It's official, Vaio's been sold

I've heard the rumors too, but I'm not sure they're credible rumors, especially after Microsoft bought Nokia's Lumia line and turned it into an in-house project.

EDIT: never mind, the rumors are now very credible thanks to a recent statement from Kaz Hirai himself: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sony...t-Possible-Windows-Phone-Handset-425039.shtml

 

I too have Sony withdrawal pains (see my post, above) but in friendship I suggest you pause before purchasing any of the current products. Reasons:

1. These are all sealed products that cannot be repaired, only replaced if defective. There is a good chance that Sony and the buyer will be playing "hot potato" over the next 6-9 months as they transfer warranty repair/replacement from Sony to the newco. Owners could get caught in the crossfire. In the best of times Sony was famous for trying to get out of warranty repair and even ADH claims, so often citing "owner abuse" (when there was zero evidence of it) as a reason to refuse repair or replacement. It is only going to be worse now and, again, this is not a product you can take anywhere else to get repaired - if there is a major hardware problem - sometimes even minor, but not accessible - the only choice is to give you a new one. My guess is that inventories will be low and neither firm will be quick to "giving them away."

2. Over the next six months I think there will be any number of opportunities to buy current Sony Vaio models at great discounts: clearance sales, open box sales, eBay opportunists buying up all the units they can find and selling them cheaply on eBay, etc. I can't imagine that the price at which you can acquire a new Pro 11 will do anything but fall over the next 6 months and during that time you can see what owners are reporting about warranty support.

As much as I would like to get my hands on a Duo 13 right now, I think just as Sony is looking out for itself, and not for you, you need to look out for yourself and so do I. Look, you almost never fail to save money by waiting in consumer technology. Even with sentimentality, these products are not "collectors items." Their prices will go down from market factors alone, and you may well find that there are "legitimate opportunists" on eBay who will find chunks of inventory to buy for a song and sell on eBay and elsewhere for, easily, 50% off current retail prices.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Just before I saw your edit I was going to point out that it is hard to imagine that Sony is retaining its Xperia line and commitment to the "mobile" business by relying on Android alone. MS and Intel are subsidizing, easily, 50% of the cost of the current crop of Bay Trail based W8.1 tablets (with free, full MS Office), with and without pens so that they are selling for as little as $200, no more than $350. That's evidence of how much money and marketing the two are going to bathe brands in to get them to support the whole range of Windows mobile platforms, which seem to be down to just Windows Phone and full Windows 8. And if Intel has its way, most of these will be powered by Atom Bay Trail (and successor) processors and/or Soc. If Sony wants to be a major player in mobile, it is hard to imagine Windows based products will not be an increasing part of their product line, and of the total mobile market. Markets hate duopolies like IOS/Android and and neither platform shows any particular promise for major changes going forward and MS certainly has the incentive and the cash to "buy" into the market. That many of the products are receiving good reviews and more and more apps are being added to the Windows store will only accelerate their market share. IMO, if Windows products don't comprise at least 15% of the market by the end of 2015, MS has once again blown it and there will be a vacuum for a third platform or the tablet/phone market will go the way of the laptop: it's not that people are not using laptops anymore, it's just that there's nothing new worth paying for in that product form and $400-$1,000 of consumers' cash is better spent on the new toys offered in IOS and Android garb. But the smartphone market is reaching saturation and without subsidies future upgrade cycles are going to be much longer, and the same will occur with tablets, though Android still has some traction to build and iPads will hold their own as long as they keep getting prettier and lighter.

(In truth, my opinion is no better than yours. I just felt this was a place, and time, for expressing it.

 

Lovelaptops, I agree with you. I doubt that MS will loose a partner like Sony that easy. If Sony threw away the PC division, in some way they need to compensate MS. The answer? Launching a brand new Windows Phone line now and new W8 tablets in the next opportunity (IFA, maybe). Who knows if in the future notebooks, or Surface-like devices, will make their way under Xperia brand?

 

those are still coming. Sony made an announcement about refreshes for the Duo and Pro lines at CES and they're due by April.

