Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread

Nope, lol I didn't get no CDS and no manuals with my Z : (

 

lol, so what for I need to pay 200 pounds extra. Now I dont know who I supposed ask about it, because no one knows.

 

just wanted to let Z owners know about a solution for those who find the Alps touchpad to be less than good. see my post in the touchpad thread:

forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4145267&postcount=35

 

Maybe I can help. If you give me the links to the exact models on Sonystyle.co.uk. I can tell you where they are right and where not.

 

Same here. I just ordered the downgrade disc and was told 5-10 business days until it ships, plus Fedex ground shipping time. Disc was advertised as in the box.

Not too happy with Sony right now.

 

Did you alreay receive this one? Can you give us a crystal diskmark of the 128GB SSD? Is it a single drive or a dual 64 GB SSD RAID 0?
Thanks!

 

Thanks Phil!

Unfortunately i cant past here link because they doesnt works so here you have linki to sonystyle.co.uk Z list page. Just pres "see models" button and you will see all models.

CLICK!

so maybe you can find difference between model for £ 1,999.00 inc. VAT (Z21) [2nd from top] and £ 1,749.00 inc. VAT (Z11) [4th from top]

cheers Phil!

 

Only difference is the 7200rpm drive in Z21.

I'd buy the Z11 if you can still get it. Either from them or somewhere else. Or maybe from another country.

 

have anyone done a side by side comparison between the Z and the BZ vaio's?
other than the difference in LCD screen size, are there other noticeable differences?

 

It's not the only difference. The Z21 for £1999 also includes the premium carbon lid which probably accounts for the bulk of the difference in price.

 

in the aussie thread it was pointed out the z2x has 6mb cache on the CPU rather than the 3 mb cache of the Z1x. maybe this is the same on the UK models as well?

 

I was told today that the Z refresh I mentioned as coming "very soon", is indeed coming but not before the beginning of next year, and it will be made at that time to help push the often slow after-Christmas sales of high-priced electronics. And that revisions won't be exclusive of the Z. I was told even the just released TT model will get some type of upgrade.

Word from someone in San Diego, not me.

 

I believe the newer (series 2) also have Bluetooth 2.1 (near field comms) which comes with some phones next year.

 

anyone have speaker problems? The speakers have audible interference at high volumes. I have tried different sound files, drivers(including SRS labs audio sandbox), and players(winamp, win media etc). It's no doubt a hardware problem. I just don't know if anyone else has encountered the problem.

A good way to checck would be to play a piano song(usually quiet) at higher volumes and you can hear the sizzles and crackles caused by the speaker.

 

Thanks, I will download Windows Live Mail tomorrow. What impresses about OSX Mail, is that it updates your mail everytime you access it. So when your not online, your still able to retrieve mail based on your last access. Is Windows Mail similar. Also, OSX mail (on setup) will only ask you for 2 info; email address and password - it's that SIMPLE!!!!

Yes, I agree, this pic like others, really make the Z look awesome with that prem. carb. lid, but will it look just as good in person? The TT has borders around the prem. carb., but the Z doesn't. It only has a small strip of non-prem carb. at the very top of the lid.

With the SZ, I wasn't too impressed with the prem. carb., maybe, because it had a brown tinge to it. So I bought the matte black carbon. But this photo you just posted, depicts a sort of sheen to that black carbon, most likely due to flash. And yes, it does look like the palm rest is made out of the same prem. carb as the lid. I think it's just the illusion on that photo. The lid will definitely be darker than the palm rest, and it will have that same striations as you see on the palmrest that go horizontally.

Someone, who bought their prem carb Z in Japan, posted pics. I remember those pics he posted, but you couldn't really get a good feel for what that prem. carb. lid looks like in those photos.

Were there other photos of this prem. carb. lid at Conics' website, other than photos that have been photoshopped?

If you get any more information, please POST immediately!!! Even though, these are just speculation. Speculations also have a level of truth behind them.

I'm confused, did you say, that you expect the refresh to come before Christmas, in time, for shopping season? Cuz you stated:

I think I got it....Your saying, not this year, but early next year, immediately after the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Sometime January perhaps?

