Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread

The Z590 is superior in everyway to the Z555. But if your poor like Prasetio, just make up every excuse imaginable and get the Z555.

 

LMAO @ above +1

 

Dude, I live right beside Pacific mall lol. Ok well to answer ur question cuz I have the Z555. Friggen beautiful laptop, almost flawless. Just a fantastic laptop, highly recommended. Just stick with Sony, if not Sony then id go with IBM Thinkpad. Also, I would avoid buying laptops from Pacific mall cuz they tend to sell a lot of stuff that illegal or imatations. So you might end up getting a laptop that has all generic parts. I personally would not take the risk, I mean they sell all pirated dvd's and all to as im sure u know. For Blu Ray, save ur money man, your better off getting a Playstation 3, and also, that would mean ud have to go with a CTO, stay away from CTO (Configured-To-Order) Quality in CTO suckss compared to pre-config which is made in Japan. If u read through the forums u'll see a lot of complaints about this and that not working with CTO's. So just stick with the Z555 If I were u. Anyways any other questions lemme know. Cheers!

 

quite probably.
i'm known to be extremely fussy to with most purchases and rarely love anything instantly - like i did with the TZ.

anyway i've been away again and managed to get to view the white TZ and Z side by side elsewhere. while the TZ had dropped a little in price i have tortuously decided not to buy it. biggest issue i had was getting that 'bang for buck' - i'd been pondering this for couple of weeks and finally worked out after seeing both togethor that the Z would be better for me. still had been looking at other brands as well, and was waiting on new apple release, but sony is still top of list

i can't quite afford it yet so am saving a bit more while waiting for a) possible refresh at end of month and b) see if aus dollar improves enough to buy it from japan.

 

I have a question. what is the difference or which one is better between Sony VAIO Z Series 520/550/570/590 or the VAIO Z Series Z12GN assuming they have the same processor, ram, hard disk and video card. Thanks in advance.

 

That would be a difficult question to answer, since they don't have the same processor, ram, hard disk.

You have to ask yourself:

a. do you want 1366x768 or 1600x900?
b. do you prefer 2gb, 3gb, or 4gb of ram?
c. do you need 250 or 320gb hard drive
d. if a 590CTO is a consideration, is having blu-ray, SSD, or any other configuration important to you?
e. what is affordable to you?
f. P8400 or P9500 CPU?

I prefer the Z570 out of the choices you presented. It's sufficient. It's right in between the least expensive and the more expensive Z models. You get a little of everything.

 

Thanks. Im just confused because when I checked one sony authorized seller. They said they dont offer Sony VAIO Z Series 520/550/570 or 590 but instead they offer the Sony VAIO Z Series Z12GN / Z13GN / Z16GN and Z17GN. I'm thinking if which group or selection is better.

 

Im thinking of buying the Z12GN. since VAIO Z Series 520/550/ 570 is not available.

 

where are you located?

from what i know, the z13gn is the same spec as the z17gn....just catered to diffrent markets.
i.e - it is called z17gn in hong kong, australia while you can buy the z13gn in india, uae., south africa etc
I think the same applies for the z12gn and the z16gn

the z520/550/570 is for the usa and canadian market.

 

Just wanted to let you guys know I have a brand new Z (open box) for sale for 1300 euros. I want a Macbook myself. For the looks only, bc in every other way the Z is superior imo. Yes I'm a sucker for design and glossy screens And at 1300 euros I'm making a small profit on the Z.

 

PhilFlow i have to admit the way you buy computers makes me giggle. I don't think that you are going to stay with this MB for very long but at least you get a chance to try it out.

 

Yep you got me

But I do seem to recall your previous signature.. it takes one to know one if you know what I mean

 

Many thanks for the info. I'm from dubai, so thats why there are no Z520 / 550 / 570 here.

 

You are right lol. Yep i can swap and change quite often but i am trying to sit on that right now i think. If something comes out that really wows me then i might just switch to something else. I used to be able to keep a laptop for 3-4 years but i think that those days might be gone.

 

glad to help
do they sell vaio z16 and z17 in dubai?
if they do i would suggest not to buy them and go for the z12 and z13 models instead as they are meant for your country according to sony middle east and africa website and just incase you have to deal with sony MEA if you have problems in the future.