 

This illustrates what I've always felt, which is that Sony was the most innovative notebook manufacturer. A great loss to the sector.

 

The announcement was second quarter, that most likely means in June sometime. Since sony is selling them, I seriously doubt it. If i am not wrong, the refresh or new models are out already. Only offering larger HD and that was it.

I seriously doubt this.

 

Thank for the write up mate, really appreciate it

 

I have experienced 3 notebooks so far since 2005. The first one was a Toshiba Satellite which ran for 2 years with numerous heating issues. It was disposed off and a HP Pavilion 9000 series took its place. That one lasted 3.5 years with four motherboard replacements. My current notebook, Vaio E series was purchased in 2010. Till now it is running flawlessly without any issue. It hasn't seen even a single service. I am impressed with VAIO's quality however at the same time disappointed at Sony exiting the PC business.

 

Don't mention it mate.

For me, among the things that made me a late-to-the-party Sony fanboy was the awesome Sony community right here on NBR. I'd like to think that we're in this together, with a non-rational, emotional connection to Sony that is every bit as important as one that was entirely based on the functionality of their products. Let's face it, most consumer electronics for years have pretty much all been excellent, powerful devices, most of which will do the job for any of us functionally. We are all "consumers" as part of our human makeup and much of that has to do with emotional attractions to designs and, yes, to brands, which seem to embody our "fashion sense" and other values. So, we are all in some respects cut from the same cloth, and the unifiying concept appears in this case to be the Sony design and brand ethos - as opposed to the Apple fanboys, who have their own (hard to fathom! ) emotional attachment to that brand and ethos.

Ugh, how I do drone on! Actually, the post behind this one was about taking care not to overpay for outgoing Sony products and not to get caught with new, expensive purchases that we can't get support for. So I guess this one is more about putting aside our emotional attachment to Sony products and hanging back for a few months to see how things shake out and how much product is made available at what price.

Feel free to disagree entirely with me.

 

Well put, my friend. I find very intriguing your last statement, about MS "bequeathing" Surface product, deferring perhaps to Sony as the Windows tablet design standard, the way Google chooses among Asus, Samsung and LG to make the Nexus standard-bearers. Personally I think that would be a mistake for MS ;and I'm inclined to think they are not likely to do that anytime soon, because they've put a lot into becoming a class-leading hardware designer and I think that, especially with the Surface Pro 2, they have gained wide respect of becoming "the Apple of Windows devices!" Clearly they are a long way from doing that and I don't think they want to do that anyway. I think they are investing in design and engineering talent and showing the way to their hardware manufacturer partners, not looking to compete heavily with them. My hunch is that they may begin to license some intellectual property they patent on hardware design to their partners - Samsung, Asus, etc, and, we hope, Sony. In any event , I think it's likely that they will try to produce the "showcase" devices, that give Windows based products the prestige to play on a stage with Apple, then let their partners fill in the entire space, from the lowest price products to premium products, some of which may equal or exceed the level of MS' own hardware, eg, Surface.

I'm not sure if more of me thinks this is what will happen or just hopes so. If I am close, though, it would put Sony in position to make the highest end Windows based phones, tablets and, who knows, as tablets may morph back into hybrids, before you know it they could be back in the Windows "computer" business. One can hope!

 

here's a list of all the vaios i've owned... this is such sad news.

VGN-Z
FW
F
CA
Z2
S15
SVD11
VP13

 

Reckon the products might be reduced now?

 

My list is probably longer than 99.9999% of people here - I've had VAIOs since the first ones launched in Europe, with almost every ultramobile flagship in their range each year until for me they fell off a cliff in '07-'08. I thought they began clawing their way back with the Z1 and Z2, but again, typically for Sony they never followed through with the better ideas they had, drowned their better ideas in some really bad engineering and design choices, didn't reward existing buyers with even the most basic degrees of continuity and just decided to see what else would stick to the wall. Had they continued, I fully expected the Duos and the Pros to be wiped clean and something else totally different (and equally compromised in different ways) intro'd in two years time.

