Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

I ordered a CTO i7 on March 19th, it is shipped today...
My status changed twice today, from being built to shipped in 8 hours.

 

I put my why's in the parenthesis. Actually all 5 have been well covered in these here Z threads (with the possible exception of virtualization. While we haven't gone on and on about that one, it IS one of the very nicest things about having a core i5/i7, so there's just no reason not to turn it on).

 

How is the warmth with the i7? I have an i7 820 with my Envy, and it's okay. I haven't taxed the machine too much yet.

 

I just ordered my CTO for $2050(tax 7% - student d/c7%) on 3/20 and it's estimated to ship on 3/30(US).

I see some people getting 10% student discount and 15% or more discount on the phone. Can anyone tell me how you got so much discount? Maybe I can call back and get some discount.

 

Is there any advantage to opting for Windows 7 Professional ($50) and getting fresh start, rather than buying Windows 7 Pro on my own ($30 via student discount) and doing a clean install? I was thinking of getting the metal mosaic signature series, so i could save myself the hassle of CTO.

 

They're either lying or they were extremely lucky in getting a rep who was nice enough to give such discounts. Just be happy with the discounts you get. Us Canadians are only able to get $200 discount and nothing more... and the base model starts at $1999. Kinda pisses me off how we always get the shaft on tech related products.

 

Well, $200 is better than what I got. My discount all went to the tax(7%) so..basically no discount

 

I think you would have had a better chance if you just ditched the education discount and straight up asked for 10 or 15% discount over the phone.

 

How do you get the discount over the phone???

 

I am neither lying nor was I extremely lucky. I got 15% off by asking the phone order rep for it. Everyone else who ordered at the time that I did also got the discount, who asked for it (that's how I know I not extremely lucky).

If you have asked and they refused then it is possible that they were more inclined to give it a few weeks ago than they are now.

You can also try for the educational discount. by following the educational link on the SonyStyle website. https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentDisplayView?cmsId=edu_landing_page&catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&XID=F:sscampus:ss

Click on Shop Vaio notebooks and they show up as 7% off on the pre-configured ones.

 

You can certainly do that, but don't forget that you'll have to download the Z-specific drivers from the Sony support site. You may have to experiment with the order in which things are installed in this case. Please document your experience for everyone's benefit.

I went through the same analysis, since we have access to W7 Ultimate licenses, but opted instead to go with the Sony version/Clean Install just to avoid the driver hassle. And even then there were a couple of items that had to be manually downloaded (camera and media drivers).

 

Thanks for the info. I should call them and ask about the discount. I got the student discount, but 7% just covered the tax.

 

How's this:

 

The only thing that irks me is the high pitch whir instead of a whoosh, but that only becomes prevalent when I'm in a room that's virtually silent.
Other than that scenario, I doubt you'll be able to hear it anywhere else

 

This is exactly what i've been trying to describe about the fan noise on the new vaio z. At first I thought the fan was just defective but more and more people are experiencing the same high pitch whine so i'm assuming it is normal. It's sad cause this is the only issue I have with the new vaio z. Now I know why noise cancelling headphones are supplied

 

Great start to a helpful list as requested by a few. You might add for those that did not get fresh start:

6. Get rid of Crapware (bloatware). Run PC Decrapifier and Revo Uninstaller. (Please correct me if there is a better way of ridding a PC of Crapware).

Thanks for the list Oscar2!!

 

Wow, so the Fresh Start option actually rendered some of the Z's features non-functioning? How absurd.

I did a keyword search of "virtualization" in this thread but didn't find much info. What is virtualization and what does turning it on do? Is that anything like running VMWare Fusion or Parallels in OSX to run Windows? As far as 'm aware, there's no need to turn on virtualization in OSX before running virtualization software. Thanks.

 

SonyStyle is showing the Signature Series VAIO Z to be in stock again....with a ship date of 3/24/10.

 

I am thinking of getting the new Z.

