Sony offering trade-in credit for your old laptop

While not quite as sweet a deal as getting a free computer for your rusty and bloodied old gun, Sony has still managed to one-up rival Apple's PC recycling program by actually offering you a cash incentive to bring in your used, non-Mac notebook when you go to purchase a new one from the Japanese electronics giant. Depending on your machine's capabilities, the company will give you anywhere from $23 (for a Pentium II-powered lappy) all they way up to $318 (for a Pentium 4 rig) as a trade-in credit towards a new Vaio, with Sony-brand laptops unsurprisingly fetching more loot than products from other manufacturers. Consumers interested in this deal can either bring their old gear to a Sony retail store or simply mail it in when they order online; as for us, we'll still be paying full price for our Sony products, because the CSR we spoke with just laughed and hung up when we asked how much they'd give us for our still-working Osborne.

[Paul @ Jun 7th 2006 12:17PM]

You know, it would be worth mentioning the resale value of Macs at this point. I just traded in my laptop mac for a new one, receiving $750 credit toward the purchase of my MBP. Not bad for a two year old machine. How many PC's will get that kind of credit?

[Ian Jardine @ Jun 7th 2006 12:26PM]

Sob, I have a P1 laptop.

[jr @ Jun 7th 2006 12:30PM]

Where did you trade your old mac?

[jfox @ Jun 7th 2006 12:34PM]

"How many PC's will get that [$750] kind of credit?"

Not many. Especially considering I just bought a brand new laptop (that will run for the next two years no problem) for $450 on dells website.

But you should feel good that your once $2999 ibook is now "still" worth $750.

[Matt @ Jun 7th 2006 12:41PM]

"But you should feel good that your once $2999 ibook is now "still" worth $750."

Where did you buy and/or see a $2999 dollar iBook? Could it fly? Did it transform into Natalie Portman?

[Spence @ Jun 7th 2006 12:42PM]

Twenty-three whole dollars?! If I can rummage together two or three old systems, that just might cover shipping!

[WeeJames @ Jun 7th 2006 12:46PM]

Nothing keeps it value like a Mac. I bought an iBook from the refrurb store for £550 then sold it a year later on eBay for £600!

[Craig @ Jun 7th 2006 12:53PM]

Just thinking about what weejames said, selling a refurb lappie at a profit, you could turn this into a business. Right time to go and make some money!

[Sean Todd @ Jun 7th 2006 1:25PM]

Anyone else notice that the keyboard pictured is a mac keyboard?

[jc @ Jun 7th 2006 1:46PM]

Not a mac keyboard, macs don't have the brightness on F5 / F6 and they definately don't have monitor output selector on F7.

It is a white keyboard tho...

[eric @ Jun 7th 2006 1:54PM]

Sony has been doing this for a while. My roomate took advantage of this program about 3 months ago.

[crusty @ Jun 7th 2006 2:03PM]

Are you seriously disputing the background pic? WOW!

[christine @ Jun 7th 2006 2:03PM]

it's a new vaio keyboard: http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/images/article/Notebooks/FESeries/img_2_std.jpg

[Paul @ Jun 7th 2006 2:24PM]

I used powermax.com but I know there are other companies that do this as well. Email them for a quote on your mac.

Granted I paid $2000 for my 12" DVI pb when new, but getting back a bit of that is fine by me.

BTW, I am so jealous of the person who got a $450 Dell, that must be a pleasure to work with.

:)

[Oprah @ Jun 7th 2006 3:01PM]

vaio are pretty pricey in the first place considering that they use the same components as dell.. its the EXACT same machine with a really expensive "vaio" badge.. not making it any better in anyway.. I recomend buying a dell and not spending the extra cash in the first place.. So even with a huge refund credit you are still getting ripped off.. also with the refund you have to get another vaio just getting sony further into your pocketbook.. all in all you end up overpaying twice..

[Gordy @ Jun 7th 2006 3:37PM]

I wish Apple offered this.

[fumbducker @ Jun 7th 2006 3:47PM]

can i bring the 30 ibm i1200 series i have in my garage? or just one?

[TrafficGeet @ Jun 7th 2006 4:06PM]

"...the CSR we spoke with just laughed and hung up when we asked how much they'd give us for our still-working Osborne."

The funny thing about this is that you get the same reaction when you call them for tech support for a Vaio too!

[Danny @ Jun 7th 2006 7:19PM]

its not for desktops? they should offer it and i will instantly trade in mines if i like the incentive amount

[mastershake916 @ Jun 7th 2006 7:34PM]

This is kind of, eh, old.

[Jamar @ Jun 7th 2006 8:14PM]

Is this a US-Only program? I'd love to be able to trade in my VAIO towards a new one when I go to Japan again.

[Don @ Jun 8th 2006 1:23AM]

Not quite a good deal if your (very) old Celeron-based VAIO notebook with broken hinges and in various states of disrepair. Better off selling that sucker on eBay to someone who wants to repair it.