I'll miss their cooler stuff, but in truth there's been slim pickings of late, so maybe not as much as hardened VAIOphiles. And still, we've yet to see what JIP will do with it - if they can actually realise the oft-claimed superior Japanese engineering and QA and pair it with solid design, they may well have a good chance going forwards.

 

I wonder what will happen to the SonyStyle Stores? They predominantly display and sell computers. If a notebook(s) refresh will exist this Spring, as mentioned in CES 2014, I'm definitely purchasing one of the last made notebook (Pro 13) Sony makes. I don't want to wait and see if the new maker will design and innovate as Sony has done.

 

What are the chances of this actually happening now? I highly doubt a refresh will take place.

 

It's very simple. Sony will replace the laptops that no one wants to buy with tablets and phones, which people do want to buy.

 

Thing is, I don't think Sony can pull off an Apple here - a sizable store with only 3 or 4 phones, a couple of tablets and some Play Stations. Have a strong feeling all the retail stores go except a few showcase stores in NYC, other key big cities.

 

The Sony Store here in downtown Vancouver also has TV's, cameras, and camcorders and they actually take up more space than the laptops. Maybe each store is different?

 

Sony seems to be doing everything right with the PlayStation 4. They went back to basics and gave gamers and developers everything they asked for. This shows Sony is learning and having to adapt to survive in some markets, but they are having to cut their losses and pull out in other markets. They can't 'do an Apple' because Sony struggles to sell their devices. Sony are releasing some very nice phones/tablets, but they still struggle to sell them in any large respectable volumes.

At the end of the day, if people want an iPad, they will buy an iPad. No one who has their heart set on an iPad will have their head turned by a rival tablet. It's the same with phones. Those who want the market leading devices such as the latest iPhone or Galaxy will not choose a Sony Xperia handset. What Sony needs to do is go on a massive marketing campaign to get their name back out there, but they can't afford to do it!

I think we will see a lot of the Sony stores go out of business and shut down. It doesn't make any sense to keep brick & mortar stores open anyway in this day and age. Unfortunately Sony no longer has the presence or stellar portfolio of products to rely on the internet shoppers to make certain lines viable - hence why VAIO is now hopefully in the hands of someone who will start producing decent products again. We've been waiting a while!

 

Actually the new Vaio owner will have some great designs and know-how in his hands.
The latest Z is still a great device. They can use the same design with very little investment to update their professional line. Buy from the self ready made technology and update the already great design with minimum development costs. The cooling is already sufficient for a quad core, just add a Haswell or Broadwell chip. Now there are very good 13'' IPS screens on the market, they could decrease the bezel and put a 13.3'' screen and tweak for a larger trackpad. They could replace the proprietary and expensive PMD docking solution by going with thunderbolt for a docking station.
The Pro is an OK ultrabook, but professionals need docks and some of them more powerful machines.
So they could revive the SVZ and build the ultimate and lightest business ultraportable with little R&D. They could even revive the VPCZ1, replace the DVD drive with a caddy for extra SSD-hard drive or battery and make the perfect business laptop.
And forget the absurd Z pricing but rather target the high range of Thinkpad prices.

 

Its been a long time since I've been in the laptop/notebook scene and on this forum.

But I am really going to miss the Vaio line if they really are going the way of the dodo.

I'd love to get a Pro 11 as one of the last Vaio notebooks that may ever be made if there is a fire-sale or whatnot.

 

so what is the deal here, when will sony stop selling Vaio pro laptop on their sony websites?

I was hoping sony would do killer deal on 512gb hd option or something crazy.

so sad Sony vaio is gone, still cant get over the shock.

Looks like i might have have to get a pro 13 and sony tap 11 in summer if they are still available, but right now i got my eyes on a pro 11.

what you guys think 512GB or 256GB pro 11?

 

Yep thats kind of true. Recently talk with a friend. We talked about our phones and I meantioned that I got a Xperia Z from Sony. He was kind of surpised, cause he didnt associate cell phones with Sony and didn't have a good image of Sony phones. I should him the Z and said some features (waterproof, nfc, camera) and he was amazed. Also that it looked really noble and well build. He didnt think like that of Sony.
His mind changed now ;P

I think as well that Sony should do more advertising. If they play their cards well they have good chances cause their products are good.
But they should really work on their support and information policy. Would be also good for long-term customer retention.

