Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread

That's one opinion. If this new lid is a huge appeal to someone, it might be worth it, especially if they are saving hundreds by choosing the 540 over the 590, they might choose to turn right around and spend what was saved to get the setup of their dreams.

I happen to like knowing it could potentially be done, if I wind up not liking the 1600x900, it might be worth it to me, especially if I fall for the look. I do care about liking the aesthetics of something expensive, I'd rather shell out a bit extra to make sure I love it.

 

I am slowly getting swayed by the TT For my portability needs and very light non demanding usage, it might be a better fit

But, Z is my first love laptop =) lmao

 

Where might I buy to get the free docking station? thanks!

 

Hi
I wanna buy a Z590ngb. I want to know how is its LCD(Xbrite-Duraview) compare to HiColor LCD 90(FZ180E/B).

 

The Z's LCD is very nice. Vibrant and accurate colours. Brightness-wise, I find it OK to use outside on maximum brightness. In a dimly lit room, it hurts my eyes on max brightness! (Around 4/10 is what I use for browsing in dark rooms.)

I've heard the Z's not as bright as a MacBook Air but it's certainly brighter than my other (CCFL backlit) laptops. I think it's brighter than single-lamp-CCFL and not as bright as the dual-lamp-CCFL screens.

Hope that helps.

 

It is bright. Very nice and bright. It is thin and quite flexible the lid.

But you have to look at it from a good angle. But the angle is wide, not at at the narrow angle.

 

Hey
How do I remove recovery partition ("EISA configuration") ? It's taking over 8gb...
I made recovery discs. And now I'm on x64.

thx

 

Make the recovery discs, and then it will ask you if you want to erase the recovery partition

 

What if I've already made the recovery discs?

 

From command Prompt c:\diskpart (enter), list volume (enter), select volume 1(enter), list partition (enter), select partition 1 (enter), delete partition override (enter)

 

I don't see it here, how is that possible?...

 

it looks like the recovery partition is volume 2

I don't really know how to do it cause I have never done it before.. maybe somebody else can help you.. or just search the sony forum.. i'm pretty sure you can come up with something

 

It should be delivered any hour now so Ill post pictures when I get it. I'll have comparison pictures of the Z vs SZ vs FW vs S.

My total was $2,161 (includes tax & free shipping)

Z590 CTO w/ P9500 & Premium Carbon Fiber

Everything else was standard. I ordered a 2GB stick from newegg for $60 to get 4GB total and I have a 7200RPM HD in my FW I'll be sticking in it. So in my eyes its fully loaded, I have no use for blu ray in a laptop and SSD isn't ready for primetime.

I was able to get this great price by signing up for their student discount (and I'm not a student)...it only took a few moments online. This saved me $220.

So as I mentioned in my original post, the extra $186 I paid for this vs the pre-config @ pcnation is worth the premium carbon but most importantly Sony's return policy. Also...the pcnation model is currently backordered and listed as shipping in "2+ weeks" so who knows.

BTW to answer your question I didnt have to buy anything extra like accessories or warranty to get the student discount...so if I were you definitely order online.

 

Wow congrats and I for one, cant wait for the comparison pics!! I would love to see the palm rest of the prem carbon Z!! Aside from fibers showing, I think there's also a slight weight reduction? either way, it just looks stunning

 

I wish my new Z were here now... T_T

 

The OLD Z590 -


The NEW Z590 -


It's a noticeable difference from the original lid. However, the actual wave of carbon fiber is seen differently depended on the light angle.
For instance:
a) bright flash + direct view:

b) angle view with decent sun light:

c) normal light condition:


Side view:



The packaging is a bit different. All the documents are now in a nice black box with VAIO name on it. XP service pack 3 downgrade disk is also included.

I highly recommend getting the permium carbon lid. It does add the premium look to this laptop to reflect the price we paid.

 

Man, that really sucks. Where did you buy it?
Anyway it is worth the waiting time. Simply the best Vaio around.

