Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread

I bought Acronis for $10 - so I will make recovery discs, install what I want, clean up bloatware, follow the tweaking vista thread, defrag, THAN make an exact-disc image..

I should have taken tonight off =( !!

 

I'll use Acronis TrueImage as an example...
If you have Acronis TrueImage installed on at least one other system, you can use it to create a Bootable Recovery Disc. This fits on a regular CD-R or CD-RW. Once you've created that disc, you can use it on any system without having to install the software. You'll boot off the CD and run the program straight off of it. It's very handy!

I would say Hard Drive Image and Recovery Disc are related. Just semantics and interpretation.

To me, a hard drive image is an umbrella term that covers anytime you take a snapshot of a system in its entirety.

Recovery disc refers to the actual disc used to boot the system to start the recovery process. The hard drive image may be on the recovery disc(s) or on an external drive or a hidden partition.

 

So I didn't make a recovery disk when i got my z. It's been about 2 or 3 weeks and I've installed a few things (firefox, office, skype, etc.) nothing crazy.

If I make a recovery disk now, will it be a copy of the system now? Is that a bad thing?

 

no recovery disc = same stuff as recovery partition = factory default settings (bloatware included if no fresh start)

 

So, Im still confused about the recovery disc. Sorry to those that already have this covered. I get my Z590 tomorrow. I obviously want to make a recovery disc, but I need a simpler step by step explanation if anyone has time.

Also, can I just plug the Z in and start using it as soon as I recieve it or do I need to wait for a bit while the battery charges. Ill be so eager to mess around with it that I dont know if I can wait. Let me know what you guys think.

Also, one last question. Does anyone have any trouble plugging their Z into a 1920x1200 24" monitor through HDMI. I think that is my current plan...

Thanks to all!!

 

I have Windows Vista Business and I just got my Z90 CTO US so here you go!

I turned it on after 2 hours of battery charging WITH power cord connected. Per GrOOoVy you can just plug cord in and turn it on right away ( I was paranoid )

Vaio Recovery center pops up automatically after Vista has finished "setting up your computer" and I clicked make Recovery disc right off the start.. its located in System tools and just use vista search for recovery center

 

Lol, congrats on ur new Z Sonoritygenius. And I thought I was excited!

 

So you have to make sure you're in possession of a writable CD or DVD when you receive you Z?? Or does such a CD come with it?

 

Yes, better make sure you have blank media!! btw guys you can use recovery tool anytime you want/have time.. its going to be there until after you made the discs than it goes away

 

ok, and what kind of 'blank media' does it have to be? Necessarily a DVD rewritable, or does a normal CD-rom suffice as well?

 

I used a DVD-R so it only took 2 discs.. I am sure you can use CD-R but it will probably be 4+ and thats a turn off for me since I will lose em.. lol

 

Any linux experience? Anyone?

 

My Z590 just arrived this morning. Now, I'm having Z and TZ on my hand. My first impression is that the Z is big. That's properly I'm so used to my TZ. I prefer the foot print of TZ. According to my eyes, TZ screen is brighter. For me, the layer thing on the Z screen actually ruin the display quality a little bit. I have a wallpaper from Sony named Vaio Fluid, you can find it on google. These two screen give me two different colour, two different tone of blue. Which one is better? I can't tell. It's hard to tell.
The Z's fan is louder than TZ, quieter than TX and S.

I'll be sending my TZ to Sony due to recall. After everything is done, I have to decide which one to keep.

 

I am at work now so I can't write much, however....

Ubuntu 8.04 worked perfectly out of the box for everything I tried it with, including native 1600x900 resolution, cd/dvd, ethernet, etc. I didn't fool around much with the Hybrid switch, fingerprint scanner, etc.

One issue was that the Centrino 2 stuff is already in the latest kernel version, however not in the version thats currently in the repos for 8.04 (it is in the repos for 8.10). I would still recommend using 8.04 as there is a pretty simply fix (took < 5 minutes once I found the link, and no recompile required). Otherwise, worked perfectly....

 

Thank you jpoe!
I'm gonna have both Ubuntu and Vista.

 

so i just received my z550... anyone think i'll miss the 1600x900 display?

 

nice, any initial comments?

 

Haha, errr, certainly not. You can choose between 2 single layer DVDs or one double layer DVD. Since the latter has about 8.5 GB capacity, you would need about 13(!) CD-R max, 700 MB each.

