Do you have use the Sony SZ port replicator?

If so, could you owners post comments, both good and bad, and more importantly any quirks that you encounter while using the VGP-PRSZ1 port replicator for SZ series VAIOs? Thanks!

Javier

 

Port layout:
No connectors on the sides or front of dock. Everything is on the back. Looking the the dock from the front, going from left to right there is:
1. USB
2. USB
3. VGA out
4. DVI out
5. USB
6. Gigabit Ethernet
7. AC adapter input

Pros:
-A second ethernet adapter in the dock (And Gigabit at that!). In the dock you can run both the internal NIC, and dock NIC concurrently.
-Excellent quality video output (I'm driving a 21" Viewsonic in 1600x1200 with my desktop expanded onto the notebooks LCD)
-The dock is shaped to accomodate either the regular battery or the larger double-capacity model.
-Heavy metal substructure on the dock. It doesn't walk around on the desk at all.

Cons:
-Sony doesn't include an extra AC adapter with the replicator. Prepare to buy an extra adapter. (I bought a Kensington Thin&Light to carry with me and keep the bulky Sony adapter with dock)
-No audio output on the dock. If I want to use my desk speakers, I've got to plug/unplug them by hand.

Issues:
-Dock/Undock while the system is live works great in "single display mode" (i.e. notebook panel and external monitor displaying the same thing), but it's flaky when the external monitor is primary and desktop extended onto the notebook LCD.

 

All usual laptop connectors are accessible and usable while in the replicator except for the VGA connector on the side of the SZ. Sony has a tab rising up from the dock that covers the connector, making it very clear that port isn't for use while docked.

 

Thanks Roastbeef - thanks exactly what I wanted. This thing is expensive, and I didn't want to lay out that much cash on something that was potentially of questionable quality. One question for you - is it difficult to "find" or "plug-in" the laptop to the connector on the dock? Or is it "guided" somehow? Thanks again!

Javier

 

javylsu,
It's easier to dock than my subconscious thinks it should be. What I mean by that is that I've been overly cautious about making sure that it's aligned and seated properly, when it's pretty apparent that you can more or less just go "plop!" on the dock and it'll be fine.

I bought the dock because I carry my laptop back and forth from the office every day and on my VAIO Z-series both of the USB ports got a little flaky (I'm assuming that's from the 700+ cycles a year). Hopefully they've engineered the dock connector with that type of cycle lifespan.

 

This is worrying. How to connect the external 5.1 speakers I already have if the port replicator does not offer audio outputs?

I find it strange since the specs say:

----
Intel® High Definition Audio compatible YES
3D Surround YES
Built-in Stereo Speakers YES
Windows® Sound System Compatible YES
Direct Stream Digital (DSD) YES
Sound Reality YES
----

...or am I reading the specs wrong...

 

It appears that you have posted specs for a "port replicator" rather than for the "docking station". What I have for my SZ is the docking station, Sony item number VGP-PRSZ1. I am not aware that there is a port replicator that is compatible with the SZ. While there are no audio outputs on the docking station itself, you can still use your audio outputs on the SZ.

However, I agree that it would have been nice to have provided audio outputs on the docking station, so that you would not have to plug and unplug external speakers every time you attach or remove the SZ to or from the docking station.

 

Actually, those are the specs for the Sony SZ multimedia capabilities. Thus I believe it is capable of supporting 5.1 speakers, but the problem is that it has no audio outputs for them. You need 3 - front, rear and sub-woofer and I expected that docking station would have that.

The laptop itself has headphone and mic ports, which is, mildly said, far from enough. I do not expect anything more on such tiny laptop, but I do expect on docking station.

So, what are options then? Use PCMCIA card for this, and if so, which one.

 

if you need a PCMCIA card for external sound, the creative audigy zs card is excellent

 

I haven't seen any specs that indicate the SZ has any more than stereo out. There is a SB audigy PCMCIA that does have multi-channel outputs. I think it is the Z2 model.

 

On the US web site they call it the Dock Station, on the Australian it's called Port Replicator. same reference number so I doubt it makes any differences what they are called

 

Is it better to use the DVI or VGA input on the dock or does it not matter? Also can you dock and undock while the computer is on?

 

Yes you can dock/undock while the computer is on.

DVI is better quality than VGA, since the former is digital and the latter involves analog conversion. If you are trying to choose then you probably have an LCD monitor, in which case DVI is the best. CRT monitors can only use VGA.

 

I bought this docking station (PRSZ1). Compared with my old Dell C400's docking station, the sony one has only cons:

- expensive
- no power supply included (incredible!)
- no PS/2 inputs for "old" keyboards and mice
- no power on/off switch, you have to open the laptop every time
... and a totally stupid connection system with a small trap under the laptop, which you have to open manually each time you want to dock.

My conclusion: if you don't need the DVI output, don't buy this docking station. You will get the same result with a cheap USB Hub!!!

 

archie88, I have one question?
I have a 32" LCD TV and it has VGA and Hdmi connections. My SZ is connected through VGA when its on the docking station. I have tried connecting it through Hdmi with a DVI to Hdmi Cable but I can't seem to get an audio out of it? Which means no sound at all? Next to my HDMI input on the LCD it has DVI sound thing but it is with three inputs? Do you have any idea how can I get the sound with hdmi?
Thanks

 

you can't get sound out of the docking station DVI port. The only way to get sound off the SZ is through the headphone port on the SZ (there is no audio out on the docking station).

Alternatively, you can get an external/PC Card sound card to get audio through your TV.

 

Thanks dude for the reply.. the thing is i get the sound when I connect through VGA but not with HDMI
Any way I might go and get the external PC Card and see....
Thanks again

 

are you sure you're not getting sound through the SZ speakers or headphone jack? VGA is for video only, audio can't be sent through the VGA port/cable.

 

Sorry dude, I should've been clearer. Ok when it's connected through VGA the headphone jack is connected too. Next to my VGA input on the LCD there is an audio in too so they are both connected but when I remove the VAG and I hock the HDMI I don't get sound even when the audio in hocked that's what I meant.
Sorry for the confusion.

 

Some TVs do not offer analog audio when you use a HDMI connector. On others t is optional and must be enabled in the TV's menus. I hook my SZ up to a Philips 42" LCD and the set's only audio options for use with the HDMI jack is digital via HDMI (which of course is not an option with the SZ) or digital via a coax port on the TV (which again doesn't help since the SZ doesn't have digital audio output).

So, I hooked everything up to an A/V receiver and now I'm all set... video to the TV, audio to the receiver.

I use the docking station and have no real issues... although I wish it had an audio output on it, and it really should have come with a power adaptor for the cost.

 

I have a quick question, if you use the DVI output with a DVI to HDMI cable, is it possible to get HD signal out of the sz650? I mean thats the only reason i would be buying it, thanks for the info