Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

Can someone with a Wattmeter (Zoinks?) tell me how much power the Z draws? I'm curious as to whether I could get by with a 70 watt power supply.

Thx.

 

I use BatteryMeter Pro. A quick look shows -16,213 mW

 

Are you looking for the amount of AC power needed to charge the battery and operate the system as a worst case measurement? and based on that determine the AC supply capacity? Is this to size the DC capacity of the supply or know how much power AC Power needs to be supplied to the power brick? (like if you want to run it on an airplane power)

I can believe 16 watts for the laptop to operate, but to run the whole thing with battery will take considerably more.

the way to measure it is to check the DC current at the connector and do the math this will tell you the DC power needed.

If you want to know the AC side, it will take a measurement on the on the 120 volt side.

I have a current probe and scope, and can check this easily later today.

 

Thanks Guys. I might as well not close the lid at all because i don't want it to get worse even though it is normal and expected.

 

I'm looking for the minimum realistic wattage power adapter that I can use to run/charge this thing. I want an adapter that will handle wall, car and air. I currently use an iGo 90-watt unit, but there appears to be a new generation out that is about half the size/weight.

I've looked at the Kensington unit but that won't handle cars or American Airlines seats (since they use the cigarette lighter arrangement).

I've looked at the Targus unit and that's a possibility, but would like to get away with a 70 watt unit (40 watts???) if possible rather than a 90 watt unit.

Thanks for checking, guys.

 

just to repost a query above:

i live in australia where there is both huge demand and a great price for these things ($4k)

bascially my options are, buy a z128 model for 4k, or wait a month and a half to have an unreliable relative bring one back from hong kong for $3k

are there any other disadvantages to this 2nd option i need to consider? or does it come down to how much i care about the money and how much i want it?

2nd question is just is this thing really twice as good as a mac book pro?? because thats how much it costs!! convince me im making the right decision please!

thanks

 

so if you configure a mbp with an ssd and 8gb ram it costs the half of an z? i dont think so...

 

Haven't been following this thread too closely so if you have found a solution to the Vaio Update 5 then you can stop reading.

I was at the Mall and took my Z into the Sonystyle Store. He got the update to work by first uninstalling Vaio Update and then installing the esupport download named SOAXUD-00210223-0040. Although there are no present updates for my Z at least there are no error messages.

Also I bought one of those mini remote control helicopters from the Brookstone store there. I was hooked watching the guy fly one at the front door of the store to lure customers in. Hey for $35 and a $4 accidental damage warranty I didn't think it was too bad a deal.
Helicopter

 

Zoinks,

Let me give you an example of the resizing problems I have sometime...

Say I have a microsoft word document open in speed mode and I put the computer to sleep. Then, I switch it over to auto mode. When the computer wakes up, it defaults to stamina mode (because it's on battery). But the window is resized in a weird way. Then I have to resize it manually.

This happens with Word, IE, media player, and a number of other programs. Not a killer, just annoying. Speaking of which: if anyone knows how to get windows media player to default to a custom size when you play a video, I'd be all ears! It was easy in XP and Vista, but with Windows 7--I'm baffled.

And as far as the stuck pixel, I've tried programs. None of them seem to work

 

I measured a max of 76 VA and 70 watts on the AC side of the stock power adapter. That is charging a battery and running the native performance tool

the power brick gets pretty hot, so it would be safe to say there is about 10 watts lost there, which is in line with a typical switching supply efficiency. There are probably losses in the supply that do not result in heating, there is a fair amount of harmonic distortion and reactive power that is visible on the on the current and voltage to the brick, but that also is not surprising

so if the brick was only a resistor, the output power would be about 66 watts, since it is reactive it is probably more like 55 - 60 watts of RMS output power

With the brightness lower and the battery not charging, it is substantially less. The 70 watt unit could possibly work, but it is pretty close, we don't know if the 70 watt brick is really 70 watts. and I am guessing as to the power supply design. The only way to know for sure is to make a DC measurement, but I don't want to hack up my connector to do it or find a tool that can see the entire current coming in the connector not just the procesor

 

Does anyone dual boot windows and linux on their sony z? If you do are there any problems i should know about being only an average informed computer user.

 

Just a couple of quick questions please...

What is "fresh start" that I read somewhere on this thread?

And how would I clean install Win 7 and what are the benefits? (I'm new to all this).

