Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

I too am interested in comparisons of the two displays, especially for photo editing. I'm in the US, where choosing the 1080 display means shelling out a lot for the Signature Series or waiting who-knows-how-long until the 1080 display is generally available.

Since I would be doing Photoshop work (amateur, not pro), I am concerned that the lesser display might not be good enough. I've read conflicting information about use of the old Z's 1600x900 screen for photo editing. If that display worked fine for that use on the new Z, I might pull the trigger soon, but I don't want to make an expensive mistake.

 

So I have an interesting situation: I'm living in the UK right now but am moving back to Australia in a few weeks. As I can make a free stopover as part of whatever flight I book, I have the option of buying a new Z from either the UK (or anywhere in the EU), Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore or Australia, and can also get tax/VAT/GST back in all cases except Aus.

It seems to me that the best value by far is the VPCZ117GG from Hong Kong ( http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/ss/product/vaio/vpcz117gg_e.jsp). I don't particularly want the HD screen, but I want at least 250GB of storage.

Also, being Aussie I am used to a US keyboard, and dislike the UK layout. Also, Sony Japan always offer a US keyboard so it's no issue.

Next surprise is that it seems that the HK flagship model has no WWAN or WWAN option. Is this correct? and furthermore, do we think I could reasonably easily get the module and plug it in and configure myself afterwards?

Thoughts / advice appreciated.

 

You can get spyware and virus protection software. I do some searches looking for songs, movies, or shows that get me on some odd websites and I never worry about what my computer might catch and I am running windows. In the 17 years using windows based PCs I have managed to only ever get one dangerous virus on my PC and that was from a disk long before I ever knew what the internet was Other viruses were caught by virus protection I had. But actually I have gotten very few viruses even caught by my software. It is something that I do not spend any time worrying about. I install programs to catch stuff and that is as far as my thinking goes. Keep in mind between my husband and I we are on the internet with multiple PCs for over 15 hours day. Our PCs are normally only shut off when we are sleeping.

As for the differences between windows 7 and macs. I really think that Windows 7 has come a long way (against my better judgement). Macs have always frustrated the heck out of me because I am a techie and I don't like when things are hidden from me to make it "user friendly" and now Windows 7 is the same way I think it is trully more user friendly and you will have less of an issue switching back. I on the other hand am not looking forward to working with Windows 7. My current PC has XP which I LOVE, but I am sure eventually I will get used to Windows 7, just like I have finally gotten used to the new Office apps.

 

I am buying Z from Japan so I am also thinking about options to replace WWAN modem (in japan it is locked to NNT DoCoMo). If you go with model without WWAN in it you will probably have problem with missing ribbon cable and maybe even missing antenna, not to mention missing SIM slot.

If you buy model from Japan with locked WWAN model then you only need to replace WWAN card with one from Europe (Z model has SIM card slot). Also seams like this card is little pricey.

This is GOBI 2000 puled from Acer laptop.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Unlocked-Qualco...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a9f077fbf

 

The last i checked, the new Zs are cheaper in Malaysia. As for the previous Zs, prices in HK were lower.

 

I'm thinking about the WWAN card too, also worried about the antenna. I guess they won't just put two wires in there connected to nothing

I found this on Amazon, pulled from HP:
(Gobi WWAN Kenobi)

The price is a little less than an X-25M 80GB. Configuring one then replacing it will incur twice the cost I think I may just stick to tethering...

 

This is the first time in history that Sony UK have not stiffed their customers. Usually this is the deal:

• Cheap crappy silver paint as the ONLY option for many products, when the US gets black as stock all day long
• Limited (often to the point of non-existent) CTO options - "take it or leave it suckers"
• Even allowing for "other factors" (US sales tax, size of market, currency fluctuation) prices are a good 25% more than any other market
• Last-to-market, as we watch Japanese and US customers unboxing, getting free gifts, discounts and something approaching "customer service"

As Sony are well aware, no-one else is any better, and the UK is going to sink soon under the weight of it's own stupidity, so why change? Stunning that they have pulled their finger out for the new Z. Get it before it's revealed as their 10 millionth website typo or the election cause the economy to finally self-destruct.

 

The main three things Windows users can do to protect themselves from viruses are:

1: Never browse the Internet with Internet Explorer. Always use a different browser that doesn't have hook-ins to the operating system.

2: Never read e-mail with a "preview pane" that shows HTML e-mail formatted as HTML, with or without images. Always read e-mail as plain text.

3: Never ever trust that because something (allegedly or really) came from someone you know, it will be safe to open. Almost all e-mail viruses are spread through the contact lists of the infected computer, which means they will almost always come from someone you know.

 

Since the laptop will spend most of its time, in my case, plugged into an external monitor. Therefore I am more interested in this question than whatever resolution its native monitor has.

Monitors such as the Dell 27" (U2711) 2560x1440. I would love to be able to use something like this. Previously that used to require a dual dvi connection, which we clearly don't have the luxury of. Is there any possibility this would work on the Z vga?

