Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread

The thing is that the GeForce 9300gs card is so slow, the 256MB won't even make a difference. If a game requires 256MB to run, chances are the 9300gs processor will be way too slow anyway. Another concern is that the 9300gs may not have enough memory bandwidth to properly take advantage of the 256MB anyway (which would essentially make the extra 128MB like shared RAM).

In color quality, both resolution screens are just about identical. The difference is the high resolution screen can display a lot more text on the screen, since text can be a lot smaller without getting blurry or pixelated. Pictures and movies are also a lot sharper on the high res screen.

The disadvantage to the high res screen is if the text is too small for you, Vista's DPI scaling feature may work for some programs (obviously all of Vista's default), but not others. Also, for gaming, you won't be able to play most games at native resolution (1600x900) with good performance, which means you'll have to change to another resolution, which often looks bad (and even worse if not the correct aspect ratio).

Overall, the low res screen (1366x768) is better for gaming, while the high res (1600x900) is better for word processing, web browsing, movies, pictures, etc. if the text size works for you. However, the 1600x900 is actually better for gaming slightly if you don't mind running at non-native resolutions.

 

why did Sony use a NVIDIA card and not 1 of the new ATIs?

 

of course if you're buying the Z for gaming you should probably be looking at another notebook

 

Usually that would make sense, no? But I looked at some of the benchmarks of the 9300M GS, Ati HD3470 to have a feel how these cards would handle games compared to my old school 6600GT and surprisingly these two cards are supposed to perform slightly better.

For comparison, Assassin's Creed requires at least a 6600GT with 256 MB of vRAM (mine being only 128 MB). So I was thinking logically that if the game needs a bare minimum of a 6600GT card w/ 256 and if the 9300GS/HD3470 in general perform slightly better, then Assassin's Creed should run (especially since the 9300GS/HD3470 can handle Shaders much better than my ancient 6600GT.

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JohnTitor, it's a much complicated issue than just black and white. A lot more variables come into play and yes, I am buying the Z so I can game too.

IsamuX, how come your Z doesn't have the fingerprint sensor thingy in between the two touchpad buttons:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22195&d=1218288340

 

Thank you both for responding. ac500, your explanation was especially helpful and you really spelled it out for this non techie writer.

It looks like the higher res is for me. I have seen the Z at the Sony store, and I'm assuming it was the higher res. I doubt they will ever have the lower res on hand for real life comparison, unfortunately.

It's frustrating that you have to purchase a 3000.00+ model to get the higher res screen on a preconfigured machine. I may have to look at the B to B models.

 

Thx buddy!! lol I see you took a picture of me putting a post asking you take screen shots. In other words, Toronto GuYY, here u go now shut up.

 

Hi all!
Finally, I finished reading 76 pages...... oh man..

So, Isamux, is it DDR2 or DDR3? And what resolution?

thx

 

Oh yeaa, IsamuX, I also noticed you dont have the Finger print reader?

 

The CTO in Japan allows you to not get the TPM, cam, and Felicia. If I get one, that's the way to go.

 

congrats on your new toy, i'm sure you'll love it. would just like to ask which model is your desktop monitor? As the Z is pretty much wiping the floor with it in terms of contrast. Btw, first post, be nice guys

 

How do you feel about the way IsamuX's Z was shipped? It looked like it was packed well. I know you don't like CTO's, but if your speculation is correct about just getting 1 preconfig. in Canada, give a CTO one more go. Maybe you'll be in luck this time. And if not, they know you at Sony, and you'll get all of your hard earnings back. That way you will cure yourself of this bulemia, in your case, buleZmia. No seriously, give a CTO one last try.

But I have to "caution" you guys, if in the future you need to send your Sony Z or any Sony item for repair to the Sony Repair Center in the U.S., be very careful, because from my own personal experience, I've never gotten my laptop and other items in the same condition I sent it. There were so many scratches on the lid and on the bottom casing of my notebook. I was literally in shock when I received it. I didn't think it was my computer at first until I launched it. First thought was, how do I prove to Sony that I didn't cause this? I immediately called their repair center and customer service center to write a report the day I received it. They eventually fixed it, but I had to send the laptop in AGAIN ( such a hassle), wondering what was going to be next and how I was going to get it back. I think I got a totally new upper and lower case because of the feel, and they reaffixed (is that even a word) the serial number because I can tell it was tampered with. But my notebook IMO was never the same.

