Choice of 3 different Sony 13"?

Frys has a few of these Sonys with "Z" in the name.. Are all of these those fancy "Z" series everyone talks about? I have been having a really hard time choosing a new laptop, and i been thru a Samsung 15", Toshiba netbook, and Asus G73 so far.. I was stuck on the fact that i had to have a killer gaming machine, but im starting to release that hold. I have a good PC for that. I like the speed of the Sonys, the screens, and the SSD drives. Any tips on the 2 below if you had to choose one? (I removed one which is no longer available locally)

Sony Z13JGX/B 13.1" 1600 x 900
i5-460M 2.5-2.8ghz
4GB ram
GeForce® GT 330M
64GB + 64GB SSD drives for 128GB total
$1899 (found for $1550 shipped new on ebay)

UPDATE: BOUGHT THIS ONE FOR $1949
Sony Signature Series Z13SGX/BJ 13.3" 1600 x 900
i7–640M 2.8-3.47GHz
4GB ram
GeForce® GT 330M
64GB + 64GB SSD drives for 128GB total
$2099

So, is going from a i5-460M 2.5-2.8ghz to a i7–640M 2.8-3.47GHz worth the $200 more? From 2.8 peaks to 3.5 peaks seems like a pretty decent jump to me..

 

well there's a $500 difference now...I still think it's worth it but it depends on what you use your computer for. And plus the signature collection comes with a nice looking carbon fiber lid

 

ya i really prefer not to buy off ebay.. i have been reading about how the signature series is pretty cool. only issue i have with buying one tomorrow..

the hard wired SSD disks.. i could fill up 128GB SSD pretty easily. then im toast.

 

Well take a look at the two models in store and decide if that fancy Signature lid is worth the extra money in addition to the i7 processor. If you don't think the i7 is worth it, then is the lid worth $200 (+ tax) to you? Do programs you run require the extra juice?

If you need some extra storage space, you could look at getting a 32GB memory stick pro duo and or a 64gb SDXC to store some extra stuff. Some users have also used SSD express cards, but those are quite costly right now.

Other users have also removed their DVD drive and replaced it with a HDD or SSD (a little modding required to perform this) but the people that have done it said it's quick and easy.

 

On this one i keep looking at..

Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 – 640M, 2.80GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.47GHz, 4MB L3 Cache
Display: 13.1” LED backlit display, 1600 x 900
Graphics: Hybrid Graphics System featuring NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M GPU with 1GB dedicated video RAM & Intel® HD Graphics
Memory: 4GB DDR3, 8GB maximum
Hard drive: 128GB (64GB+64GB) Solid State Drive

I dont suppose this could run games on my 22" monitor at 1680x1050 i think it is?

My PC with Q6600 3ghz and a HD4870 512MB runs its perfectly. I guess its unrealistic to expect this laptop to run it just as well, considering the video is no where near as strong?

I was asking because I see that this Sony also has port replicator slot on bottom...

 

All Sony Vaio Z output the same max res. Taken from another thread from the member "TDO"

You can find out more info here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...ting-vaio-z-2560-x-1600-external-monitor.html


The port replicator doesn't offer anything in addition to what the computer can output. When you use the VGN-PRZ10 dock for the computer (which connects to the port replicator) it just makes you utilize the VGA adapter on the dock instead of the computer. You can't output a higher resolution that way. The dock lacks and HDMI out, it only has DVI. However, you can still use the HDMI port on the computer while on the dock. (The dock has this physical barrier that juts out where the ethernet adapter, power supply, and VGA ports are on the computer so those ports can't be used while docked)

 

ah thanks. i didnt really mean whether it was possible, i assumed it was.. i just mean would my games still be playable as far as framerate. even tho the laptop would have 512MB more video ram, i think the video chip would be too weak to pull that much resolution smoothly.

on the dock comments, i know it doesnt improve anything. was just thinking if i used this laptop as my main desktop also, since its so powerful.. a docking station would be real handy.. but then again... a proper desktop can't survive on 128GB space..

 

just read a lot of reviews about poor build quality on these units, and terrible warranty support after 1 yr. makes me second guess spending $2300 on a laptop after tax.. I want it to last 2-3 years..

i also am looking at this 14" HP Envy. The video is good, but the 2 dislikes are the lower resolution and the non-SSD. (Maybe i can upgrade the drive later) But half the price of the sony Z..

HP ENVY 14-1210NR 14" ENVY Series Notebook - $999
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-480M Processor 2.66GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.93 GHz
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5650 switchable graphics with 1024MB DDR3 with up to 2714MB total graphics memory
Memory: 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 DIMM), Max supported = 8GB
Storage Drive: 750GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Display 14.5" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView Infinity LED Display (1366 x 768)

 

i figure even if i buy a 256GB SSD drive for the Envy i'd still be way under the $2300 the Sony will cost me..

wish i knew really how big a different 768 up to 900 resolution really makes...

