Core 2 Duo SZ on pre order!!!

It's offical, I have found the first Core 2 Duo (T7400) on pre order for the new SZ3xx series laptop. Here are the specs...

VAIO VGN-SZ381P X Core 2 Duo T7400 2.16GHz 4MBL 667MHz 2GB 160GB DVD+ -RW NIC abg EDGE BT 13.3" XPP

Looks like the other specs are the same as the SZ2xx series
Audio
Audio Output Type Sound card
General
Input Device Type Keyboard
Input Device Type Touchpad
Chassis Form Factor Portable
Color Carbon black
Mobile Technology Intel Centrino
Weight 3.7 lbs
Model VAIO VGN-SZ381P/X
Memory
RAM Technology DDR2 SDRAM
RAM (maximum) 2 GB
Cache Memory (installed) 4 MB
RAM (installed) 2 GB
Modem
Modem Protocol V.92
Modem Transfer Rate 56 Kbps
Modem Type Fax
Modem Type Modem (analog)
Networking
Networking Protocol Bluetooth
Networking Protocol Fast Ethernet
Networking Protocol IEEE 802.11a+b+g
Networking Protocol Cingular EDGE
Operating System
OS Provided Win XP Pro
Optical Drive Information
CD/DVD Read Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
CD/DVD Rewrite Speed 10x (CD) / 2x (DVD-RW) / 2.4x (DVD+RW)
CD/DVD Type DVD±RW DL
CD/DVD Write Speed 24x (CD) / 4x (DVD+/-R) / 2.4x (DVD+R DL)
Power
Battery Technology Lithium ion
Processor
Chipset Type Intel 945GM
Data Bus Speed 667 MHz
Processor Manufacturer Intel
Processor Speed 2.16 GHz
Processor Type Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Model Number T-7400
Storage
Spindle Speed 5400 rpm
Storage Controller Type Serial ATA
Floppy Type None
Hard Drive Capacity 160 GB
Video
Video RAM (installed) 128 MB
Internal Resolution (maximum) 1280 x 800
Display Size 13.3 in
Display Technology LCD
Video Card Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Video Card NVidia GeForce Go 7400
Shared Video RAM (maximum) 128 MB

the price for the new SZ3xx...#$3165 (ouch).

 

Is that extra high price perhaps partially because it is the highest end premium model? I would hope and expect that there will be something like an SZ330 that would be more in line with the pricing of the current SZ230.

 

That price is obscene.

 

Pls give the offcial links?

 

The SZ381 is on preorder with www.pcconnection.com. If you take the part number and google it, you will find more sites selling this unit and also other core 2 duo SZ models (SZ330, etc.).

 

Is that the only place you can order a Core 2 duo SZ from ?

 

I could not see any information about that on SonyStyle. Anyway, Vaio launches out with Merom very fast.

 

OK, well, it looks like the other ones are more reasonably priced:

Vaio Sz330 C2d T7200 2.00g 2gb 120gb Dvdrw 13.3-wxga Xb Edge Xpp
$2195.

Looks like this is the full lineup of Core 2 Duo SZ's:

From http://www.kernelsoftware.com/products/sony_vaio_retail_products.html

 

anybody got pics. none of the google sites have pics. will it really have a 120 7200 rpm drive? i'd love one of those for my 160 but i thought 100 gb was the limit at 7200rpm

 

aw those prices include 2gigs of ram. It looks like a better deal than the 2xx series were

 

There isn't anything about the HD speed there. I think maybe you are confusing it with the processor, which is a T7200 (that is just one of the designations for that particular Core 2 Duo processor).

 

Darn, I just bought my SZ260 a week ago. Oh well, that's life, and I have no complaints right now, it's really a sweet machine.

Does anyone know if the max RAM is greater than 2GB? 4GB+ RAM is supposed to be one of the benefits of Core 2 Duo, it'd be a shame if Sony crippled these new machines.

 

my bad sorry

 

Possibly, although the price of 2GB RAM modules is so insanely expensive that I can't imagine how much it will really matter.

-Zadillo

 

Sony has not released the official info about this particular model but pcconnection has detail spec:
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?Sku=7045990

Looks like it is identical with the SZ91 Japanese version, except that SZ381 has Core 2 Duo instead of Core Duo and comes with 160 GB HD instead of 120 GB.
Will there be a Japanese version of Core 2 Duo SZ notebook? The Japanese version usually has better specs.

Anybody know the official release date of SZ381 notebook?

