Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

Well... I finally did it! I've gone further than configuring my dream Z in the SonyStyle on-line shop, I've given my VISA number! Finally!!!

Still not sure if it was the right thing to do since it's a lot of money and since I could live without it... (obviously it won't be the first computer in the house, even so there are cheaper alternatives)

However the simple idea to be able to carry around anywhere a blinding-fast computer with FullHD display at ~1.5Kg is just mind-blowing. Not to mention the backlit keyboard, switchable graphics and honourable battery life. I can't wait. Now it's time for the Japanese people to do their job and make my very own CTO Z do a trip around the world! ;-)

Crossing fingers that there won't be anything wrong with my order, I've read that CTO's are a pain in the when you need a replacement... Of course since it's "configured to order".

 

Congrats! If you don't mind me asking, what is your ship date? Are you experiencing a big delay?

I don't think it will be a pain to return your CTO if there is something you don't like. You have 30 days to return the lappy for a full refund, even if it is CTO (I had the SonyStyle rep guarnatee me that on my CTO Z).

And if you're in the U.S., I think your laptop will actually be built in San Diego, not Japan. Not positive though.

 

I have used vmware in the past. On the Z I use VirtualBox. It has been pointed out, on this thread, that the "big iron", the server houses, use the full-on vmware implementation and apparently this is the area where they shine. For my own personal use however, I am happier with VirtualBox than I was with vmware. One of the things I have to do is run OS2, which Vbox does much better than vmware. The final straw however, the thing that makes me NEVER ever want to go back is summarized in 2 words: Seamless Mode

Type ^L to go into seamless mode, especially when running a couple of virtual machines, and prepare to have your tiny little mind blown!

 

Hey guys,

The refresh of the Z is nearly here in Australia. Due 25th May 2010. We now have an extra model, coming from just two before. Remember, in Australia we don't have CTO.

Specs here:

http://www.mmt.com.au/prodspec/15VAIO-VPCZ126GGB/VPCZ126_127_128.pdf

Main change - 3G in the middle range.

 

is this for real?

 

Yes, why would you even ask such a question? I don't come on and post up fictitious information.

These three models are for the Australian / New Zealand customers.

 

i was just asking because i'm anticipating the release of the refresh.. i checked the aussy and nz sites and it still not there..

thanks for the info..

 

That link is what importers see apparently so it is not official yet. It should be up on the Aussie and NZ sites within a week or two.

 

Anyone else have suggestions on the graphics? I get stuttering when playing Modern Warfare 2 or any other 3d intensive game. I have tried deleting / installing the stock nvidia drivers from the sony site, but no dice. I have tried reinstalling direct x, no dice.

The only settings I've really screwed around with were battery settings (trying to get more battery life). I have returned the performance battery setting back to default settings.

Any other thoughts? I was hoping to take this to a LAN party this Friday and show it off

Thanks
Wisealma

 

Just don't play fullscreen Youtube HD vids if you want to show off the Z.

 

Hmm... Well when I played MW2 it seemed fine. I suggest you tinker more with the in game settings (i.e. turn on/off VSYNC, turn off AA, put all settings to medium)

OR check the Nvidia control panel. Make sure that the display is currently at 32bit color and 59/60Hz refresh rate. You could even delve further and ensure that the Global settings under the "Manage 3D settings" tab is restored to default.

 

I put a skin on my lid, but this thing has such horrible build quality, i am very very unsatisfied with Sony for what they did you know guys? This shouldn't happen like this, not something you have new you know? I also take care of my notebooks very well and once more again this is an insult for me who never acts like this.

 

Hmm I was getting a lot of stuttering while playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and I thought it was just a bad overclock, but the nice people on this forum said to switch the DirectX version from 10 to 9. It's worked flawlessly ever since =)

 

(I guess too late for you - but let's conserve it for later).

I think everything you need is the audio driver. You'll find the noise cancelation option within the audio properties in the windows control center.

Do you experience any noise or crackle with NC enabled?

 

Yup switching to directx9 always works when it comes to these games.

