New SZ model coming?

I was about to pull the trigger on a SZ750 at Bestbuy unless anyone has any info on a new design coming out?

Rumors are fine
TIA

 

They're always coming out. I believe under 2 years, they've gone through the SZ3's to now the SZ7's.

 

I mean new body design not just hardware changes

 

Sony releases new models about every 3 months, so the next one will be during the next month I believe...

but my best guess would be there will not be a new design model, since sZ is pretty much "perfect"..the only serie that needs to change is AR, others are kinda "superb"

 

As much as I'd like to agree with you on the SZ's "perfect" design, many Sony carbon fibre laptops have 2 flaws; as beautiful and cool the thin screen may be, it's still insanely prone to bending, which ultimately leads to marks from the keyboard on the screen soemtimes, or even a cracked screen.
The second flaw with the SZ is it's keyboard; some may argue that it's good, but may complain about it, which I'm hoping they'll change.

The last flaw isn't really a flaw, since only a small majority find it ugly, and is the performance/stamina switch; to me, I'm fine, but to a few of my friends, they find it abit ugly.

 

The next-gen chipset from Intel is supposed to be released in 2 waves: full power in June, low power for small laptops in September.

It seems to me that the SZ would use the full power version, based on its current positioning.

So my guess is: totally new design sometime after June. This is just a guess.

 

design will be similar...wont be too much changes....now it looks decent...

 

The design has been the same since the SZ came out in early 2006. I really think it needs a new design, I liked the design of the previous S series more myself.

 

I'd say this is a good bet. The SZ6 last year basically launched to coincide with Santa Rosa. The SZ seems to usually be one of the first laptops to be announced with new intel hardware, like Penryn in the SZ7.

But... will it be a whole new design? I hope so. I would expect some slimming down given the advent of the X300.

Then again, maybe not

 

I think we will see newer designs across all of Sony's lineup by the end of the year. Montevina does allow for slimmer computers, as what happened when Centrino/Pentium M first came out in 2003.

Their SZ and UX series at least are in need of a redesign, have had their same design since 2006. They aren't bad, but they can always do better. Don't sit on your laurels, get busy and impress us like you always do Sony.

 

HellDemon, yes..of course! but imporving LCD does not mean that the design will be changed. I was talking about pure design "perfection" not the hardware thing and I consider LCD as a hardware part. They could also add the SDD HDDs, etc...

 

I'm quite sure that this summer-when Montevina is released- we will see a new model from Sony that will replace the SZ. IMO if they manage to make a smaller footprint and keyboard like the TZ they will have a winner.

 

Hope Sony doesn't change the keyboard in the SZ as IMO it's much better than the chicklet style.

 

I think the SZ is not done. With Montevina, Sony will probably release the SZ8, and then in a year with Calpella release a brand new 13.3" since Calpella is a major change compared to Montevina.

 

As I heard from someone in SONY, the all-new model replacing current SZ is coming June. We don't know what name of the type is, but he said the new one would be 13.1 Widescreen which is a bit smaller. Unfortunately the new model makes it 2mm thicker but lighter (under 1.5kg). Blueray might be an option.
Macbook-air and thinkpad X300 have stolen too much spotlight in the 13-inch area, now it's time for VAIO.
Believe me, this is very reliable!

 

I could see the new model being lighter since Centrino 2 platform is smaller. Have any idea which 9 series graphics card this will include and which version of the GMA 4500 will be in it? DisplayPort or HDMI also? What is this new model called? Which processor choices (T or P series)? Will it come standard with DDR3 memory? Bluetooth 2.1? SSD choices over hard drives? Higher resolution screens (1440x900 would be nice)?Got any specifics?

 

I too wanna know the answers of these questions DESPERATELY. But these are what I know so far, so...all we can do is wait for a few weeks or couple of months

 

Better design for SZ like newer and a better look.

 

You got news on other models, especially the ultraportable models?
I know Sony has some very exciting new notebooks to show us this year, can't wait!

 

I keep holding off purchasing the SZ. The SZ now has everything I want, except for HDMI. Hopefully the next SZ iteration/replacement has HDMI. By then I would want something else, like 8GB support, Blu-ray as standard... then wait for the 2nd version, which has the next Centrino Platform... the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round!

 

That's exactly why I got the SZ7 recently; its too hard to predict the future. Plus I'd be worried about flaws with the first version of a brand new series, not to mention price (SZs have gotten slightly cheaper since SZ1xx and the price of new types of RAM and processors, etc).