Thanks
GD

 

An OEM Windows installation with fewer bundled trialware/crippleware applications.

 

Thanks arth1. So is it something that would be specced with the machine before purchase or can it be done yourself?

 

When you order from the SonyStyle store and you choose Windows Professional (not Home premium, not Ultimate), you have the option to click the box labeled fresh start. If you do then your computer arrives clean without a lot of the trialware and such pre-installed.

As far as doing a clean install, on a newly received laptop: I know some people swear by that. But personally I just delete whatever it is that I don't want on my computer and then just use it. Keeps life a little simpler.

 

So, it looks like I'll just hang with 90 watts to be on the safe side.

Thanks for the numbers.

 

Well I guess if Sony could get away with a brick with less capacity, they would have done that to save money. In manufacturing, the economies of scale force designers to reduce costs wherever possible

 

That looks like it could be the next version of the Vaio Update. I can't find it anywhere though Can you remember where he searched?

Put a wireless video cam on the chopper What's the range like? It reminds me of this:
YouTube - HexaKopter - MikroKopter

 

I'll see your helicopter...
Quad-copter responds to your voice, isn't coming to a toy store near you (video) -- Engadget

...and raise you a MKV.
The hovering Multiple Kill Vehicle is simply a waking nightmare -- Engadget

 

Well maybe they could get away with a brick with less capacity but that would make charging the battery awfully long? Does it make sense?

 

I personally would wait for a sale and buy it locally. I cannot imagine what troubles one would go through if the laptop dies on you.

Yes, it's faster, lighter, more ports and Windows 7 FTW!

 

Hey guys,

I just bought the Z11 for my wife to take with her back and forth to work (she rides her bike to work, so needed Light, powerful SSD laptop). I got 15% off and free shipping. QUESTION - Should I return the laptop and try to get a better price?
I ask because I recently saw on slickdeals.net that the Z11 went for $1250 (including tax and shipping) at the Microsoft store. They were offering a 40% discount! I tried to buy one but had issues with ordering, then they ran oos. Now that the Z12 is coming out, do you think we will see this heavy of discounting on the Z11 again??
Thanks in advance.

 

hi, i just posted a thread not too long ago in the main sony section, but i just realized this thread exists, so.. hope you don't mind but i'm going to copy and past my post here, if anyone has any insight, please tell me
-----
Hi, I have the z690, I was wondering if the new z model's fan is always on or if it's more quiet than the previous generation, given that the new model has the new nvidia gpu series and i'm assuming that the overheating problems that plagued the old nvidia 9x series is gone now? (I hope)

One more thing, is there anything different about the new model besides cpu/gpu/hd? I saw one in real life and i didn't understand what that shiny plastic thing lining the bezel above the screen is for (around the webcam)... decoration? it looks and felt cheap to me.. or am i missing something?

PS: I'm surprised sony redesigned the Z series in under 2 years, I'm wondering if i should jump onto this one or wait for the next redesign because I am getting annoyed by my fan, but can't justify spending 2+ grand on an illuminated keyboard unless the fan issue has been addressed at the very least

 

Is it possible to upgrade the memory on the Z11? I currently have 4gb and wouldn't mind upgrading to 6gb or possibly 8gb. My model number is vpc-z11x9e (pre-build).

Thanks
GD

 

memory upgrade itself is not a problem.

But take care of the right memory bars.

 

Hi guys,

I've tested the noise-canceling headphones this morning and I was wondering: how does this thing work?

It seems like there are microphones in each hear and the computer just "cancels" the noise but putting some "anti-noise" in addition to the regular sound according to the mic inputs. Is that right?

But what's more, it looks like you can use this headphones as a complete headset i.e. use these microphones as a regular input too. Is that true? As I was in train I didn't want to try it and look stupid talking at myself

Do some of you guys make VoIP or the like? Which mic are you using then? The one integrated in the Z itself, the one in the headphones (an headset actually?) or another one plugged in the mic port?

By the way, what are you thinking of the input quality of both this headset and of the integrated mic?

For me it's some kind of an unexpected hidden surprise!!! (speaking about hidden surprise, I must try to unlock the GPS in the WWAN card!)

Oh, wait, there's more. I should be able use this headset with my soon-to-come Pandora too! The headphone port there also support mic, much like in the iPhone and so in the Z. Yeah!

