New Sony Vaio T series coming in July

From reading some of the comments in the TX thread, I know some of you will be eager to hear of the replacement for the current generation T series notebook, which will be arriving at Sony Centres and SonyStyle online this July.

The new series will be called TZ and will feature a completely new chassis design and encorporate the Intel U7500 Core 2 Duo processor.
Two models are to be offered initially, and in Europe they will be called TZ11-XN (with 11.1 widescreen display, integrated DVD-DL, 2GB of RAM, 100GB HD, WLAN a/b/g, fingerprint scanner and the welcome return to an integrated WebCam!). The second model is the TZ11-MN (same specifications apart from 80GB HD, 1GB RAM and no fingerprint scanner)

The design definately looks more business-like, with all black including the keyboard on both models. Unfortunatley the TX port replicator is not compatible, but a compatible one will also available at launch.

According to my contact at Sony, prices are expected to remain the same as current top and mid-range TX series.

BR,
Withnail.

 

Do you have pics or any further infos according the new sony series? e.g. weight of the TZ etc...

The following specs of the new models are already known:

FZ-Series:
VGNFZ11L 15.4WXGA T7100 2048MB 120GB GFX CAM
VGNFZ11M 15.4WXGA T7100 2048MB 120GB GFX CAM BT,
VGNFZ11S 15.4WXGA T7100 2048MB 160GB GFX CAM BT
VGNFZ11Z 15.4WXGA T7300 2048MB 200GB BD GFX CAM
VGNFZ19VN 15.4WXGA T7100 2048MB 120GB CAM


SZ5-Series:
VGNSZ5MN/B 13.3WXGA T5600 2048MB 120GB GFX CAM
VGNSZ5VWN/X 13.3WXGA T7400 2048MB 200GB GFX CAM WAN

TZ11-Series
VGNTZ11MN/N 11.1WXGA U7500 1024MB 80GB CAM BT
VGNTZ11VN/X 11.1WXGA U7600 2048MB 100GB CAM BT CARBON
VGNTZ11XN/B 11.1WXGA U7500 2048MB 100GB CAM BT

AR41-Series
VGNAR41E 17WUXGA T7100 1024MB 120GB GFX CAM
VGNAR41L 17WUXGA T7100 2048MB 120GB GFX CAM
VGNAR41M 17WUXGA T7100 2048MB 160GB GFX TV CAM
VGNAR41S 17WUXGA T7500 2048MB BD 320GB GFX TV CAM
(I think that WUXGA for all AR models is a typo)

BX41-Series
VGNBX41VN 15.4WXGA T7300 2048MB 120GB GFX CAM
VGNBX41XN 15.4WXGA T7100 2048MB 120GB CAM


A data sheet in german:

http://62.134.62.160/PDF/5589725.pdf

 

Do you have more info on what's new in the SZ5? I am buying a SZ491N/X today but now after seeing your post I am thinking of delaying my purchase till the new models come out.

 

No, I dont't have any further information. But I don't think that there will be major changes.

 

Would there be any SSD option for new TZ series?

 

No, no option for SSD drives will be available in the launch models of the TX11, although my contact says he expects them to become a cost option in later TZ revisions.

You may also be interested in the C refresh, the CZ which will be also launching in July, although unfortunately I didn't make notes of the spec's.

BR,
Withnail.

 

Are you sure that it will be a completely new notebook? I expected C3 as a replacement of the C2 series. Perhaps you saw the specs of the C3Z model?

 

You'll all like the TZ series. Incredible looks, and it blows the TX's away.

The CR marks the return of the 14" widescreen VAIO's. Look for it soon.

 

Wonder why Sony skips all resolutions between wxga and wuxga, anyone have an idea why ?

 

I'm quite interested in this new TZ series. DARN IT!!! I was planning on buying an ultraportable in May, hoping the TZ would come out then! Now I have to wait till July? Hmm. How do some of you already have info on it and the other new series? Do you have pics of the TX Nixon if you know it looks incredible?

 

I don't have pics, but I've touched and played around with it a bit. Very nice, slick, and really puts the Tx series back up to the top of the ultraportable pile.

