Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread

ALL PRE CONFIGURED MODELS ARe "MADE IN JAPAN"

 

So I just got me a brand new VGN-Z590 for $2030 US. This badboys is sweet Luv the Blue-ray. Before you start asking how, I went to a official Sony store in my area and they sold me a 3 day old open display model for 25% off retail. I'm so lucky I know hehe. Now here is the thing anyone find the hdmi feature working fine when downgrading to XP? Also where can I download or get the WinDVD BD Vaio player?

 

HDMI works fine in XP. Only in Speed mode though, just like in Vista.

 

i would like to know that one as well, because ill buy mine Z next week.

 

its on the z11vn/b also. i asked the same question on the other z forum and it was answered. the sppedstep tech is on all Zs

 

Should we be worried?! http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/06/microsoft-disses-hybrid-sli-and-crossfire-wont-support-them-in/

 

i got today VGN-TT180 with Blueray and 4 Gb ram as GIFT still brand new Boxed didnt open it yet...!! its around 2900$
and im usin now the Z570.. i dont know wat to do should i use the TT and sellin my Z570 or the TT and use the Z570 ?
wat do u think guys which one is better..?

 

I'd keep the Z, cause of the screen, and I'm pretty sure the Z is way more comfortable to type on, the TT is so small.

 

who cares about Windows 7? its 2009 and so far we have Windows Vista.

 

I'd keep the Z. The Z is a "happy" medium of the TT and the SR and CR. It's a perfect combination of both sizes. And as far as weight, the Z is lite enough.

But you did say the TT had Blu-Ray; Hmmmmmmmm?
(lol) The Z! Good luck with your decision.

 

Why?
The Z's screen and the TT's screen should be similar
they are both dura-view screens with 100% saturation.

 

Nah... just because it apparently won't be natively supported, doesn't mean it won't be supported. It's not natively supported in Vista, after all... yet it works. Stuff like this always happens with new versions of Windows. On XP, I seem to recall USB support was really quite flakey until SP1 and there's the infamous issue of needing to slipstream SATA drivers to be able to install XP on the now-ubiquitous SATA HDDs.

 

After almost 3 weeks of using my Z21 I am overall quite happy with the Laptop.

Anyway nothing is perfect, so I found 4 minor issues to talk about:

1) Small Keyboard lag, loosing characters:
Sometimes I am experiencing a keyboard lag, when I am typing too fast. This leads to missed charcters and of course is kind of annoying. I am still trying to configure this in the Vista Control Panel, but I think it will not go away completely.

2) StandBy-Mode:
I have configured my Z21 that it goes into StandBy mode when I closed the Lid. This sometimes does not work and the Laptop keeps running. As a workaround, I now only use the On/Off-Switch which I briefl press. This always puts the Z21 into StandyBy morde. Anyway, I would love to see this behavior to wrk 100% when I cose the lid.

3) On/Off-Switch:
It happened twice to me that the Z21 went active while in my bag. This is related to the very sensitive On/Off-Switch. If the laptop shifts within the bag, it might be activated because something slightly pressed the button.

4) Case quality:
It is a very nice laptop case, but I found 1 weak spot. On the front of the Laptop, just beneath the left button of the TouchPad, when you put your finger below the edge and slighly pull it upwards, there is a noticeabl click on the plastic. That feels a bit like cheap plastic. Nothing big, but noticable.

Again everything is minor, but at least you should know about it when you decide to buy this expensive Laptop.

Overall, still the best Laptop I ever had.

Rambler

 

On my Z, the on/off button can't be operated when the lid is closed. Are you sure it's a the switch which is waking your Z from sleep, and not something else, e.g. some software issue?

I can't comment on the lid-close problem as I like to carry my laptops around between meetings etc without them going to sleep, so I always disable the lid-close action.

Re: case quality, I think it's remarkable that they made such a sturdy case for the low weight. Making every single bit of the case rigid would have made it less strong (or added weight), IMHO. I reckon Sony have found an almost-perfect balance between weight and durability with the Z.

I've had a slightly squeaky backspace key on my Z sometimes, but other than that haven't experienced any of the keyboard problems reported by others here, luckily.

 

I will keep an eye on that. So far my impression was it came from the button being pressed. Will provide an update soon.

I like that idea. Never thought about that so far, maybe a very convinient way of handling the Laptop.

I fully agree,the sturdiness is just fantastic for such a small, thin, leightweight device.

Rambler

 

Hello from spain, I have just purchased a Sony Vaio Z VGNZ25X.

Configuration:

Intel ® Core (TM) 2 Duo 2.53 GHz
Unit 128 GB Flash SSD
4 GB 800 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Unity of Blu-ray Disc (TM)
Windows Vista Ultimate®
carbon fiber premium

...Waiting notebook.

