Complaints about the new Z?

I constantly see complaints pertaining to the topic of the Vaio Z2 series and how it sucks because of no onboard discrete GPU or optical drive..

I'm wondering as to why these people don't want a Vaio S, from what I see, that the Vaio s has almost identical specs as the Z if configured properly and just has more thickness and weight due to the optical drive and discrete gpu.

The Vaio S just seems to be the evolution from the Z1 to me.

/rant

Discuss?

 

The SA display, is just not as good as the Z display. Either Z display (1600x900 or 1920x1080).

Not only that, the sheer price different between the two force them to become notebooks aimed at slightly different markets.

While it's true the Z1 and SA, bar the display, are more closely related, the Z2 is more or less, in terms of premium on design and quality, better than the SA, and the untimate successor to the Z1. It's just not the pure performance leader. The SB and SC lines are a cut under, too.

 

I personally didn't get the SA because of the screen.
I guess if there wasn't a Z2 I would've gotten an SA.

 

Go to a retailer and compare the fit and finish between the SA and Z. The SA is squarely mid-range and the Z is top of the line. Throughout, the Z uses better materials. Heck, even the Z2's sheet battery is of better quality.

I'm sure some people don't care about this kind of thing, but for me, it is a big deal. However, I wish Sony would do metal keys for their chicklet keyboards, but I'll live.

As for the SA being the next evolutionary step, I think you have it reversed.

I, for one, am VERY happy the optical drive has been removed. I simply don't use optical media very much. I still buy Bluray movies, but only for films I really like and want the better quality for. These movies get played on my home theater. I rent everything else online through iTunes or Zune Marketplace. This carries me over when traveling.

The PMD has had an unexpected effect on how I watch blurays. I haven't used my component bluray player since I purchased the Z2. Since I leave the PMD on an end table next to my couch, I've run a HDMI cable for it to my Sony receiver. It just ends up being easier

Lastly on the GPU, this is my 3rd machine with switchable graphics. I spend 99.9% of my time on the Intel GPU for battery life concerns and for the pure fact that I don't game on these systems. I would have preferred to have it integrated for the remaining .1%, but once again I'll live.

 

well, the only complain for me, and it is not a complaint at all.

But I'm Nvidia guy, and had not the Z got FullHD panel, I would't bought it, and maybe I would buy 2760p, or X220 or M14x, but as ATI chip is, it delivers what I expected. But I see the minor details of PMD - the connection from laptop to PMD is done purely by lightpeak, it doesn't utilize USB3, which would in my eyes would be better, to just run everything else then graphic chip on it.

But, as ZoinksS2k said, I can live with it and I love it

I just hope for Sony, that it will make some hude UPMD to reign over all ultrabooks

But maybe it is be my first and last Sony laptop

 

Don't know if it is a passthrough or not, but the PMD has a 3.0 port on it.

Kinda wish they put it on the top port though

 

It has, but it is connected through lightpeak, and it doesn't pass through

 

While it's nice having everything in one package in the VPCZ...I find that i rarely use the ODD and I am 99% on stamina anyways...so I am perfectly fine with the Z2 concept.

 

The Z2 concept doesn't bother me but the PMD is weak. Come on Sony, how about a better GPU, how about DisplayPort and HDMI or DL-DVI and HDMI. How about more USB ports. If the dock is NOT supposed to be portable, then why not make it bigger/better? If the dock is going to be that size why not make it so you can power it off the notebook?

I am just fine with no ODD and dGPU, I have been for years. I used the UX as my primary machine from 2007-2010.

Sony's docking solutions have always left something to be desired, and the Z2 is no exception. They make it sound like multiple external monitors is a new invention, give me a break.

 

A better CPU in the PMD next go around shouldn't be a problem.

Better performance, however, is an unrelated issue.

 

hmmm... I quad core would be a tastey add-on. I know some of intel's recent server CPU support hot unplugging, so that, at least, shouldn't be a major hinderance for the next lineup. Now if only the IGP can multiGPU, lol...

 

I have no doubt that Sony is able to engineer a multi-GPU PMD that performs no better than the currrent one.

 

To say this, because I now like saying it, Sony will only get about 90% of it right, and end up somehow gimping it by requiring excessively unique driver packages for operation, lol.

 

Don't think of it as a screw-up. Instead consider it as a tradition.

 

The S also weights more than the Z as well as having a larger footprint. SA is a step backwards in terms of portability and quality. Z2 is a totally different computer and fits a different segment (mostly) when compared to the Z1.

 

If what you want (and are able/willing to pay for) is a Z, then no other machine will be satisfactory.

The Z also won't be satisfactory but nothing else will come as close.

 

i wish they would update the graphcis drivers

 

The Z2 has no Displayport or (DL-)DVI. This is pretty much the only reason I'm not getting one. I want my laptop to drive one or two large (27"+) external monitors properly.

 

Yeah, that is dissappointing

 

Give it time. If the hard-working crew in the eGPU thread is ever able to get the Z2 going with an eGPU over the Light Peak connector, the machine will be a superior choice to the Z1.

The funny thing is that you really win big staying a year behind on the Z notebooks. I was itching to buy a Z1 last year for $1,900+tax, but I held off and was rewarded with inexpensive $1,000-ish prices on refurb Z1's. The other day I saw a Z13 config pop up on Sony Outlet with an i7-640m and 1080p screen for $1350. Pair that with a desktop GTX 560 Ti card via DIY eGPU, and you've got a really mean little machine.

People have already done all the homework on the Z1, and it's way less expensive now to boot. The Z2 is still relatively unknown and dramatically more expensive.

Refurbed Z2's will probably be pretty great buys when the Z3 drops.

 

That is simultaneously very sad and quite funny. +1

 

hehe

hahaha

More funny than sad in my book but then, I didn't buy a Z2 - yet. Also, funny is what I come to NBR for, so +1 from me too Louche; you're on a roll lately.