Does the SSD support trim?

 

I waited for a month for my CTO to arrive.
i7 - 620
8GB Ram
premium carbon
theres only one complain though...... the speaker.... is the worst!!! its even worse than my 3 years old Sz speaker. I think that's why sony includes a good pair of headphone..

i reckon the problem is the actual speaker not the soundcard because it still produces awesome quality when plugged to another headphone or external speaker. anyone else getting the same problem ?

 

Wow nice, very impressed, although, it does look a little lonely there at the airport

So basically, you don't experience any lag or low frames (under 20) at any airport?

Would be interesting to see how it performs if the traffic was set to 80%.

Cheers again.

 

Yes VMware, Parallels, VirtualBox, Microsoft VirtualPC, ...
These are all programs that perform virtualization. Strictly speaking there is no "Need" to do so, but it runs so much better when you do turn it on that its the difference between night and day (or the difference between having a processor with virtualization extensions versus not )

btw Parallels is not just for OSX, its for Windows and Linux as well.

 

Intel VT is the hardware assist that Intel provides for virtualization in processors (which you already know). I definitely agree running with it enabled and running VMware Workstation it is ++faster. Also I do not think you can run a 64bit guest on a 32bit host without VT.

BTW there was a lot of chatter in the SZ forum about the fact that you could not use Windows 7's "XP Mode" without Intel VT being enabled. It really was disturbing to find out Sony had disabled support for VT in the BIOS even though the processor supported it. However Microsoft has now lifted the requirement for hardware assisted virtualization so pretty much anyone can run XP mode now without VT.

.dj

 

Has anyone investigated whether the new Vaio Z would support Intel WiDi (Push2TV)? The laptop meets all the specs: i7-620M processor, Centrino® Advanced-N 6200 wifi card, Intel® HD Graphics, and Intel® HM57 Express Chipset. Just getting antsy to try and see what this baby can do! Should be arriving on Thursday.
Thanks!

 

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/nvidias-optimus-uncovered-in-sony-vaio-z-along-with-trim-suppo

Congrats to igorstef and ZoinksS2k for the mention in engadget and for their hard work

Also, my Z (i5 540, 8GB, Full HD, 256GB SSD) arrives tomorrow! finally!

 

Alrighty, I have this problem too. I cannot find BootOptimizeFunction in regedit.

 

While there doesn't seem to be anything published on Sony's site I would suspect that it would work. Given that it does meet the requirements by Intel (that you listed) but also a couple of things of note:

Drivers from Intel's Site:

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wtech/iwd/sb/CS-031109.htm

Discussions in the forum:

http://communities.intel.com/thread/10402?tstart=0

It seems as long as you have the WiDi adapter we would be in business.

Now hopefully I can rid of my IOGEAR wireless USB VGA adapter.

 

Great work guys!

And yes Zoinks, 335 players don't know what they are missing (or do they )..... Got love the talk in the forums. BTW did you see on autoblog that there is no more V8 and instead the rumor is a V6 Twin Turbo (450hp)? All speculation of course...

.dj

 

I think the "Carbon Fiber" employed in the New Z are in 2 different areas. There is real Carbon fiber employed in the chassis of ALL Z-series models - for lightness and strength.

Then there is the Carbon Fiber mixed with plastic employed in the lid of some of the models, which in my opinion is purely cosmetic and not serving any real function.

 

Got my Panasonic CF-S9 today (the premium one with the i5-540, 8GB of memory, and 256GB SSD). It was waiting for me when I got home from my business trip. I need to get it configured and put it through its paces, but I'm impressed so far. I need to get it configured. I plan on comparing it to the R600 and the old Z.

I saw the new Z on display when I was in a SonyStyle store and I don't regret getting the Panasonic instead. Out of the box you can feel why they call it a Toughbook!

The screen is definitely better than the R600, and the old Z isn't near me, but probably not as good as that depending on what you want.