 

Yeah it's too much fun playing around with new laptops imo. As long as I can sell them without loss I don't mind.

I might regret selling this Z though, it's really an amazing piece of equipment. But it seems I'm hypnotized by Apple's marketing.

 

Shoot $1300 euros seem low, convert it to $ and lemme know please

Although **I must BE firm!** I am waiting for the premium carbon fiber Z!!!!!! hold me back!!!!! <-------

 

Well for European prices it's very low. 600 euros below Sonystyle.

But for american's it's not very interesting I think. 1.750 US$ + shipping.

 

LOL...

Z17 = top of the line Z590
Complete built up from Japan.

I bet you never see Z555
Sony Quality from USA aren't that well built.

Canadian, Euro and Asia Pacific versions generally have better built.

 

I think you should get this... good bargain for college student like you.
Use the saving for other things like bling and stuffs ....

 

Well, I'm heading to Apple today to check out the 13.3" MBPro, something I'll be considering over the Z, only because I prefer OSX over Vista. I hope the Apple Store will allow me to take photos. It would be terrific if I can have both Z and MBP side by side for comparison. I'm also going to verify the release of the Z's refresh, since both Apple and Sony are located in the same mall.

The most ideal for me is to have OSX on the Z, but who knows, maybe the MBP will win me over. The price is just so right. The MBP will save close to $1000.

The Z that's currently available, that has the specs. I prefer, is at $2349 (Z570). Who knows how much that premium carbon will cost when its released and to what config. it will only be offered in.

Someone post, a while back, that the premium carbon, if offered, will come with the top-of-the line specs. I think he/she is right, similar to the premium carbon offered in the SZ691C/X & SZ791C/X (C-Carbon and X-representing premium carbon). Maybe, Z refresh will be Z690C/X for example.
__________________________________________________________

Hours later.........

Saw the 13.3" MacBook Pro, and in terms of design, hands down the Sony Z is way better looking. Sony has an edgier design. However, the simplicity and zen-like design of the MBP is very appealing. $1299 for 2.0Ghz/160GB and $1599 for 2.4Ghz/250GB. Also, the weight on the MBP is very heavy compared to the Z. I went to both Apple and Sony Stores to get a feel for the two and you can tell the difference in weight. The glossiness of the MBP screen did not bother me. And the black keys on the uni-body aluminum wasn't at all bothersome.

I heard from a radio tech. show that the reason Apple did not adopt Blu-Ray to its line of notebooks is due to Sony's licensing agreement - too cumbersome.

I guess once a Sony Fan, "always" a Sony Fan.

 

I like the MBP. The Macs seem to have better build quality than the Vaios. But the MBP is like 1.2 lbs heavier than the Z -- that's a pretty big difference.

(mind you I used to carry around a 6.5-7lb PowerBook 520 years ago... but I guess I've gotten weaker and/or lazier since!).

 

Does anybody have a hardware temperature program that will work on the Vista Home Premium? Mobile Meter doesn't work :\

 

I'm planning on getting a Z and switching to a 320GB 7200rpm hard disk... has anyone else done this?

 

Not sure what hardware temp you have in mind. I used Core Temp for TZ vista business, but it only show the core temps.

 

Correction should be made! The Apple laptop you saw is, indeed, the Macbook! Macbook pro comes with either 15.4" or 17" screen.

 

520 years? Are you Mumm-Ra the ever-living?

 

Uhh, please don't make silly corrections. At least visit the site first. Macbook pro comes in either 13.3" or 15.4".

 

phoebusvh is right.

 

What are you smoking? Everyone knows that the MBP is ONLY a 15 or 17 inch

Link:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro?mco=MTI4MDI

And its common knowledge that the only 13 inch notebooks apple currently makes are just regular macbooks

Link:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?mco=MTIyMTM

Maybe you should visit the site first

 

Apparently our all-mighty Toronto Guy doesn't know a thing about macs...

 

Have a question...where are built z590 no cto ?

 

Sorry 'bout that. I thought the 13.3 inch Macbook was a Pro. They had so many of them on display along with the 15" and 17" all together celebrating their debut that I figured they were all Pros. Can you all forgive me.

Geeez, I wouldn't want to ever be one of your students. You guys are a tough crowd (lol).