 

Right now I don't have any exact ship date; according to the e-mails I received they have to check my solvability first and then launch the build.

But the estimated ship date is two to three weeks. It seems to me that it is the normal (minimum) delay for the France on-line SonyStyle store.

By the way I haven't chosen the i7 CPU, which seems to be the main reason why the high-end Z is out of stock everywhere.

Good to know, still doing that rather than simply having the perfect working device would be annoying ;-)

I'm in France. When I called the rep to clarify a few points I asked how the building was done; he told me that they send electronically the config details to Japan where it is built and then the device is sent anywhere in the world.

I guess that the "made in EU" sticker would not have as much value for european people than the "made is USA" sticker does have for american people. After all Europe is a big bunch of countries composing a small continent rather than one big country the size of a continent alone.

 

Well done! I am in the UK and ordered mine (i5, FHD, HDD) on the 14th April and received it on the 30th April (just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend).

 

Oh god no! I received an e-mail asking me to send papers to prove who I am and that it is my bank card... I hate it when it happens. Paper work is just so... boring. Boring and long, physical mails takes much longer to receive than e-mails... Obviously.

And besides, why necessarilly by paper mail? Why can't they accept e-mails???

OK now that this is taken care of (must not forgot to post the letter!), I hope all the rest of the process will be without hiccup.

No seriously... Guys? I'm buying a computer with my bank card (electronic payment) in an on-line store and you ask me for papers to be sent to a real mailbox?

 

I was in Media Markt Store in Berlin yestderday and tried to buy the Z there. The were out of that model, but had basically all the other models in their lineup. Salesman said they are expecting a new shipment of Z's either late this week or early next week. He had no info on whether the new shipments would be upgraded versions.

 

Z12x on Sony Asia website

VPCZ126GG : Z Series : VAIO Notebook : Sony Asia Pacific
VPCZ127GG : Z Series : VAIO Notebook : Sony Asia Pacific
VPCZ128GG : Z Series : VAIO Notebook : Sony Asia Pacific
VPCZ129GG : Z Series : VAIO Notebook : Sony Asia Pacific

 

genius. It was the VSync. I had to turn it ON. Any games I have VSync "off" don't work fluidly.

THANKS!

 

nice! but i'm not feeling the glossy lid.. but who knows when I see it in person..

 

Afternoon Gents,

Have just done a clean install of my shiny new Z11 and unless I'm having a blonde moment, most of the software needed to regain the "Sony'ified" functionality isn't on the download pages....

So far I appear to be missing:

The function keys (ie volume up/down, brightness, etc)

the hybrid graphics switch software (I have the Nvidia drivers, Intel Chipset and Intel graphics package.... but the hybrid switch isn't working)

Screen brightless via light sensor

Also, I have updated the Intel Rapid Storage to 9.6. Both the management software and the windows driver report 9.6 but the controller's firmware during boot displays 9.5 still. Is there a firmware update I am not aware of?

Cheers fellas

 

There is a thread where clean install is described in details. If you follow instructions, you should have all of the above working.

 

Where is VPC Z125GG UGHHH

 

They sure don't like to photograph the "aluminium" palmrest, do they?

Looks like reused Z1 shots.

 

I did a fresh install (EU model) and everything you need can be found on the download pages.

You have to download both - the software and drivers from the 'Preinstalled' and 'Update' pages. You have to install the 'Preinstalled'-packages first, follow by the 'Update'-packages using either the supplied installer or the windows device manager.

I don't think there is an particular order, but to be safe follow the installation order recommendation (thread linked in the FAQ).

 

I had the Z11 wake up in my backpack. Until I found out that it was the wireless mouse doing it. Now I turn the wireless mouse off and no more wake-ups.

 

Any news when (a big IF) Sonystyle USA will offer CTO with normal HDD? Perhaps in the refresh?

 

Hi everyone. I just received my Z and the multitouch capability is driving me nuts. I downloaded the external add on to the original to enable zoom and two finger scrolling. I find it every jerky and unreliable. Is there any different driver out there that allows the touch pad on Z to work even remotely close to that of the MBP?