Rambler

 

How's the resolution, fonts not too small? Unfortunately, the two SonyStyle stores I went to recently only had the lower res models on display. Maybe the Manhattan store has them on display. I would like see one before ordering. Those pictures are tempting me to order the premium carbon Z590 CTO. Must resist until I see the higher res...must resist.

 

Your resistance is futile!! Get the Z nowwww lmao

 

phoebusvh... you're just evil.

I WANT MY Z... GIMME MY Z NOW... ARGH.
/me dies from the anticipation anxiety and giddyness.

 

The palm rest is going to be exactly the same for all Zs with or without Premium Carbon lid.

That's what I had been saying earlier.

 

The resolution is awsome. I love the space I have to surf web on one half and do work on the other half. BTW, my eyesight is not perfect but it's good enough that I don't have to wear glasses all the time.

lol, I know how you feel

It is actually really nice in person! In order to see the carbon fibre wave like the one on Sony's website, you have to be in a specific angle with a specific lighting, however, the lid produces a bunch of different great looking colors all the time depend on the angle you're looking at it. I'M LOVING IT!!! I have seen several Premium carbon SZ but I think I prefer the new Premium cabon Z much better.

 

Yes, I'm REALLY, REALLY sure.

 

I just checked the power button, it's non functional with the lid closed. Seems that Sony allready thought of that.
And the flimsy point beneath the left button is here on my Z also...

 

on english sonystyle (co.uk) is sonystyle exclusive CPU 2.60 Ghz. Every week something new is coming, there are no old models as well. I hope to see a small refresh or something new before Christmas (even blacklist keys is enough )

 

wat do you mean? can u post the link?

 

I just posted some pics: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=323217

 

Congrats to both of you for being the first to get prem. carb. I'm a bit confused. Both of you have a photo depicting the prem. carbon as more black than gray, but the majority of (both) all your photos are more gray in color. What precisely is the true color of that prem. carb.?

Is it darker or lighter than the current carbon lid that's on the Z? You both display similar photos of blue-metallic speckles on that lid. Is it the flash that's picking up those hues?

Anyway, this morning there was a huge ad for Fry's and the Z550, which I once owned was now on sale for $1699 (orig. $2099). That's a $400 instant discount. It was too good to pass up. I checked P1 and the Z550 is priced at $1859 and PCN had it for $1649. PCN also had an SZ750, my previous pc for $1806.28, which I miss and was considering repurchasing. End result; I bought the Z and this is a keeper.

As much as I would have wanted prem carb. and all that discussion on backlit and slot loading, I could not pass up the price. I don't think it will be any cheaper on Black Friday, which is a week from now. I do have 30-days for any price adjustments should the price be lower than what I paid. And of course, the standard 15-day return / no questions asked policy. I'm sure I'll be keeping this one this time around. Plus, I'll be cashing in my Sony Points for an additional $150 off the price.

I don't think I will have any regrets. Again, the price was just too good to resist. I had all-day to really think about this purchase. The guy was really cool to place it on hold for me, something they don't do whenever there's a huge discount.

Many of you have said, it's would be difficult to keep up with technology and that is so true. I need to be content with this. But rest assure, my next Sony notebook will havebacklit keys, slot-loading drive, blu-ray and ssd, 3-4 years from now (lol).

The Z docking station was also on sale as well as the extended battery, something I was considering, but later decided to hold off. I wanted to see that discount on my receipt without the added upgrades.

However, I am still interested in knowing what this premium carb. truly looks like. Thanks for posting those photos!

 

A noob question. What is the difference between Vaio Z VGN-Z12GN and Vaio Z VGN-12MN? Thanks

 

Can I ask you a question? Why do you have such a collection of notebooks? I wish I kept my SZ as you did. I miss it. I had so many compliments on that notebook.

Thanks again for posting those photos. It's nice to compare the Z with the SZ. I miss the screenspace on the SZ, but not enough to get the SR if you know what I mean.

 

So did you get it at Fry's or PCN? and what was the reason for you to not get the 590? Is it bc of the higher res being too small to read for extended period of time? Or is it bc of the fact that all the 590's are made in US?

Thanks!

 

Wow so you're back to Z. So what's your final verdict on the Macbook?

