vaio, the M class cpu isnt that bad.

even with its massive screen still a bit fiddly and slow at editing.

SebastianM · #8 (**permalink**) 10-03-2005, 01:32 PM

Thanks for the feedback Brian. It's a shame a VAIO sounds like it's not right for me, as they look so nice and come with Premiere installed. On paper I thought it looked powerful enough but seems like people are saying otherwise.

So if 17" widescreen is fiddly does that mean I'm gonna have to get a 19" screen?! Or is it just that widescreen is not so good as regular shape ones for editing?

I'm thinking of getting a desktop now (see my recent post in this forum) as I don't want to risk getting a laptop if it's not gonna be fast enough.

Cheers.

Brian Gardner · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2005, 02:01 PM

Sorry its my fault for the Widescreen fiddly bit as i have the screen set at 1900 X 1200

I now use it for DJing and have Traktor Studio and a external USB2 Hard Drive connnected + a USB 4 channel MAYA 44

If the Laptop was a vergin (no other software installed on it )
It ran really well and fast.

Same ole story though, start adding software and things grind to a hault Laptops more than others :(

SebastianM · #10 (**permalink**) 10-03-2005, 02:50 PM

If the Laptop was a vergin (no other software installed on it )
It ran really well and fast.

Well that's good to know. At least I can keep it in mind as a last resort cos I won't be loading it up with anything other than editing software.

I'm gonna do some searching on the desktop front n see if i can find anything that fits the bill better though.

Cheers Brian. Nice Avatar btw. How is the Travel Tavern?