VAIO TZ Owner's Thread

So the TZ170 only has 1GB more and faster CPU. correct me if i am wrong.

You can just aswell buy a TZ150 and buy a 2GB sodimm yourself. You will save money.

The applications you use will not benefit from 0.14 Ghz extra CPU.

Make sure you do a clean install of Vista, not just deleting bloatware.

If you are not satisfied with performance you can install XP. It will be a lot faster.

 

since you already have a desktop for gaming and are just looking for a notebook on the go, then go with the TZ because honestly, it doesn't matter how big you are, 1 pound is a pound you're lugging around all day.

 

if I install the most basic vista (basic vista?) its better? are all the drives available for download? I feel so stupid and helpless... and i read somewhere that you have to install the drivers in some specific order? where can i find that order or something? the tz is soooo good looking....damn

 

Don't think it will make much difference. Switching off Aero does make a difference.

Yes, all info here in this forum.

Not true afaik.

Yes it is, I can tell you it's even better looking when you have it. I got mine yesterday.

 

daaaamn. ok. you just might have convinced me. ill keep doing some research for a couple of days until i buy it.. thanks for everything!!

 

happy to help man. many people here have helped me to choose for TZ and I am very happy with it.

Bytheway what's the reason you really want Vista... is it the looks? Other than that I can not think of any reason. There are programs that can exactly create the vista look in XP. I think XP with 1 GB will run faster than Vista with 2GB.

 

i really dont want vista, but i dont want to make any mistakes installing XP on the TZ and have any problems with the drivers...

 

Please Sony TZ Owners reply/vote in this thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2337053

Thanks in advance

 

wow that is pretty impressive, I too own a raptor drive on my mac pro. I guess i'll still wait for the 64gb ssd. But for now the 7200rpm should still be more than fast enough for my needs and save me that extra $500 =). Personally I dont really care how long it takes to boot my computer long as its not like 5 minutes or anything lol. Also I never turn off my laptop just always put it to sleep and long as it boots and once booted runs fine i'm good to go!

 

does the following "clean install" work on the tz(with any modifications?):
"
Hi, All!

Note: This method was tested on SZ, CR and AR series

I bought Sony VAIO SZ460 two weeks ago. After playing with it for two day I decided to prepare it for work, so I did the recovery and saw all that software garbage (like Norton, AOL and etc.). So I decided to do "clean" Vista install.

I read this forum (topics about clean/semi-clean install) and found that those methods were not suitable for me - I did not want to loose some useful soft like Roxio or WinDVD, I did not want to download drivers and utilities and I did not want to remove recovery partition.

So after two hours of experiments I found the following way.

1. Make the recovery disks (they are not needed for "clean" recovery, but it is a very good idea to make them to be on the safe side )
2. Make a copy (use you flash drive or CD) of the C:\Windows\sonysys\vaio recovery folder (including all subfolders). It will be needed to finish the install.
Note: The recovery files for the AR series are located in C:\Program files\Sony

3. Now start the regular system recovery (reboot, F10, select Recover C: drive)
4. Your computer will start the recovery it will reboot several times (two or three) during this process. Wait for the blue screen with Vista icon and with the Window (with progress bar and message about copying files). Now press Ctrl+Alt+Del, you will see the menu, select Task manager, then found and kill the recovery program (Note: you should be fast enough, and it is not easy to kill this program - I have "asked" windows two or three times before it asked me whether I really want to kill it ).
5. After that just wait. Vista will reboot once more, prepare the system for the first run ask you about your location and etc. - all just as with the regular recovery.
6. After finishing the recovery you will get the clean system with all drivers and sony utilities (like power management, sony events and etc.). I have found the only trash item is Napster (ohh and VAIO wallpapers ). You can remove it without any problems using the control panel.
7. Now it is time to install some useful utilities and programs that were not installed during our "clean" recovery. So restore the C:\Windows\sonysys\vaio recovery folder and run Launch.exe program in it. It is VAIO Recovery Tool. Select Reinstall software and drivers - you do not need any driver (they are alredy there), but you need to install Toshiba BT Utilities, Smart Wi Utility (this also will install CCM for your WWAN module) and any software bundled with your VAIO (but this time you will decide what you need ). Note: It is a very good idea to install one program at a time!
That is all!

Note: If your CCM refuses to connect and WWAN driver marked with yellow exclamation, click the right button on it and choose Uninstall (but do not remove the driver files!), then turn off and on the WWAN. The system will install the WWAN driver correctly.