PS. I think the premium carbon comes out in different colors depending on the lighting.

 

Congrats on your purchase. That was a great price for the Z550. By they way, you could always buy the Premium Carbon lid once Sony Spare Parts dept start to sell them & you get it to do the swap yourself.

Yeah, I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the MB as well.

 

I just went to the Sony Store today and played with with the Z.

I looked great but...

The palmrests and keyboard flexed a LOT, this is unacceptable in a premium product like this which commands such a high price tag.

 

Just checked Amazon.com & found that they're selling the Z530 at a good price of $1,569.

Hope the following link helps someone:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-Z530...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227343159&sr=8-4

 

As well as I was writing about SZ about half a year ago, I can be sure some (probably bigger) refresh of Z is coming most probably on January according to Japanese CTO page. They are running several campaigns now, while yesterday they added quite big one - high resolution for the same price as the low resolution. Also there's 10% off for Blu-Ray and just 10 000 yen upgrade from P9500 to T9600. And most of these campaigns are ending on 26th of December (none of them later).

But the main reason why I believe the refresh is coming soon is, that many parts are already actually sold out in CTO and not possible to choose - such as P8600, 256 GB SSD (!) and 200 GB HDD (5200). Exactly the same situation as when I wanted to order SZ and it was going to be replaced with SR & Z.

I'm feeling a bit unlucky again, 'cos I decided to order my Z on the beginning of next month...as I'm coming to celebrate New Year back in Japan. It means I can't wait for the January refresh. I don't care about backlit keyboard (who really needs it if you're not watching keyboard while typing? I don't!) and slot load drive (I hate slot drives!), if they'll come. What I would regret is, if they would put stronger graphic card, make the fan silent in stamina mode, solve problems with double typing and sticky keys, make the whole Z just in black...or maybe if they would do premium designs on premium carbon All and all, I'm going to order on 3rd next month and the only thing which can stop me from doing that is, that the parts I want will not be available anymore (what I'm quite scared of actually)...

 

I can't post link, because it doesn't work Just go to sonystyle.co.uk then Vaio laptops -> Z and you will have CTO VGN Z 25X.

So you can configure your VGN Z 25X with CPU 2.60 Ghz (its sonysyle exclusive) and like I said before there is no old Z11 model on that page. Only Z21.

 

hey, anyone know how to update the nvidia 9300 driver ?
I heard some HP users (9600) have new driver now with more heat reduce efficiency and better performance

 

guys, can you write what do you think about Z fans? Is your laptop loud? im trying to find review from JP site, someone posted link here, in that thread, but find something when we have 500 pages now isnt easy.

So can you write what processor do you have, and what do you think about noise level. Thanks!

btw. i wan to buy for myself 2.53Ghz, but i dont want to have buzzzzzzzzzzz all the time

 

i just checked the page now and the Z11 models are still ther.

 

Congrats Geee on your purchase!! Great price indeed!!

What did you do with the new MB you got?? Lol

 

no they are not! there is actually only one, at the bottom (for ~1400 pounds if i'm not wrong). Other laptops are Z21, or i'm blind, because i just checked as well.

Here you have screen



so?

so what about your fan noise level guys?

 

my bad, sry abt that.

i was checking sony.co.uk and not sonystyle.co.uk

 

I thought so

 

It just like any other fan running. It just hums along. I put it in stamina mode and sometimes it shut off. But is always on. When it is in heavy load, it can sound like a jet taking off. Mine is a 2.2 ghz cpu.

 

how you did that?

btw. what you can say about noise level? is it annoying? how he was before you undervolt CPU? he was on all the time or just from time to time?

 

If your that concerned about fan noise, the Z is not for you. It is NOT silent. I got used to it. I came off an old Dell m1210, and I never heard the fan on it. The Z you can always hear it. Under light use, not a problem. Under heavy use, it's pretty loud.

I have the Z570 with the 2.53Ghz CPU.

 

Hey, one question for you Z owners. Why does my Z570, which has the lower rez screen, have a "Full HD 1080p" sticker on the keyboard (applied by Sony).

The lower rez Z's are not considered full HD, are they???