 

http://www.kernelsoftware.com/products/sony_vaio_retail_products.html

VGNSZ320P/B VAIO SZ320 C2D T5600 1.83G 1GB 120GB DVDRW 13.3-WXGA XB EDGE XPP $2,078.65

VGNSZ330P/B VAIO SZ330 C2D T7200 2.00G 2GB 120GB DVDRW 13.3-WXGA XB EDGE XPP $2,234.55

VGNSZ360P/C VAIO SZ360 C2D T7200 2.00G 2GB 120GB DVDRW 13.3- WXGA XB WL BT XPP $2,442.41

VGNSZ370P/C VAIO SZ370 C2D T7200 2.00G 2GB 120GB DVDRW 13.3-WXGA XB EDGE XPP $2,546.35

VGNSZ381P/X VAIO SZ381 C2D T7400 2.16G 2GB 160GB DVDRW 13.3-WXGA XB EDGE XPP $3,325.84


The SZ360 screen is different from every other model, even the lower priced ones.

 

Why it takes a long time to see infomation about SZ320 available on SonyStyle.

 

i guess it doesnt have anything to do with the screen, i think it means that it has wireless but not edge..

 

Buy an SZ 260 and upgrade processors.
It's not hard and it saves you... A LOT of money.

 

Not quite sure if there is possibility to upgrade Coreduo to Core2

 

Sony added the SZ3s to their business solutions website

 

Nuntius,

How'd you do that without a new BIOS by Sony?
The few people who've upgraded their processors so far on the web have all stated that the power saving has gone zany right?

 

Well I called a local Sony store about the sz3xx line and they said they expected new lines of notebooks etc. to usually arrive around October...nobody has any idea of the actual release times for these notebooks? I was about to buy an sz280p/c for my school which starts in September but now that I see I can get the exact same specs with a newer processor for $600 less I don't know what I should do

 

Many laptop makers have made statement for possibility of upgrading to Merom. But nothing from Sony so far.

 

You can pre-order here:

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4130605&JRSource=nsa&nsa=1

 

I called J&R from the above link. They stated to me that they have already begun recieving these new models in their warehouse. He said they will be for sale within 1-2 weeks max.

Good news.

 

Looking at the specs for the 360P, it looks like the only thing that distinguishes it from the 260P is the Core 2 Duo processor and shipping with 2GB RAM. But that's the maximum! Why put a 64-bit processor and not even give it 4GB max RAM?

On the good side, the price is $2349, only $50 more than the list price of the 260 (although it obviously sells for less online) If I didn't need a machine right now, I'd have waited.

Looking forward to hearing user reports!

 

Hi Fred,

There's another issue several of us here are concerned about.
The SZ is crippled in the sense that its maximum RAM is 2 Gb. (Check the product catalogue)

I have no idea why they created such a limit since the hardware platform is capable of supporting more.

 

J&R will say ANYTHING to get you to buy something. Think about this, They recieved the new model at their warehouse, yet it takes 1-2 weeks before sale? Yup. right...

 

Normally I would be a little wary of something like that, but I live in NYC and I know someone who works at J&R and that's who I talked to

 

Sorry if this is a stupid question but what is Wireless WAN - via Cingular SIM card? Does this mean all I have to do is buy a prepaid sim card and stick it into the SZ to access the Internet where there is cellphone coverage?

 

Compusa Stores got them in today!!!! Upgraded from the SZ260
Using it now, working GREAT!! Runs a little warmer than
the 260 or 230's. But then again we should expect that given the
increased speed....

They are not available yet on the CompUSA website yets, only in store.
SZ330 and SZ370 is what they carry.

GREAT PC....

 

I would bet 4GB works, just wasn't tested. Happens all the time on notebooks. I have other brands that were rated lower, but the more memory worked just fine.

The only way it wouldn't work is if Sony crippled it in BIOS.

 

how did you upgrade. what do you think i can get for my 160?

 

I have no use for the outdated Cingular EDGE wireless in the SZ370. Wish they had the SZ360 at CompuSA.

 

i know i might wait till they have an evdo card or a hdspa (sp) card. edge sucks

 

You know you can unlock that modem and use whatever you want, right?

The SZ isn't getting anything other than Cingular for the time being.

 

can you replace it with an evdo or another fast card?

 

I have called Compusa in alexandria in virginia this morning. Sz3xx is not available yet.

 

htthttp://www.laptopsinc.com/SonySIM/SIMUnlock.ppt

Basically the same procedure AFAIK

If it's a pure EDGE card in there, you can use it with T-Mobile.

 

I went to the store this afternoon and sz330 and sz370 are in stock! I am glad I went to the store even the representative told me it's not in stock.

 

I took my Sz230 back to compusa yesterday and upgraded to the
Sz330.
THIS NOTEBOOK ROCKS!!!!!!
ive never owned the perfect notebook till now

 

are there any physical differences?

 

It looks the same but the hing corners are a little stronger---were anntena is mounted.The fan has less noise.Runs a little cooler.only 14 windows updates unlike the 28 on the sz230.less screen leak on the bottom.
Dont get me wrong im not cutting down the sz230 it,s a outstanding notebook as well yet sony built the sz330 stronger with more power for 150.00 more

 

I returned my sz220 and bought sz370. It's really powerful. I have upgraded my sz220 to T2600. Though, T7200 is still faster than T2600 even T7200 has lower clock rate.