 

If you have the Blu-Ray model then you more or less have to use 2 single layer DVDs as this drive doesn't burn dual layer burning DVD discs.

 

Recovery disks: The Z made it pretty easy. As I used it, a bubble popped up and said "reminder make recovery disks!" or something to that effect... and when clicked, it went straight to a step-by-step sequence and voila! I had my disks.

Plug in: Yup, just plug it in when you get it. I think the quick start guide in the box actually just says put the battery on, plug it in, and turn it on. I think...

Plugging into a 24" monitor: No problem here, 1920x1200 shows up just fine through the Z, just some distortion that I can't figure the source of yet...

 

Question relates to the graphics card memory...

256mb in the 590 vs. 128 in the 540... does that only pertain to the integrated video card? or the nVidia?

'Cause i'm shelling out the extra $200 or so for the 590 just so i can get better graphics!!! And to be honest, isn't 1600x900 a little too small? Won't I be squinting? 1366 x 768 just sounds weird.

That's the other question -- 1366 x 768 or 1600 x 900... big difference? Does it matter if I hook it up to a large LCD monitor? Quality differences when hooked up to a plasma TV?

 

Yeah, Sony USA uses AC19V26. I think some other countries, including Japan, use AC19V25, which is smaller. You can get V25 here if you want, it's two-prong and really not that much bigger than V29.

On the other hand, I bought a stick AC adapter for my S170 after my original one died and it is so much easier to "stick" it into a bag -- its size is probably not that much smaller, but the shape does matter when you are packing everything into a small bag...

 

The 256/128 meg only pertains to the nvidia video card.

The integrated video card uses main memory.

The lcd resolution is only the relevant to the built-in lcd. If you hook the Z to an external monitor it will support higher resolutions.

 

Could any of you who have purchased the leather sleeve or case for it please post pictures? That would be a great help

 

I dont know about you guys but when the laptop is off and done charging, I dont see any 'green' light, the orange one disappears too?

 

i think the light will be automatically off after full charge, i didnt pay much attention on that. but i believe it wont affect ur z running normally

 

PhEw I just put on the Z leather cover and Privacy filter.. let me tell you, for a blonde.. not an easy task! lol

It took a lot of repositioning - peeling off z' stickies.. And god the filter is unbelievably flexible lol I just couldnt stick the edges far up and than bend the bottom down.. ehh when you get it you will figure it out lol

anyway, took 5-10 min but done, Z looks uglier with leather cover on (for me anyway) but you tech/business men will like its blacker-sleeker-leathery plain looks more than us girls

I had the laptop going and pretended to sit next to my chair as in a classroom, the edges were definately blurred but i could see 'activity' i was doing! I guess its just good enough to hinder text somewhat than images. Overall a much needed accesory for classroom and I am happy with both of them.

The Z got hotter due to it on a leather cover, esp from right side - but surprisingly, I dont hear the fan at all so I dont know why you guys complain about any noise.. Its way too quiet I almost need to look again to see if its on! And the green light on the side, unlike pics where you see BRIGHT blinding greeness that scares you, its totally different in real life! its VERY soft green - very beautiful - not at all in your face bright, but noticeable if you look.

Sorry no pics.. I lost usb for my canon a620

 

Just insert your sd card into your Z's sd slot.

No usb cable needed.

 

it didnt come with an sd card =(
or if it did, I dont have it lol

 

Hmm, I'm glad to hear a female perspective of the leather cover! I was considering it myself, but maybe I'll hold off. I've seen complaints about the look of the lid, but you like it?

And the filter, does it have to be permanently attached, or it something that you can temporarily position on like for class/at a coffee shop/airplane/etc?

And silly detail as it seems, THANK YOU for the info on the light! I was thinking from pictures it might annoy me in person, but if it's a softer more pretty glow than it looks online, I'll be good.

 

Hi, i am planning to get the z590 cto 4gb ram and debating on hd if i should get it from portableone (7.2k rpm) or if i should just buy the hd and install myself. any suggestions on that? Also i would like to know if anyone here with the z have tried solidworks or NEiNastran.. i do 3d modeling and would like to know how this laptop holds up to it.

 

I run ANSYS, NASTRAN/PATRAN (poor compatability still with Vista), Marc, MATLAB, ProE etc. They all run fine on the SZ and the Z will only be better.

