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    Any new models on the horizon? (VAIO summer refresh)

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by salt992, May 16, 2009.

  1. BoredBillJ

    BoredBillJ Notebook Enthusiast

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    grrr.. I'm tired of refreshing the SonyStyle.com site everyday to see if they've updated the FW. I'm ready to buy now, but figure as soon as I do they'll upgrade the video card or something. I don't necessarily NEED to buy now, but didn't plan on waiting all summer....
     
    BoredBillJ, Jun 1, 2009
    #101
  2. zimbros12

    zimbros12 Notebook Deity

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    I am on the same boat as u are.I am ready to buy a Z but being patient as to wait for the refresh.
     
    zimbros12, Jun 1, 2009
    #102
  3. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    For the FW it makes a lot of sense to wait for the HD4650 upgrade.

    For the Z, the refresh won't be very exciting. Usually there are much better deals in the retail channel than on Sonystyle.
     
    Phil, Jun 2, 2009
    #103
  4. zimbros12

    zimbros12 Notebook Deity

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    Yes.I got a retailer selling a Z690 with the following specs:

    Z690/2.80GHZ/P9700/6GB RAM/500GB SEAGATE 7200rpm = $2.700
     
    zimbros12, Jun 2, 2009
    #104
  5. donis

    donis Notebook Geek

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    [For the FW it makes a lot of sense to wait for the HD4650 upgrade.]
    Im waiting =/ but didn't plan on waiting all summer....²
     
    donis, Jun 2, 2009
    #105
  6. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Jun 2, 2009
    #106
  7. mobytoby

    mobytoby Notebook Evangelist

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    mmm 2 x 256 GB SSD on the Z sounds exiting to me, 8 GB RAM, P9700 or T9900 and Vista 64.
    Sadly, NL is staying behind with models.
     
    mobytoby, Jun 2, 2009
    #107
  8. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Yeah good point Mobytoby. I wasn't thinking about the high end users that actually are interested in those options.
     
    Phil, Jun 2, 2009
    #108
  9. heavenly_wild

    heavenly_wild Notebook Deity

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    Well, good way to make sure your machine won't be out-of-date anytime soon. The processor might get upgraded next year but at least performance-wise you won't lose out too much.
     
    heavenly_wild, Jun 2, 2009
    #109
  10. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    hendra, Jun 4, 2009
    #110
  11. BoredBillJ

    BoredBillJ Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks Hendra! Maybe it won't be much longer...
     
    BoredBillJ, Jun 4, 2009
    #111
  12. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    It won't be. Very soon here you'll see the refreshes coming, and then you'll be able to enjoy the FW400's
     
    nixon, Jun 4, 2009
    #112
  13. jack sparrow

    jack sparrow Notebook Evangelist

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    I know that the P series just got a refresh, but is it useless waiting for a P series with Nvidia Ion or Tegra as a platform? Maybe around fall around the 22th of October together with Windows 7?
     
    jack sparrow, Jun 4, 2009
    #113
  14. exetlaios

    exetlaios Notebook Evangelist

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    This would be interesting! Although I think there are some ways to make the gma 500 to work good. Somewhere I read that with the correct codes, the P can play all the kind of videos smoothly.

    I am also going to wait the P with Windows 7 installed and if they add something new even better. I would like a Nvidia Tegra and a matte black colour, don't like so much the shinny one. The battery life is keeping from pulling the trigger also now, is dissapointing.
     
    exetlaios, Jun 4, 2009
    #114
  15. nixon

    nixon Notebook Evangelist

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    They actually were going to do a Matte Black version with Vista Business but pulled it and put the glossy case on it instead.
     
    nixon, Jun 4, 2009
    #115
  16. mandersen

    mandersen Notebook Evangelist

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    Also waiting for Vaio P with pre-installed Windows 7. But above all, also hoping (perhaps in vain, I'am afraid) that Sony will make a better layout for the keyboard, with the arrow keys (esp. the arrow up key) better gathered and separated from the other keys, especially the right shift key. Many persons and reviewers have pointed out this design flaw. It makes it difficult to touch the right shift key, and instead, you unintentionally press the arrow up key, and the writing process is disturbed. So, I really hope the Sony designers will make a bigger and better located right shift key for the refreshed models in the fall, and also locate the arrow keys in a better way. Even though the keyboard is a small one, this can be done, and indeed should be done.