 

The Sony Store where I live has their TV's in a separate room away from the main showroom floor. The center of the store displays their VAIO laptops and desktops which is the centerpiece of all their product line. Rhetorically, what products could Sony possibly replace in lieu of their laptops?

 

Tablets & phones. That's actually a global growth area which Sony wants to tap into.

 

Damn what a shame. I still have a generation 1 vaio z and it is a BEAST. I have abused and dropped this featherweight countless times and has many battle scars to show for it but it still chugs along without skipping a beat. I am truly amazed at the drops its survived and how it still keeps on running. I was holding out for a z11 replacement and to this day have not found anything that replaces it.

I just want a 2014 version of the original vaio z11 with fingerprint scanner. The pro 13 would have been ok but it doesn't have fingerprint scanner which is a really convenient shortcut to have for really long passwords. Need something that is <1kg and decent battery life with minimum corei5. Don't care about gaming or graphics.

Suggestions?

 

Whats your budget? I'd suggest the Thinkpad X240. You can customize the build to your hearts content, albeit the price jumps but you're getting what you're paying for (or if your patient wait for a sale).

 

It is too heavy, 1.36kg for 12.5" screen when the Z1 was at the same weight with a DVD drive and 13" screen and the Z2 200gr lighter.
Actually there is nothing in the market right now at the Vaio Z weight.

 

I've got a SVP1122 arriving shortly and will be putting Windiws 7 on it so can let you know how it goes.
It's a big shame what's happening, but as long as I get another 10 years as I did with my X505 running XP I'll be happy!

 

First of all, the VPC-Z11C5E will always be the best notebook i have ever owned. Still working fine in every way, just bought a new battery 1.5 years ago.
Combination of Hardware (i7 Dual Core, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB Raid SSD, 13" srgb screen, WWAN, BR Writer, 1.4 kg) and Software (Windows 7 - besides drivers...) is great!
I would have loved to continue with a 2013 or 2014 Vaio Z, but after releasing Vaio Pro series i lost all hope.

Now here i am with the Z11 and a Haswell 13" rMBP (Bootcamp Win 8.1 - drivers are really good).
OSX is great for media consumption, light gaming and basic stuff. Using OSX is more fun than using any Windows OS.
But comparing the Z11 and rMBP makes me think, that there was no real progress in the last years.
The trend of touch displays, missing ports (Ethernet over adapter) makes it even worse for me to decide what to buy.
I already made some compromises with the rMBP, that is still great and will serve me well.

In the past you could get what you want if you have the money. Now there are Ultrabooks, less gaming notebooks and 70% tablets (stay away with that!).

I will follow the news what will happen with the Vaio brand.

 

What does this mean for driver support? I was interested in the Vaio Flip 15 SVF15N25CXS because I'm looking for something with pen support and I like the design. This is the refresh model that comes out in a few days according to Sony's website.

Does this mean whoever bought Vaio will continue support? I certainly don't want to buy a laptop with very immature drivers that won't ever be worked on.

I don't have many options when looking for a 2 in 1 with a 1080p screen and pen support, maybe Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga which is a few inches smaller.

 

Packs, thank you so much, I'll be looking forwards to the results! In which thread will you be posting about the results? The Official Pro owners thread or perhaps a new thread of your own? Either way do hit me up with a private message and a link whenever you get the machine!

EDIT: I also have a thread of my own running about this subject by the way, you can add it in there if you want.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/744512-sony-vaio-pro-windows-7-drivers.html#post9556434

 

I agree that the Z1 is the best notebook ever made and that it still outperforms most current day products in its size class except for battery life which is fairly easy to equalize with an extra battery to swap out. The rMBP13 may be a bit more powerful and have a better screen (the Z's being nothing to be ashamed of!), but it is heavier, lacks the flexibility (ports, Express Card, DVD Bay for blu rays or, say, an additional 512GB additional SSD.), despite being 4 years newer. The one thing I disagree with is how Windows runs in Boot camp; still looking at giving up the Mac's edge on TouchPad and battery life. I'd rather have one of the better Ultrabooks than any Mac if the objective is to run Windows 8. I personally have no use for OSX.