Kind regards,
Oleg
"

 

OK folks, I have decided to sell my current TZ and upgrade to one with an SSD/160GB. It's just too inconvenient dealing with an external hard disk. And I have big research file systems in both text and pictures that I need access to all the time, so it's becoming an irritant.

I have asked Dynamism about their trade-in program, but the price they offered me for this TZ is too low, so I'm going to sell it on eBay. If anyone here is interested in buying an SSD/DVD TZ90s from me, PM me. It has a few minor nicks of undetermined origin but otherwise it's fine except for two missing rubber feet.

Which always makes me wonder, why can't laptop manufacturers make feet that stay on? For crying out loud!

 

Another reason why I'm liking the SSD/160GB option better is that you can now buy a very nice LightScribe DVD drive on eBay for $100 and I love the idea of burning a cool label on the other side with the same drive!

And I never have time to watch movies on the TZ because I'm always working, so a built-in DVD drive is a moot point for me.

 

Wow, I was scared that you were leaving the TZ altogether. I think you will love the dual drive setup, I do it makes this laptop. I have a couple external dvd drives, one at the office and one in my bag. I don't miss the integrated cdrom drive at all.

I don't understand how people can live with just 32 gigs of hd space.

 

Sounds funny , Ok I want the DVD version

 

You should just save some money and get the 160g hd without the ssd. Its plenty fast already.

 

I totally agree =D

 

Hehe, you caught me! OK, so I made a mistake!

Um, I don't think so. Whenever I use my hard-disk-based XP ASUS, I'm reminded of how slow hard disks are compared to SSDs. Also, waking up is super-fast, a feature I rely on a lot while traveling (looking up hotel reservations, etc.).

 

I duno with me waking up takes nothing but 4-6 seconds on a 5400 rpm which is still plenty fast =/

 

Hey guys,

Did you try windows speech recognition? Is so nice! I don't have to press anything, only speaking and you can do anything
Do you know if programs as limewire or nero works with Vista?

 

I don't know how big the speed difference is. According to Outrigger it beats his 10000 rpm disk.

I really don't know.

The biggest benefit for me is my computer is completly quiet and does not vibrate AT ALL. it's rock solid.

As soon as my HDD spins on i feel the vibration.

Man, rotating harddisks... this is 2007!

I wonder how much extra power i will get out of the SDD. I'm already considering taking out the HDD all together. Think of the benefits: speed, vibration, weight.

Since I am running XP, 32 gigs is plenty for me. I might put the HDD in a nice external case, and carry it with me only when i need it.

My opinion: As soon as you can get a good deal on a SDD, go get one! you're gonna love it.

 

Once a 100 gig 2.5 SSD comes down to $200 i'll replace my 160g hd.

I don't miss the internal dvd at all. The only time I needed to connect my external dvd is to install xp.

All my movies are ripped to the hd or d/led off the net anyways.

 

Another alternative to selling you tz is to just install xp on it. You can save a boatload of space by installing xp.

But personally even with xp I think 32g isn't enough.

I'm using 26 gigs on my 160gig hd already with xp installed. I don't want to have to worry about always deleting files to save space.

 

Correct, 32GB is not enough with XP either. I have about 80GB on my external hard disk, which I've reduced to a subset that fits in about 19GB (+10GB for Vista and 3GB left over). I would consider XP if it wasn't such a huge pain the **s to install, but reading the misadventures of others has given me pause.

I read Phil's comments about the quietness of the SSD, so having a spinning 160GB in the TZ makes it loud? Another thing to consider.

 

The sony fan is louder than the hd. Don't worry about the sound of the hd.

 

Man honestly You must have major sensitive feel to vibrations or something... I only have the 5400rpm but I dont feel a thing~~ But I noticed the tz's they do get a bit warm on the left side, and the weird thing is that the harddrive never gets warm on the right side, but the left side where the fan exhausts the heat is pretty warm.

 

Also I just tried closing my tz and put it to sleep and once the green light turns orange and blinks, I opened the screen up again and then I pressed the enter key to wake up the tz and from the time I pressed the enter key or any key, it only took literally 1-2 sec to wake up from sleep~

My real question is how much faster does the ssd drive wake up the machine?? Does it instantly less than 1 sec wake up the machine from sleep? Just really curious on this.