 

Nope, just the new series replacing SZ, i donno if TZ will have a replacement in June but it must be a big line-up change in VAIO before the end of this year, cuz they said there will be refinement for the existing models around Oct...the upcoming serious are just like fresh start in the new centrino platform era...hope it won't be disapointing
Oh and they said they only saw one video card on the spec list...which means there might not be hybrid-graphic any more in the new model, but they still have no idea what exactly the video card is. But the battery life has been upgraded for sure.

 

Looking at the new Dell Latitude E-series for comparison: the big ones (14+) arrive in June, the little ones in September.

My guess is a similar thing for Sony: SZ and larger in June, smaller ones sometime after September. Unless Sony decides to reposition the SZ as a Macbook Air / X300 competitor, then they may wait until the lower power Centrino 2 in September.

This is total guesswork ;-)

 

I went ahead and got a SZ750 N/C from Bestbuy. I am very happy with the laptop. Was on sale for $1699. I can't image a smaller screen on this, and it is much better than my 11inch TX screen. The keyboard goes from side to side with no wasted space so I don't know how they are going to make it smaller without sacraficing usability.

All in all really like the SZ750.

 

Wow, if all this becomes reality I will definitely consider the new model that will replace the SZ. Untill now I didn't pull the trigger because I don't like the keyboard and I find the footprint quite big. If they a slightly smaller model with a blue-ray drive I will purchase it.
About the TZ, I don't think Sony wants to give up in such a succesfull model for risking to make a new T series. Unless if they try to fit a blue-ray drive also in such a small chassis. I will never be surprised with Sony!

 

I don't think they will put blu-ray into T-series so fast, but new T-series will definitely bring out sth new...like they gave everyone a surprise look in TR and put LED in TZ, they will definitely bring out OLED or some new highly technique in future T-series.

 

Hope a new design and spec. of S series will be better.
For me I like a design of S more than SZ especially the keyboard on S is better than SZ.

I want a new notebook series with all of these features
- a new 15" LED display with WSXGA+ (1680x1050)
- HDMI port
- eSATA port
- universal card reader build in
- better performance DVDRW drive
- better stroke feeling for keyboard
- Full numeric pad if they can put it in 15" notebook

 

It's no doubt that the specs you want look fancy,
but as WSXGA displays is still not full HD, why not a lower resolution but more portable size?
Well I want a new type with all of these features:
- P9400 CPU or better
- 14'' LED display with 1440x900 resolution
- HDMI is a must because it is included in the new centrino platform
- 3 or more USB or even USB 3.0
- Blu-ray or Universal drive
- Hybrid graphic with NV G9500+ or ATI 3600+ video card
- 4.4lb or under

 

whats the big deal with the keyboard? i came from a TXN15p which had a shorter depress length but i have no problem with the SZ keyboard. in fact i kind of like it. it doesn't bow in.

also the SZ lid is very rigid, i haven't gotten any fingerprint/keyboard marks on my screen yet... where i would always get them on my TXN15p

 

i also have the very first S170P that i use in the kitchen for recipie surfing... the keyboard travel length is very similar to the SZ. the first S170p has keys like a real keyboard rather than the "square on larger square" SZ keys but they feel the same typing

 

The new SZ replacement will be incredible. Very very cool.

 

You guys might think i'm crazy because i never see anyone complain about this. But one thing I really want from the new S series or the equivalent is the battery position. Please..position it right in the middle and make it symmetrical. So, it'll look nicer if i want to use extra large battery. Current SZ battery position is very ugly IMO (One of the main reason I don't buy it). I couldn't believe sony had failed on a simple thing like this (their prior design of hi-end series like Z, V, TX, S, X, TZ, and G all have battery perfectly fit right in the middle of laptop). Am i asking too much from sony?

 

+1 for going with the original S Series look. I am guessing people either don`t mind or have gotten used to the SZ keyboard which got a lot of critics on its initial release. Maybe larger TZ type keyboard?

As for graphics card maybe 9400M GS? Hopefully not a re-branded and die shrink of the 8400M GS like the 9500M GS is. I guessing the PCMCIA slot will disappear too. HDMI is a must. Be interesting if they removed the Hybrid graphics. How many people actually use this switch often? I only use the stamina for travel and speed while on AC power at home.

 

I could be wrong, but I believe that's the point of the switch... use full graphics power when near an outlet, and switch to conserve battery life when traveling.

 

Switchable graphics are awesome. It would be great if this was a standard feature on all laptops. A step towards this happening is AMD's Puma platform.

 

Switching Graphis are not so cool if they still require reboot everytime you want to switch.

 

I'm the same, which leads me to think... I want onboard intel X45 graphics, then nVidia 8600 in the docking station