Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

Great idea, I'll try that now.

 

Page 666 thats kinda eerie

 

LOL, leave it to me to post on this page.

 

I was beginning to wonder why we were the only one's responding

 

TigerBone was the first post on page 666...

Coincidence? You decide.

 

Had a quick question... I remember reading somewhere in this thread or another that the auto defrag should be turned off on the ssd's. If so, where can I find the option to do that? Thanks in advance!

 

lol purely

 

Here are some instructions: http://forum.notebookreview.com/6109882-post176.html.

I did this so long ago, but I think I remembered it not being exactly like this poster described it. I found it eventually though. This should give you a start. You can also type Vaio Care in the run line to pull up that utility. There is a setting in there too for turning off defrag. You might as well hit both of them. Here is blue13x's post about Vaio Care: http://forum.notebookreview.com/6515020-post6500.html. My Vaio Care doesn't look exactly the same, but I still found the tick for the defrag.

 

Gang, Found a nice thing, since we are all Dead worried about the Palm wrist and whats not, check it out?

Black Leather Case for Sony VAIO new Z11 laptops - eBay (item 290423236074 end time Aug-06-10 23:27:22 PDT)

I'm placing my order as of now, but its coming from China !!!

Meaning 3 weeks of WAITING !

 

Fantastic!!! Now let's hope it comes with proper cuts for the cooling system! great find!

 

I'm Literally dying to know this little piece of information, Where is the CTO ordered from SonyStyle USA Made IN?

Made in Japan
Made in USA
Made in USA with foreign components, Bla Bla Bla

Or the Sum of All fears ( MADE IN CHINA )

Please CTO Owners answer me, its right down the laptop, Crystal Clear!

 

what is your suggestion on a 2nd power adapter, the sticky one available in sony site seems to have very bad reviews, there are some adapters available in ebay from honk kong, genuine, model VGP-AC19V32, is that the best?

 

the sticky one available in sony site seems to have very bad reviews

NO NO NO NO

I'm using it since a year Now, going strong, Sleek design, faster charging, small form factor.

those reviews are Wrong!

 

CoolerMaster 19V slim adapter on Amazon.com

 

Anybody know if there are back to school deals on the Z in Canada.

Also, the SSD interests me for performance but im not too thrilled about the idea of dishing out massive cash for an upgrade from 128gb to 256gb...how about a 99$ 1tb external drive for when youre at home and in need of your heavy files...thoughts anybody... thanks

 

I definitely understand the dilemma. Yes, the external HDD option is definitely one to consider. In fact, I just purchased a 500GB internal HDD and an enclosure. The thing about the external HDD option (at least through USB 2.0) is that it's a slow solution, especially when you'll be used to the speeds of the SSD in RAID 0. I would recommend purchasing an eSATA expresscard adapter and an external solution that is eSATA capable. That will give you higher speed. That's the route I'm going to try anyway.

For what it's worth, I got the 192GB Z11 thinking that would be plenty of space. I regret that decision, as it feels painfully small. I should have gone to the 256GB option at least.

 

Speaking of SSD sizes, I've got a Z12 in the shopping cart ready to buy but I'm wondering if I should go for the 256GB version.

Most of my work files and VM images are located on my 2TB QNAP NAS, so I might be able to get by with 128GB.

Can anyone tell me how much space is left over on the 128GB setup with the "Fresh start" option? I'm going to guess 70-80GB with the recovery partition. I did check the FAQ but didn't see this covered. Searching didn't return anything either.

Hopefully this will be my last question before clicking the buy button.

Thanks.

 

It has been mentioned in this thread, by heavenly_wild if I remember correctly. And you are correct, if you don't get the Fresh Start option, you're looking at about 70-80GB of free space with the recovery partition.

 

Hah...I just did a more specific search in this thread (using the words "recovery partition size") and came back to update my post with the answer but you were too quick.

Screw it. $350 for another 128GB...might as well since I can't easily upgrade it to a Vertex 2.

I always feel guilty spending this much on a laptop...

 

Ordered. Now the wait begins...

I do plan on taking a nice HD video of the 1080p screen so people can get a better idea about it - since that was my biggest decision on this purchase and there isn't a lot of info out there.

 

I connected my 1600x900 Z12 to an external monitor (24" 1920x1080) via HDMI (looks great!) and have two questions that I'm hoping you guys can help me with.