The SSD is one of the new Toshiba ones that supports TRIM.

 

Nice, but Nautis and I did the Optimus part. No big whoop, its just cool to see the Sony folks breaking new ground

 

Some questions about the SSD:
1.Is it better to have partition on SSD?

2.If the answer is yes, how much space should I leave for the OS drive and how to do the partition? Do I need to format the SSD?

3.After updating IRST to 9.6, it seems the SSD on Z support Trim. How about wear-leveling?

Thank you.

By the way, did anybody hear some sounds when you adjusting the angle of the screen? With power turn on and you need to put your ear close to the screen in a silence environment.

 

I can't make a comment on that.

 

Yes ! Yes ! YES YES YES YES ! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES !!!!!

They do exist!

I was checking my Order Detail and it just updated tonight:

View attachment order_capture_update_3-23.bmp

It ships tomorrow !!!! It no longer says 'Shipping update' (which was meaningless) but 'Ready for shipment' (which StefanB mentioned was the last message he got before the 'shipped' signal !)



They're trickling in, maybe they are shipping one a week? Try to keep it an exclusive club? Or they are REALLY super popular and they just can't keep them on the shelves (which sounds more likely to me)...

And btw, I'm not gloating, I'm just happy and wanted to let all others that are also kinda in the blind about their ultimate signature model shipment that, they ARE shipping... slowly...

... well, not shipping yet... 'Ready to ship'... [crosses fingers]

 

Bah! Help?

My computer has frozen 4 times now ..what I can observe is a totally frozen screen. Cant move the mouse, cant click any buttons, cant Ctrl+alt+delete. Nothin. I end up having to hold the power button for 20 seconds like Ive said in a previous post.

Its plugged in and I always notice whenever this freezing occurs my graphics switch gets almost stuck. I always keep it on auto..and being that its plugged in it should be on speed; which it always is before I leave my computer. But now, these times I come back to my computer to find that its frozen, I look at the graphics switch and it shows that for whatever reason the computer tried to switch to stamina. With that, I cant do anything..my computer is totally frozen. It sucks! Sure, im leavin the computer on, but the screen is set to go idle after so long.

 

True. Still showing "Shipping Update" and Estimated Ship Date of 3/15.

 

Here's my guess based on what we're seeing for this model (this is total SWAG by the way...)

- It looks like they do come in as batch to the US (which is kind of weird as I thought they were manufactured here, in San Diego like the CTOs?).
- As soon as the inventory is received in their system at the warehouse, it shows as available (not pegged to an order yet, or Unrestricted stock). That's when we can, as Zoinks did this morning, look on the website and see the product as shipping immediately.
-Then the daily backorder program runs and checks for available inventory to fulfill the backorders (in the order they were placed). Items are 'Pegged to orders' but not 'Picked' yet. Instantly, the complete stock is depleted while nothing as really moved yet. The website changes its status to 'backordered' since the stock is virtually gone. But since the 'Order detail' page does NOT seem to update from the same info, nothing changes in the visible part of the order for us (or the Customer Support )
- They start creating the delivery order for all the sales orders that have now been pegged. Items are physically moved (picked) against their order and go to fulfillment. Not shipped yet (they have to be moved to the carrier), but they are 'Ready to ship' which is what the Order Detail now shows.
- Last step is for the carrier (FedEx, UPS, Santa's magical elf if you're getting a delivery for Christmas) to actually start the physical delivery process OUT of the warehouse. The order status changes to 'Shipped'.

So, I'd bet we're seeing the seemingly random effects of a bunch of real-time and batch programs doing updates in various places (SAP anyone? )

Of course, the lame parts seems to be that they do not receive batch of products that are aligned with the backorder volume. Or they have some complex allocation ratio between the various world regions AND they do not want to completely penalize the CTO process by handling all the 'Signature' orders first. Which then makes it look like they are NOT handling orders in the order they were received but if you take into account the "model number + localization" to segregate each order, then they probably are...