    In addition, more color options should be available.
     
    mandersen, Jun 4, 2009
    #116
  17. czarship

    czarship Newbie

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    Apologies if this has been asked before, but will there be a gfx card refresh on the AW as well? While the 9600M gt is decent, I'd love it if they could match the power of the RHD 4650 in the new FW. To my knowledge, foreign shops have not listed any change in the AW gfx gpu.

    I too am ready to purchase but awaiting this refresh.
     
    czarship, Jun 4, 2009
    #117
  18. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    hendra, Jun 5, 2009
    #118
  19. heavenly_wild

    heavenly_wild Notebook Deity

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    Oh yes cool the new models are slowly but surely appearing :)

    By the way, regarding the FW490, has the price of a blu-ray write capable drive been decreased compared to before? Only $225 extra to upgrade from a DVD write drive!
     
    heavenly_wild, Jun 5, 2009
    #119
  20. ppeccin

    ppeccin Notebook Enthusiast

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    ppeccin, Jun 5, 2009
    #120
  21. donis

    donis Notebook Geek

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    o_O = (
     
    donis, Jun 5, 2009
    #121
  22. Wolf04

    Wolf04 Sony Fanatic

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    Wolf04, Jun 5, 2009
    #122
  23. teknic

    teknic Notebook Geek

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    The 4650 is still coming. That update hasn't officially been applied to their website yet.
     
    teknic, Jun 5, 2009
    #123
  24. hitek0007

    hitek0007 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am still waiting for the SR390 in Canada! The SR290 became "Out of Stock" today, so I'm hoping that means they'll be replacing it!
     
    hitek0007, Jun 5, 2009
    #124
  25. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    How do you know?

    A while ago the 3650 did not make it to the US either.
     
    Phil, Jun 6, 2009
    #125
  26. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    hendra, Jun 6, 2009
    #126
  27. Wolf04

    Wolf04 Sony Fanatic

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    If the US gets it, usually Canada gets it too... just like 3 months later.
     
    Wolf04, Jun 6, 2009
    #127
  28. mabramovich

    mabramovich Newbie

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    Any idea when new Z's will be available? sonystyle.ca doesn't have any in stock.
     
    mabramovich, Jun 6, 2009
    #128
  29. Red_Dragon

    Red_Dragon Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Red_Dragon, Jun 6, 2009
    #129
  30. Derrida

    Derrida Notebook Deity

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    Now if you click on the "see all applicable models and Operating Systems" link for the ATI4650 at the link above, you get to see which are the planned releases for the FW4 series in the States:
    http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-matrix.pl?upd_id=4682
     
    Derrida, Jun 6, 2009
    #130
  31. Miyabi

    Miyabi Notebook Evangelist

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    just an update.
    for Asia release, known VAIO SR4, here the specifications of the refresh:

    VAIO SR46GD:
    Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53 GHz)
    ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4570 Graphics 512MB
    320 GB (Serial ATA, 7200 rpm)
    4 GB DDR2 SDRAM
    Windows Vista® Business 64-bit (English Version) with Service Pack 1
    http://www.sony-asia.com/product/vgn-sr46gd

    VAIO SR45GD (integrated gpu):
    Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53 GHz)
    Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
    320 GB (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)
    2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
    Windows Vista® Home Premium 32-bit (English Version) with Service Pack 1
    http://www.sony-asia.com/product/vgn-sr45g
     
    Miyabi, Jun 7, 2009
    #131
  32. ppeccin

    ppeccin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yesterday the USA FW 390CTO was unavailable.
    I thought "hooray, the 490 is coming today!".

    But nope.
    The 390CTO is still there with some discounts and no 490 and no ATI4650.

    No FW for me.
     
    ppeccin, Jun 7, 2009
    #132
  33. xyz001

    xyz001 Notebook Guru

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    xyz001, Jun 7, 2009
    #133
  34. Aule

    Aule Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah. According to benchmarks I've seen, HD4570 + a good CPU (2.66 or better) has more power than my previous Macbook Pro (the model just before the last refresh). And I could play Crysis on that MBP (1280x800, medium). So it should work even better on Vaio SR!
     
