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

The video card will be upgraded but the speaker would be the same. I don't think you can have satisfactory sound from any notebook. You need external speakers or a good pair of headphones.

 

So docious can you give us any hints on what upgrades are coming to Z? I think I have finally settled on the Z and I want to know when what it will have so I should know how long I can wait to get one.

 

There's an overview of what will be changed in the Z refresh earlier in this thread.

If you find it, please copy and paste it. Because there are more people asking for it.

 

The Z summer refresh in Japan (Z92) brings: T9900 (3.06ghz), 8gb ram support, 512gb SSD (256gb x 2), MIMO 3x3 WLAN, three new cover/lid designs, and an option for a black palmrest (like on current TTs).

Of course different regions may or may not include this refresh in their lineup. But places like Conics has the new model available.

 

Sonystyle UK has the new VGN-Z4xx series with the same specs; but no 512 GB SSD until now.

 

The UK has got a colour selection as well, this is great. They should offer that on the low end model as well. Most business people will buy the higher end models and the other options could appeal more to students as well
etc.
They should offer a WWAN option for the lower end model as well.

I notice that they've only got the 9300GS noted down and stating 3.5 hrs battery life but that is probably a typo.
They are offering the extended battery for £40 extra which is good.

It is very tempting.
I just bought an SSD for my SZ. May be i will hang onto that SSD drive. If i bought a Z it would be just over £1,900 so i will need to think about that.
This is for the base CPU 2.53, red cover, base HD and the base ram.

 

I know its a bit late but Sony could of use this:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/nvidia-pops-out-five-new-mobile-gpus-to-fill-invisible-gaps-in-i/

 

Can't see that happening. It takes years from GPU maker announcing the GPU and it actually landing in a laptop.

Hardly anyone uses the 2xx series cards. Even GT130 or GT180 (might have the numbers wrong; but I mean the GT1xx series) are hard to find.

I would love that though.

(well, sometimes it happens that a hardware manufacturer releases new stuff to correspond with a release of the new GPU and it's immediately available; but it's probably not the case here :-( )

 

Btw, does Vaio SR use 800Mhz ram and not 1066Mhz?

It's listed as just that on Sonystyle.de
https://www.sonystyle.de/SonyStyle/VAIO-Notebook-PC/SR-Serie-13-3/VGNSR41M/W.G4

That would suck.

 

The SR uses DDR2 ram that is why it is not 1066 like the Z which uses DDR3.

 

800Mhz for memory module.

 

Actually it makes no difference.

 

*sigh*

Shame a bit; what's the point of having 1066Mhz FSB on the CPU when memory is DDR2. But whatever ;-) I'd love to squeeze the performance to the limits, but should be good anyway...

I'd love to get Z, but I want a fast GPU. If Z had something good, then that'd be a no-brainer buy

 

My sources are telling me that is partially the story with the upgrade there is few other surprises on the way coming for the Z(and the TT). But, unfortunately I am not allowed to tell what(unless your a member).

Well I can say part of the update the TT will get will be an option for 8gb of ram max.

 

Apparently the FW490 is available in Canada, shipping on 6/30/09:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=20153&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665893057

 

You can get an older Z500 series for cheap. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=10151&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665468413

 

huh? Only a 3650 512mb video card? wheres the upgrade =(

Also what happened to the 2.40ghz? The 2.53ghz is not enough to make me want to buy it since they both have 3MB L2 and $125-150 for a .13 increase is hardly worth it.

 

So since part of the embargo was broken on another site, I can say this. The graphic on the TT is more or less going to be the same; however, the 4500hd is going to faster. No one is clear weather Sony is moving the 4700hd instead like a few of their other models have, or if they are just clocking the 4500hd faster. Many want to believe the they are moving to the 4700hd as it seem like a logical choice. Plus there is suppose to be a slightly better power management system on the P, TT, Z, SR, and CS that will net you an extra 5-20 minutes depending on activities. Nothing big but its in the right step

Also, as we know the Vaio P now has the 2.0ghz atom in Japan, and rumors are they want to bring it state side, as it about 2x as fast as the standard 1.33ghz model.

 

The FW490 in Canada has processors up to the T9900 at 3.06 Ghz. Nothing to sneeze at. Compare speeds, etc. at http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

And let's see if we make it to the end of the month with a 3650 still sitting there on that Website which is clearly still under construction (since not linked from any of the main pages of Sony Style Canada). When that page first appeared, there was no T9900 on the list. It's under construction....