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

 

Yeah I can read my mails even when I'm offline.. it downloads the emails onto the computer..

Outlook is the same, only asks for email address and password, and you're done

 

I want to have a clean install on my sony Z but I don’t have the anytime upgrade and the same time I’m afraid I will not get a good result if I will do a clean install lol!. I decided to just uninstall the Sony bloat wares using some programs like Your uninstaller 2008, etc... My question is, In your opinion, what sony programs (bloatwares) will you recommend to uninstall and not to uninstall (useful sony programs). Please be specific. I need all your opinion. Thanks in advance.

 

Try them all out for yourself...and see what you think you will use and decide what is worthless. People get too worried about this clean install crap. As long as a program is not running in the background, you will most likely never even tell a difference if it is uninstalled or not. Clean install is a different story...

 

grrr, that's what i thought
thx Phil

according to sonystyle.co.uk they have both 6mb cache.

 

Well, guys who are waiting for new Z revision, if you like the laptop enough then just go ahead and order the laptop now. I mean another 2-3 months for a revision then another 6 months or less, another revision will be avaible and know what? There will just be minor update (the biggest prob will be the 2.8Ghz processor but serious, not many of you are going to top out every option so most likely you won't be getting a 2.8Ghz anyways if it actually comes). Back light keyboard, it won't come anytimes before August next year so keep on dreaming. There are guys up here going around and was like "so disappointed, i wanted premium carbon" then " ahhhhhh, it doesn't look that nice, i will wait for something else". That's annoying. If you can't afford the laptop, move on! If you can afford it and want to stay on top then buy it and sell it out whenever a new revision comes.

My premium carbon will be shipped by the 19. Hopefully, I will be the first to post pictures. I'm sure it will be great!

 

Yes, there will always be something better around the corner. And I'm sorry others debating their large purchase bothers you, but it's really their prerogative ... and this is a good place to do it.

 

I am getting the impression that the refresh isn't that far. Frankly, as someone else said, it made a lot of sense to put in a backlit keyboard in the first generation. I guess they saw that everyone+dog (HP in their low-end, Apple also in their MacBook and all the rumored Dell XPS units) is doing it so they smartened up. This can be done without a complete redesign. You have to also remember that the global economic outlook is bleak at best and torrid at worst. Manufacturers need to stay competitive--Constantly.

I think the refresh will come next month.

 

Please post pictures once you get your prem. carb Z; Thanks! I say this with all sincerity, but some of us are not in your class, regarding your post about "moving on if you can't afford it". For me, I just want to make sure it's the right decision and later have no regrets.

I noticed below your post, you own a Vertu TI - that's about a $8000-$9000 cell phone (was that correct amount of 0's). I totally understand how you can keep up with refresh if need be.

But, PLEASE post pictures of the lid and palmrest to compare contrast. Thanks again!

Thank you!

 

Do you have a CLUE what you're talking about? Where are your facts on backlit keyboard not coming before next August?

If I get it and want the revision, to sell it I would have to do it at a LESSER price than what I bought it for (assuming 21 days have passed)

Its not a matter of affordability vs desire, it is an EDUCATED DECISION to BUY when the TIME is right. These forums provide an excellent knowledge base for that. I just dont buy when I like what I see, It takes more research, spec analysis, and others' reviews of it before I take the plunge. AND rightfully so, 3k-4k is NOT candy money for most of us.

Next time, instead of posting without comprehending the logic process behind a large purchase, please atleast refrain from saying anything like that in broken english - it only makes you look worse than what you're trying to come off as.

 

I think you're right.

Premium carbon lid is a different material for the lid. It's more expensive.

Sony refreshes it's models every 3 months. Last refresh was end of october/beginning november. Next one will be january/february.

 

Hi Philflow, I actually have this model on order since it was launched here two weeks ago and should (hopefully!) have it by Friday. I will also post pictures of the premium carbon lid.