Just a word of caution to all of you once again because, I've sent more than just a laptop, and believe it or not, all have been return with basically external abuse. I really take care of my stuff and pad my notebook when traveling.

Take photos before you use U.S.A. repair centers with your warranty and TELL them you are sending it without wear.

When you say, "power is needed" are you referring to the use of battery when playing these games? What if your using A/C to play any demanding game, will the higher res. serve better?

Isn't the fingerprint reader an option for CTO's, but standard on preconfig's? At Conics, it asks if you want it, and I think it was like $48. approx.

 

Only in Japan is it an option. CTOs on the US SOnyStyle have it with no way to deselect it.

 

I've ordered my Z! It's CTO but I'm not too concerned. Actually it works out to slightly less than the pre-configured w/ the same options interestingly enough;;

Here are the specs

Wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g/n) with integrated Bluetooth® technology
None
None
128 GB Solid State Drive with RAID (64GBx2 dual channel)
None
LCD 13.1" (XBRITE-DuraView™)
Standard Battery (BPS12)
None
Trusted Platform Module / Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
Microsoft® Works
No Engraving
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P9500 (2.53GHz)
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network
Fresh Start™
4 GB DDR3-SDRAM (DDR3-1066, 2GBx2)
Microsoft® Windows Vista® Business with Service Pack 1
DVD±R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive

 

If Sony had the option to get it w/o the Sprint WWAN, TPM, and cam, I'd consider a US version.

 

Thank you very much for the heads up GEEE. Exactly what ive been saying and thats why Made in Japan makes a difference.

You see, this is where my problem lys when getting it from Portable One. Will my warrenty be in U.S if I buy from them??

 

Thanks, that's very good advise.

Any guesses as to when the Z will start shipping in the US, now that it is it Japan?

 

Can you guys guess wheree Im from? This is gonna be a tough one.

 

I think it's because of the better power efficiency and the hot switchable ability.

 

So the reason why IsamuX got his Z first was due to his Japan address, which makes sense, so that means US, Canada and Europe should be getting their's next? Has anyone seen them in retail stores yet? I've been checking here and so far no inventory. But then again I was told the week of the 17th of Aug.

Hey guys, in your PROFILE, can you place what city and/or country your from? It would be interesting to read posts as these Z's are shipped and received. We know that so far someone from Japan just received theirs, curious to know who receives theirs next and to what country.

I realize it's all relative to who orders first, when orders were placed, and where it is built. But I'm sure there are quite a bit of you on this thread from all over the world who have placed their orders in and around the same time. I'm thinking that maybe there's a pattern. Thanks otherwise I totally respect your privacy.

 

I second that request. It's convenient in many situations.

 

As far as I know, yes. You'd probably have to send it to P1 for service.

 

Isamux,

Congrats man, you are the first owner. Wow, these pics are really great, the Z is a nice piece of design. Is really tempting but I want to wait some reviews. Can you report back for the battery life? Is very important to me, if is not at least 4 hours on stamina mode I will wait for the new ultraportables of Sony.

 

(FOR CANADIANS) Asnwers to questions I had asked Portable One.

Yes and we now offer free FedEx ground shipping to our Canadian neighbors on all Sony systems.


Z’s will be shipping towards the end of next week.


Yes all pre-configured Z’s are built at Sony’s plant in Japan. Sony CTO products are assembled in San Diego, CA.


Yes we are one of their top Enterprise dealers and are a TSP (Total Solutions Provider) we handle/service all their large accounts for them, such as NVIDIA etc…


No onsite options, but you can choose one of the below:

VAIO® Notebook Express Ship Extended Service
PCGA2SYLPE
3 Years
$129.99
Designed to extend the original Sony warranty on VAIO® notebooks by providing Express Ship service from the day the product is purchased. Coverage includes all shipping costs and packing materials.

