Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 (VPCZ1) Official Owners Thread Part 2

so with this set up my battery won't deteriorate just like taking the battery out while using an AC adapter?

 

Lithium ion batteries degrade faster by keeping it at 100% charge all the time. That's why the default sony battery care function keeps it at 80% charge.

 

hey all,

sometimes when i try to adjust me brightness using the key shortcuts nothing happens

anyone experienced this and knows anything?

 

That happens to me when I have hardware monitoring programs running, like HWMonitor. There is a discussion out there about why those kinds of programs screw some stuff up. But some have mentioned that the monitoring software doesn't cause the same issues.

 

It's true that Lithium batteries degrade, primarily due to resistance buildup, caused by heat, during charging. This effectively reduces their capacity over time. But the notion of charging it up and then lowering it to 80% for storage is the one that serves no purpose. There is no need to lower the battery for storage, the wear mechanism is the act of charging it, not from storing it charged.

Also, since all batteries have a natural tendency to lose charge over time, and since Li-Ion batteries lock themselves out forever, when they drop below a certain pre-set charge level. It is better not to arbitrarily discharge it prior to long term storage.

 

So I don't need to take the battery out when I am working on AC for a long period of time as long as my battery is 80% charged?

 

That's the purpose for the Battery Care setting.

 

Ahh okay Oscar2, thanks for clarifying that .

 

So what you are really saying is that li-ion batteries have a falsely advertised capacity. If iti is claimed to be a 5 hour battery and you cannot dip below say 1 hour remaining, without damaging the battery......then really you have a 4 hour battery.

 

No, I am not saying that at all. I did not say that you cannot dip below a 1h remaining without damaging the battery.

The level the battery locks itself out at, is a very low level. It is a much lower level than what could ever be used to operate the laptop. But if the battery were to discharge to that level then, for safety reasons, the battery locks itself out and can no longer be used.

People usually notice this when they bring out a laptop that has been sitting in the corner of the room for a long period of time (not plugged in). When they go to use it the battery is completely dead, not able to to take any charge at all. This usually means the battery self-discharged to the point where it locked itself out.

That's why some folks like to refrigerate batteries that are stored, because it reduces the rate of self-discharge.

Note. The reason Li-Ion batteries disable themselves is because they can and do ignite if an attempt is made to recharge them after having been allowed to discharge below a certain level. And once they ignite there's no putting them out as they supply their own fuel AND oxidizer. (they really are far more dangerous than we give them credit for)

 

Hi, I've my brand new vaio and I REALLY want to get my ram back... intel graphics are always taking about 320mb of ram and I don't want to give them more than 128mb....

Anyone knows how to configure max integrated graphics memory?

 

I have the same question/request

 

May I ask an OS question as I plan to get a Z within a month?

My company's programs/applications (for their security reasons) run on XP only. Can WIN 7 simply revert to XP mode as needed, or is this complicated? My company is a financial services company, but I have heard of other types of businesses whose software is not yet fully compatible with Win 7.

Many thanks

 

There is a XP Mode that's run under Windows Virtual machine...I just installed it on my desktop at work because we run an older version of Oracle and in order to get it to work, I had to put an older Oracle client on the machine. Google Windows 7 XP mode and you'll see how it works.

 

With Win7 Professional or Ultimate (but not with Home Premium) comes Windows XP mode. It runs in a window of Win7 and is actually a virtual machine (running under Microsoft Virtual PC) with its own virtual drive etc. but is integrated into Win7 so you can access the files, usb, dvd drive etc of the host machine. There are several things I have to use it for and it seems to work well enough.

 

okay, thank you.

 

Oscar - okay, since I will order the Z with Win 7 PRO, its seems then that this "switching" between XP and 7 will be relatively seamless/automatic?

thanks again

 

A question regarding the "Powerbrick" that comes with the VPCZ, please see review link here: TECHNOLOGY: Sony Vaio Z Review by TECHNOLOGY

Are there any more compact power sources available (such as the Macbook Air unit white shown in the review)?

Final question, I should have my unit in a few weeks, ordered with 2x2 Mem (4g RAM). I intend a RAM upgrade by myself to 6g (4x2). Is this upgrade pretty straightforward? Thanks

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/527787-anyone-using-any-different-power-supplies-their-zs.html

 

Can anyone tell me what the model number is for the factory Blu-Ray drive on the z13? I ordered one without and may look into sticking one in myself.