 

Wireless a/b/g? I thought it should use Santa Rosa and have wireless N?

 

Woah, where did you see it and try it out at? Nobody took pics?
Do you have any details like the ports on it, thickness, etc? Please? Aw man, where are the pics? Arrgh!

 

I love the design of the TX and I was hoping for Sony to refresh it with Core Duo and a faster hard drive. Can you compare the two models in a more elaborate manner? Is the footprint bigger of TZ bigger of the TX considering the built-in web cam? I hope the keyboard is the same cause i really liked it.
Generally is a totally different model?

 

It's a little thicker than the TXN, but thats because they have thickened the carbon fiber to add even more support and strength. I'm sure pics will leak out soon, but I can't say or show too much as I'm under NDA.

 

The hard drive speed stays the same, but that more because of the limitations imposed by the 1.8" drives they use. No one has a 1.8" drive that runs at 5400rpm yet as far as I've heard.

Keyboard - different. Good different. It's a re-design, for sure, not the small step the T->TX->TXN's were at all.

 

Can't wait for the pics, I wish we didn't have to wait until July. The TX isn't bad, but I perferred its predecessor the T a bit more, what the T series needs is more ports and expandibility, I wish they had the modular bay for instance the Lifebook P series has although their still sticking to 10.6" screens whereas I love the 11.1" ones. I just can't wait for an official announement!

 

Great research. Thanks for the information. Sadly, it's going to be well out of reach budget-wise for most non-business professionals.

 

Does anyone have any links to info or pictures on this new series?

 

sigh... i just got my TXN hoping I wouldn't want to upgrade for a long long time, but this news might make me look again. With the same HDD speed, I wonder if it will be much faster. Also, is the integrated video being upgraded? Finally, any idea on battery life?

 

Having a great new design for the T series is definitely good news. I'm looking forward to its launch!

 

That's unfortunate to hear the TZ to be thicker than the TXN. I hope the new Vaio TZ is thinner than the TX. That would be f**kin sweet. I would buy one in a heartbeat.

...and more carbon fiber goodness too.

Please Sony make it as thin as the Vaio G. (0.93front - 1.00back)

 

Are there more color options than black? And for me the keyboard is very important: Is the right shift key as big and good as the one in the TX model?

 

Where did you get the TZ source? I would buy the thinner of the three if they become available.

 

Hotness. Can't wait for the SZ5's!

 

where's the wireless N (Santa Rosa)?

Will they refresh again before December?

 

Edit: Given bad info - wrong photo

 

Yeah, that was a picture of the older T series that came out late 2004.

 

Any news on the TZ WWAN (Cingular or Sprint)?

 

Will Sony make the fanless TZ?

 

I cant wait for it as well!

Once it comes out, its bye bye to my current love - W3J!

Any updates on the SZ5 Specifications?

 

According to these two sites:

http://www.pclaunches.com/processors/intel_u7500_and_u7600_ultra_low_voltage_processors.php

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-6062775-7.html

The Core 2 Duo uses almost twice as much power as the core solo, I wonder what they are doing to keep battery life respectable.

 

Well the current TXNs have the longest battery life I've seen in any notebook. Even with an Ultra Low Voltage C2D, the battery life will be more than acceptable.

It's a shame they're still sticking with the unbearably slow 4200RPM drive instead of using a SSD. At this point, I'd take a 32GB SSD in the TX over a 100GB 4200RPM drive, especially since it wouldn't be my main PC anyway.

 

I got the info from a Sony homepage:

http://intergate.eu.sony.com/techdocs/EANCODES.TXT

 

Hmm seems like Sony really like their SZ design

I guess Sony will continue their SZ design as new hardware comes out. Good news for the SZ owners.

 

Battery life from the TR to T to TX has kept increasing, yes I do wonder if it may take a hit with these more power sucking chips. One thing Sony has done is increase the capacity in their batteries, I know for instance the T only comes with a standard battery which holds more than even the TR's extended battery. They may do this in their TZs, I can't wait for pics and info on them but I'd like to buy an ultraportable now, too bad we have to wait till July.