PCGA3SYLPE
4 Years
$189.99


VAIO® Notebook Express Ship Extended Service with Accidental Damage from Handling
VGP2SYLPAD
2 Years
$149.99
Designed to extend the original Sony warranty on VAIO notebooks by providing Express Ship service from the day the product is purchased. The plan will also repair or replace eligible parts in your Sony product when it malfunctions due to breakdowns that o

VGP3SYLPAD
3 Years
$249.99

VGP4SYLPAD
4 Years
$349.99

 

So would Canadians be sending their laptops to P1 or to a Canadian Sony repair depot?

 

^^^ Im finding that out right now. So sit back and enjoy the show.

 

Do you have the rest of the description of the "VAIO® Notebook Express Ship Extended Service with Accidental Damage from Handling"?

From what I see, "VAIO® Notebook Express Ship Extended Service" does NOT cover damage to the laptop done due to shipping and handling but "VAIO® Notebook Express Ship Extended Service with Accidental Damage from Handling" does so?

Jebuz, it's gonna cost me an extra $350.00 for warranty. I guess at that price, I might as well get the cheapest Z available. It sucks that Sony Canada doesn't offer more than 3 years of warranty.

 

IsamuX, what are the specs of your Z?

 

VAIO® Notebook Express Ship Extended Service

PCGA2SYLPE - 3 Years - $129.99

PCGA3SYLPE - 4 Years - $189.99

Designed to extend the original Sony warranty on VAIO® notebooks by providing Express Ship service from the day the product is purchased. Coverage includes all shipping costs and packing materials.

 

VAIO® Notebook Express Ship Extended Service with Accidental Damage from Handling

VGP2SYLPAD - 2 Years - $149.99

VGP3SYLPAD - 3 Years - $249.99

VGP4SYLPAD - 4 Years - $349.99

Designed to extend the original Sony warranty on VAIO notebooks by providing Express Ship service from the day the product is purchased. The plan will also repair or replace eligible parts in your Sony product when it malfunctions due to breakdowns that o

 

2 Seperate plans listed above^^^

 

If you have the money get it, but once the ground fedex hits the border, they will charge you severly out of the wazoo.

 

Someone told me a few posts back its 6.1% to get it across the boarder from U.S to Canada

 

Or it would be 0% if only they checked off "gift" on the package. I know it's unethical and illegal but it's the nice thing they can do, especially if one decided to buy an expensive machine from them, when I have the Sony store around the corner.

 

depends how they view the product, if you buy a pre configed one, it won't be made in the US, so nafta will not apply and thus charges will go up, such as:

taxes: gst and pst of course
duties: since it is not an american product there will be duties
brokerage fee: if it is shipped by ground expect a fee (if shippe via air, there is no fee)

If you get the CTO and the border sees it as a nafta product since it was put together in the US, then duties and so on will not apply, probably only taxes and any shipping fees. again if you have the money that is.

the gift option might work but it depends what value the company states the product has, technically if it is marked as a gift, the border people can't open it unless they have very good reasons for opening it. but a gift still can be taxed and dutied if there is a value given onto it, and if the company or person sticks 2500 on it, the gift option don't help.

Listen, I can see you want this laptop bad, if you have the money buy it, if you want to save some cash wait.

 

Is there no finish to that last sentence?

 

Yaea problem is Canada doesnt get nothing, no options im assuming. Look at the SZ780, we only got ONE lousy damn option.

 

loll, No, I dunno why

 

the market here is not as large as it is in europe and the US.

 

Congradulations sir, you won a brand new car!!! I dont want a car, ill take the Vaio Z, thx.

 

Extended warranties are rarely worth the price..

 

Keep in mind, I've never had any problems with shipping to and from Sony, but the problem lies with the people at the repair center. They were the ones that handled it and damaged my laptop. You would think that there work stations were padded with some kind of material or even heavy duty rubber. But I think their workstation tables are of metal, because there was so much scrapes at the bottom of my laptop.