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=20153&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665893057

 

So are you saying not all models of the Z series have the finger print security option and WWAN. I thought this was fixed in all of them. I want the lower end Z series with the lower resolution but looks like im gunna have to forgo the WWAN for that.

 

hey guys,only one question...

why sony doesn't update their us website...i mean the new fw series

it's suck to me... badly needed a laptop like new fw...

 

same here bro.

I've been talking to the online chat service provided by sony and they seem to know nothing about this new sony vaio fw refresh hahaha. But that's to be expected since they want to sell every bit.

 

My source say that the TT will not make it world wide with the celeron CPU as it will take some of that exclusivity away. There maybe a slight chance of the C2S like the old TX, but that is not clear yet. Most of them are really hopping that the Sony P gets a dual core Celeron cpu option if they can fit it in there or at worst the dual core atom, not cool. They are right now hoping to get the current GMA500 fiasco fixed so they can try to bring out a model that has something a little better(maybe what ever comes after the GMA500 series).

The TT should be get a mobile broadband in more places. They are also trying to slim it down all around. Not sure what they really mean by that, but I am hopping they can get to the same depth as the Lenvo U110 or the LG P100.

 

They did but only the esupport site, not sonystyle site. http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-find.pl?mdl=vgnfw400

 

Me too! they know NOTHING~

 

Or they know but don't want to confirm it as yet>>

 

Any news on the SR refresh?! Ohh I want that so bad with that updated gfx card and hook it up to my sony xbr!

 

A couple of pages ago there was a link to presales.

 

So the difference between 4gb of ddr2 800mhz memory and 4gb of ddr3 1066mhz is almost zero?

 

Yes.

Only while doing memory benchmarks there will be a slight difference. During all other uses 800mhz memory is not a bottleneck.

 

DDR2 800Mhz 5-5-5-15 vs DDR3 1066Mhz 7-7-7-20.
Performance difference is barely any.
DDR3 uses 1.5V compared to DDR2 1.8V. May save a few (emphasis on few!) minutes of battery at most. Reduce heat slightly on memory.

Hope that sums it up for you.

 

I want to say in real world testing/usage the answer is yes no difference, but in bench mark testing no there is a difference.

Anyone believe what macdocious is saying, or no? Sounds plausible, but I am not sure Sony would do such a thing.

Edit: I got beaten to it.

 

I think his contact is legit.

 

Any word on a 2x256GB SSD option?

 

Fixed.....

 

Sorry forgot to clarify. I did read through the thread and noticed the presales along with them up on the sonystyle site for other countries (hk,japan).

So my question is; any rumors/guesses on when its going to go up on the US sonystyle site?

Thanks

 

I would say very soon. I would have expected it already.

 

Just been looking on Sonysyle.com, theres only two Z models left and a cto, and theres only one FW model left and a cto. By next week the new models should be available.

 

When you think about it, it isn't strange that Sony US would have its refresh come out closer to July 1st. The US has the "fiscal year" tradition where the business year begins July 1st and the calendar year January 1st -- giving the US two dates of interest for business calculations.

 

Thanks you guys a lot for the responses I'm waiting for the SR refresh and I though that with the $100 that Sony asks for the upgrade of 2gb=>4gb of ram 2 I could buy a pair of 2gb ram3 . And by the way, is self upgrade of ram damage the warranty of the SR? I'm worry that there maybe a warranty stamp on the SR's ram

 

Memory you can upgrade w/o voiding warranty. I'm not sure about the HDD.

 

Weak. I am was really hoping for it to come out this week by sunday due to that I can get 15% off on top of a Sony employee discount. Would save so much money!

 

Does your source know when new FW, SR, Z, TT will be on Sonystyle?

 

Can you replace the drive from simple CD/DVD to blueray if you wanted? I don't see the need of me paying $$$ more for blueray right now but if i wanted to change my mind could i replace it myself on the sony vaio fw?

 

Phil you love digging for info! They'll be up soon from what I know as well. The announcements are coming.

 

I do And thanks for the info.

 

GWarrRrRr! Can't wait for the new SR. teeHEe

 

Should be up on sonystyle soon, theres only one model available for Z,SR,FW. The rest are out of stock, i spoke to a sonystyle rep and he told me new models are expected quite soon, he wouldn't tell me anything else.

 

what?? i keep talking to these people and they are like "we have no information on new releases"

 

Upgrading the HDD on the SR does not void warranty. Sony's esupport tells u how to do it on their website.