Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

Good luck with that. Sony doesn't really update it's software. What you buy is what you get. Many Sony devices never get any updates. I wished they would just release the src into the public domain when they get discontinued.

 

I personally have sent my Z for a repair due to lots of hardware problems and noted the video drivers issue... Lets hope for the best...

 

There's inevitable noise when the machine is doing some serious number crunching/gaming but it's not that bad. If you are just using it for MS Office/Internet it's mostly silent.

 

Have noticed that my Z11 is using the fan more intensively when it is forced to run 32bit programs. Maybe you could try to limit your 32bit software to a minimum. Nevertheless to my disappointment the 64bit office 2010 version has a lot of compatibility issues and the most important for me is the one with Windows Mobile Device Center...

 

HI guys.

I cant imagine i finally read all these 581 pages in the last few days. WOW grt details.

I have a doubt though. I have ordered my 12 and am wondering whether I will have any problem putting in Office 2010 since this machine runs 64 bit.

I already have problems communicating with my blackberry specifically to back up contacts with Outlook on Office 2010, 32 bit itself.

Anyone know whether 64 bit has any probs comunicating? Anyone use Bbery and Outlook.

Thx for the answers in advance.

And congrats on a fantastic forum.

 

What do you think about to install Win 7 32bit OS as a virtual machine ?

 

A small notice keeps popping up on the bottom right corner of my Z11. It's saying "Connection to a new network established, do you want to create a new profile"

I've already created a network profile long ago and am always connected to it but this notice keeps coming and it's becoming more and more frequent!

How do I stop this notice? Someone please help. Thanks.

 

You shouldn't use Office 2010 64-bit, even Microsoft advise the install of the 32-bit version as the 64-bit version has compatibility issues.

I have Office 2010 (32-bit) running without any problems on my Z (Win7 64-bit)...

 

Do you mean we can run Office 2010 (32bit) on Windows 7 (64bit)? So what is the difference in 64 bit then?

 

Yes 32-bit Office is the standard, even for 64-bit operating systems. The difference is that the 64-bit office can use more physical memory, but there are compatibility tradeoffs.

Compatibility Between the 32-bit and 64-bit Versions of Office 2010

 

Anyone please? Thanks.

 

Have you tried clicking the popup to see what new network your computer thinks is available?

 

Thank you to: Travfar, Oscar2, Achusaysblessyou, A2bucks and Steve78 for answering this question. I'm hoping to judge for myself this Wednesday when I receive my Z12 (if it ever gets out of customs in Alaska!)

 

Mine is stuck in customs too ! I wonder would it change the estimated delivery date.. I hope not! and hope it clears out from customs.....

 

Do you folks think the built in Verizon modem is worthe the $100 to someone who does very little traveling? Do you think 4 gigs of ram is enough for someone who won't do intensive work on the Z. 2 gigs is another $150. Seems pretty high. Appreciate the help. Will be running Win 7 Pro.

 

How do you adjust the sensivity of the touchpad so it doesn't keep thinking that I'm tapping it? It's annoying that its so sensitive that if my palm gets close to it while typing it thinks I'm pressing the enter key and so my cursor jumps to a random location.

I've searched the forums and tried the mouse settings in the Control Panel, but no joy. FWIW, I have one of the latest Vaio Z's (VPCZ1), Win7 64, and an optimized install (from PortableOne) that may have removed an applet intended to adjust the mouse sensitivty to tapping gestures.

 

...or alternatively, how does one turn off the touchpad if using an external mouse? It seems that the settings for the external mouse (at least, the Vaio VGP bluetooth laser mouse) also affect the touchpad.

Except for that annoyance (and the lack of a dedicated home/end/pageup/pagedown keys), this is by far the most favorite laptop I've owned. When I go back to using my Thinkpad X61 tablet, the thinkpad feels broken because it is so slow by comparison.

 

I think the Verizon feature is a waste. It'd be nice for GPS, but my understanding is that you have to pay for a Verizon plan for it to be worthwhile, so then you're paying a monthly fee so that your Z can be hooked up to the network. For someone who doesn't travel much, doesn't seem worth it to me.

