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

Dynamism has the new TT listed and it will be supporting up to 8GB of ram. That is great for a laptop of this size. With the 1.6 processor the TT really is no slouch.
http://www.dynamism.com/#Product=sonyvaio_tt

 

sony...you will update the new fw series，right?

 

You should have warned us about the price tag, Rachel -- I nearly soiled my pants! $4.4k?? It does have Bluray (huge waste IMHO) and a 256GB SSD, but still...

Specs didn't mention the GPU. Wonder if it might be the 4700MHD. Maybe someone who can read Japanese can help us find it at the Sonystyle Japan site. Hint to Sony: something like a 9400M (and unlocked WWAN) might tempt me to spend that kind of money.

 

Well didn't some here say it maybe the 4700hd or just an oc'ed 4500hd?
I remember reading some Z owners got 6gb of ram working(on their models that said 4gb max), I wonder if that is the same for us current TT owner getting 6gb to show up. Then maybe some how(safely) getting the new bios flashed so we can get 8gb of ram support.

 

U.S. sonystyle store is down - maybe for updated products?

 

Ooh, so it is.

For those of you not checking that yourselves, their "we're sorry" page has a coupon for free express shipping on orders before June 22: "SUMMERSHIP".

 

Updating to add:

The store is semi-functional now (at least with me logged in under a university staff account I use for their discount), but look at all the out-of-stocks as of the timestamp on this post:



The last time I saw that, I think it was immediately prior to the Z590 becoming the Z690.

(I'd love a backlit keyboard on that thing...)

 

FW4 is now available for preorder from SonyStyle but only the precofingured one. The CTO (Configure to Order) one is still not available. May be tomorrow.

 

Z7xx notebooks are up for preorder on Sonystyle.com.

 

hmm can't decide do i want titanium gray or black(not chocolate brown).

can't pick, what fits better?

 

the $1599 AW isn't available for purchase anymore

 

Any time is good for new Vaios to be released, but is it a little premature? The last two Septembers a refreshed SZ and the Z had been released. That, plus Windows 7 and 32 nm Arrandale chips by Q4. That being said, I'm looking forward to reading about the latest goods coming now.

 

Nice. There is enough time for people buying the new Vaio Z & other qualifying Vaio notebooks to take advantage of the current Mobility/Productivity rebate that ends at the end of this month too. Great deal.

 

what rebate? anyone got any coupons or anything like that i can use? =O

 

This rebate:

https://www.rebate-zone.com/default.asp?PN=SY00122k7&DirectID=28667

 

I believe the new Z700 series only come with black colored palmrests instead of the "gunmetal" colored palmrest like those found on the Z500 & Z600 series. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

>only interested in FW =(<

 

Eh?!

What other changes are there in the 700 series, anyway?

(Apparently, a red lid option, for one... found the Canadian CTO page.)

 

http://translate.google.com/transla...php3?nummer=26864&sl=de&tl=en&history_state0=

 

Finally the Z is updated, the only thing i see that has changed is it can support up to 8gb ram, has the same gpu

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=8198552921644569397&parentCategoryId=16154

Also heres the cto

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=20153&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665913555

 

They made the 2.66 processor weaker with the P8800 line rather than the P900s series.

More ram upgrades, faster CPU upgrades that about it. However, 2 cosmetic changes I noticed that I'm loving is that the material surrounding the keyboard is now a flat black rather than a shiny metallic color. This seriously makes the laptop look much better as the colors are more uniform rather than a hogpog of differing textures. Secondly, RED IS NOW Available!!! yay!

Minor price drops I think. Overall, NICE.

 

Yes I would agree the flat black color is much nicer.

Maybe the bumped the speed or memory of the gpu as was previously being stated?

 

Arrandale is coming early next year. Lenovo might be the first, they leaked a roadmap that says their Calpella (platform with Arrandale processors) is coming in January.

 

Also note on the new Z7s its slightly lighter than the older series. 3.3lbs vs 3.42lbs thats also probably due to the face plate change away from the aluminum toward I'm guessing also carbon fiber new black face plate.

 

I got the new FW today at a local store, I'm going to format it and go to windows 7, more updates coming soon.

Also I think its funny that the box says do not sell till 6/26/09

Do Not Sell

Specs

 

I'd hold off then, since you qualify for the free upgrade though the Vista that's pre-installed on there

make backup discs or something, rather than use RC1 and be cut off in 2010

 

This is awesome. The sticker even says that you're qualified for a free upgrade to Windows 7. It looks like the new refreshes are coming with this offer, which is very good news indeed.

