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    Official Sony VAIO BZ Series Thread

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony Owners' Lounge Forum' started by Elite Cataphract, Aug 10, 2008.

  1. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Does anyone have any information about the new BZ series and where it can be purchased in the United States? Thanks.
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 10, 2008
    #1
  2. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Aug 10, 2008
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  3. ESLE890

    ESLE890 Notebook Consultant

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    Portableone.com is also offering them.
     
    ESLE890, Aug 10, 2008
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  4. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Are there currently any discounts available on the BZ series?
    This notebook is perfect for my needs. I'm on a very tight budget though.
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 10, 2008
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  5. Lencias

    Lencias Notebook Consultant

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    Portableone's BZ isn't working for me - I click the link for the BZ series and it just takes me back to the homepage.
     
    Lencias, Aug 10, 2008
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  6. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    It wasn't working for me either. :(
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 10, 2008
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  7. ESLE890

    ESLE890 Notebook Consultant

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    ESLE890, Aug 10, 2008
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  8. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Are there any reviews of this notebook?
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 10, 2008
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  9. Lencias

    Lencias Notebook Consultant

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    Lencias, Aug 10, 2008
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  10. wc2810

    wc2810 Notebook Consultant

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    it uses the same battery as the SR, so I think battery life should be similar, the only important difference from the base SR is the screen size.
     
    wc2810, Aug 10, 2008
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  11. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    Dimensions
    14.27 (W) x 1.18(H) x 10.51(D)

    Any questions on the BZ I'd be happy to help.

    The estimated battery life according to Sony on the BZ is 2-5 hours with the standard battery.

    As for where to buy it, it's only sold through their B2B channel, so companies like CDW, PC Mall and Newegg will have it, but you will not find it at a brick and mortar.
     
    nixon, Aug 11, 2008
    #11
  12. Cossack7V7

    Cossack7V7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Why couldn't the BZ series come with a dedicated graphics card with Open GL like the Quadro FX770, FX1700, or FX2700?
    These are the newer workstations graphics cards that should have been included. If they were included as options, the BZ series would have been one very popular notebook.
     
    Cossack7V7, Aug 13, 2008
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  13. Cossack7V7

    Cossack7V7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Nixon, do you think that the BZ series will come with nVidia Quadro FX graphics card on newer models in the future?
     
    Cossack7V7, Aug 13, 2008
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  14. drake437

    drake437 Notebook Consultant

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    drake437, Aug 13, 2008
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  15. travelspace

    travelspace Notebook Enthusiast

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    got my BZ-XN yesterday. After a marathon of 16 hours cleaning- backing -and setting it up, I'm yet very impressed with it's cooling management and system noise -or better the lack off!
     
    travelspace, Aug 15, 2008
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  16. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    travelspace could you give us some more information about battery life you are experiencing?
     
    Phil, Aug 15, 2008
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  17. Cossack7V7

    Cossack7V7 Notebook Evangelist

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    The battery life should be more than 4 hours with integrated graphics...
     
    Cossack7V7, Aug 15, 2008
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  18. travelspace

    travelspace Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok, so after a view days running the BZ with a Bluetooth mouse and wifi enabled and multiple office apps side by side a couple of times I'd say 2h15 with mixed usage bot no way 3h...yet. There are just too many background processes. Sound is fine and graphics run well too. Again, very positive is the cooling mechanism (maybe that sucks some Volts..but hey..), the screen is good for my standards (also bright enough) and keyboard is very good. All connectivities (wifi, bluetooth, ports, dvd drive) are working well except I had some issue with the 400' firewire port to transfer data over..but not sure whether whether it's due to desktop or laptop issues; since the wirless is fast it's no biggie. I can see however the advantage of the silver finish on the SR and FW..blacky here attracts dust :)..one more job for the cleaning lady ..kiddin.
     
    travelspace, Aug 19, 2008
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  19. Lencias

    Lencias Notebook Consultant

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    The VAIO Professional website I was playing around in earlier listed 3.5hrs for the BZ compared to 5hrs for both the Z and the SR.
     