 

Those links only mention the maximum power consumption which is not very representative - Core Duo has various tricks for saving power so I wouldn't expect the power consumption to be higher when the processor is locked down in its maximum power saving mode. Then when you need the extra power you at least have the option to clock the system up which you don't with a Core Solo.

While the idea of a new Tseries is tempting, my little TX is ticking along fine and with the extended battery lasts a stupid amount of time.

John

 

I don't think TZ will take any hit in batterylife (atleast on equal stress) as SantaRosa:

- Has better powermanagement
- Has Dynamic FSB? (atleast normal models have 400<->800 FSB)
- Is able to shutdown one core (IDA)
- C2D is faster on same level


Model|Max TDP|Autohalt TDP|Speed|
|U1500|5.5 W|3.0W|1x1.33GHz|5W|2.2W|1x0.80GHz|2MB|533|
->
|U7600|10 W|3.1 W|2x1.20GHz|9.2 W|2.6 W|2x0.80GHz|2 MB|533|

 

Not sure why my posts keep disappearing but I made the same point - comparing maximum power consumption is pointless as you don't run the processor at full load all the time. One of the main reasons the Pentium-m was so power efficient was because of its ability to save power when it was only being used lightly.

Core Duo is exactly the same - if you need batterylife you can set it to lock down as much as possible to save power or you can run it at full pelt with both cores. Yes it may use more power at this level but at least you have the option to do so, which you don't with a Core Solo.

John

 

Ahh, ic. I didn't know how else to compare it, but I hope that the battery life will still remain as long as we're used to with the TX/TXN. Very excited to see this thing.

 

JULY?? Noooooo!!! I can't stand waiting anymore.

I've been postponing my SZ460 purchase since...(I can't even remember when) thinking the SZ5 would be available in May - or even in June.

I just don't know if it's worth waiting any longer...

 

I think most of the Santa Rosa laptops will be announced in June, but will start to hit the street in June/July. Sony usually refreshes in March and then May/June, so it hits the timeframe.

I just hope they do a G refresh with Santa Rosa. That would be the one to get.

The new ones will most likely use a 533MHz frontside bus, so I don't see it being faster in terms of memory, and your HDD will either be the 32GB SSD (Japan only, most likely) or a 1.8" 4200rpm drive. So what you gain over the current gen is the dual core (which will help if you do more intense things). For most of you out there, you won't notice much difference. For someone like myself, a laptop with a U7600 is a much better deal and will be closer to my SZ in terms of performance with the SSD drive and an external 7200rpm.

 

Sounds pretty exciting. We can always use a refresh of SZ and TX lines!

 

SonyWhore, those are your opinions. The SZ keyboard has been fine for me. My SZ stays cool as a cucumber even with a 7200rpm drive. Mine never shocked me.

So I'm not sure what you're talking about. I know some folks don't like the keyboard, and some did have the palmrest electrical thing, but don't speak for all of us.

 

But when is this supposed to happen?

 

OK whatever I've only owned my SZ90 for a year and posted many times here (do a search). My SZ has never - never - overheated. It always has proper heat dissipation. It's been on the road constantly, and I do plenty of heavy duty stuff like run 4 VMWare virutal machines, so I do know what I'm talking about. I've had plenty of laptops that easily overheat - the SZ is not one. My JVC 741 and Sharp M4000 could easily get hot enough not to put on my lap or touch at points.

So it's you who has no clue. I'm sorry you feel the SZ is a lemon, but others including myself would disagree. Is it perfect? No, but what laptop is?

 

Will the SZ use the Santa Rosa platform, or is it just a refresh ?

 

All new notebooks at this point will most likely be based on SAnta Rosa, but as to what other improvements (such as graphics cards, etc.) remain to be seen. The SR chips I don't think are plug-and-play with the current pinouts, so it may need a whole new motherboard design.

 

That's what I'm really waiting for...I just think July is too far. Many other manufacturers such as Lenovo and Dell will be launching their new models late May/early June (if I'm not wrong).

 

Sony is following their normal refresh schedule. They'll be announced in May. Some other manufacturers have already announced their SR refreshes, but SOny's just going according to their plan which makes sense.