Also, I've noticed that the X3100 Intel graphics doesn't render OpenGL properly, but the Nvidia renders it perfectly. I don't know if Intel improved OpenGL support in the X4500 onboard graphics - so it's possible you'll have to run in "Speed" mode when doing this stuff.

 

okay cool.. now on to my next problem.. should i just get the portableone 320gb hd for 180 or should i get a wd oem 320 and slap it in there for 108. im trying to figure this one last step out before i order.. gonna order from portableone.

 

Pay $108 for the WD, put it in yourself, then sell the HD you take out on eBay. Will be the cheapest way right? Ask P1 for recovery DVD and restoring your system image will be simple.

Also it gives you a chance to test the stock HD first and decide if you really need to change it.

 

Yes! That's really why I'm thinking about the stick version. The form factor might make it easier to fit into a smaller bag and get more stuff into it. Not that the stock adapter is huge (my old one was 85x47x200mm or so... see pic ). Volume-wise, the stick adapter is bigger, though I wonder how that would translate since the cord to the laptop wraps around itself.

I think I'll wait on it for a bit, see if it comes out here. Thanks for the input!

Do like Drvec suggests, and if you decide to keep the hard drive you can always do what I do and stick it into an external case.

 

Lol! You're welcome

The filter is 'recommended' to be attached and not move too much as it may lose its sturdy fit with the top edges inside the LED LCD. I kept it in since I first put it in and it isnt noticeable as I sit right in front of my laptop lol

I dont like the leather Z cover, it adds weight and looks WAY too bland/black ugly and its making the laptop hotter (yet I dont hear the fan wow) like I said though, the tech and business MEN will like the classy black look

The battery adapter is the most surprising, I was expecting something large and heavy. The brick is in the shape of a stick and it is light enough for me to not notice it in the school backpack... 3 pronged but I have gone outlet hunting on campus and its ALL good

 

I got a vgn Z model from my uncle who traveled to Japan last month, however it came with a Japanese keyboard!! Anyone knows where could I purchase English keyboard for this model in Australia or US ?

 

Contact SonyStyle parts and repair

 

lolll thats funny, sry chief

 

Anyway i think it`s possible to use the keyboard naturaly. You have the QWERTY layout but with some extra characters and some extra keys to change from Japanese to normal Alphabet. I think the problem for you could be the Japanese OS.

 

I have a HDTV Lcd Samsung 40'' with 1900x1200 res. Will I be able to connect the Z with HDMI without any issues?

 

There is one thing I think is weird on my Z. I can hear a high pitch "si" sound. I think it's coming from the 7200rpm hard drive. It's not loud but noticeable. Does this hard drive suppose to make this kind of sound?

 

Said by someone who got pink keyboard

 

Interested in this too. Anyone?

 

Did this filter come from Sony? And is it customized for the Z only? As for losing usb, can't you insert the SD card from your canon into the Z and upload the pics so we can all see this black Z cover. I'm really curious why you didn't like it. Is this leather cover the one from Sony, I think cost $99.00.

Why didn't your uncle check to see if they had Z's with an english keyboard in Japan since you live in Australia? And what about the OS? Someone on this thread got a Z in Japan and switched OS. I'm sure Sony Parts will be able to support you on an english KB.

 

Yep both from SonyStyle, the privacy filter and the Sony Z leather customized esp for the Z per site.

I dont like it because of how it looks and feels, I am a college student and a female, so this is purely subjective. I think the black tone it gives the Z (sans weight and heat) will be appreciated by techy/business men (older than me) lol

P.S. I dont have a SD card it may have come with.. gotta order one off amazon, this is serious! lol =(

 

So could anyone please tell me if you can use HDMI and VGA port at the same time?

 

I might be wrong. This noise disappears when I unplug the AC cord. It comes back when I plug in the AC cord. The noise does not come from the AC adapter itself. It comes from the machine when plugged in. Does it happen to anyone? Any solution? If no, then I should return the Z.

Some additional information:
It's complete silent when my Z is shut down with power cord plugged it

 

hmm I dont hear anything. I haven't unplugged my Z at all since I got it lol No noise at all.. I have the 5400rpm 320Gb HD though..

Try plugging it in a grounded power-strip and see if the noise is reproduceable?

 

Yes, that is exactly what I am doing now. If you take the laptop away, and plug in the HDMI when in Stamina Mode, you will be presented with a reminder to switch to Speed before HDMI output will function.