Official Sony VPC-Z2 (VAIO Z 2011) Series Owners' Thread

I do it all the time. However, the problem for me is that I forget about the blue LED and unplug it resulting in nags later. Part of me does wish there was a 'undock automatically on hibernate' setting or something like that.

 

Well, I have not yet been in such a hurry to boot it up for 2 sec, undock, and t sleep again under 10 seconds I keep an extra eye for that blue led

 

I assume the BOS on wake up is being caused by a driver for one of my peripherals and not the Z or PMD itself. Even though others have reported the same issue, surely Sony tested the unit for cycling between sleep/wake while docked. Certainly I've had no issues with rebooting while docked.

Ultimately it's a non-issue for me -- I have no reason for my Z to be asleep while docked.

And I saw nothing at CES that would let me plug in multiple monitors like the Z2 does. I saw many people impressed that such a small device could easily drive 3 monitors and the internal display.

 

Speaking of CES, I see that the Carbon Fiber Silver Z23 that was on display at the show is now on the US web site.

 

There's a new(er) version of Sony Notebook Utilities, with new version of Vaio Power Management inside, however it's only available for 2390x. Doesn't let me install on 2290x (not intended for your computer message). Any way to bypass this? Other new software work without above mentioned issue (Vaio Smart Network, Hardware Diagnostics, CPU Fan Diagnostics....)


Cheers,
Miki

 

I'm not sure what those fan diagnostics do. I installed that but don't see anything different.

 

Hi,

I'm just curious. Does this SFBag (with the Vaio Z2 inside) fit into a Samsonite Pro-DLX 3 Office Case 15,6" ?
Max dimensions of the "laptop" in the office case : 37 x 27 x 04cm
I'm sure that the length and height of the SFBag would be okay.

But what about the "depth" with the Vaio Z2 inside ?
With or without the sheet battery ?

The objective : use my current bag everywhere where I may need my laptop. But when there is a "coffee break" for example, I'd like to take only my laptop with me, without all my stuff I need at work or in class. So I would take only the SFBag with the Vaio Z2 inside and leave my office case where it is until I come back

Could you please tell me about the depth ? (at the thickest point).

Thanks !
Have a nice day !

Chris

 

Chris, I got your e-mail through YouTube as well, so I'll just respond here. Based on your dimensions of the Samsonite, the SFbag should fit in there with no problems, even with the sheet battery attached to the Z2. The max width is about 3 cm. However, I think the SFBags is overkill if you are gonna put it inside another bag. If I take my backpack with me, I put my Z2 in a sleeve rather than the SFbags. Look for a sleeve for a Macbook 13" or a Mac Air as those will fit the Z2 as well. Of course, sleeves don't have shoulder straps or good protection either, but they take up less space. And since it will be protected by your Samsonite bag most of the time, you don't need all the padding that comes with the SFbag.

The SFbag is great for the person who just wants to carry it only in a bag by itself. Yet they want it to be as small as possible with should straps and padding which is better than a sleeve. It's awesome for bicycling!

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks so much !
I hope that when I will have this laptop (probably in 2 weeks), I'll be able to answer questions of future owners as perfectly as you guys did for my questions.

You said that the SFBag is overkill... Well... I could still use it sometimes by itself with the Z2 inside My Samsonite bag would be "overkill" sometimes...
And as you explained well (here and in the video), it has "straps" and padding. And this is definitely better for a laptop at that price

Have a nice day !

Chris

 

I thought that the Z23 would be the Ivy Bridge update but now there is a Z23 listed on Sony's website (which seems to be the same as the Z22).
Do you guys think that the Z2 will get an Ivy Bridge refresh or will we have to wait for a possible Z3 next year to get the new processors?

 

Need some help guys. I just received this vaio VPCZ21DGX/B as a gift and was wondering how come it is priced so high online compare to other models like VPCZ216DGX which are cheaper by several hundred bucks with same specs?

I wanted the gold limited edition but this is all what was given to me.

I hope this model is not bad and is better than the cheaper models.

Please let me know though the reason why it is priced higher...thanks!

 

Due to my issue with HDMI connection (when closing laptop lid whole desktop is ported to TV, even though lid action set to "do nothing" and monitors set to "extended"), I want to reinstall ATI/Intel combo drivers and see if it helps.

What is proper way for uninstalling them? Do I need to connect PMD and then uninstall?

I want to remove drivers completely, restart (with PMD connected) and install "fresh" drivers.


Cheers,
Miki

 

When I installed the new drivers, I connected to the PMD, uninstalled via control panel, rebooted, and installed the new driver package.

I recommend the drivers found at the link that SirRobin provided rather the ones found on the US Sony website.

 

Thanks mate

Sony website updated drivers, at least for 2390x model, so it's the same driver as in SirRobins' sig.

Did anyone try (and succeed) hooking up laptop and TV via WiDi? Can I use drivers/software from Intel support site? Some short instructions would be welcome
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=3227&DwnldID=20791&lang=eng&iid=dc_rss


Cheers,
Miki

 

I've had no problem making a WiDi connection via the Netgear NGPTV2000. I didn't need to download or install anything. I just clicked on the Intel icon in the system tray, activated WiDi (I turned it off along with the "hot spot" capability), and connect to the Netgear box.

You end up with a 1280x720 image on the TV screen. The lag time is too long to use it as anything other than video playback (for me anyway). Also, I have issues maintaining a consistent connection even though my two devices are 10 feet apart on direct line of sight.

 

thanks for the heads-up, we'll give it a try tomorrow.

Cheers,
Miki

 

Thanks to azian_advanced's recommendation, the almost perfect sleeve to me, the VGP-CKSR1 arrived today!

