VAIO TZ Owner's Thread

I won't go into the part about you not understanding why someone might have a rational need to do so (step out of your own shoes for a minute and you might understand).

That said, I currently have an intel 945 based system that is running 1900x1200 just fine. The 950 chip CAN do it... it is a matter of whether Sony has done anything to prevent it from doing so driver or bios wise (like Fujitsu has done with some of their systems).

That said... my question still stands for the rest of you TZ owners (whether or not you can see any need for it...).

Thanks.

 

FYI - someone posted this elsewhere which seems tob e the specs for the US release (apparantly in August) http://leog.net/uploads/6. The pricing would suggest that for an SSD/DVD combo it is cheaper to buy now from Japan and get Vista Business separately than to wait.

 

Hey, I tracked the problem down. Took me a while to figure out, but I was suspecting USB, because the stack works that way. Well, every time I disconnected my Seagate Go drive, it would lose its connection.

So, here's the work-around: turn off your Bluetooth radio (the TZ has a single switch up front, right under the AV controls). When you turn the radio back on, it will reinitialize the Bluetooth connection and see your devices again. A pain, but better than going back to XP...for now.

 

That link is now broken. Did you copy the text?

 

try this one..

http://leog.net/uploads/TZ_Slides.ppt

 

I did a fresh install; so no Sony stuff. Although, I did install the 65MB Sony support package (TZ-160C).

And to confirm, 'disk cleanup' is probably the easiest way to delete the hibernation files.

Stefan

 

Did anyone tried to install minimal Vista install (with http://www.vlite.net/about.html or similar)??

 

I don't see an option to eliminate hibernation files. The "More Options" buttons ask me to remove restore point files, something I don't want to do. Please be specific, thanks.

 

I would have, but had no time to attempt this. If I have to do it all over again, I will though!

 

Anyone having trouble getting the Brightness FN keys to work?

Stefan

 

According to conics.net they do install English Vista OS - for the same price as pricejapan without it.

Here is the email response from them to my question:

"Hello,

RE Vista

Sony ship each PC in Japanese with a unique Vista license sticker, they
do not provide a vista install DVD (they only provide a Japanese vista
recovery partition).
note: this unique license can be used on this PC to install vista in any
language, registration and activation is 100%.
we can use this license to install English, we do not provide a vista
install DVD."

 

You can do the same with pricejapan then.

Plus conic.net charges extra for shipping.

 

If you can do that with pricejapan why is everyone going through the trouble of installing it themselves?

Besides, on the Pricejapan website it says:
" It comes with Japanese version of Windows Vista Home Basic.

English OS version is NOT available"

This si my first time ordering from an overseas importer and I want to make sure I get the best deal but not taken for a ride.

The price difference, including shipping/insurance, was $30, which is far less than the cost of a Vista liscense plus avoids the hassel of installation - what am I missing?

 

What I mean is that you can obtain your own copy of English Vista (via BT or something) and use the japanese key to install it.

Obviously pricejapan doesn't include the english os.

 

I can tell you from having just done this that installing Vista is not going to get everything working. I'd verify whether they are going to install all the drivers and software as well or just do a vanilla install of Vista.

The drivers need to be installed correctly and in the right order to get everything working.

Stefan

 

Ermm... I don't think we can use the same Product Key from one language to another, in this case from Japanese to English even on the same Vista version eg. (Japanese Business to English Business).

http://help.wugnet.com/vista/Vista-Product-Key-ftopict59346.html

Try to googling for more info

 

Interesting, so I just need the disc and not the liscense key if I use the origina liscense.

StefanB- They need to be installed in the right order? Has anyone published that order on this or anotehr site?

 

when ordering from pricejapan, all the vista drivers are included in a hidden partition.

 

I'd have to see this to believe it. You cannot even upgrade a Japanese to an English version, you have to do a clean install.

 

Upgrading has more to do with language compatibility than any licensing issue.

Stefan

 

For those with the SSD/HD combo.

I have a lot of apps I install on my standard build. Due to that one can get a pretty big Windows folder caching some of that data. On the 32GB SSD that space is precious.

What I do in Vista is use the symbolic link functionality to move some of those bigger but not critical Windows folders to the D: drive (spindle). I've done this for the Installer folder which on my system is well over 2GB. This is no longer physically on my SSD but is linked for the OS to find.

The command to create these links in Vista is 'MKLINK'. Let me know if anyone wants more info.

Stefan

 

Hey folks, I'm standing here with a GraceNote engineer at an event and he tells me SSDs deteriorate over time due to the constant read/writes.

Anyone, ever hear about this? I've never read anything on this forum about that topic, so I thought I would check in with those in the know!

 

ubercool: "Hey folks, I'm standing here with a GraceNote engineer at an event and he tells me SSDs deteriorate over time due to the constant read/writes."

Read/write without movements or moving parts. How can that make some wear and tear over time?

Another issue is the speed differences between the different SSDs? How is the SSD in Vaio in this picture?