 

^if you have spreadsheets or do CAD or any type of programming, the 768 to 900 makes a big difference Then some softwares are annoying that they have tall toolbars (they can use ribbons but that'll be even more annoying ha ha). bye

 

If you can afford Z money but are not keen on the Z itself cos its a generation out of date & you've read it's unreliable, surely you should be looking at the HP elite/probooks not the envy? Sandy Bridge ones should be shipping in a few weeks; the company I work for is cycling over to those from Dells (first gen i5s atm) & they're really nicely built machines. Business class so docks available also.

 

Another option if you stick with Sony is the upcoming SA and supposedly next gen Z which will come out "around summer."

 

I just came home with the Z.. spent 30 mins at Frys haggling. First, they price match any newegg/amazon online price. So he searched everywhere and no place had this model anymore. Then I just keep hammering on him to see if there was anything he could do. He finally went to his manager to see if they wanted a big sale today. He came back.. from $2099 to $1949. I was very pleased, as i woulda taken it for $100 under also. So I got the laptop I really wanted, and even got Frys to come down $150 on the very last new one they had in stock.

 

^ha ha - cool!! I thought i was the only one that will make Fry's price match the internet. Congrats on the new laptop!!
Hey, what is the exact laptop model number? There're some Z on the Microsoft online store ( Microsoft Store Online Store - Sony VAIO VPCZ133GX/B - Buy from Microsoft Store) and if it's the same part number we can make Fry's refund 110% the difference )
bye

 

Vpcz13sgx/bj (paid $1949)

 

^ok. for that model... looks like you've got the best price anywhere!!

 

Why do you say "supposedly"? Don't believe me?

 

I just ran WEI rating.. It finished in 5 seconds?? Maybe it was already in memory..

Processor: 6.9
Memory: 5.9
Graphics: 6.3
Gaming: 6.3
Disk: 7.3

 

Ran HD Tach..

Burst = 1901 MB/s
Random Access = .3ms
Average read: 320 MB/s

 

CrystalDiskMark is also a good way to test sequential read/writes as well as 512K and 4K random read/writes (<-- which some people say are more important than sequential read/writes in everyday performance)

 

now i just gotta find out if the ram is upgradeable in this thing, or if its hard wired like everything else.

 

easy... flip the laptop over and the two memory modules are under the screw.... and then the WEI score will be 7.0 for the memory The processor score hopefully should go up too (because i'm already getting 7.0 on an i5 460m).

 

I believe you but it hasn't officially been leaked or announced yet whereas the SA has been leaked numerous times on various retailers. Like you said, plans can always change and I feel that the SA is much more certain than the next gen Z at this point =]

 

orly... more ram can also improve the processor score? sweet. i gotta figure out what kind of ram i have next. i prob have it in this thread somewhere.

 

^ha i'm hoping so because you have a i7 and we need to see a bigger number! Memory.... 2 pcs of 4GB, DDR3 1066 or PC3-8500, and must be the SO-DIMM (notebook) type. Some will say the DDR3 1333 will work too but be careful of the timing as some native 1333 type will not clock down to 1066 the same as we hope. Tomorrow is Fryday and we all will be looking at the 8+1 page ads

 

i found this ram for $59 a stick, but i want real good ram, this might be junky..

Sony Memory - VAIO Z Series VPC-Z13SGX/BJ Memory Upgrades

 

oh and i popped a HDMI cable from it to HMDI3 in my 50" Plasma. No picture came up. I guess ill have to research that stuff a bit. Was gonna test a YouTube video or something..

 

^^ yah .. strange brand, but the Samsung chips are cool. Hey you need some Mac memory I have the Fry's Patriot PDP PSD38G1066SK DDR 1066 with Micron chips (these happen to be advertised as Mac memory in their ads ha ha).

^ did you hit the Window-P key to enable the extend to HDMI?? Also must be in the Speed (Nvidia) video mode to do HDMI.

 

thanks DUDE! was the speed setting. i had it on auto. just finished watching all my youtube favorites on the tv. the laptop is killer.

only issue.. the tv cuts off like 1" of my desktop around the entire border. my tv is a 1080p.

 

hmm... if it cuts 1" all around then add 1" all around... and the answer is.... a 52" TV upgrade!! j/k. hmm is it in the Duplicate or Extend mode (Extend should pick up 1080). Duplicate may be making it run in the 720 mode full screen(??). i dunno...

 

i was running it "projector only" most of the time to turn off my 13" LCD.

and it gives me a HMDI resolution choice on the laptop. something like 720/768/1080. I had it on 1080.