 

I had to order mine from the UK to get the British keyboard, and I can't say that I think their prices are sensible. They're ~10% higher than other places in Europe, for example, as they did a straight one-to-one GBP to EUR conversion on lots of the upgrades. (Off-topic: As for the UK sinking, yes, I'd agree, that was one factor towards me leaving or at least not going back...).

 

I found this post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=6007882&postcount=23

I may just try it just for the heck of it Thread primarily describes how to get AT&T network (which I'm on) working on the Gobi 2000.

It would be great if someone with a Z (without WWAN option) can confirm that the SIM slot still exists:
http://attach.mobile01.com/attach/201003/mobile01-c5155a6b48e5ce648366f60c722c5039.jpg

 

I second Arith's recommendation to avoid Internet Explorer. Use Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome...
These lack the direct hooks into the internals of Windows that makes Explorer such an easy target. Same goes for Outlook, for email.

 

That's a nice fantasy but it's just not true. Linux and OSX are light years away from the issues Windows has in this regard. Part of it is just the relative popularity of Windows, virus writers seem to spend most of their time where the vast majority of the general surfing population is (Windows). And part of it is the fact that Windows is just and has always been very inviting of this sort of thing. Of late the latter has closed up somewhat. But even now, the programming hooks you have into the internals of the Windows operating system via Explorer and Outlook have no parallel in the Linux/Unix/Apple world (imho).

 

I'd also like to order from the UK, because in my country there's no CTO and I'm used to the UK keyboard.
Did you buy a CTO laptop from the UK? If yes, did you organize the order through a friend, some 3rd party shop or directly through Sony? I'm still looking for an easy way to buy a CTO Z from the UK, so I'd be happy to hear any ideas. Thanks in advance

Regarding the price: I think the UK is one of the most expensive (or for CTO maybe even the most expensive) places in the world to buy the Z.

EDIT: One more question: Did you get 1 or 2 years standard warranty with your laptop? What's the default for Vaios in the UK?

 

We don't call it rip-off Britain for nothing...

 

Realistically this isn't true any longer. In the IE 6/7 days this would have been the case but with IE8 its security and protection exceeds Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera. If you look at independent lab testing the results are pretty clear:

http://nsslabs.com/test-reports/Q309_Browser_Security_Summary_Final.pdf

Stefan

 

Yes its true that Internet Explorer spends a lot more effort blocking malicious sites, but the reason is that it has to! Most of those sites only need blocking from IE. The others tend to be immune to all the hooks and tricks that make IE so insecure.

 

The majority of threats today are socially engineered threats duping unknowing users into running malicious code. Any and all browsers are susceptible to this type of attack so IE being dramatically better than other browsers in filtering out these sites is significant and does make it a much safer browser than the alternatives.

Stefan

 

Just been on the Sony UK website, the Z series CTO options now only include HDD options, No SSD options are present?

Is this a sign of shortage (in the UK at least)?

 

I sat down today and thoroughly re read two articles that were published in 2009. If this TRIM argument has you even the slightest bit confused, I wholeheartedly recommend Anand Lal Shimpi's articles where he breaks it down shotgun style for the most advanced or rookie reader and will have you speaking about SSD's like a pro. That is the good news. The bad news is that he has nothing good to say about Samsung OEM drives.

Here are the article Links:
March 18, 2009: http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3531&p=1
August 30, 2009: http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3631

The articles are dated, but the information is the "gold standard."

Again, this proves nothing about our machines (or those we want) but it does not look good.

 

There was the option for SSDs on the CTO earlier today but they had a couple of weeks longer lead time then the HDD version. Think im going to order the HDD version anyway and put an intel ssd x25 in it.

 

It's the same on all European SonyStyle sites. They took it down in the last few hours.

 

So, I received my new Vaio Z today. Sadly not configured as ordered. No Fresh Start DVD and my disk config is 2x64GB instead of the 1x128GB as ordered. I specifically ordered 1x128GB because I didn't want more than one disk, and this is a deal breaker for me. I'm awaiting a response from Sony support on the matter. I probably will have to return it.

My order:

Component: No additional Video Editing Software
Component: No Engraving
Component: No additional Office Software
Component: No additional AntiVirus Software
Component: 4GB (4GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
Component: No additional Photo Editing Software
Component: No Mobile Broadband Built-In
Component: Fresh Start
Component: Intel® Core™ i5-540M processor (2.53GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz
Component: CD/DVD Burner
Component: Standard Capacity Battery
Component: Premium Carbon Fiber
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
Component: 128GB (128GBx1) Solid State Drive with RAID 0

 

128 GB is actually 64 GBx2, its specially customized for the Sony Vaio Z. Fresh Start is probably already configured on your laptop, did you check if it was bloatware-free?

 

Have the US price drops been mentioned?
Wonder if pre-ordered ones will get an adjustment, or is a deal a deal?

