In terms of features, they are fairly similar. However there are a few differences.

USB's the HP has USB 3.0, now thats not that important tho as how many usbs do you have that have usb 3.0?

The gpu on the HP preforms better in the benchmark tests. While the Sony is compared to intels graphics.

The screen on the sony is bigger, however I use a 15" screen and it is fine.

HP also has a bigger HDD

The only had thing about the HP is that I find they have a tendency to break. However, make sure you get an extended warenty and you will be fine.

Overall I would get the HP, specs are better in my view.

Go with the Sony ive always had bad luck with the hp brand products.

Also HP wont back up their products and when you call tech support they are very rude. (this is just my experience)

If you take my word go with the Sony and I could recommend something...Go with a Gateway I've had very good luck with them and they offer great assistance.

Build An i7 Computer With Max Graphics.

Zombieeeeee wrote Build An i7 Computer With Max Graphics.

That's not an option as I don't want a computer I'm wanting a laptop.

Why have you chosen to buy one of these?
Let's start with the HDD. Do you really need 750 GB? And 5200 is fairly slow with todays standard, you should rather get one with SSD..
USB 3.0 is not important, it gets higher speeds but there are barely any USB 3.0 devices out there. And it's backward compatible, so any device with 3.0 can be used with a 2.0 port. So unless you're going to be recording with one of these Blackmagic devices, don't consider it as important.
By looking at what kind of usage you use it for, you should really consider having a desktop and use your current laptop to.. whatever you need to.

But if you really have to choose between one of these, I would go with the HP one. Why? Because I simply hate Sony Vaio' laptops

lolibox wrote Why have you chosen to buy one of these?
Let's start with the HDD. Do you really need 750 GB? And 5200 is fairly slow with todays standard, you should rather get one with SSD..
USB 3.0 is not important, it gets higher speeds but there are barely any USB 3.0 devices out there. And it's backward compatible, so any device with 3.0 can be used with a 2.0 port. So unless you're going to be recording with one of these Blackmagic devices, don't consider it as important.
By looking at what kind of usage you use it for, you should really consider having a desktop and use your current laptop to.. whatever you need to.

I understand that a desktop would be more suitable for my needs however I really don't have the space for it and as for my PVR and xbox etc they're located to far as for me to have the PC hooked it to it, I've chosen these computers due to what I do on a regular day.

I dont know much about these computers. But I'll tell you my opinion lol
Hp's tend to break easily, and my toshiba took a shit and never started again..yay...lol
Hp's tend to break and run slow for me. Sony's and alien's are expensive.
But i use my current laptop for, Sony Vegas 11, Cinema 4D, After Effects, Photoshop, and Fireworks. And it has no problems. I also record.
Now it was top of the line like a year and a half ago.
The brand is "Asus", reviews are half good but half bad.
I suggest you go to Best Buy and get the restore disk also, just in case!