 

Me too as ubercool I have the SSD+DVD combination. Well, i can confirm the quietness of the SSD...you really dont hear anything!
Compared with HDD:
SSD has no seek or latency time. It boosts average access time up to an amazing 158 times! It mantains fixed performance that does not deteriorate over time as the media fills up.
SSD consumes up to 50% less power than the HDD. It extends battery life. With no moving parts, flash remain cool in operation.
But I agree that 32GB is really small storage so I plan to replace the 32GB with the 64GB SSD later on.

 

Yes I am sensitive and I like absolute silence. You propably don't feel it because it's always on.

But yeah, the sound is very gentle and so is the vibration. And I love it when the HDD spins off.

 

That's the standbye function that does not use the HD. It's not really off.

Try Hybernating by pressing the green button once only shortly. That's hybernate. That's where harddrive speed is essential.

 

Cool, that's good to know!

Good, that means the 32GB/160GB decision is gathering momentum!

Nope, just about the same time, two seconds!

I was thinking about filling all the slots with Memory Stick 8GB, SDHC 8GB and Lexar ExpressCard 16GB, but the total cost would add $400 to the TZ, not much I know, but it makes a new TZ look increasingly likely.

Same here, I'm sensitive to sound and now that I've been using a silent TZ for a while, I can't see myself ever going back to the "old way!"

 

Bytheway, I now use normal Windows power management, where I have selected Turn off harddisks "After 3 minutes".

Then after 3 minutes the HDD switches off, and the SSD keeps working normally

 

Great tip!

Now for another important issue. I have had numerous pings about my TZ from forum members. All have asked me what I want for my TZ.

So, I thought it would be democratic to have all you tell me what I should charge for it. Thanks heaps!

 

Nice suggestion, I will be watching as I am one of those members

But how will choose who to sell it to at the end? You might need to be democratic about this too as well

 

BTW, to help members help you in setting a price, I think you need to like write the specs and how old is it and if any extra accessories will follow and all that

 

I will do that, it's on my massive to-do list for today.

 

I just purchased a new TZ, and had a few questions:
1. Can I purchase an additional 1Gb ram to increase from 1Gb to 2?
2. How can I remove bloatware? I have uninstalled most of the programs I thought I would not need. Then I went into the startup menu (in Defender) and removed half of the programs, such as Acrobat. I don't need them to run acrobat programs do I? Can't I launch them when needed?
3. Are there any other useful things I should do ?
Thanks

 

There is only one slot. So you need to buy a 2GB sodimm.

Best thing you can do is a clean install.
XP for maximum performance and compatibility.
Vista for maximum eyecandy and bugs.

 

isnt closing the lid same thing as pressing the green button? At least that's what I thought because when I close the lid it seems to be hybernating. Also on the vista control settings it said that what the computer should do when lid is closed, and it saids that it will hybernate.

 

Just wondering how exactly do u get to that Windows power management window? I want to turn off my hard disk like that but I can't seem to find it?

 

In XP rightclick on your desktop, settings, energy.

 

Awesome thanks...just changed it

So how do you specify just to turn off the HDD and leave the SSD still running? Or does it automatically choose the HDD to switch off and leaves the SSD alone?

 

yup. thats the way it seems.

 

OK, I finally did it! A picture of my TZ!

Here's the first shot, head-on keyboard. Notice that faint line by the front-edge of the palmrest? Will try to take a better picture of that area tomorrow, but that's where I believe the top of the screen frame left a mark on the palmrest:



Picture is not great, but it's a start.

 

i have a question, does it make sense for me to get the 100gB version and then get the 32gB SSD seperately to put it into the express-34 slot on the left of the TZ? And enjoy the benefits (speed) of using the 32gb SSD to boot windows?

 

No, you would not be getting the same kind of speed using the ExpressCard34 slot. There are some threads about the subject under the Sony board.

 

hmmm i can't find the threads, can you show me where can i find the threads?

 

I tried to connect the laptop to the interrnet at a job site, Guess what- No RJ45 connector. Please don't tell me that it doesn't have one???

My job sometimes needs to connect the laptop to a RJ45 connector that is connected to a network device.

Any ideas ?? Also some Hotels just have a RJ45 connector for Internet, no WiFi

 

In the nbr review, the rj45 connector is covered by a flap.

Left: Dial-up modem/FireWire/Gigabit Ethernet concealed by a flap, Express card 34 slot, 2 USB 2.0
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3780

 

Tomei,
Thank you!
I saw the cover, but thought it was part of the computer, it really doesn't look like a cover, but it is !

 

that sucks. I have carried around my laptop and I still don't get that. I wonder exactly what caused those marks. Do you still have the rubber feet around the screen bezels?