Anyway, I think if you decide to get your Z from P1 or Conics, I can't imagine your Z being damaged. It seems from IsamuX's Z that it is well packed. And upon receiving my notebook from Sony, they did a good job of making sure there's room on all sides and top and bottom to withstand bangs and dents from other shipment. So order your Z and tells us all about it.

 

So many questions to answer. I'm at work now and don't have my Z but I'll try to answer some of the questions before they pile up.

First thanks for all the congrats. I think I'm just lucky that I'm in Japan at the this moment when the Z finally shipped. *^_^*

My configuration (owner made/customized...) is the 2.8Ghz, 4 gigs of ram, 200Gb 4200 HD (yeah, I skimped on this as I am going to upgrade it myself, I'm currently eying the 7200 Scorpio Black, I'll try to get one installed on Monday!), the screen is the 1600x900 with 256Mb video ram (still don't know if it's ddr2 or 3, but will check when I install a new HD), and all the other options I opted out as they cost about $50 here and there, I did get the camera though and English keyboard, that also cost $50... (yes, NO fingerprint reader... don't need it.)

Battery tests, I have done any yet... but I did get the CPU with the biggest power draw so it might not be the best representation for battery or typical Z (I haven't seen the 2.8Ghz option on the US site, only Japan)

Packing when it arrived seemed very nice. It was in it's regular box then packed into a bigger box with lots of packing material, my wife and I both shook the box as we thought no way it could be so light... maybe they just shipped the box?? But when shaking, I heard nothing jostling around, so I would say it was very secure and safe.

As for LED light bleed, I will check it out tonight when I get home and take a pic or two using the aformentioned app on a black screen.

My only concerns right now about it, would be the 4200 rpm drive (perhaps everyone should just upgrade if they had the option) and after scrutinizing the casing, all the little doors and covers and port hiders... they are a bit flimsy, I think after some prolonged use, they might come off or not longer fit flush. I was playing with them and they are flimsy (the port cover on the bottom is a slidey door, the express card slot door doesn't go back flush, needs a bit of play to return and the Etho port cover feels like it'll fall off), nothing to break the deal but perhaps as more of these little niggles pop up, you might feel a bit let down. though this doesn't deter my feeling. It's still a great machine.

Oh and the monitor in my pics is a 20" Benq. Not the most expensive, just a cheapy so perhaps it's an unfair comparison.

I'll report back some more when I have more time with it (for sure, I'm gonna have to wipe the machine and install an English version... I really can't get around the Japanese OS)

 

Even if I plan on keeping this laptop for at least 5 years?

That's the only reason why I'm considering the Z. Because I know it's a reliable, well-built machine that won't wear away in a few years but at the same time, I know some parts are bound to fail like the HDD.

 

A HDD probably won't fail within three years (the length of the warranty). And, if it does, a new HDD is cheaper than the warranty. I guess it's just one of my personal quirks, but I never spend money on extended warranties. If they weren't making a profit off them, they wouldn't offer them.

 

I totally agree but I keep on hearing that today's laptops are just not built to last 5 years, which sucks and this is why I wanted it. I was thinking that if it were to fail, it would start failing around the 3-year mark. Oh well, I'll still give it a try and hope I get a good, solid version.

 

Also congrats from me...I'm going to buy one from Sonystyle.jp as well...I'm mainly curious about the battery life...but as you choose 35W procs, your answer will not be accurate for most of us again...

My supposed config will be:

Premium design - Gothic Arabesque
Vista Ultimate SP1 JP
Japanese keyboard

Procs. P9500 (2.53 GHz)
1600x900 256MB
4 GB RAM
320 GB (5400) or 200 (7200)
Blu-Ray Burner

FingerPrint reader
WebCam
Standard battery

 

Gothic Arabesque is nice

 

Thanks for keeping us updated Isamux.

I like the internationaty in here.

 

I would be very interesting for me to know, how the display shows smaller resolutions, for example in world of warcraft. Is the resize quality o.k.?

 

One note...when I'm downloading the English user manual for Z from sony vaio site the filename is 'dogfoodz500.pdf'?