FZ or AR series?

[Shaggy]

A month ago my beloved GRT716s got stolen...so now i need to replace it.

well im only looking at the blu ray versions:
FZ11Z
AR31s/AR41s

I just need some advice and some comments

Its basically boils down to my budget...
£2k and i get the AR
anything less then its the FZ

[fai_lok]

I have a FZ laptop... everything works great...but the wecam has just decided to work when it feels like it... when i want to use it in any application it says that another program may be using it or it is not attached - it is built in!

I tried different drivers... tried enable disable...timeout possibility... its just random as far as I can see... Its true - why have a blue ray payer on a laptop when you can even watch it porperly! only good to have a HDMI output at this stage since blue ray discs are not even mainstream winners yet!

I have HD disc possible but at least they are in a bit of use from the support of microsoft - my operating system If you got blu erays from Playstation... go for AR if you must invest so early in the HD age...! lol

[Shaggy]

does everything work with the new drivers?

[davemee]

People's experiences with the 31 seem pretty variable; I'd say it's an impressive machine and I'm glad I bought it (wish I'd have waited for the 41, but then I'd have lost a year without a laptop)

Drivers all seem pretty solid from the Sony side (once you've run all the updates properly). Vista still has a few issues that will be addressed in SP1. Blueray playback worked fine on included software.

Three things I *don't* like on the AR31 - the trackpad button placement means it's difficult to 'lounge' with the machine, the weird, snappable screen clasp, and the onboard ethernet is megabit, not gigabit. The finish and look of the machine is so damn slick you don't mind polishing those fingerprints off, and will, obsessively. It's a striking piece of kit, and it will turn client heads. Battery life is poor to rotten, i'd say 60-90 mins or so at best, if you consciously turn down the drain in windows.

Go on. Go nuts. AR all the way!