Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

I am a little confused by the different configurations of the SSDs one can find. In Europe the 256 GB SSD seems to be 2x128GB (as sonystyle.de says). The US-site sonystyle.com states 1x256 GB. And some owners in these threads are talking about 4x64 GB?

Could someone confirm that all these configurations exists? And that the European versions of the 256GB-SSDs are only dual ones? Or are these only the typical typos on the Sonystyle-webpages? The Sony-Videos about the new Z were mainly talking of quad-SSDs as two SSD cards with "doubles-sided" SSDs, which makes a quad configuration.

So if you have your new Z with a SSD already, just check how many drives are installed and bound to the raid - thanks a lot!

 

Where did you get an educational discount? I called Sony Style US and they said they don't offer the discount for the Z.

 

Is that considered normal?

 

Really nice, but I seem to have lost scrolling by installing this. I must be overlooking something, but I cannot find it now. The multitouch is nice, but I used to be able to scroll whatever was under my curer just by tracing up and down the pad. Does not seem to work now. I really dislike having to grab a scroll bar.

 

Or if you want to save on return shipping, then call up Sony customer support and then refuse delivery of the package. It will go right back and your refund will come in right away.

 

You should be able to scroll anywhere on touchpad using two fingers.

 

I don't see a big disadvantage with the included touchpad single finger scrolling. I'll stick with that. In fact I didn't even know the Z had such a feature till you guys mentioned it. I usually just use a mouse.

Any way to press power button for shut down? Mine hibernates.

 

Many thanks, exactly what I was looking for!

 

With the new driver, mine does not seem to have an option for two finger scrolling. I'll check it out again.

 

Interestingly enough, the driver took two restarts. Works GREAT now.

 

Is there a way to get the really nice glowing green power light to turn off and the computer to remain on? When utilized in the dark, that little green light is bright.

 

Has Sony already acknowledged the battery drain as a real problem and will they try to fix it?

 

A Sharpie.

 

Ha ha...arth1, I expected more from you. An elegant software hack maybe

 

I can't find it in regedit
What I can see is Dfrg->Statistics->four volume

 

Can somebody please describe how to get the 15% discount? I got the 7% student discount when ordering, but how do you qualify for 15% ???

 

To get the 15% you have to call in and ask the order taker for it. They will take your order and then ask their supervisor. Some people are getting 10%, others 15%. At least one fellow on this forum got 20%! (but, that was probably a special case so don't count on that )

General consensus is that it helps to buy more than the basic unit to get the 15%. It appears that getting the 2yr warranty helps as well (can be canceled at no cost within 30 days).

 

Go to the Control Panel: Power Options
There you will see an option to configure what to do when the power button is pressed. While you are at it, turn off the feature that sleeps the computer when you close the lid (nothing more irritating than that one )

 

Whoever you talked to is wrong. Call up to get an online student account. When you log into it you can view the Z pre-configs and you will see the price crossed out with the new student discount written on the right hand side. For CTO's you have to go through the whole order process and add it to your cart. Then when you view your cart you will notice the price is reduced by the 7% now that it is in your cart.

 

The way I originally got it was to follow this link on the forum:
http://www.notebookreview.com/coupons/sony.asp


Look down a little ways to where it says: "Sony provides a 10% discount on VAIO notebooks to students...".

That link leads to here: https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wc..._page&catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1

 

the 1x256 is exactly the same as the 2x128. It is 1 physical drive comprising two in a raid configuration. In the u.s. they are listing it as 1x256 indicating 1 physical drive, elsewhere they list it as 2x128 indicating the effective configuration of the components.

Everyone who ordered a 1x256 received, in actuality, a 2x128.
Then there are those lucky enough to live in a region where they are building them as 4x64.

 

Has anyone here tried the VPCZ1 with Linux? I get rather strange colors with modeset=1 (KMS) which is necessary with current Xorg and fuzzy text in console. Tried with current kernel (2.6.33.1) and intel Xorg driver.

 

could you guys explain the concept of battery drain to me i still understand what you guys mean for an 8% loss for every 12 hrs?

does it mean that after for example 120 hrs the battery will have lost 80 percent of its power? and does it mean it wont charge properly???

hope someone can explain to me thanks

 

Nice. Thanks.

I didn't know it was the consumer that had to pay for return shipping.

No, they wont. They said it was normal and intended that way. This, according to a forum member who called Sony directly - posted in another thread.

It simply means, when fully charged to 100%, then left unplugged overnight, it loses 8% of its battery power the next morning- down to 92%. What you thought would be 100% has decreased to 92%, and you will loose even more as the day progresses when not in use (unplugged). Someone tested the drainage and posted that they left their Z unused for 3 days and lost approx. 25% - something like that.

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MicroCenter just got their Z in link. Still, at 1899.99, but they do offer a 5% discount for joining their free rewards program and will likely price match Best Buys price of 1699.99. I would monitor this site, because it's been known to offer combined in-store and manufacturer rebates of up to $300 that other stores don't offer. Price match + 5% + rebates!!!

 

Does any one tried this laptop sleeve?

9 DOT second skin/laptop sleeve - 13.1" Widescreen PC (Black)
http://www.tucanousa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BF%2DS%2D131&CartID=1

 

ok thanks. yeah im not anywhere near the skill level to do something like that

 

I think at least two people got a 20% discount, SurferJon and me. Don't recall SurferJon's configuration, but, in my case, I ordered the VPCZ11FHX/XQ Signature model and had to get the 3-yr direct ship extended warranty. All I had to do was ask for it (I'm not a student or otherwise eligible for a discount -- they apparently simply wanted to make the sale). As you say, the sales rep had to ask her supervisor. My request was denied the first time I called, but I just called right back and got someone else (located in Canada) and it was approved. Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

Does any1 know how many nits the screen is? Also, has anyone tried using it outdoors in the sunlight yet? How viewable is the screen compared to other laptops?