    Aule, Jun 7, 2009
    #134
  35. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Ati 4570 with a good CPU does 4300 in 3dmark 06. Quite a powerful card for a 13".
     
    Phil, Jun 7, 2009
    #135
  36. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    Wow. With that ATI 4570 GPU in the new Vaio SR refresh, it is going to be a better deal than the Vaio Z IMHO.
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Jun 7, 2009
    #136
  37. Wolf04

    Wolf04 Sony Fanatic

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    How's the build quality on the SR though?
     
    Wolf04, Jun 7, 2009
    #137
  38. czarship

    czarship Newbie

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    czarship, Jun 7, 2009
    #138
  39. Red_Dragon

    Red_Dragon Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes! I've been waiting SO long for a 13" notebook with a good GPU(p310 not available here) this is awesome it'll probably take long to get here though.
     
    Red_Dragon, Jun 7, 2009
    #139
  40. Qeuqeu

    Qeuqeu Notebook Consultant

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    Anyone wanna guess the ETA on the new refresh?
     
    Qeuqeu, Jun 8, 2009
    #140
  41. Miyabi

    Miyabi Notebook Evangelist

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    yes, its seriously awesome deal.

    have to admit that the build quality isnt superior than the Z but in term of performance its beats hella out of Z for the GPU rendering. and its doesnt hot like NVIDIA 9300M GS due to bad cooling system in Z....sad.
     
    Miyabi, Jun 8, 2009
    #141
  42. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Shouldn't be too long. I guess around 2 weeks.

    Normal consumer notebook. Nothing spectacular. It should not be any problem if you handle your notebook with care.
     
    Phil, Jun 8, 2009
    #142
  43. Aule

    Aule Notebook Consultant

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    For me its simple -> games = SR, no games = Z. Z is sweet and I love fancy stuff like carbon fibre, but SR is a solid machine too. and I like to play games.

    The only sad thing is that RTS games these days require TREMENDOUS GPU power. I'm pretty sure that Starcraft II won't, but Dawn of War II does. It's a GPU hog (they should've optimised it better!)

    But I'll love playing quick skirmishes while sitting in computing laboratory between the lectures (my calendar is lik cheese -> full of 1h holes).
     
    Aule, Jun 8, 2009
    #143
  44. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Notebook Consultant

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    If the SR will have the hd4570 and the Z doesnt get a better gpu, I'm gonna give up my long dream of the Z and buy the SR :)
     
    ductrung3993, Jun 8, 2009
    #144
  45. Qeuqeu

    Qeuqeu Notebook Consultant

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    Same, might just return my Z for it.
     
    Qeuqeu, Jun 8, 2009
    #145
  46. salt992

    salt992 Notebook Guru

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    I think Sony will upgrade the graphics to GeForce G110M for the Z and upgrade the processor to 2.80 still at 25w. If they dont upgrade soon i think they will wait till windows 7 launch.
     
    salt992, Jun 8, 2009
    #146
  47. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    I don't think they will. To see what Sony will update you only have to look at the specs in Japan. Afaik it's still 9300M.

    For example: SR has had Ati4570 there for quite a while.
     
    Phil, Jun 8, 2009
    #147
  48. salt992

    salt992 Notebook Guru

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    I guess so, the graphics is the only thing putting me off the Z like most others. I think it shouldn't be long before we see the z being upgraded, if you look on sonystyle it has put all of their models on sale and some are out of stock. They are even offering free upgrades to 4gb ram and carbon fibre.
     
    salt992, Jun 8, 2009
    #148
  49. Qeuqeu

    Qeuqeu Notebook Consultant

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    Like what people said earliar, if JP still has the 9300GS, so will the US. Now, I wonder if the SR refresh will really be on June 26th...
     
    Qeuqeu, Jun 8, 2009
    #149
  50. Qeuqeu

    Qeuqeu Notebook Consultant

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    Anyone know if the Vaio SR's 4570 is 64bit or 128bit?
     
    Qeuqeu, Jun 8, 2009
    #150
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