The problem is that, with perhaps the Z1 being the rare exception, Sony never failed to include so many functional design or mfg quality defects that owning a Vaio frequently meant sacrificing function, reliability and durability (don't get me started on customer support!) for that seductive aesthetic design and the Sony "cache" (with an accent-e; not referring to data management) that sucked us all in.

 

I visited the Sony Store today. I was told that the last refresh of laptops will be available at the end of March; however, all VAIO's will cease to exist on the Sony sales floor by June. The tablets Sony carries will be under the Xperia name. I asked if the last refresh will be a redesign. The sales guy didn't know, but he guaranteed that there will be a final and last production of Sony computers. I'm definitely making a purchase. He also mentioned that Sony will honor all warranties during ownership.

 

hi packs.. since it's an SVP1122 model, not the 1121, i assumed it is the refresh version with AC wifi card as announced in CES 2014. i would be interested to hear the report from you later to confirm that it's true and hopefully to hear an improved wifi performance on weak signal level (-65db and below). thanks in advance

 

Windows 8.1 was another reason to switch to Mac. I don't like touch displays (besides smartphones) and i saw no overvalue to Windows 7.
I created Bootcamp Win 8.1 only for 2 reasons: LAN-Party next month and so i can support friends who bought a Win 8.1 notebook.
I read that WIn 8.1 is also better handling such high resolutions.

 

wait this is confusing for us in EU, because if I am not wrong we get our refresh earlier than those in the US. We just had a refresh in February, so I am assuming that in march you will get the same refresh? or are we talking about a complete new refresh from sony?

I am about to buy a fully kitted out pro 11 and would be gutted if another refresh came out end of march, same time scared to wait just encase i end up loosing out on pro 11. This happened to me with the Z and I had to end up searching world wide to find one.

 

This link indicates that different models will be refreshed at different times:
CES 2014: Sony refreshes laptop line, shrinks VAIO

"The refreshed VAIO Fit 14E/15E will be available mid-January, while the refreshed VAIO Tap 11 tablet and Tap 21 mobile PC will be available mid-February. Finally, the refreshed VAIO Pro and VAIO Duo models, which we previously reviewed, will be available in early April."

No doubt, the times will aso be different in different locations.

 

Am I the only one(s) thankful for this transition? Sony is only good at making TV's and speakers/headphones (sort of b/c they artificially manip the sound to make it sound good with lots of unnatural bass, Pioneer does it better if you want natural non-modded sounds). Sony laptops are about as good as HP or Asus, not necessarily better. And they aren't even made in Japan.

Went with Fujitsu after switching from Dell. I wanted a Japanese laptop with "made in Japan" quality and got exactly that... I did at one point consider buying a Vaio, but quality issues kept me back...

Fujitsu isn't perfect, though. I prefer Panasonic laptops made in Japan, but decent ones start in the +$2.5k price level... Still looking for another Japanese laptop company to top Fujitsu in both price and quality. Will seriously consider my next laptop a Vaio (but only b/c of the new company, not the old Sony-outsourcing-manufacturing-to-another-company-let's-rush-products-to-the-market-business-model)

 

^ All high-end Vaios (VGN-S, VGN-SZ, VPC-X1, VPC-Z1, VPC-Z2, SVZ, Duo, etc., just to name a few) were made in Japan, and based on my experience did not suffer from any serious quality issues.

 

^ That was one problem for me with Sony, being that only high end models were made in Japan. My 2012 Fujtsu Ivy Bridge Made-in-Japan cost me less than $900 USD before taxes... Even then, I don't trust Sony products, even if they're made in Japan.

My Dad once bought a GE digital clock that you plug into the wall outlet for power at a garage sale. The clock was probably 10 years old when he bought it. It lost/gained less than 1 min in 6 months. He then bought me a brand spanking new Sony digital alarm clock that you also plug into the wall for power. Gained 5 minutes within days. Said a lot about Sony as a modern electronics company.