 

Hi folks,

when I start Vaio Update Options, it tells me that there are no updates for my model (when I click go to Vaio web support). However there is new bios available for Z series at US support page:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNZ590N&upd_id=4010&os_id=29

Does it mean that my Vaio Update is not working or it's linked to other website? Any idea?


ps: another question (maybe not for this thread): my wife got Toshiba U400 (2,26GHz,3GB RAM, 2x160HDD) with Vista Home Premium. Now, when computer is started, after Vista logo, I have "Please wait..." screen for over 1,5 -2 min, and then computer works perfect. Does any of you know what might be the reason for such annoying delay. I have tried almost everything (killed all start up applications, well most of it) she has 70 processes running, but still I have this Please wait... forever (all windows updates are done, all Toshiba updates are done, nothing pending). The only thing that crossed my mind is should I kill recovery partition, maybe this is causing problems (I have already made recovery CDs)? I have never had this Please wait.. screen with my Z.

Cheers,
Miki

 

Hey , ALL Z users, we should celebrate something about ranking of Z push up dramatically. In only 1 month its up to 10 now 3#. It is very nice effort and prove that our choice is smart.

Cheer all, happy day.

 

Miki, are you sure you don't already have the latest BIOS? I personally don't use VAIO Update at all and just do manual check for update on Sony Support as they tend to give more updates on the Sony software that I uninstalled.

Your wife's Toshiba, have you tried booting it with network cable unplugged and wireless turned off?

 

Skyshade,

yes I'm sure, today I saw update for Bios on US support page, but before I have installed it, I tried Vaio Update and it told me no new updates for my Z.

Yes, I have tried with wireless off, no network cable at all (although I didn't disable it from Device manager), but still this Please wait... screen
I have defragmented her HD, ran some registry optimizers (I did same on mine), but no results. Maybe this has to do with Vista HP vs. Business, I really am out of idea...

ps. I checked with my sister's IBM X60 (1,86GHz, 2GB ram, don't know HD size), she also has Vista Business and no Please wait... screen, and X60 is definitely lower spec. than Toshiba.

BR
Miki

 

Hi Trevor,
Please where did you find the Sony Network update and how do you disable SIM PIN.

I have the same problem and I am nearly sending the LAptop back.

Thanks

 

Prices have come down by $200 on the Z550 at Frys, now $1899 and down $150 on the Z570, now $2199 at Sony Stores. Also, P1 has also slashed their prices on all Z preconfigured models, much lower than Frys and Sony's current slashed prices.

 

How did you (or we) do that?

I never get how the ranking column works. Anyone care to explain?

Thanks.

 

Well, I just bought the new 13.3" MB. I've got 15days to try it out. I think when and if that Z prem. carbon makes it to the USA, it will be very expensive. I read from another Z thread that the prem. caron made it to France and the Z with prem. carbon can only be had with BD only. And that's about $3G's in US$.

If this new MB does not work for me, I will consider the Z570. This is my first experience with Apple and OSX. I hope its effortless. I will always be a Sony Fan, but at $1599 MB verus $2199 Z who can pass that up.

I still think the Z's design is better than the MB. The weight on this MB is heavy. I can tell the difference between the two. We'll see how it holds up......

 

Why didn't you try the SR?? ...

Well you will be disappointed with the screen of the Macbook... the 150:1 contrast ratio is horrible! the SR has a 500:1 contrast ratio screen! and brighter than the Macbook's screen too

 

Yikes Geee! I thought we were waiting for the prem. together

Anyway, hope you like the MB! ... post some comparison views since you owned a Z!

 

The new MacBook screen was very disappointing to me. It looks washed out and the colours aren't accurate. The one-piece, all aluminum build quality however, is fantastic. Each laptop has it's pros and cons. I bought the z due to it's fantastic display and portability.

Here is a photo from MacRumors, comparing the new MacBook display to that of the MacBook Air. Clearly, the air has a superior display...

 

Good point. Although some MBs have a different panel with a slightly higher contrast rate 190:1. Still a lot lower than the SR or Z.

I'm not sure if all SRs have the same panel. Zs do I believe.

 

I have updated Intel 5100 wireless driver, but still, sometimes I have problems connecting to my wireless router Dlink 524. Are there any settings I need to change with Dlink? The problem is my Z sometimes doesn't see my network (but it does see other networks in the neighborhood ), so I need to refresh connections over and over again, eventually it will find my network.

BR
Miki

 

Yes, I agree. My 2nd day owning this. I realize the picture quality does not compare to the Z. I think I bought this MB based on impulse, price, and the guy that sold it to me said I can bring it back within 15days if I didn't like it. So that was comforting to know.