The rep in my local Sony Centre (Ireland) who placed the order maintains that the Z21 premium carbon model is slightly thinner and lighter than the Z11. This sounds unlikely, but the rep in question is the manager of a number of Sony Centres in this region and was by far and away the most knowledgeable guy that I have come across in a Sony store, so I'll wait and hope!

 

Well premium carbon will be slightly lighter, but it may only be 10 grams.

Looking forward to your pics.

 

This isn't a difference between the Z1x and Z2x revisions, but rather depends on the specific model of CPU. For instance, my Z11VN has a P9500 with 6MB of cache, whereas the Z21MN has a P8600 with 3MB cache.

 

I must have to say Sorry for being a bit overboard on my previous post but, it does annoy a bit when there are a few individuals just can't decide. If you're going to buy a laptop, you will have to face the fact that there will be something better coming around the corner. As Phil mentioned, Sony refreshes their line every 3 months. That only gives yo 90 days at most to play around with your brand new laptop before something just a little better coming. Some may think putting backlit keyboard in a laptop is an easy task without redesign. I Totally agree, however, on a business stand point, I would not support the idea of putting backlight into a already going series is a profitable idea. You want to get the most buyer for every thing you bring out. A complete refresh (which should never be too close to the original launch) or a completely new series are always needed to put something that big in your product. That will definitely give the largest percentage of new buyer and your own buyers to make the big purchase. Premium carbon was the most wanted, and you guys can see how many made their moves. Don't get me wrong but if Sony is putting backlight keyboard to all their ongoing models within next few months, their planning department should all be fired.

Regarding EDUCATED decision, I just save myself $400 right off the bait ordering the new premium Carbon Z in exchange for my old Z. So by far, I'm def. a happy camper There will tons of pictures by the time it comes!

 

Where did you read it's different material? I believe it's the same material just different design, as well as the other premium designs in Japan....

 

3k-4k purchase is def NOT candy money and HONESTLY, my original post was not intended to flame everyone who is waiting for the new revision. It's just individuals who just can't be happy with everything. Scan through several pages of this thread, you will see the same people posting things like "I want premium carbon" then a few page after "no, not worth" then "when backlight is going to come". WHAT IS THAT KIND OF EDUCATED DECISION? They just can't make up their own mind.
My English is broken BUT I'm happy that I can speak fluent another language. Being my second language after the age of 17, as long as I can get their point through, I'm happy with myself. At least it's improving over time.

 

I felt it in person and it feels like different material to me. But hey i could be wrong.

 

I think Phil means a different material for the surface/texture of the lid. All Z lids use carbon fibre internally for strength, it's just that the "premium carbon fibre" lids show off that fact by having some fibres visible through a layer of clear plastic.

EDIT - posted at the same time as Phil. I didn't know it 'felt' different too. I wonder why that is?

 

I mean the texture on top feels different.

 

Z27 price in Singapore: Sg$4299 (include tax, you can get 5.6% rebate at the airport)

http://www.sony.com.sg/product/vgn-z27gn

Some bonus like extended battery, privacy screen, bag etc is still included

Same 1600x900 P9500 +
Premium Carbon+Blue Ray+7200rpm 320GB as the same price as Z17 (just fyi, time diff between Z17 and Z27 were less than 2 months, same price

 

Quick Charge... can this be done in Z?

TT has it... is it hardware related?
http://www.sony.com.sg/microsite/vaio/products/vaio_tt/quickcharge.html

 

Nice, I sill don't quite know the true definite differences between Z1x and Z2x.

 

Well, it's time for me to make an appearence here. I have been wandering the NBR forums for a while now and I have been reading through this thread for quite some time too. Coming from a world of using mainly Dell computers (a little bit of Apple, Levono, Compaq, and Toshiba along the way), I decided for a change of pace and and give Sony a try. So I went online and order a Z570 and a couple of goodies around the 2nd last day of October and last week, the goods came. Maybe after I get around for more time on my hands, I want to post up my quick impression of this laptop and some time later after having this for a week or more, I'm going to give a mini review on it.