Dude Thanks, I guess we were both wrong. Tough crowd in this forum. Here, use this as your Avatar, since your a d.j. besides it matches that thing you got going on at the bottom of each post.

The other nano-chromatic ad is a whole lot cooler, the one were you see paint dripping from each nano. I'll have to search for that. I'm surprise you haven't used that for your Avatar.

Anyway, back to that "13.3 inch MacBook, Pro was it"?

 

Did any of you notice the first Configured (non-CTO) blu-ray offered at SonyStyle, USA? VGN-Z590NJB $3149.99

 

That's not the first pre-config model with blu-ray, that first model is VGN-Z591U/B.

 

I think you're referring to SZ691N/X & SZ791N/X. X representing Premium Carbon (featuring weave pattern) & N representing MS Vista.

 

I have a question on buying online. Is it possible to buy Z series online from website located in the usa going to another country, say in uae. Is it more expensive? Thanks.

 

Yes many US resellers will ship internationally. Amazon.com and Techonweb.com for example.

 

@general2008: (in case you're not aware of) last time I checked with Sony US CS is that they don't provide international warranty like Dell, Lenovo, etc. Please be careful about that. This is what stopped me considering a Sony Z

 

To Philflow and ash_bd : Many thanks for the info.

 

Yes it's true, Sony US does not offer international warranty. The Z in my signature is european and international warranty is an option.

 

Hi everyone, sorry if this has been posted (I've been away for a while and haven't had time to fully catch up on the thread) but I've just found the new Z21 refresh on Sony Uk website, with one model offering 128GB SSD + Blu-ray !

Here it is: http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowPro..._GB_prof&pageType=Models&category=VN+Z+Series

The Z21ZN/X has my name on it ... I just hope it's going to be less ridicidulously expensive than the 007 model

I couldn't spot any significant difference (I mean apart from the SSD+BR!) from the specs... I attach a PDF of the specs for the Z21ZN/X.
Not yet on pre-order on the Sonystyle website (so no price yet)...

Edit: Just off the phone from Sonystyle UK, they don't have any firm information re price or availability yet, but I would say around mid to late November (in the UK).

Edit2: they took the new models off line, probably after my phone call, in order not to hurt the sales of the Z11! Well, at least we know I didn't dream it, thanks to the pdf below.

Edit3: it's back on line today, but this link has the prices (except for the Z21ZN/X, but that's propably in order not to hurt the sales of the 007 model): http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowPro..._GB_cons&pageType=Models&category=VN+Z+Series

 

freaking cool Manni .... unless the appearance of new nvidia gpu on new MBP .... the vaio z21 refresh is still king in my heart
I wish next ZZ will have hybrid 4700 and nvidia 9600(or 9650) than we will forget all the other band

 

That would be kinda ideal! But I's be really sad now i've just bought the Z (well... about a month ago...). But hey... that's just the way technology is

 

bump! Why doesn't anyone care? My $300 Eee kicks my Z's butt on SDHC read/write! Ouch. (Sent a TZ back to Sony in the first 30 days with this being the ONLY complaint!) Seems like part of the memory stick wars....

 

yep, the VGN-Z21ZN/X is on the french site too. Looks like Europe will finally have its own BD+SSD option after all!

 

Z kicks your Eee's but i nevery other way - though =P
And who solely uses SDHC everyday THAT much?

 

any idea if the z21 refresh will be offered in premium carbon?

 

If it's like on the TZ, you'll get a MUCH improved performance by using either an USB2 SDHC external card reader, or an expresscard reader (that's what I did, as it's flush with the case of the laptop, I just move the SD card from the internal to the Expresscard when I need the extra performance, ie when playing a 1080p movie, then put it back in the internal slot for storage, as it's also flush there, but the card itself sticks a bit out of the expresscard reader when in use). It was a bottleneck on my TZ and that's how I solved it.

Edit: I just did a quick test, I get 2MB/s with the internal reader, 9MB/s with a Sandisk USB2 SDHC Micromate, and 14MB/s with my 18 in 1 Expresscard reader (Apiotek). All of this reading the same video files from the same Class 6 8GB Transcend SDHC. It's on the TZ, but I suspect the Z will be exactly the same....

 

got my Z series the day!!!

Love it.

But I cant seen to get the volume control too work from the keyboard. eg "Fn" the hit F3/F4 dont do anything. Any reason why???