Sony VAIO PCG-FX109K

I have the FX108 and fortunately had no problems with it since i bought it in 2001. It is now displaying the SMART error message at boot up and i am considering replacing the HDD if it is cheap and easy enough, otherwise just scrapping it.

I also have a A497XP Vaio and it is bad. It takes forever to boot up (upgraded to 2G RAM), i mean it takes about 8 minutes before i can use it. The battery packed up within 5 months and the DVD writer packed up in 6 months (and i hardly used the DVD writer). Now i am struggling to reject the laptop and get my money back from www.TECHNOWORLD.com and Sony just won't help other than me having to send the laptop to them for repair. I will be seriously considering a machine that does not use any parts as the Sony Vaio's. I know some of the DELL's use the Sony DVD writer!!! Though the DELL was 1 machine i was considering.

I have a FX108, similar model without the CD rewriter, which has been used as a back up to the main PC for 2 years. One major problem was the DVD Rom suddenly stopped working and after paying Sony £12 to ring their helpline as no other outlet seems able to repair Sonys, they took it off me, told me that the hard disk needed replacing aswell as the DVD Rom and wanted over £400.

The stand off lasted 2 months and in the end I had to give in, it was just out of warranty, and got a paltry 10% off the bill. The machine came back with an inability to recognise half its RAM and Sony have washed their hands of the problem.

I will say nice machine, the review author is correct in saying that an extended warranty is a must but Sony are terrible and when this one needs replacing I will go to Dell. No that is not a misprint.