 

hey guys
,
im in australia and am after a z128. any australians know if there are any, repeat ANY in the country??

willing to pay full price of $4000 now. just desperate to get my hands on one without having to wait 6 weeks+ for a new shipment. i know sony is out, and i think harvey norman is too? any other retailers that stock sony z's??


thanks

 

Put your country and model number in here:
Sony eSupport - Electronics - Select Your Model

I entered my model number VPCZ11DGX

Click on drivers and software.

Click on Camera

Click on Origional Webcam Companion 3 software download.
ARACCU-00218331-0042.EXE

I did this on an entirely different computer and got this download.

If your model number is different you may get a different download.
If you do not uninstall before installing it will probably not work.

I rechecked it early this morning; at first it would not work but the second time and on attempts thereafter it did; could be it was not yet connected to internet when I first booted up and needed a little time to automatically connect.

Nice RC helicopter videos. I'm thinking about buying a beginner RC heli for around $140 but not sure which is best. I like the Apachi designs though don't want the double blade; (one set of blades on top of the other) design.

Also while in the mall I met this young man who had just bought an iPad. He gave me a tip about an interesting iPhone app named Log Me In. I can now access any of my computers and actually control applications on these computers while I am away from home, on my iPhone. See iPhone screen shot below:

In the following case I leave my Macbook Pro at home on but I decrease the screen brightness until the screen appears dark and the laptop appears not to be on. The following shots are from my iPhone. Below, you see the MBP webcam giving me a live view of my room while I am away from home. I can monitor if anyone breaks into my room and take an instant screen shot of the thief/intruder on the iPhone for documentation. Here I am pointing the MBP webcam at my Z instead of getting a shot of my messy room though.


In the next case, below, I log into my Sony Z from my iPhone, and open up Microsoft Streets and Trips application.







I should be able to also enable GPS and look at the map to determine where my stolen Z was taken, as well as turn on the Z's web cam and take photos of the thief as long as he gets onto the internet, although I havent figured out a way to activate the camera. Anyone have a tip on how to activate the motion eye cam; I can't seem to find an app on the Z to do it.

 

Wow, just checked the new CTO options for the Z12 and I must say I'm really happy I ordered mine when I did. Sure now all options are available but you must either cash at least 500€ more or forget about a big SSD...

 

I got mine from Harvey Norman, although I haven't "got" it yet. Ordered last Sunday. I hear others have been waiting for close on two weeks. They were here, the Z128s, but obviously sold out in no time. Australia was one of the first countries to have them.

 

I did some brief testing with the headphones and yes, they do have a microphone built in as well. If you plug them into the headphone port on the Z, they will handle both input and output.

I also tried them on my iPhone, but I'm afraid that's just not meant to be. Poor output and no input.

 

Im not really an Apple Fanboy

I have the "old" vaio z21 for my work, as i said.. If i ever have to...

The Ipad is for surfing & checking mails @ home.. More i doent have to do @ home

I spend much much time, into reading all stuff about the new Vaio, i really like the power of that gadget. But in Switzerland it is since weeks out of stock, and bevore was only the full-hd Display edition.. Reasons to doent buy: Old Grafikcard drivers, many problems reported here... So i take the ipad as new Gadget. My old Vaio has enough power for the next years.

 

Well I noticed about 12 VA of power on the AC line while the system was off, but plugged in. This means the battery was charging at at something like a 10 watt rate more or less.

The charging taking longer is shorter will be determined by how the brick behaves if it is overloaded, how the charging circuit behaves if the DC being supplied by the brick is reduced.

IF the brick is overloaded, it could either reduce its output voltage, or simply shut down until the load is reduced to a point it can support. This depends on the design. The danger in reducing the output voltage ( unless there is protection) is if the load wants the same number of watts, it will demand more the current from the brick.

If the brick is designed to reduce its output voltage, then it is up to the charging circuit design to determine the charging time. There could be a switching supply in the PC that provides a fixed charge rate to the battery, and maintains the rate if the input voltage is reduced somewhat. That's How I would design it, as to not depend so much on the exact voltage being supplied

I guess the shorter answer is it depends on the design of each of these elements, the PC could reduce the charge rate if it does not have enough voltage to use, but it is all in the math of how much margin there is in each of the elements of the system.

 

Do you think that it's the iPhone that doesn't want to use this noise-canceling headset, or that it's the noise-canceling headset that is specifically designed to work with the Z?

 

What the .... the price for the model I ordered raised from € 2.200 to € 3.000? € 600 just for a 128 GB SSD upgrade? Are the serious?