In another (the old) thread, I found "D-MLT UJ242AS." But, I don't know if that's for the z12 or if they're the same?

 

What do you think of this recent pricing on various models? Is there an appreciable difference between a i5 - 2.4GHz and an i5 2.53GHZ?

Nov. 20, 2010

Specs:

Screen 1600x900, 4g Ram, DVD, and all else the same except as noted below:

Expect a 10% discount (I think) when calling Sony Style

(1) VPCZ 1290X i5 - 540M 2.53GHz Boost to 3.06 Win 7 HOME 64 $1799 – from Sony
(2) VPCZ 13CGx/S i5 - 460M 2.53 GHZ Boost to 2.80 Win 7 PRO 64 $1,949 - Sony
(3) VPCZ 1390x/S i5 - 460M 2.53 GHZ Boost to 2.80 Win 7 HOME 64 $1,899 - Sony
(4) VPCZ122GX/B i5 - 520M 2.40GHz Boost to 2.93 Win 7 PRO 64 $1,620 -- Reseller

 

I am a new owner of the Sony Vaio Z128gg and was quite impressed by it.
As I bought it second hand it has already complete programs including a sort of parallel desktop( where there is an apple software that works along with the Windows. Now myproblem is the home and end keys are not functioning.
is this a hardware defect or a software peculiarity?
I am at a loss in sorting this problem as I can't find any reference in the net about this precise issue ...
I hope somebody here can give light to my problem.
Thank You!

 

Can someone please explain what software I need to use my my Z12 as a Satnav. I have the Gobi thing installed, with Orange, in the UK. I've bbeen trying for 4 months, thanks.

 

As I don't exactly know what you're talking about, my guess is it is a software/driver issue. I'm sure if you wiped the computer and reinstalled the original OS/software/drivers everything would work just fine....

 

Per other owners recommendation, I just ordered the Cooler Master USNA 95 off Amazon.

RAM--Yes, I ordered my Z with 4 Gig as well and then bought 8gb for half the cost of Sony's upgrade.
If you retain one of the 2gb sticks, make sure the 4gb stick is the same speed. I believe "DDR3-SDRAM-1066"

 

It's pretty easy to rule out whether it's a hardware defect, and instead you can look at reinstalling drivers and such.

Since Home and End are the left and right arrow keys with Fn held down:

1. Do your left and right arrow keys work (as arrow keys)?
2. Does your Fn key work (e.g., Fn+F3 for volume)?

If both of those work ok, then your problem is not hardware related and you can look at drivers, and such, instead.

 

IIRC you should go to SonyStyle Europe and download the driver for the gobi card there which should unlock the Gobi card (and the GPS within) and then you can use other SIM cards, etc. To use GPS, you have to turn on the card, so click the SmartWi icon in the toolbar at the bottom right hand corner of your screen and turn on the Gobi card. As for software for GPS i hard microsoft street and trips worked with it...

 

Yes it works...so could you please tell me more about it? Thanks!

 

What are your symptoms? What do you mean it doesn't work?

When you are Replying to this post and you type Fn+Home, and then Fn+End, does it go to the beginning and then to the end of the line you are typing? Does it do something else entirely? Does it ignore you (and do nothing)?

 

How do I disable that horrible beep sound whenever I use the function key to change the screen brightness or volume?

 

Are you sure that's the major difference between these models? I'm not sure about the whole history of the Z but I wonder what other subtle things may have changed between versions.

Most people don't have use for Intel's TPM stuff (ie. allowing your company to remotely control your computer without you having a say in it). But note that it's only in /some/ of the processors that are offered on the Z. I was glad to get an i5 460M that does *not* come with the TPM stuff because for a personal computer its existence is kind of offensive although those processors also come with some nominal extra virtualization thing that I don't think any software uses yet anyway.

tl;dr: if you're interested in the difference between CPUs, don't just look at the GHz, you might want to check Intel's website to compare their featuresets, although if you didn't know to look for that then it's probably irrelevant to you anyway.