 

Standard flash does have a limited quantity of read/write capability that will fail over time. This upper watermark though generally never gets reached by any user. SSD drives are rated to work up to 1 million hours, this equates to 114 years of 24/7 constant running. Flash wear is not an issue on these drives.

Stefan

 

Cool, that's what I thought! Will also research Samsung and Sandisk's 64GB announcements to get more scoop, but thanks, Stefan!

 

anything WILL fail over time, but lets face it, other components will most likely fail way before the flash drive does.

I can't comment on the speed of the SSD as this is my first so I have nothing to compare it to. But I do know that there are different speed ratings.
Samsung is producing a faster 64GB version. How much faster? you'll have to wait til it comes out.

 

Those of you who have the TZ, how does the screen compare to the older TXN15/25/27/29 models ?. Is there a noticeable difference ?. Thanks.

 

I find the screen to be much better on the TZ. The US Powerpoint has a side-by-side comparison of the screens that speak for themselves.

Stefan

 

So.. hav u successfully tried to use your Japanese Vista product key on the English Vista installation?

 

No; I have a Vista Ultimate license that I used instead.

Stefan

 

StefanB- this is waht conics responded when I asked about driver installation:
"we do the install using the same programs as the Japanese version, most
of them work in English as well (most with full English menus)

there are some software that is Japanese only (such as the TV tuner
software, which will not work outside Japan anyway, we do not install
these)
others like local train maps and local Internet provider rubbish and any
trial software is not installed either.

we do a basic install with the minimal software and drivers installing
the essential programs to use the PC's functions.
so basically sound, camera, mouse, keyboard, wifi, fingerprint,
bluetooth and their related programs will all work.
(I have yet to test AV mode on the new model, but we did have it working
on the previous model)

usual optional software such as virus scanner (we recommend AVG free
edition), PDF viewer, Skype etc, MS office etc are not installed.

all the programs and drivers we use will be copied to the Hard disk, you
can make a backup to DVD if you want to save some space / keep them safe."

It sounds like the right choice to me - unless Dynamism responds to me soon that they will match prices I think I'm going to order from conics. Worst case scenario I am in the same plce as ordering from pricejapan for $30 more, best case I don't have to hassel with installation at all and save ~$100 from having to buy a US Vista.

 

Looks like they do a nice job.

Stefan

 

Don't forget to post what you did in the end.

 

Does the conices.net ships in Europe?

 

hey !
could you give me information about performance of the TZ ?
i mean could it be possible with 2G of ram to play 3D games ? ( like companies of heroes ofr example ??)
thanks

 

No you won't be able to play 3d games. If you want to play 3d games and want something smallish, I would suggest the dell m1330.

 

Other TZ owners, I need your feedback. I've noticed the following on my two-week-old TZ:

1. There are tiny spots, which can't be cleaned off, forming on the palmrests near where the screen bevel meets. They're permanent and non-removable as far as I can tell. Also noticed a few on the outside of the premium carbon lid near the logo. I don't use a case, but I'm very careful with my gear, so it's not due to careless use, or any liquid spilling on them.

2. The screen is getting damaged by the keyboard. Keys are leaving marks on the LCD surface. So far, I've not been able to clean them off either, so I gather it's permanent.

Anyone else notice this?

 

Is there anybody perfectly using XP on TZ?

I almost set mine up but webcam and some fn-keys, only works for sound volumes.
All other drivers works fine. Please post here if anyone can help me.

 

Can you post some pictures?

When you close the lid, can you see that the keyboard is touching the screen?

Seems like this is an issue with the sz and tx as well if you do a search.

Edit: I don't have my TZ yet, but if you look at pictures of the tz closed, you can see that the keyboard is actually recessed. Are you sure you didn't put anything on top of the lid?


http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Products/TZ1/feat4.html

 

that's quite the bad news... could it be that the finishing of the carbon wasn't applied properly? do take some pictures...

 

2. My friend tought that the towel (..) which was included is meant to be put on the keyboard when you close the lid and it fits perfectly.

 

Can you write the order so everything works?

 

thats not good. I've had mine for almost two weeks now and I haven't noticed anything like that. I have looked to see if the keyboard touches the screen when closed and it doesn't, just barely. I've only taken mine out a few times and inside a sleeve when I do, and I haven't noticed any marks of any kind anywhere. Give Dynamism a call and see what they say.

BTW, take some pics so we know what you're talking about.

 

Pix coming after I get home today.

 

One suggestion to prevent further damage is to buy some silicone bumpers from a hardware store so that the lid doesn't close as tight.

Or buy a piece of cloth and put it between the lid and the keyboard when you close it.

 

Anyone knows where can i purchase an English Vista Home Premium in the web?
Any good sites that ship in Europe?

 

Hey what video card driver did you use on XP. the ones I tried would not but the video full screen, it was just 4x3

 

Try the video drivers from the sony TX instead of the one supplied by intel.

 

What TX version, there are lots on the sony support site.

 

just try one