(I am willing to give the new Vaio from the new company a chance though, something you nor anyone else will never convince me to do, had Sony kept the Vaio brand to itself...)

 

What worries me is which direction this new company will take the VAIO brand. Sony has always been in the cutting edge of design and has implemented the latest technology over any pc manufacturer, which is why I want the last laptop (PRO 13) made by Sony.

 

I can't speak for all of those models but for the three I have owned your comment is spot-on - though I have heard universal grief re: both Duos, terrible wifi for the 13 and mechanical problems with the slider mechanism of the 11. I would also say that a couple of the design flaws are unforgivable given the price points of the vpc-Z2 and (same machine, new cpu) SVZ-13; specifically the horrifically bad speakers/audio and the toy-like keyboard, complete with virtually zero key travel and backlighting without adjustment that could only be seen in a pitch black room. Those Z2/3 flaws may not have been show stoppers for most, but for those who paid $3,000 and more I might argue those models were both "DOA." That I own and really like my Z22 (purchased very cheaply used) is a testament to how maddeningly Sony could make products that were simultaneously jaw-droppingly good and pieces of garbage - that many of us bpught over and over again

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

Really? Define cutting edge. I'm not up-to-date on Sony tech, but Fujitsu is the first to implement IGZO (3K resolution screens) in a 14" laptop. (IGZO is the next gen after Retina displays).

In 2013, Fujitsu also claimed to have released the world's thinest PC ultrabook... to the Japanese market that is (Japan always gets things first. Super Mario 3 was released in Japan in 1988 two years before the US release.)

This year in Q1, Fujitsu plans on releasing the world' first convertible (transformation) ultrabook to the US market featuring IGZO with user-swappable battery = unlimited online time. How's that for a first? (Btw, who need a tablet when you have an ultrabook you can flip into tablet mode running not 10 hours, but weeks at a time even on spare batteries?) Want the docking ports you've been missing on newer gen Sony ultrabooks? This coming Fujitsu release has got them too!

Btw, these were not show-off protype techs-lets-wait-and-see-what-other-companies-are-up-to when they were announced (weeks before actual release to consumers...)

Fujitsu will already have 3 different laptop products featuring IGZO on the market by this Spring (two have already been released). Name one Sony ultrabook/laptop with IGZO coming out soon...

 

I have never ever had a Sony laptop break on me, in the almost 15 years I have had them. Sony were never about the best in its field but it brought together form and functionality that made their laptop unique in both design and performance. True they were far from perfect but they were also amazing machines nothing that any other competitor could touch. Sony's appeal was mainly to enthusiasts and this is where their greatest mistake lied, when they tried to appeal to larger audience. The masses never appreciated what Sony brought.

 

Apple copied Sony and the masses ended up flying to them.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20020535-64.html

Of course Steve Jobs had a lot to do with Apple's success as well.

Timing is very important. Sony tried to push thin and light designs when stuff like CPUs and HDDs (SSDs weren't normal in 2004) weren't advanced enough to make thin designs easy.

 

so... i was thinking to get the sony vaio flip 14... i'm wondering if i should still get it due to the unknown future support with the laptop. i was going to keep it for 4 years.

 

as far as im concerned the last top-of-the-line vaio ever made was and still is the vaio z13. made in japan, unlike vaio pros, and faster than the pros by a fair margin anyway.

I still have my Z21, which is a couple of gens behind the z13 and i still can't get around to replace it. Replace it by what? Nothing comes close. It's only bested by the Z22 and the Z13...

I still regularly build stuff or run git grep or even find -exec ... / on my z21 and it's still putting everyone else to shame (mostly due to the raid 0 gen3 ssds, since the cpu itself is +- as fast as current ULV offerings)

 

I didn't know about those issues with the Duo, I haven't used one.
Regarding the Z2, you are completely right about the speakers. They are unbelievably bad, any smartphone can produce better sound. I don't even understand how Sony could put such POS speakers in any laptop.
But I don't agree with you on the keyboard. I am perfectly satisfied with both the typing experience and the backlighting.