1) Is it possible to duplicate the desktop and have the external monitor at its native 1920x1080 resolution on the Z at 1600x900? Whenever I duplicate the image the external defaults to the 1600x900.

2) I'm trying to do an extended desktop with the external monitor as the "main" monitor with the desktop icons and the laptop as the extension. However, the default is for the external monitor to be the extension and I can't find how to switch the two. Is there a way to change that?

Thanks in advance!

 

It should only cost $200 more to upgrade to 256gb with special offer going on at sonystyle.com or over the phone.

 

1. Go to Vaio Control Center in Control Panel. Select Display, then select HDMI Resolution Settings. Try changing the resolution to 1080 and see if that does the trick. You have to be plugged into your external when you do this.

2. Were you not able to do this in the Screen Resolution settings? Right click on the desktop, then select Screen resolution. You should be able to set your default display there. Mine is set to default to using the external as my main and the Z screen is off. I guess I don't remember trying to use the Z screen as a secondary, so can't remember if that is an option or not. I would assume so though. I can definitely do that with my Dell Latitude at work, though that is running Vista Ultimate.

 

I'm in Canada but interestingly enough, after looking at the US SonyStyle site, our other upgrades seem cheaper. So I think everything worked out fairly even.

For instance, here is a breakdown of the upgrades that I selected and the equivalent pricing on the US site:

Upgrades:

US / Canada (in cdn)
i7 620m +$150 / +$60
8gb +$200 (reg $300) / +$130
256GB SSD +$200 / +$350
13.1" 1080p screen +$100 / +$35

Totals: $650 usd / $575 cdn

The total US price would be $2569.99 usd versus $2644 cdn (our base price is higher).

That actually surprises me, since we normally get shafted up here. I wonder why our upgrades are, for the most part, so much cheaper.

 

It's assembled in San Diego... I forgot where I read this, but if it's any confirmation, my order tracking from FedEx started from San Diego. I know I read it somewhere! ahh here's a screenshot of the tracking by FedEx

 

Hi All,

Just wondering has anyone got this "share my connection" Sony tool to work ? I would like to use my new VAIO Z vpcz128gg as an access point for my wifes laptop and a few iphones. Is it possible ? also is there ment to be a SIM slot under the battery somewhere ?

Thanks in advance for your help. btw z was purchased and operating in Australia.

 

Thanks for the reply JP. I was able to fix #2 but unfortunately I can't adjust the resolution of the external monitor (via HDMI, haven't tried VGA) independently of the resolution of the laptop. When I have the duplicated desktop and go to the HDMI resolution settings, the max is 780 with the other choices not allowed. Any other suggestions? Anyone? Thanks again.

 

If it is performance you are after, here's a recipe:

- ExpressCard eSATA controller (mine is a SIIG 2-port)
- BYTECC BT-M251 (Patriot Convoy XL seems identical) dual 2.5" SATA Mobile Rack
- 2 2.5" SATA drives

I have 2 Intel 80GB SSDs in one rack, and 2 WD Scorpio Black 320GB 7200 RPM drives in another. The rack supports RAID 0, 1, and JBOD. Works great Not as fast as the internal SSD of course, but better than most alternatives.

The only thing I don't like is that the rack will not power from USB, you have to have the 5V 2A adapter. Oh well, it's a small price to pay for the performance.

 

Strange indeed. The fan is fine on the Envy 14, at least for me, and it has a setting in the BIOS which give some control. I do hear a soft whoosh. No problem. On the Z, I hear buzzing all the time.

Because some of this may be the luck of the draw, I may try a third time (that's how much I like the Z), but I feel like Lucy is setting up the football for yet another kick.

 

Ah yes i forget that the prices are strangely diff us/canada as you stated, depending on the upgrades the prices vary. i wonder if they're taking in consideration what options sell less/more in certain regions, but i guess as long as it works out to the same in the end everyone can be happy

 

Hey guys. I'm having a really strange problem with the WLAN in my Z11. I'm downloading extremely slowly (uploading is fine).



here is the speedtest screen from my old laptop (also using wireless):


I've had the problem since picking up the Z brand new 2 or 3 months ago. Is there a wireless setting that I may have switched on/off? Thanks.

 

You can't use 'duplicate', for what you want to do it's 'extend'.
Extend allows each monitor to be at its own resolution. Duplicate does a combined resolution that is always the ''worst of both worlds'.
The only time duplicate works well is when both monitors have the same resolution and, for some reason, you want the exact same information on both.