 

Hmm ... you can get a similar Z21 from Microwarehouse.co.uk for £1701 inc vat - part no. SONB0299

 

Z17 = Z590
Z27 = Z591 blueray with 7200rpm 320GB + premium carbon

 

ahhh right you are! thanks

not sure about overseas but new aus version seems to have some software updates as well. and the bluetooth update.

 

Thank you VaioRover, an excellent reply to his arrogant, sadistic replies.

I just didn't want to type up a storm in reply to his nonsense, blunt disregard of logic purchase process.

These forums are great for debate, but they are for knowledge - to base my next purchase on, so there are countless others reading his dumbfounded posts and I hope that our rebuttals to his posts may have 'corrected' things for them too.

 

Did you all disable the drive E on your Z? I dont use any memory stick. I know Sony finally won something ie. blue ray

I much prefer another USB port instead of that memory stick slot. Hey at least they give us a SD slot.

 

Hi lucky Z series owners,

I'm looking to get a VGN-Z11VN/B in the next month specifically for business purposes and long battery life would be very useful.

I was wondering if anyone had pictures of the Z-series with the 9-cell battery attached? Do people who use the 9-cell detracts too much from it being a classy ultra-portable? and what kind of battery life are you getting on stamina mode.

Any help would be appreciated! I am making my way through the thread and are currently up to pg 270 so sorry if this has all been explained previously.

 

I think you could expect 8-9 hours light/web/office usage from the extended battery. I can get 5-6 hours from the standard (6 cell) battery with power saving tweaks applied. I've seen reports of getting 13 hours from the extended battery, but I think they were probably exaggerated and/or unrealistic usage patterns such as having the screen dark/closed or wifi disabled.

 

lol, sorry budd, I happened to be goin through some of the posts today, and I noticed you said "Hence the premium carbon", It would be 'Emphasis on Premium Carbon' Hence would be, Therefore, and Hence! would not not make sense in that sentence. Hope all is well though! Cheers dude.

 

^^^ lol at -=ToRoNtO-GuYY=-'s post.

 

lmao Toronto wb!! Where you been dude! lol How are you liking the Z still? You were like THE only one excited to order and than poof lmao

 

There is NOTHING CAN"T BE DONE. however, I don't believe Backlighted keyboard for Z will be available as soon as after Christmas as you said. Everybody knows Sony offered variation of lid for the Z series in Japan months ago. Also, people wonder when Premium Cabon lid will be available for the Z. Nobody, including myself, said Premium Carbon won't. It's the matter of time since Sony has been offering special lid for their high end laptop for long. Hence, I'm not sure by now, why do you waste your time writing up a pointless argument against me. I did appology for the original post. Is our argument now on whether Sony will bring backlight keyboard to the Z after christmas? I say NO because it's way too quick for something that big. If it's going to, then there should be words from Japan sometimes soon. For sure there will be a revision and Z6xx will be out soon and I think mostlikely will be mid next year. BTW, teach yourself a lesson regarding oversea companies, epecially Japanese ones, US mostlikely won't be the first to get an upgrade.

Also, the reason I returned my laptop is:
1. My previous Z has issue with the plastic strip right at the battery light indicator.
2. I'm paying 30% less on my new order compared to all off you here --> why not???



I went through 2 Iphones and personally have one now as a backup phone. Productively speaking, the iphone isn't a business phone in anyway. That's why I have the Nokia E71 which is strong enough for my business need and light enough for personal usage. The Vertu is just a collector item which I think is worth since even after 2 years of ownership, someone, just over the past weekend actually, made an offer just a few bucks below what I originally paid for (of course, I didn't pay retail price)... I said I'm a happy camper and I know I'm one! I recommend you to lose the Iphone and get something else. It's just the hype! Majority of my friends got it early and most ended up on Ebay or Craigslist. Even my 14 yd cousin had one to play game with. lmao What is it that made Iphone ownerws so proud of the phone and keep putting it in other's face? Remember there is a way called importing to get phone from abroad that has the newest tech in it (sadly, no US 3G connection). Even my old Nokia N70 has 2 cameras for video conference, does your iphone have one?

 

for those that order the Z via SonyStyle how do we take advantage of the productivity bundle deal?