 

hmm... do you have a zoom setting on the tv, and it's set back to normal (not zoom) ??

 

They're calling you!! The 8GB (2 x 4GB) Patriot DDR3 8500 SO-DIMM #6344951 Mac memory with Micron chips on sale in the Fry's ad today 89.99

 

doh, i already ordered some ram. some kingston from newegg, also $89 for the 8gb kit

 

dang.. you know what.. i just installed CPU-Z.. turns out i have DDR3 PC3-10700 (667) memory.. aw well. I guess i could have ordered the faster stuff.

is it worth returning my PC3-8500 when it arrives? I doubt it, newegg charges a restocking fee also.

 

Nope, 8500 RAM is fine, the i7's in the Z don't make use of the PC3-10700 RAM, they will anyways run on 533 MHz.

 

yes!

 

Going to Frys to buy a couple more things for it today. Surprisingly, they show an extra A/C adapter for Sony Z in stock at all my local Frys?? Didn't think they would stock that. I'll make sure its a legitimate Sony product..

Sony VAIO® Additional AC Adapter - Z Series
SONY (VGP-AC19V32):
FRYS.com #: 5976434 $79.99
(I will try to price match all the Amazon ones which are $35, or at least get a discount..)

Also at Frys, gonna buy yet another laptop bag.. I have a nice small Targus backpack which worked for my 15" Samsung, but i want something smaller again for this 13.3". I found a couple messenger style bags I want to look at. A Case Logic and a Kenneth Cole which are supposed to fit 13.3".

CASELOGIC 14" ATTACHE CS
FRYS.com #: 6214030 $29.99

Kenneth Cole Case Fits up to 13.3" Notebooks
FRYS.com #: 6406012 $39.99

 

You might also want to check out the following thread for some recommendations as well:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/291748-vaio-z-sleeves-bags-cases-thread.html

Good luck.

 

There's quite a few legit Sony AC adapters on eBay for much cheaper. You don't have to get the AC19V32, pretty much any Sony 19.5V adapter would work. Some of them (I think AC19V26) are like $25 or $30 after shipping. (Although the cheaper ones do tend to be slightly more bulky than the V32).

 

OR... you can get this Cooler Master USNA95 slim AC adapter that a few people on this forum have gotten:

Amazon.com: Cooler Master USNA 95 Ultra Slim 95W Universal Notebook Adapter with USB 2.0 (RP095-USNAA1-US): Electronics

$55 atm on Amazon, with free ship and no tax to most places (including CA )

Apparently it's quite small and pretty portable compared to the regular adapter for the Z (dimensions: 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches), and much better than the stick AC adapter that sony sells

 

btw... new 8GB Kinston installed..

old WEI:
6.9
5.9
6.3
6.3
7.3

new WEI:
6.9
6.9
6.3
6.3
7.4

The ram raised my ram score and my disk score. I expected better memory score than 6.9 to be honest.. I wanted everything in this laptop at 7.0 or better, guess thats just not gonna happen. I still have 7 days to decide to return it for a 15% restocking fee. How can the fastest laptop CPU made only score a 6.9? (i7 M640 2.8GHz)

 

well the 640M isn't the fastest notebook CPU and even if it was, I don't think WEI takes into account that you're on a notebook, I'm pretty sure they use the same scale for notebooks and desktops...I did notice that that my quad-SSD was fast enough for a 7.9 which I believe is the highest, but none of the other stuff made it above 7.

Also, I wouldn't take WEI too seriously, it's not always accurate. For example, for RAM, it doesn't measure how fast the speed of the RAM is, it only measures the size. So a 6gb DDR2 RAM would score higher than 4gb DDR3 which should be incorrect, I'm pretty sure 4GB DDR3 would make a bigger improvement.

 

The question is do i return it and get about $1800 back to wait for this next set coming in a few weeks, or do i just keep this for the long run? Hmm. One of my biggest dislikes is a non-replacable disk, but i knew that going in.. (aside from adding the disk caddy, cuz i like having my DVD player..)

 

well if you don't mind waiting a month or two (I don't think the new Z is coming in a few weeks) then yea you should return it..the only reason I can think of for you to keep it is if you can't wait that long.

 

well.. i use it every day at work.. and even if i wait and get the new one, a month after that there will be a better one. maybe best i dont lose $300-$350 for this change..

 

well the Z series have been dominating the 13" notebook market since the day they were released, so I don't think we're gonna find anything better until the newer Z next year (if there is one). But yea, if you do wait, I don't think you'll be able to get it for the same price..I'm sure it'll cost a lot more

 

If the one thing you don't like is the non friendly user replaceable disk, I really don't expect it to change in the next iteration. There simply isn't enough room in the frame to make a more common type storage disk.

I would say if you're happy with what you have now, keep it. There's always something just around the corner.