P.S. I've already searched the forum and couldn't find the answer. Thx!

 

been away for a few days and this place has grown so fast will take me a few days to catch up!

Does anyone know if it's possible to order online from Sonystyle.HK, if you're not in HK?

http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/ss/product/vaio/vpcz117gg_e.jsp

I'm on Chinese mainland and can go down to collect it, but up until yesterday it was not possible to select the laptop to put in your shopping cart, now it's changed to 'out of stock'.

anyone tried this? successfully or otherwise? Thanks

 

It is going to be loose. The laptop will wiggle around a lot.
You want the MacBook Air version.
Will fit standard or Extended battery and will be a snug fit.
I have the Script
http://www.tucanousa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BFUS-MBA13-RZ you can find it on ebay or the apple stores in grey, black, brown or blue.

 

I got to look at the Z yesterday down at King of Prussia, and from what I saw it was incredible. Unfortunately, the DPI was set to 125% on the 1600x900 screen and there was no 1920x1080 screen on display, but the monitor was S.H.A.R.P I'm hoping Sony puts the FHD screen on the CTO options before I have to get one of these in May, but the 1600x900 screen looked great to me

 

So my new Vaio Z came today

Sony Vaio VPCZ1
Intel i7-620m, 192 GB SSD triple RAID0, Blu-Ray, silver, Windows 7 pro, 4 GB RAM.

I am trying to figure out how to add a footnote to show what I am owning.

 

Anyone else have a sort of 'sparkly' screen (1600 x 900)? It shows more when there is a white background behind it. It's a bit annoying but I can bear with it. Other than that the screen is great but not the best I've used.

 

Go to your User CP (control Panel) and edit your signature.

 

Thanks, nutman

 

I wanted something that would fit everything but minimalist. The Apple store Incase works fine:

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o41/AshleyT99/INCASE2.jpg
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o41/AshleyT99/Incase1.jpg

When I got it home and tossed it on the bed I had to check to see if the laptop was still inside it; man that thing is light...

 

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For the battery drain issue, is the laptop in sleep for is it in hibernate/off?

 

My drain issue was based on the old Z completely turned OFF overnight.

 

I'm not really a gamer so I went out and bought the standard copy of FS X.

I ran it at the default settings and flew over downtown San Francisco at about 800 feet. (Not a lot of detail at those settings.)

The frame rate spent about as much time at 160 as it did at 60. Occasional spikes as low as 14 and as high as 180.

 

Does anyone know how many nits the screen is on this thing? thx

 

Okay I have my custom Z now.

- The diagonal lines are CRAZY. It doesn't look good at all.
- The screen isn't that bright.
- The screen resolution's text is uncomfortably small. I cannot imagine how it will be on the full HD one. (I turned it to 100% and it's just terrible.)

Other than those issues, everything is good. It was easy to get the stickers off once I got the hang of it. The sound of the fan doesn't bother me either, thought the laptop is a bit hot. The typing is also very comfortable and pleasant.

 

That annoyed me at my SonyStyle store. I tried to get them to log out and log back in when I changed it to 100%, but they wouldn't. The font was WAY too big for me, so if I got it I know I would do 100%. Would be interesting to see the 1080 screen to see if I would like 100% on that too. But I am sure that will be at 125% when the stores carry it.

 

I use the 1080p model with the DPI set to 100%. The screen is sharp and clear enough that it's not bad to use at all, at least for me.

 

No I don't think we know that.

 

Set dpi to 125% (default) and let us know what you think. Someone had mentioned that the screen brightness was set to 80% under Power Saver. Go to settings and set it to 100%. Are you planning on returning it, based on your list of issues?

 

Nope.

No, sorry, haven't seen it posted anywhere.

Don't recall it posted for other Sony notebooks either, but if it's anything like my old LED SZ, "more than bright enough".

 

i have the same case in a different size actually... its very nice

 

It was originally set to that, but everything looked unnatural so I put it back on 100%.

Also, it's weird with the screen brightness - when I take the laptop out of Standby, the screen gets bright to what I think it should be, then gets darker. It's set to 100% so I don't know what the deal is.

Also, I forgot to mention the laptop comes with a three-pronged adapter. Kind of annoying for extension cords, but luckily I have a 3-to-2 prong adapter.

The diagonal lines are really bugging me. The viewing angle isn't that great either. The colors seem "gray" as well. Maybe I'm just used to my brother's NW's display, but I am really unimpressed and very disappointed. Too late now though.

EDIT: AHHH! MY EYES!!! I disabled the "Adjust brightness automatically" setting in the Vaio Control Center and it looks like the brightness doubled - it's definitely SUPER bright. But the colors still seem dull and I can see "pixels" when my eyes dart across the screen.

EDIT #2: When I shine a light at the sensor it goes up to 100%, probably to compensate for outside conditions. Also, the speakers are puny and low-quality.

 

Asking once is enough. Twice in a day is too much, and three times, like you just did? Even if you don't get an answer, please wait a few days before asking again.

(Besides, nits are irrelevant except for marketing purposes or using the computer to light a room. A display with a wide viewing angle can have several times higher nits value than a narrower one, without appearing any brighter -- most of the light bleeds to the sides or up. The lux is what matters. But no, Sony hasn't disclosed either.)