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=8198552921644569397&parentCategoryId=16154

 

Can't find any

 

Fresh start is not a dvd that you ordered, its a condition the computer is delivered in, namely: no bloatware

There is no such thing as a 128Gx1 option. That is simply a misleading description on their part. You always get effectively at least two drives with a Z11 (for better or for worse). Know that if a 128x1 were actually available, this would have been the first choice of many on here as the trim issue, that has been debated here endlessly, would likely not be an issue in that case.

 

While 2x64GB is the same size as 1x128GB, it is false advertising to state that the machine contains 1 disk instead of two. Granted, there might have been some fine print that stated that it pertains to logical drives rather than physical drives, but I can't find that anywhere.

I was starting to think the same thing with regards to Fresh Start; there's really only VAIO apps on with the exception of some Sony rewards thing.

 

Anyone have any thoughts or any knowledge regarding the question of external vga resolution?

I would like to plug in a 2560x1440 monitor.Will this be possible? Somewhere early on in the ancestor to this thread it was stated that the max resolution via its vga port was 2048x1536.

 

Right, which is exactly why I ordered the 1x128GB (I wasn't aware of this forum/thread when I ordered mine on 3/2, but was already familiar with the issue of TRIM/RAID).

 

Cant find any???
I'm reading substantial price drops on pre-configured models:
Top of the line was $4499, now its $4184
The 256 SSD model was $2499 and now it's $2324

The list goes on with bottom of the barrel 2.4 Ghz was $1899.99 and now it's $1766

Even the CTO's have program discounts after you add them to your cart.
This is the U.S. webpage.

 

can you please post the link of the newly priced 256gb ssd model

 

i only see original price as well

 

I see the prices he's referring to, but only after selecting the student discount section.

 

They changed it back. Just that quick. I should have taken a screen grab. Better yet I should have paid for one while it was up.
This was no student discount.

 

After reading SurferJon's post, I called SonyStyle and asked for a 20% discount on the top-of-the-line Signature model (VPCZ11FHX/XQ), as I'd previously only been given a 15% discount. They asked their supervisor and he rejected my requested, so I called right back and got another sales person and they approved the 20% discount ($900) the second time. Thus the price is US$3,599.99 + $US$249.99 3-yr express ship + US$333.00 tax, or US$4,182.98 in the aggregate. They also gave me express shipping on the delivery. Hope that helps.

 

Comparing the VPCZ117GG/X, the Full HD, i7, 256GB, 8GB RAM model, the price on sony.com.hk is HK$19,980, whereas the same model on sony.com.my converts to about HK$21,030.

So it seems Hong Kong is still the cheapest.

Ouch, $200, that's way too expensive.

Cool, thanks!

Anyway, I can and am living without WWAN, plus I think it's something that should just be tethered to a phone anyway (why pay a data plan twice?). Otherwise it might be a fun project.

Overall though, it's a surprise from a place like Hong Kong not to sell a WWAN option. I guess WiFi pretty much covers the whole region anyway.

 

AlaskaJoel, are the prices I posted the same as those on the student discount within the dollar not counting cents? If not it may be some program discount Sony is planning that was accidentally posted.

 

Just so everyone knows, the new Z is now available at Best Buy at a relatively good price:

Click here

 

Has anyone from the UK received their Z yet?

I received an email saying it would be delivered on the 12th March but have heard nothing since.

 

The prices you posted are exactly the same as the student discount (7%). CTO receives 7% off as well but only after adding it to your cart.

 

I have the same email, I called today and they told me that they had a pre-sales block until the release day which is supposedly today. They said that the Z's are all in a logistics center in the Netherlands - So at the very earliest they could be arriving to customers is at the end of the week.

 

<3 Netherlands, too bad mine hasn't been build yet...

 

I clicked on the Sonystyle US chat line and the salesman says he can give me 10% off as long as I get at least a 2 year service plan. He said nothing about a student discount.

Now I'm depressed. I was getting rid of web pages on my screen and noticed the discount page just as I got rid of it.

 

The 520m option is currently gone from the US CTO page.

 

See? I'm seeing it back up. They are doing something...having the 520M the exact same price as the CTO 540M does not make sense to me. Am I right or am I wrong?

 

I think this forum is truncating the link, but I did manage to find it on the Best Buy site.

I'm somewhat surprised that Best Buy is carrying this. Anyway, yes, that *is* a good price, US$1699. Same config on SonyStyle USA (VPCZ112GX/S) sells for US$200 more.

 

Btw, the 20% discount I received is available to anyone, because I'm not a student or otherwise eligible for any particular discount.

 

Still not there for me. And I checked on a second computer just to make sure I wasn't getting a cached page on this one.

 

A friend/colleague ordered it for me using a UK c/card and address (my c/card is from the UK but has a non-UK address, which confuses just about e-tailor). AFAIK, 2 year standard, + 2 years free warranty due to a special promotion that ran in Feb.