 

Man the amount of people the would please by making a aluminum palm rest! It's probably one of the biggest gripes people have about this machine

 

Cool, thanks matey!

 

I had the same problem until I installed v15.0.13 drivers here. I see there is a 15.0.13.3 now. Haven't tried those, but I can vouch for v15.0.13. They work really well.

-Peter

 

Why are they offering an aluminum palm rest now? Isn't the cost of the part higher than the same in plastic? I don't understand the logic of these companies some times.

 

YES! You're in luck!

1. Install the latest Synaptics driver (either from Sony, or even directly from Synaptics.com would probably work).
2. Disable two finger scrolling in the Synaptics control panel. Their implementation isn't smooth and therefore sucks.
3. Download and install the little two-finger-scroll util.

Be careful, it's highly addictive and you won't be able to go back.

 

because that's the one thing everyone seems to agree on needs improvement. Sure it's more expensive, but for their high-end flagship model, the Vaio Z, what's a few lost dollars per unit if they could sell 20% more units? Besides, if they're willing to offer 15% discount for an extended warranty + 2 accessories in the US for the CTO imagine the profit they'd make if they didn't offer that... maybe 30%? So by offering aluminum palmrests, they really aren't losing much $ anyways.

 

The margins they place on these things is amzing, huh? My company did some work for a leading shoe manufacturer and they "choose" to peg thier margin at 40%. Aluminum palm rests at the outset would have enhanced the brand building a movement born of loyalty and good will. I don't know how many people held out because of the palm rest and will jump in at the refresh thereby dramatically increasing sales.

Will it still look glued on like an after thought?

 

Well, I understood that some people thought that plastic palm rest was better because it was less "cold" than metal. If I remember well, this people said that in this aspect it was better than in the previous Z with metal palm rest... Softer, warmer touch feeling where the hands will be most of the time.

Maybe that's what Sony thought too when designing the current Z... Apart from the material price difference. Also plastic could be lighter than metal, depending on how the design is done...?

Now that's true that if the majority of people prefer metal palm rest (that is, they prefer having a "high end" feeling at the expense of the "cold" feeling) then Sony's marketing people probably would force Sony's R&D people to put back metal palm rest.

No really I can see good reasons to choose platic over metal regardless of the total cost of manufacturing.

 

As the owner of a Z890, I can tell you the aluminum does get cold and is not particularly inviting when it is.

 

Thanks! It works great. Hopefully they can implement the inertial scrolling like that of the new MBPs.

 

Yeah! I couldn't agree more.

I even donated $10 to those guys who made it and I'm really hoping they'll get this done.

I'm already using two-finger-scrolling util and pointer momentum/inertia (from latest Synaptics drivers) on my netbooks, now if I could also have two finger scrolling with inertia, my PC touchpad experience would be much improved.

 

Doubt we are getting an aluminum palm rest.. Even the description for the current version says "single-piece milled aluminium palm rest".. Stupid Sony folks can't even spell aluminum correctly..

VPCZ115GG : Z Series : VAIO Notebook : Sony Asia Pacific

 

Do you know whether or not they have 3 fingers swipe for forward and backward. I find myself trying that often only to find that it doesn't work.

 

Well maybe they could use some of the heat coming from the side and transfer it to the palm rest and act as a mild heat sink/palm warmer

 

urgh, I run into another problem again.

I am trying to get the fingerprint reader to work but no matter what I do in "Protector Suite" I always get "A biometric sensor has failed" error.

 

Can someone post photos or link me to what the new palmrest looks like. Also, what's this about a glossy lid on a preconfig. model? Thanks.

 

I may have spoken too soon in my last post about the graphics working after I set vsync. I think you have to boot the computer in "speed" mode for it to work. Wierd...

 

They have TWO finger swipe for backwards and forwards, I don't know about THREE finger swipe though...

 

Well I am just referring to the MBP multitouch commands. How do you get 2 finger version? I thought 2 fingers are reserved for scrolling.

 

singapore is only offering 127GG? VPCZ127GG : Z Series : VAIO Notebook & Computer : Sony Singapore