Regarding the RAM, most users can get by with 4GB. There aren't a whole lot of programs that will tap that full amount, even running Windows 7 with quite a few apps. That being said, I am paranoid about running out of RAM since I have had machines that have given me the "out of memory" messages. So I splurged for 6. But that was probably a neurotic decision, not a practical one.

 

No. You have to pay for the service as well. If you don't travel much, why pay for it all the time. Just go to Starbucks.

 

I think I had that before, and wanted to shoot myself I stopped it by making it assuming that all future networks are 'public'. It's under Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center. Under each network identified, there should be a link that's labeled (e.g.) 'Public network'. Click on that you'll see the popup below, where the option to treat all future networks the same way is available:

 

So my Z12 finally arrived everything's seems to be fine even on a native 1080p lowering the resolution to 1600x900 looks just as good to me, my only gripe which i wouldn't have expected to see is yep! a stuck pixel on the bottom left corner of the screen! I must be the only one who's had no luck with this. I've heard of programs you can run to fix this but thought I'd check with you all for first hand experience and suggestions to fix it. Its only noticeable on extreme blacks and given the headache of sending it back, I'd rather just live with it, any suggestions?

 

Well you can live with it but it takes some discipline. I have on my F and don't really care anymore vs sending it back. There are program out there. Here's one, JScreenFix - Fix stuck pixels and screen burn-in. You have to run it abut an hour. You Tube has severa excellent video tutorials on other solutions too.

 

lol. I'm with you. Thanks for the feedback.

 

I opted for the 3G option, as can never find a reliable public hotspot when I need one. I know many are about, but I never find myself near one when I need the internet.

Plus, in UK; the WWAN is unlocked, so you can work from a Pay-As-You-Go SIM from any network & when out & about, this is a great option for a smal extra cost.

Cheers,
T

 

I have one but realistically No, it's probably not worth it. You will likely prefer to plug into usb whatever dongle you want to use or else use something like the MiFi (which connects to you via wifi). Also, as time and technology progress, the built-in one will become increasingly obsolete. Some people get it for the built-in gps (although a usb dongle is probably a better idea there as well)

4GB is more than enough for 99% of the population out there. You can check for yourself how much memory you use, in your current setup, by opening task manager and monitoring memory usage in the Performance tab. If is unlikely you are even bumping the 3GB line. But if you find that you even occasionally exceed that, then definitely get 8.

Incorrect. You can use the GPS without any plan. It's just a straight free-standing GPS in there.

 

Thanks much! for some odd reason it really isn't bothering me much because its really not noticeable and I'd rather a stuck pixel than a dead pixel since stuck pixels can fix themselves over time, other wise not noticing any blank screens on youtube with 330m but will update if it does happen or anything else.

 

Hi All,

The Sony website for the Z states the following for Battery Performance, also states figures supported by "Benchmark MobileMark 2007"

Standard battery
Battery life in graphics mode: up to 4.5 hours
Battery life in stamina mode: up to 7.5 hours

Longe-Life Battery
Battery life in graphics mode: up to 6.5 hours
Battery life in stamina mode: up to 10.5 hours

Anyone, heard of MobileMark 2007 and know what setting were used to get the above battery usage figures ?

Anyone actually getting anywhere near this usage ?

(I have both standard & long life battery & with what I feel as normal usage, (MS Office, IE8 running, screen at 30%, CPU limited to 70%, Bluetooth off, WWAN/WIFI on) am seeing about 2/3rd of the above stated quoted times on battery.

So, I would like to know what setting give the stated performance above,

Cheers,
T

 

Those figures are probably only achievable with WiFi off.

 

I reach 10H with Wifi ON, working on firefox and MS office (large battery). Just don't use heavy flash animations or look videos.

 

I've heard you can massage stuck pixels away sometimes.

http://www.jscreenfix.com/faq/24-what-is-a-pixel-massage

 

Are you saying you can use the GPS without any type of connection to a network, including wifi connection?

 

From Notebookcheck review, Z11 with standard battery:

 

I'm using the 64-bit version of Office 2010 and there is no problem syncing my iPhone via iTunes.

 

Yes. No problem.

 

What software would you use? Can't use Google Maps without internet, obviously.