    Lencias, Aug 19, 2008
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  20. travelspace

    travelspace Notebook Enthusiast

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    yep, I guess a lithium battery needs a couple more charges to last longer but then again in my case I'm using bluetooth and wifi all the time with led screen max bright setting. One nifty thing I forgot is the power manager, which I set to 'medium'. So if you only use a usb mouse, a ethernet cable and a better power saver setting and only email and browse, over 3h would be doable I guess. I'll try to find some time to do a battery test with minimum settings and let you know. In addition I'll test the battery time while running a movie ..tests on notebookjournal.de (the only official but good test on the BZ I've found) claimed the battery to go down just after 2h on this. I'll let you know.
     
    travelspace, Aug 19, 2008
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  21. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    Yea, the battery life from what I've seen, is a ton better than the BX series it replaces, but with all that in mind it still is a 15.4" notebook, and getting 3 hours would be amazing. I should try that today. I'll charge mine up and let it sit and see how long it lasts. Reports back later.
     
    nixon, Aug 19, 2008
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  22. travelspace

    travelspace Notebook Enthusiast

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    the z and sr series would run longer already because the screen is indeed smaller. I doubt the dedicated ati gpu contributes to that though. I heard good things about the 4500 opposed to the 3100 intel (santa rosa). Just yeah If you wanna play a game without the ac hooked up, even on centrino 2, get a higher battery I would say...

    N.B.: I almost seem to tend being a sony bz ambasador but yet every sony consumer electronics I layed my hands on seem to brake down after 1 year ..maybe better karma this time :)
     
    travelspace, Aug 19, 2008
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  23. jackfm

    jackfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello

    What does everyone think about the new sony vaio BZ series?
    more exact about the VGN-BZ11XN that has anti-shock hdd and water resistant keyboard.
    They say their battery life is 3 h and 30 min, is that true?
    How about the speakers are they of any good?

    I would love to hear your thoughts about this series cuz i'm thinking of buying it.

    Thanks.
    jackfm
     
    jackfm, Aug 23, 2008
    #23
  24. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Havent heard the speakers myself. But I saw this in person the other day and it really did impressed me. Very well build. Most business notebooks has water proof keyboard nowadays.
     
    Johnny T, Aug 23, 2008
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  25. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Where did you see it? I never saw any of Sony's business line of notebooks.
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 23, 2008
    #25
  26. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The business laptops are easily identifyable through their use of Vista Business.
    I belive they are:
    Old: UX, TX, TZ, SZ, BX
    New: Z, BZ
     
    DetlevCM, Aug 23, 2008
    #26
  27. jackfm

    jackfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey, i just went by curiosity on sony.com this time (not sony.it) and i have not seen any BZ series? how come?

    any of you REALLY have it?(or seen/tested it) again i'm interested on buying it.

    thanks.
     
    jackfm, Aug 23, 2008
    #27
  28. racein

    racein Notebook Geek

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    I also would be interested in seeing these if any one has a link, thx
     
    racein, Aug 23, 2008
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  29. jackfm

    jackfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    jackfm, Aug 23, 2008
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  30. racein

    racein Notebook Geek

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    thx, for the info, I would really like to know where I could buy one.
     
    racein, Aug 23, 2008
    #30
  31. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The one I saw was in Hong Kong... :p Actually thats probably the 1st Sony B series I have seen personally. Hows the pricing in your country jackfm?
     
    Johnny T, Aug 23, 2008
    #31
  32. jackfm

    jackfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well, at sony's site the VGN-BZ11XN costs 1.200 euro's = 1772 $.

    But i've seen on internet other prices and the best price I found it at 1027 euro's = 1517(same bz model) ;)

    cheers,
    jackfm.
     
    jackfm, Aug 24, 2008
    #32
  33. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    For US customers it's only found on Sony's B2B site: b2b.sony.com - And you'll find it available from places like CDW, PC Mall, Newegg and the like.
     
    nixon, Aug 25, 2008
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  34. jackfm

    jackfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    So i finally found a good price for the Bz on a site, and ordered it.
    Final price (bag included) was 1100 euro's. I think it's pretty nice ..

