I'm looking at the TZ, questions about heat, noise, and more

I've been chomping at the bit to get a 2510p, but I'm wanting a book by mid-September for a business trip to Chicago and my vacation right after. With the absolute absence of 2510p reviews, I'm looking for alternative. So, like Outrigger, I'm thinking of doing something I swore I'd never do: buy a Sony.

It seems to meet most of my requirements. It has a great build qulity, carbon fiber over mag alloy even. It has dual core, LED backlight, can take 2GB, and even offers SSD. Unfortunately it lacks PCMCIA for an Echo Audio Indigo (I'll get a Total Bithead instead), and the LCD is glossy, but I can't have it all... and the competition's weaknesses seem worse.

A couple of things could still be deal breakers, though. Most reports seem to indicate that fan noise is low, and heat can get high on the bottom left but not hot. But others are reporting loud fan noise, and excessive heat. I'd like to get as many of these contrasting viewpoints in one thread as possible, and have them duke it out until we prospective buyers can get some level of resolution.

So go at it! How do you feel about the heat and noise on your TZ? Is the heat unbearable? Is the fan noise whiny or a whoosh? Low or high volume?

And a couple other questions I've been having...
Has anyone tried Linux on their TZ yet?
Are there any fan/frequency scaling options in the BIOS, or is it all in software?
Two batteries are available in the US, three in Japan... which isn't available in the states?

 

I have the TZ90 from PriceJapan (1.2 ghz, 160go hdd)

Fan noise is very low when I am surfing, downloading, mails etc...

Fan is loud during Vista boot or intensive works.

I confirm, on the bottom left it's a little hot. Also, I have bulk battery, may be it helps to dissipate heat

 

I haven't noticed the heat or noise being an issue for me (but ALL laptops 'heat' bothers me sitting on my lap so I'm not a good judge as they all suck in that regard to me...).

The battery is available in Japan that is NOT available in the US is the SMALL battery (smaller than what is referred to as the "Standard" battery which is smaller than the high capacity battery). Don't know why.

FWIW, I've owned quite a few laptops and my previous (to the TZ) favorite was the Fujitsu P7120. I've had the TZ for almost a week now and have to say that it has surpassed the 7120 now as my all time favorite. Portablity(size/weight), battery life, screen quality and styling being the biggest issues for me. I was concerned the processor would be too slow on the TZ for me but it has been just fine.

I LOVE the fact that it resumes from sleep in <3 seconds (I've got the SSD unit). FANTASTIC.

 

There is an Expresscard to PCMCIA converter available.

 

That's interesting that the fan is loud during boot. I wonder if that's because the CPU isn't scaling until some power management app loads. That would be bad news for running Linux.

I have to say, it's the screen that's selling the TZ over the P7230. I love the P7230's modular battery, but the backlight leaking really kills it.

So is the fan noise that is there just a low whoosh then? When it kicks up does it get high pitched and whiny at all?

 

If a 2510p already makes you drool, what happens when you think of TZ90?

 

I cringe...
I've heard so many horror stories I should know better.
But I guess that's how Sony gets you, they're so perfect, until they break.

 

Yes did you hear many horror stories on Sony vaio's? please tell me more.

I'd like to know before I import one with very complex warranty regulations.

Bytheway, i was touching a Vaio TZ today that was in a shop, it was on all day. It was definetly hot, but I would not consider it a problem.

 

Well, they're mostly regarding service. If you have a problem you have a hell of a time getting help from Sony. That makes me thing that if you're importing it, you'd be better off with an importer who gives excellent support, like Dynamism in the US. I don't know who the best option would be on your side of the Atlantic.

Otherwise, it's anecdotal. You know, like when someone talking about their old Thinkpad being just as sturdy as the day they bought it mentions their Vaio which started developing creaks within weeks.

I'm really hoping there won't be many issues with such a high end book as the TZ.

 

1. The fan noise is low during normal use. The noise is mostly a whoosh sound from the movement of air as opposed to a whine from the fan itself. Sony still doesn't know how to program the fan control (I mean come on...it's not rocket science) since the fan cycles on/off every few seconds. But since the fan is nearly inaudible it's a non-issue. I am very particular about fan noise and I don't have an issue with it.

2. The bottom of the machine in the rear left does get warm, but not hot. If you set the machine on a pillow or soft surface I can see it getting hot.

 

It sounds like it's probably going to be my choice, then.

I'm wondering, has anyone removed the heatsink to see if the thermal paste has been applied properly?

 

The TZ is one great machine. It works very fast, if you get the SSD. It does not have a noisy fan, which comes on rarely, mainly when you have too many Firefox tabs open.

It does get very warm, and sometimes downright hot, in one corner, but I think that's about par for the course for any late-model Centrino. The algorithm is quite simple: lots of power = heat.

 

Just got the TZ today, started to install a clean english vista and also setup all the drivers--can barely hear the TZ, however the upper left corner of the bottom gets quite hot, but not too hot. I can keep my hand there and not have to pull back for as long as I want. I have the SSD version.

 

ethyriel

it depends on which configuration you get. I can't comment on how loud the fan gets on conventional hard drives but on the SSD version, there is no noise at all during boot-up. I had to actually put my ear right up against the vent to make sure the fan is actually spinning/working and this was done in a quiet room with closed door and windows. Even during normal usage, I have to put my ear against the vent to hear a tiny swoosh.

I have spent a great deal of time on my desktop trying to figure out the best way to minimize the fan noise which I gladly sacrafice over performance. I can say this is THE quietest laptop/computer I have ever used. I put my ear up against the vent a couple of times a week just to make sure the fan is working because if not, its just so erriely quiet.

regarding heat, it gets hot on the left side bottom because 1) it only has one small fan for ALL its venting 2) its less than an inch thin front to back, so almost no room for ventilation. I'm not too fond of using it on my lap unless I have no table ot use it. It does get hot, but not to a point where it can burn you.

 

Big fan of SPCR? I'm working on a hard drive and fan suspension project right now

It's good to hear that it's quiet more often than not. I guess there are only a couple people who have had issues, probably bad fans or something, maybe a mis-seated heatsink.