 

can you please post a picture of what this forum looks like when the computer is in 1080p 100% scaling, and possibly 1600x900 too? I should receive my z by the end of the week, but I'm really curious

 

My question exactly. Is there an app I just open and can see my GPS location? I discussed this at length with the Sony Style rep (who I admit tend to know less about this stuff than most people reading this thread), and she said that I'd have to be hooked up to some kind of a network to use the GPS. I pressed her regarding how that helps me if I'm driving in a car and I don't have access to a wifi network (with the assumption that I was not getting the Verizon card). She said it doesn't help me.

 

One example would be Microsoft Street and Trips: http://www.microsoft.com/streets/en-us/products_streetsgps.aspx

You can download the free trial and check it out. Also, don't forget to turn on the GPS (it's in the same menu where you turn bluetooth and wifi on and off).

 

Crazy! I'll have to try this when I get to my Z later. Thanks for the tip! Yet one more example of Sony Style reps resorting to BS when asked anything other than what's easy to see on their own website.

 

Hmm I personally dont know what your options are, but with the VPCZ11 CTO in the US, the standard 4gb option was a 1 stick of 4gb RAM. If that's the case, you can buy the 4gb then buy some aftermarket 4gb modules for ~$150 and just open the RAM bay and just stick in the new module. But if your standard 4gb is 2x2gb modules(the preconfigured ones in the US are like that) then it's really up to you because at that point, you are either going to pay $150 for an upgrade now or later to 6gb... but an upgrade to 8gb would be ~$300. But yeah, for most people 4gb is perfect for all their needs.

 

$230 for 8GB of DDR3 SODIMMS. If you want, you can sell them your 2x2GB sticks for $50. Making the upgrade $180.

8.0GB NuRAM (4.0GB + 4.0GB Kit) PC8500... (NWT8566DDR3S8GP) at OWC

 

Thanks Achusaysblessyou. I appreciate your feedback.

 

thanks I'll look into that

 

Thanks man! Had a bright stuck pixel in the middle of the screen when I turned on my new z12 and was pretty mad. Then I did the stuck pixel app and it didn't work. Then I massaged the screen and it went away right away!!! Thanks so much.

 

just wondering, do your vaio z show the remaining battery time or just the percentage of the battery. Because my vaio doesn't show the time just the percentage. Is there a way to change it so that it show both percentage and time remaining?

 

Does anybody have a large capacity battery that is silver color?

Thanks.

 

i tried massaging it and everything else in the book and its still stuck for me cheers for you! i don't want to put much pressure on the screen but its frustrating enough to make you want to do so.. i have the 2 year ADH so I'll see what they say, but I'm giving it a couple more days/try's before it goes back.

 

So i spoke with a Sony Technical rep huge language barrier but we managed to work through it he was rather nice also. Once i got him to understand what a stuck pixel was, we were able to setup and appointment for an on-site rep to come to my house and fix the screen i was amazed that i wouldn't have to ship it out and found this to be a plus on Sony's part. He did however say depending on parts availability i should hear back withing 3-5 business days for confirmation on a set date and time. So considering these lappies are new im hoping they will have the 1080p screens in stock, will keep you all posted.

 

if I were you I would rather send it back and get another one, rather than letting a technician mess with my computer. I know you probably just don't want to wait any longer but there is no way I would let someone repair any part of my computer while I'm within the 30 days. I know I posted this before but just in-case you didn't see it, is there anyway you can post a picture of this forum with your screen on 1080p and 100% scaling so I can see the font size?

 

Just finished Starting up my new Z12. Everything seemed to go well except VAIO Update. The program existed as VAIO Update 5. When I tried to run it I consistently got the message: A new version is available. Vaio update cannot be used unless it is updated. Update now?
I tried Yes many times and it extracts then switches to the installer screen for about a second and goes away. I have Fresh Start machine. So I went to Sony Drivers and Updates and downloaded and installed V. Location Utility, V. Shared Library and finally V. Update as described. It took several reboots to get V. Update to install but after it did (as version 5) it produced the same results. Since everyone says that Sony doesn't really update anything, what difference does this make? I did notice that the Driver and Update page had a lot of relatively recent drivers (all before my machine was built). But I don't really want to download and install anything that I already have.
Anyone had similar results?