Extend lets you slide your mouse from one to the other. I often use that mode on the Z and it works just fine on a 1920x1200 external monitor.

Also, setting the external monitor as 'primary' will make that the main monitor.
Hitting the Windows-P is a quick way to bring up the windows option to connect/disconnect the external monitor.

 

Hey thanks. I just purchased an internal 2.5 inch drive and an enclosure that has USB and eSATA compatibilty. I was going to purchase an ExpressCard eSATA adapter next. But it just occurred to me when I read your post: can the expresscard slot power a device, the way USB can? In other words, can I connect my enclosure w/internal HDD to the expresscard adapter via eSATA cable and power it? The enclosure I purchased doesn't have a separate power adapter.

That's probably a noob question and I'm assuming that it can, but I don't have any experience with the expresscard slot.

 

Hi everyone, I just bought a used vaio Z off eBay, everything is great but I have a problem where plugging in headphones does not mute the laptop's speakers. Is there a way to set this up? Or at least to control the volume of the speakers independently from the headphone jack?

Thanks in advance!

 

@ Achusaysblessyou

Thank you for the info, But, I don't care where its coming from, I just want to know the Simple text printed underneath the CTO Z1290X laptop:

Does it read any of the following:

Made in Japan
Made in USA
Made in USA with Foreign components
Made in China

CTO 1290X PLEASE CHECK IT AND LET ME KNOW.

PLEASE

 

@GenLet:

Push the headphones Jack (All the Way IN) into the headphone Jack, use a little force, it will work.

 

Thanks for the help, but it really doesn't I've tried with 3 different headphones so I don't think the problems is the jack being too short...

 

Normally, plugging in the headphones cuts off the speakers. There are no settings for this. If it doesn't work it's because either:

1. It's defective -OR-
2. You didn't push it in all the way

If its defective, then your option is to go with an external speaker or headphone via either USB or bluetooth. Using that will allow you listen without hearing sound out of the laptop speakers.

 

Can I use different screen resolutions for the two video cards?
I want to put on nvidia 1600x900 and 1400x800 on intel!
Naturally from a card to another, the resolution should change automatically!

 

reboot with a regular headphone Plugged IN, or better off, Shutdown, then Power on your laptop with the regular headphones still IN the jack.

If not, then Sorry to tell you, Jack is messed up, Call Sony!

 

@GenLet:

can you help me in something, ?

Flip over your laptop look on the bottom, Where is it being Made in?

Made in Japan
Made in USA
Made in China
Made in USA with foreign components.

Will

 

Well, I have a VPC-Z1190X, which is supposed to be pretty much the same thing as the Z12 you are asking about.

In any case, mine says: "Made in USA with foreign components"

 

Made in Japan

 

thanks Oscar, I think all CTOs are like this

Lucky you GenLet, it might be like this since its a Pre-config Model, not touched by American hands to custom the hardware for you.

Made in Japan, is much more reliable IMHO.

Who else getting what fella's?

 

No, it won't. You will have to power the drive from USB. Plug in the eSATA first, then the USB cable.

Some Newegg reviews of the Patriot Convoy I mentioned state that it can power from USB. Now I have to try one...

 

Also using an external software...

 

It's not clear to me what your question is. Are you asking that the resolution change when you switch between speed vs. stamina modes?

So that you would be looking at the laptop screen in native resolution when in speed mode but in some funky, non-native resolution, when in stamina mode?

Or are you saying that you want an external monitor running in intel graphics mode at 1400x800 while you run the laptop screen from nvidia (in its native resolution)?

Either way I don't really understand the question.

Edit: " Also using an external software..." That last addendum is even more mysterious to me than its precursor.

 

So...
now that you have your answer, about the manufacturing origins of the various Z's, care to let us in on what the dire urgency was (I must say, it was rather dramatic, repetitious, and all in boldfaced red).

 

The capability to transfer output must be software controlled, does this have to do with the noise-cancelling software? Does that show up under msconfig > startup? Even though mine is switched off, it might still contribute to the correct functioning. The other driver I can think of is the 'Realtek HD Audio Manager', which should also show up in msconfig...

 

I believe the new Z12's are assembled and shipped from Japan as the tracking on everyone's Z12 show's that it is coming from that location. Mine says its made in Japan on the bottom and nothing on foreign parts. the only thing that's listed as made in china is the power adapter.