(lol) I know, I know. Don't get me wrong, I still like the that prem. carbon, but the price on this new MB was so applealing. At first, I was going for the $1299 model, then I said, "heck, I'm still saving $600 if I got the $1599 version, so I opted for the that. Funny thing, what exactly are the model no#'s of these 2 model. I see them referred to there price points and not there model no#'s like we all with the Z? (i.e. Z550, Z570, Z590, CTO, etc.)

Yeah, I'll try and post photos. What I am planning on doing is if I decide this MB is not for me. I will buy the Z570 before the 15days are up and take photos of these 2 notebooks next to each other and then return the MB.

I agree again, the screen colors are washed out and is not as vivid as the Z. I noticed that immediately. What I am noticing is that its much easier to type on compared to the Z. The keys and palm rest feel velvety, but the weight on this feels like more that 4.5lbs. I'm still struggling with maximizing this webpage to-fit-the-screen. It's about 6x6 now (lol) and I can't make it any larger. I go to "windows" and click Zoom and it either minimizes it or bring it back to this 6x6 size. Unlike Vista/XP where you can bring the mouse to the edge of the page to enlarge it, OSX doesn't have that feature. But then again, it's still day 2.

(edit) I just figured it out! Bottom Right-side allows to increase web-page.

 

Try the profile here posted by user: pstube. It handles the washed out colors. Still no Sony display, but a lot better than before.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=588431&highlight=display+profiles

 

Hello from spain, I have just purchased a Sony Vaio Z VGNZ25X.

Configuration:

Intel ® Core (TM) 2 Duo 2.53 GHz
Unit 128 GB Flash SSD
4 GB 800 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Unity of Blu-ray Disc (TM)
Windows Vista Ultimate®
carbon fiber premium

...waiting for the laptop.

**What is my order?

 

nice order man!

I want to buy Z next week, but i'm thinking that maybe its better to wait until Christmas, because Z prices might drop down. What do you think guys?

 

Is that right when you put your Z on Speed or Stamina, the screen will blank 2-3 secs each time you do a switch on it or when you reboot?

 

Hi all.
I just purchased a new Sony Z591U.I loved it. Can somebody show me where I can download VaiO 1600x900 wallpapers for my new baby.
Thanks

 

finally got my z550 !!!!!! It's SO **** COOL
see you tomorrow, now I'm gonna sleep, it's 3am in here

thank you guys for all your posts and all your support in this great Z thread! big big thx!

 

Thanks, I'll read through that thread....

 

when I played with the Z at the sony store, and changed from stamina to speed the screen did turn off and then back on, not sure if it blinked, was talking with a friend when it was happening.

 

Yes, when you switch the screen will go blank for about 2-3 seconds then it will adjust itself again to the new setting

 

Are you using XP or Vista? If you're using the D-Link (or other third party) wireless config/connection software, trying using Windows Zero Configuration (or whatever the equivalent in Vista is). I usually find the Windows utility works better than the bundled software, with various wireless adapters.

Are you running a mixed B/G/N network, or just N? Have you tried upgrading the firmware on your router yet?

 

How do you turn off the big round bright green ON/OFF button on the right?

I figure I can save a few minutes when I am running it on battery. I just dont want the light to be on.

Thanks.

 

I'm on Vista Business, my Dlink is only G (so no N), I will upgrade it (get new one). I'm using Vista default network utility, I also have Smart WiFi but only to switch on/off wireless, bluetooth..

ps. How do I "force" my Intel 5100 wifi to use only G or N? Any utility for this?

BR
Miki

 

I just ordered a Z540 CTO. As long as I can get 20% off accessories, figured I would ask, are there any Sony accessories highly recommended?

Will any of the sleeves accomodate the laptop as well as the AC brick?

 

The Sony Branded 13" neoprene case I bought came with the laptop as well as as AC brick sleeves -- however I felt them to be pretty flimsy in practice and returned them for another brand.

 

You cant! I dont think it eats up that much battery life.

 

yea, just open the laptop up and disconnect that backlight. You should save around 5 min of battery. Oh yeah, buy a 8gb usd drive, enable easyboost or fastboot -whatever it is- and unplug your harddrive. That would save an extra of 1hr 30min.

 

is there a refresh around the corner?

 

The bluray drive on the Z doesn't support DL DVD writing. For me, I would like to play bluray disc and still able to burn DL DVD.
Does anyone know that if the bluray read only drive from the CS will fit the Z?

 

My Z fan is running all the time. Does your turn on all the time?

 

Yes, it's on all the time in all three mods.