    Anyways, i have a question

    do you think Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD can play semi-modern games?
    I know i won't play any games on it but will games work on it?

    another thing... will i face any problems if I run the last version of photoshop or any other programs like that?

    thanks
    jackfm.
     
    jackfm, Aug 25, 2008
    #34
  35. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    nixon, Aug 25, 2008
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  36. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Elite Cataphract, Aug 25, 2008
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  37. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Aug 25, 2008
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  38. zinny103090

    zinny103090 Newbie

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    has anyone recieved their bz in the united states yet?
    i just called the site i preordered the bz from and apparently now their on backorder till the 27 of sept :mad:
     
    zinny103090, Aug 28, 2008
    #38
  39. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    They are pretty well backordered at the moment, but I have heard Sony's shipping them out this week and next, a little behind schedule, but they are getting there.
     
    nixon, Aug 28, 2008
    #39
  40. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Why only integrated graphics? What about the Quadro FX/Ati Fire GL graphic cards? Any plans for that?
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 28, 2008
    #40
  41. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Will there be an option for the Quadro FX770 512MB?
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 28, 2008
    #41
  42. racein

    racein Notebook Geek

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    has anyone actually rec'd their bz, or ordered it yet, if so what model, and where did you find it. CDW says they are coming in next 2 weeks.
     
    racein, Aug 28, 2008
    #42
  43. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I think its only integrated intel GPUs. I don't think sony have ever used dedicated GPUs in their B series models if i recall correctly.
     
    Johnny T, Aug 29, 2008
    #43
  44. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    They've used ATI x700 and more recently, x2300's in some of the more high end ones. It is odd that they don't even have an option, but for 99% of most business applications that the BZ would be used for the new Intel chip will be sufficient I'd think. It's the specialized applications where it'll run into trouble.
     
    nixon, Aug 29, 2008
    #44
  45. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Ar I see thanks for the info, I thought i was missing something. :p
     
    Johnny T, Aug 29, 2008
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  46. jackfm

    jackfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello dear mates..

    So I finally got my BZ series few days back.
    I got the VGN-BZ11XN version.
    What can I say..

    I like the notebook, it looks great, screen is nice, and keyboard is nice too.
    Notebook is really fast.
    Here's vista business note:

    Processor: 5,2
    RAM: 5,7
    VIDEO: 3,9
    Video memory: 3,7
    HDD: 5,2

    PS: I don't do much games so i don't care much about the graphic card.

    Well, i need to get used to the widescreen and to the 1440x990 resolution... other than that its ok.

    Battery is ok, at medium settings it will give you more than2 h.
    I'm on 1h and 48 mins and still have 35% of the battery left.

    Cheers,
    jackfm.
     
    jackfm, Aug 30, 2008
    #46
  47. Elite Cataphract

    Elite Cataphract Notebook Evangelist

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    Can you post some pictures? Thanks.
     
    Elite Cataphract, Aug 30, 2008
    #47
  48. racein

    racein Notebook Geek

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    Glad to hear you are happy with your laptop, where did you purchase it from? and is it total black, thx and enjoy it.
     
    racein, Aug 30, 2008
    #48
  49. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes it is totally black.
     
    Johnny T, Aug 30, 2008
    #49
  50. francois.verbeeck

    francois.verbeeck Newbie

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    Congrats for your new BZ jackfm.
    I'm also interested in the BZ11XN but I wanted to see the screen by myself which will be pretty hard in belgium (most sony center don't even know it...)

    I'm in the market for a new vaio, and I put a lot of importance on the scren quality. Xbrite eco / single lamp are worse and worse, but Led version like the one on latests SZ and recently on the SR are ok. I still can't believe that 2005 laptops like the A, FS, FE serie and so on, got better display than their similar version in 2008...

    Anyway, if you can provide a quick feedback on the screen quality and if you have time to compare it to another laptop, it would be very nice :)
     
    francois.verbeeck, Aug 31, 2008
    #50
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