It fits my Z2 with and without the sheet battery comfortably. The sleeve is a decent replacement to the standard neoprene sleeves. It isn't some expensive quality leather of any sorts but my laptop fits like a glove and the sleeve itself fits nicely into my Gucci and Burberry messenger bags. $40 well spent. Definitely recommended here.

 

i'm glad it worked well for you too

 

Does the VGP-CKSR1 case have extra room for the Z to move around when the flap is closed? Or does it fit like a glove in all 3 dimensions LxWxH? It looks like it may be too deep (when the case is upright with the flap on the top, the height looks too tall). The dimensions on Sony's website list the case as 13.2" (W) x 10.2" (H) x 2.0" (D), but our Z is only about 8.5" at most on the height.

 

^
Snug fit without the sheet battery surprisingly and even tighter with it. I'd assume it gets a bit looser over time but the fit without the sheet battery leaves minimal wiggle if any that I could see right now. With the sheet battery, it is a bit tighter and a bit more difficult to pull the laptop out but it fits fine.

If you look at the 2nd pic below, the laptop when fitted in, the silver strip of our laptops would be on the same line as the Sony tag on the bottom right of the picture.

Pics from: http://forum.notebookreview.com/8208010-post2405.html

 

^
Does the laptop go all the way to the bottom of the sleeve when you say the silver strip is on the same line as the Sony tag. It seems the bottom of the sleeve is slightly curved so not sure the laptop would go all the way down. Thanks in advance!

 

^
Yes it goes all the way to the bottom.

 

Need some help guys. I just received this vaio VPCZ21DGX/B as a gift and was wondering how come it is priced so high online compare to other models like VPCZ216DGX which are cheaper by several hundred bucks with same specs? or vpc22ugxn gold

I wanted the gold limited edition but this is all what was given to me.

I hope this model is not bad and is better than the cheaper models.

Please let me know though the reason why it is priced higher...thanks!

 

Does anyone know why my taskbar turns to white when im on power saver mode? its rather annoying

 

Windows turns off Aero mode (lets the window frames be transparent) to save power -- Aero uses more graphics capability than the standard opaque mode.

 

I do not see a model number VPCZ216DGX. I do see one called VPCZ216GX/L.

If that's the case then the differences between the two models are that yours has built-in WWAN and the sheet battery.

At list prices, those two items are $200 more.

 

-hacked Z2 BIOS testing successfull, request pulled-

 

Well- I'll be parting out Z2. If anyone is interested in PMD Dock (With non Blu-ray) let me know.

 

Can you pm me or post here how much?

 

Is it possible to fn lock the Z2 keyboard? I use the fn buttons far more than F1-F12.

 

i am also considering parting out a Vaio Z2 PMD with bluray. This is the one that comes with the vpc-z213gx/b and is still brand new in packaging. Let me know if anyone is interested.

 

I will take the PMD. Let me know how you want to wrap this up.

Thanks,

Anthony

 

Need a favor....
Could anyone measure the width and height of the visible portion of the display
I need to order a custom size ScreenSavrz Laptop Display Protection from RADTECH..

10x

 

28.9 mm by 16.2 mm

 

@azian_advanced...thanks..will convert to inches...

 

Isn't that cm instead..?

 

I have measured 29,0-1cm by 16,3cm 1080 display

 

^ This is more realistic...Most likely azian_advanced meant cm..10x Palda//

 

So...This will cover the whole keyboard to avoid the keys from rubbing against the screen//

 

i prefer to use the cloth that came with the laptop than using a screen protector imo. screen protectors are difficult to apply/replace and ruins the original anti-glare coating on the lcd.

 

I guess it's about the compromise you're willing to deal with. The cloth is cumbersome, a coating will be less so but will be a problem screen-wise.

I use neither, and I accept that a year down the line at most(?) I'll see those familiar lines on the screen. I have verified that even with the reduced key height/travel, it's still dead easy for the screen to contact the keys while being carried around.

Actually, that's one aspect I've been really impressed with the Toshiba ultrabook over the Z2. The similar-to-Sony reduced key travel does genuinely mean that the keys are less likely to touch the screen. I needed to put a Probook edgewise on the lid (that's >2Kg pressing down on an area 1.5" wide) before the screen would even threaten to touch the keys. Sony - well, basically the tip of a finger. Plus ça change.

 

It is a cloth not a screen protector.. MacBook Screen Protector, LCD Display Cleaner, Keyboard Cover for MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, PowerBook, iBook & PC

 

Vaio Z2 advanced menu hack almost ready; pyr0 shall be making a thread soon XD:

 

wow, that looks great!

 

The battery that comes with the Z2...is it replaceable or not...

 

The battery is user replaceable. It has eight screws that attach it to the laptop so, while it's user replaceable, it's not easy to swap batteries on a regular basis. If you need extended battery, I recommend the battery slice.

 

I just bought a Z2 with the blu-ray reading pmd, and don't really have any need for the pmd. Is there any market for selling these things? (and if so, is anyone potentially interested?)

 

Wonder if the latest Z2 owners will have the palmrest marking problem and the warped memory card area issues. There's a very visible flipped-on-the-left-side "L" on all of my Z2's (all first-gen) now. There's a fainter line on the VAIO embossed side, but the lines are pretty consistent from unit to unit.

 

Hi,
Could you tell more about this "palmrest marking problem" please ?
What is it exactly and how can we avoid it ?
By the way, what are the advantages of having access to the full BIOS ? I mean... On a laptop such as this vaio Z2.. ?
Thanks !
Chris

 

I have had my Z2 for 2 months and have been using a cloth screen protector. No line markings on the palmrest. But I do have the warped memory card problem as well. It came that way when I purchased the laptop.

Is the warped memory card slot a widespread issue?