 

Rename, move or delete C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\VAIO Event Service\pi.wav

 

Does anyone have a creacky palmrest, right at the right of the touchpad, above the battery sign? I have my VPCZ11 8 months now and despite my gentle handling, it doesn't look and feel like a premium notebook any more. The palmrest has faded, I had lost one rubber feet and had to buy it from Sony repair for 30 euros and had already given it for warranty repair for the loosening right screen hinge and changed the screen also because of a dark spot.

Do you know if they have to remove the palmrest in order to access the screen? I know that they have to remove the cover in order to access the hinges, this is why I sent it for warranty repair.

I am very happy of the performance and portability of this notebook, it is the best I ever had, but still the quality is far inferior to any aluminium Macs. Carbon fibre? It is just plain creaky plastic.

 

I was suppose to get my z13 CTO last thursday Nov. 18 - i have not heard a word from sony, and have no clue as to what's going on. I emailed them, but no reply thus far. Anyone else have issues with delivery dates? I've been waiting long for this laptop to arrive

 

Did you get a link that says it shipped and here is the tracker for shipper (Fed-Ex or whoever)?

 

I ordered mine in April and didn't get mine until June. I kept calling and they kept saying "don't worry" or the equivalent. Turns out my order had been canceled within Sony due to a missing part and they never updated my order status. It took them over a month to figure it out. I had to place a new order.

I would call and be very firm about wanting to figure out the status of your order.

 

As I am not in my Sony Vaio Z at the moment I will check it later....

 

I ordered mine Wednesday(?) and the site says estimated ship date is Nov. 29th...

 

I had to uninstall the latest Intel wireless drivers because they were playing havoc with my connection. Anyone else had this issue?

 

What version number are your drivers?

 

Hello,

when i buy the model with the normal HDD and no optical drive, can i replace the HDD with my own SSD? i have an intel postville 160GB which i could use..

so is it a standard 2,5" sata drive then? and can i replace it relatively easy?

thanks!

 

umm it's a straightforward swap, so yes its relatively easy. You do have to take a surprisingly large number of screws out, and completely remove the keyboard to gain access. Use this guide as far as gaining access to the ODD bay (where the HDD sits in a caddy) Sony Vaio Z installation guide 18

 

Hi, I've a vpcz130gl (i5 560m) and I'm planning to purchase
Amazon.com: Crucial CT2KIT51264BC1067 8GB 204-PIN PC3-8500 SODIMM DDR3 (4GBx2): Electronics

Here the crucial pag:
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT51264BC1067

As I don't live in the us I'm planning to ask a friend to bring them to me and I need to know if they'll work....

The specs seems right, anybody?

 

thank you!!!

i asked sony support the same yesterday... still no answer..

so i gonna get this one, yuhu!

..or are there any other objections? how is the fan noise? hopefully not changing rpm a bit each second like my F11 which i will replace now...

 

Yes, they should work, as long as the RAM is DDR3, SODIMM, 204-pin and at least 1066mhz(PC8500) you should be fine. And since you're getting two sticks together, you dont have to worry about timings between two different sticks.

 

I haven't searched this thread, but I have a vpz-122gxb i5, this auto dimming? thing is driving me nuts, it literally adjusts the brightness every 20 secs or so on the same webpage, and then proceeds to alter it in an adhoc fashion while browsing the web, from very dark to bright and back. What is the purpose of this, is this a fault?

 

No it's a wonderful feature.

I find that there are times when I prefer it on, usually I have it off. Luckily it's easy to change the setting:

From Vaio Control Center: Display | Automatic Brightness Setting | Uncheck Adjust Brightness Automatically.

You will also find that with it off, the display reaches eye blinding levels of brightness (you have been warned), so wear these:

 

Eh, well is mine faulty? What is good about it changing the brightness every 20 seconds on the same page? 2k laptop this!

 

I'm not sure what you are saying. Are you saying you turned off the auto-brightness adjust and it still auto-adjusts?
Or are you saying that you shouldn't have to be turning off anything, that you want to leave on the auto-brightness but that you want it to work differently.

 

No I am saying 'the auto dimming feature' when turned on, is auto adjusting the brightness like every 20 secs, from slightly dark to bright like when i am on this site it was changing it all the time, also on dark themed sites it seemed to go really dark. I don't see how this 'is good'? I have turned it off for now...