Gratulations to all who bought the Z11 - Sony is going insane.

 

Well, either that or they upgraded the SSD to even more costy ones. I'm thinking about this possibility because when I ordered my Z the current offer was "256GB upgrade for half price", suggesting they were emptying all their Z11 SSD stocks. If that's the case, I hope they are even more blazing fast then... 1GB per second sequential read maybe?

Thanks for the congratulations!

 

That's a different filename from the one the Sony store dude loaded. I tried that anyway and it doesn't work. I also tried substituting the filename you gave in the ftp URL string and the file isn't found on the Sony server...

Forgot to add: I tried downloading the Aussie version (5.1), it says it needs to update itself first, after which it says it needs to update itself first, and after that it says it needs to update itself first, and after that...

That looks like a VNC app...

The file you pointed me to is the application for the web cam. It looks like it doesn't stream, but it can take pictures and upload them onto an FTP server.

There goes my undies...

I surrender

 

I wouldn't know for sure, but I would guess that it's both.

All of the noise canceling headsets I have seen require some sort of power supply and this headset doesn't appear to have any. Thus it would have to be plugged into something that's supplying that power. Thus I would believe that the headset and the Z are made for each other, to the exclusion of other devices.

 

The fan on the new Z11, while I don't notice it myself, is something that some folks do complain about. My guess is that you would be one of those that finds it objectionable. And yes, it always runs even when idling, albeit sometimes very slowly.

Overheating on the gpu: I have not heard anyone complain about that on the new Z. Even the overclockers.

Regarding whether to get this one or wait for the next. It is always the case with computers that a new and better one is around the corner. That probably won't change for a while. If your current Z does what you need, why upgrade so soon? If it doesn't, don't think twice, just get the new one (and a good pair of earmuffs ) and you will be very happy.

The shiny plastic strip you refer to is actually the point of contact where the screen rests on the body when the laptop is closed.

 

That's fine. I still find your avatar profane.

 

Question:

I'm hearing a funny CLICK sound when I open and close the lid of the laptop. It seems to be coming from the right side. Not very loud, but it seems pretty repetitive. Does anyone else have the same thing?

 

I have exactly the same thing - it sounds like it could be the flat cable to the LCD display unsticking from the hinge, when you open/close the lid.

 

Funny how something was probably there all for quite some time, and is only NOW starting to be bothersome...and not like it's a big deal at all, but you know how picky some of us can be. Do you think we have anything to be concerned about? It doesn't sound like anything is being damaged.

 

There is an fitment issue with one your hinges. During one of my seemingly endless teardowns, I had this as well.

I was able to work the hinge back into the correct place by giggling the screen close to the hinge itself. Be firm but not rough with it. It is sturdier than it looks.

Normal lid operation is completely silent, no clicks.

 

What do you mean by "giggling?"

 

Grab it with your index finger and thumb, push back and forth.

EDIT: I took the LCD panel apart at one point. These pics show the hinge assembly. Not sure if it will help
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/473598-sony-z11-lcd-disassembled-pics.html

 

Wow! You're much braver than I to attempt to take your computer apart like that. I would probably screw it all up. Thanks for the pictures. From looking at those pictures, it appears that the piece that has three holes in the "970" picture is the one that might not be attached right. The lid itself doesn't FEEL loose, but that sound is kind of clunky. I've tried to fix it by using the manner you suggest, but I must be doing something wrong. I think it's because I don't really know what I'm trying to accomplish by doing that.

Thanks


EDIT:
I've figured out that the click only happens when I open the lid a little PAST the straight-up position. If it never gets that far, then it won't click on the way back down. So it sounds like the hinge is un-seated when it moves past that position.

 

speaking about the lid... i found weird that if you close it but not all the way and then open it right away the screen would still stay black thinking it's closed. Once you close it all the way and re-open it goes back to normal.
(all this assumes close lid action is set to none in advanced power settings)

 

There is a magnet inside the LCD assembly that is used to determine if the lid is raised or lowered.

You can see it here:


It is the metal rectangle with a red stripe on it to the left. I know this because the magnet fell out during that disassembly. I also found out that the sensor is sensitive to the magnet's poles, so you need to have it installed in a specific direction, hence the red stripe.

 

has anyone tried updating their video card drivers to the latest with the vaio z? Or do you recommend sticking with the sony released versions.