 

C3ntauri, is that 1600x900 ECO or HiColor? The sticker doesn't say either way.

 

The store only had the 1600x900 ECO and not the Hicolor yet.

Also I want to get rid of bloatware so I will prob make the backup disc then do a reinstall of vista.

 

Wow, I agree. I didn't think they could make the Z any seksier but that all-black colour is just amazing. Now if only Sony would just upgrade the damn GPU.. at least to the 9400M

 

QFT. Well... oh well. Oh btw does someone know how much GPU ram the current Z 9300 card supports? Here http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665903560 it says that the 9300 supports up to 2010 mb.


Also judging by the boxshot of the FW linked eariler... windows 7 will be sweet and I'm guessing that sony is unveiling them this friday? I mean for all lines on sale. can't wait to pick up my z in red.

 

p8800=>p9700 = $250 GOOD JOB SONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's ridiculous! I mean, what the hell are they thinking? Their price difference is around $100 and as a company which buy tons of them, the price'd be lower and therefore, the MAXIMUM that they should charge us is $150. Sony hasn't learned anything from others like Apple (the fastest MBA is now $1800) They have to do sth to justify the high price or cut it, this is now June of 2009, not 2008!!!

 

The blu-ray, 256SSD drive and 8GB of ram drag the price up. This is the spec sheet. It uses the 4500HD.
http://209.85.227.132/translate_c?h...le.com&usg=ALkJrhhI6Ju4qm0Qzw_6wNVHNoXcrZXbOQ
I think that is fine as the emphasis is meant to be on battery life with this laptop.

 

all computers, regardless of brand, that come with vista after june 26 qualify for this

 

Even used one from Amazon warehouse section?

 

Does this mean that C3ntauri do not qualify for the free Windows 7 upgrade since he/she bought it before Jun 26? I mean doesn't the upgrade program requires the purchase date or something...

 

I think it requires the reciept/invoice as proof so I guess he may not be entitled to the upgrade...

 

It is exciting to know the Microsoft offer for a free upgrade to Windows 7 has materialised so quickly! Yay!!!!

 

I would love to hear some impressions about it, specifically benchmarks and gaming performance when you´re good to go.

What specs?

 

I second that request! I'm pretty much convinced to get Vaio SR, but the extra kick in gamin performance from 4650 (would be great to play RTS games in full HD... mmmm... sweet...) is very enticing!

 

I'm at work right now and I've never done benchmarking if someone sends me some info on it I'll be happy to do it as soon as I get home.

 

Used computers? Of course not.

 

Anyone know anything as far as when the Z790 will be up for CTO?

(Does Sony still have a sales chat option?)

 

Dears,

No need to wait for the Benchmarks ...... Information already posted here in this thread, I have a SR-4x with the 4650 512 and a 2.53 installed screen not HD but the 4650 wont really handle that

 

Your SR has 4570, while the FW has 4650. There's a fairly large difference between them.

 

No you don't. U have a ATi 4570 my friend. 4650 will be much better in performance.

 

Nobackup, thanks for your benchmarks of Vaio SR, but that's 4570. FW has 4650. I like SR more, but the gamer in me keeps wondering how much more power 4650 offers ;-)

 

A lot You can check this out for more info:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html

 

Quick question, I've been checking the Z7 CTO page someone has linked in this thread previously, obviously that page has not been made public yet (or am I missing something here?), are the upgrades there final, or are they likely to be higher/lower?


Also, seeing as the two processor options are $250 apart, I suspect there's more than just a 0.14ghz difference between them, could anyone elaborate? thanks.


edit: just noticed that the website is Sony Canada, are the prices in Canadian dollars then?

 

ductrung3993, I know notebookcheck ;-)

The problem with their GPU tables is that they organize it by GPU, not by specific system. So for example for Radeon 4570 they only have some rather poor laptop that can manage around 3k in 3d mark 06, while Vaio SR with good CPU can get more like 4.2k.

Also, my previous experience with GeForce 8600M GT in Macbook Pro is better than the site would indicate. I've played Crysis with 1280x800/medium and Grid with 1280x800/high no problems, while Notebook check sort of indicate that its not quite possible ;-)

So the more hands-on info I can get, the better (there are some nice demos of Dell Studio 1555, which has 4570, on Youtube; few games shown running rather nice - Dawn of War II, Sins of the Solar Empire, Prototype, etc)