Bottom line: if any of what I said is even remotely correct, there's close to no way for the customer support to really know what's happening as I have yet to talk to somebody at Sony which actually looks at the real system behind all this Worst: I'll bet that the website 'Backorder' status shows a date ONLY when there's a shipment coming (doesn't look at allocation), or just says 'Backorder' without a date if there's NO INFO about the next shipment yet, as it was in early February. Or as it is now...

sorry for the ultra long post. StefanB, if you were reading this (and actually read all the way down to here!), do you know where you're Z was manufactured?

Thanks

 

Ugh, the slanted lines are STILL bugging me. Has anyone seen them on their screen? I think I'm going to run to Best Buy and possibly the Sony Style store tomorrow to see if their models have them.

After a few days of use, I must say I love this laptop. Only complaints are the screen (as mentioned 200 times), the carbon fiber being a fingerprint magnet, the auto brightness settings not being bright enough (have to keep switching between software control and keyboard control), and having to clean the keyboard keys because of how much grease they show. The battery life is also a little on the lower end.

EDIT: Oh, and I can't find good GPS software that talks.

 

hey

can anyone compile a list of drivers and or programs that need to be installed after receiving my vaio z? i got the fresh start option and if im not mistaken some of the drivers and or programs will not be installed with the fresh start option.

 

I bumped all the sliders on the settings page and as I was taxiing to the terminals the frame rates would bottom out around 17 or 18, although averaging in the low 20's.

The frame rates increased after I hit the S key.

 

I had to download the Camera file and the Sony Application Launcher file. Haven't found anything else yet.

 

I have the lines on my screen. Will learn to live with it.

 

As long as everyone has it it'll make me feel better. ;p But if I've got a lemon, of course I will want to have them replace the screen. That's what I'm trying to figure out right now.

I think I see the lines more on white / bright backgrounds like this forum layout. Would you say the same is for you?

 

The diagonal lines are certainly much more noticeable on white backgrounds and when the brightness level is set high.

 

Okay good, that's how it is for me too. Which means it's probably just how they all are. Can anyone else check their Z's? Turn up the brightness to max and stare at this forum thread. Do you see them? They are packed together very tightly and run like this: / / / It's almost looks like a stitch pattern.

 

I actually notice them most in the area just to the right of the Start button.

 

Thank you, really appreciate your time in this. Well, maximising the graphics sliders and still able to get 17-18 minimum, and averaging in the low 20s, is pretty darn good in FSX standards, let alone on a laptop!

Even in my desktop running ATI 4850, it couldn't run at max settings.

 

Quick note guys (and gal)
if you intend to buy a Z with 6GB RAM thinking you can replace the 2GB dimm with a 4GB one, think again!
Just got a VPCZ11Z9E/B (Core i7 620M, 6GB, 256GB (4x64GB confirmed) and FHD)
The DIMMs are one Samsung 4GB and one Micron 2GB
I thought about replacing both with my matched pair of 2x4GB from Crucial (micron) and the system would not take it.
While bios reported 8GB, it would not boot properly, as if the memory was defective.
On closer investigation the Sony supplied DIMMs have a total of 16 pieces on each (8 on each side) while the crucial DIMMs have 4 on each side.
Reminds me of a complication with older macbooks...
Will investigate further and report future findings.

To answer the typical Qs.
Full HD display does not exhibit diagonal lines at 59Hz and 60Hz, lines visible only at 40Hz.
9.6 drivers installed and TRIM working.
Defrag was enabled and BootTime rearranger was not.

Please note:
As the SSDs are most likely all from the same batch, if one fails, all will. I see no point in running JBOD while I need the speed and critical files get offloaded on a daily or weekly basis.

 

Interesting discovery, nutman.

I don't feel so bad about spending the extra $$$ for my 8GB config any more...

 

PM sent to you about the possible cause.