New Sony Vaio Z speculation/news thread

Anybody know what kind of case this is? http://kunkoku.com/new/bimages5/z159.jpg

 

dunno, but it sure do look sexy in that manila envelop design.

 

No... that is almost never the case. They will put a different daughterboard with the traces but no port. Even if you get one with WWAN an SSD probably won't work in the slot. It looks like miniPCIe but really it is usually just a glorified USB port, GOBIs are really USB devices. Even if it was a real miniPCIe port that doesn't mean it would take an mSATA drive like Intel SodaCreek. Do some research if you don't believe me, I hate that this is the case but it seems that it is.

 

Another Z2 review....
Sony VAIO Z Series -  Computers & Sat Navs - MSN Technology & Gadgets | MSN UK

 

Yeah I've been doing a bit of googling and any kind of ssd or storage in the miniPCIe slot of the VAIO is very unlikely to work. Like you said the WWAN cards are essentially USB devices. Depending on how Sony assemble and ship the final Z2 (the model without WWAN) it might be possible to add a WWAN card later, but even then that leaves you with the issue of where to put the antenna. If I'm feeling adventurous I might open up my X later and see how the WWAN was installed in that, it might be similar to that of the Z2.

 

They completely overlook the fact that the MBA2 uses ULV SB and they seem to think the Z2 only comes in black. That said, it would nice to see silver in addition to gold at some point.

 

Not only that, it also states a thicnkess of 20mm and that is chunkier then MBA.. chunkier is right ONLY in relation to MEDIUM thickness, but the medium and maximum thicnkess in Z is not 20 mm but around 16.55mm..

 

The X is a lot more like the P than it is like the Z2, the WWAN slot is just USB, no regular PCIe card will work with that.

 

wow....techradar is retarded

EDIT: Actually, msn is retarded. The full review on techradars site is actually not bad.

 

The English User Guide is now available!

Sony eSupport - Electronics

 

Look slike there is a quick boot mode for browser only

WTH is vaio smart network? Cnat we just connect with win7?

 

It's frustrating that they haven't added the price for the i5 model yet. The others are way too expensive for me.

I'm still not sure whether to go for the PMD or not. I'm no gamer any more, but at the same time having a CD ROM and extra connections is always a good thing.

 

Yeah, with laptop off, if you push web button you'll access a quick browser mode..

 

smart network manages your wifi, bluetooth, WWAN, and GPS if available, at least for the Z1's... right? (or am i mixing it up with some other service)

 

thank you guys for all clarification on usb3.0 and PMD, I really appreciate it, it certainly does change perspective.

 

Cowboy, this was from the user manual. I guess it answers your question.

"High-speed communications between your computer and BLUETOOTH devices are available when they are compliant
with BLUETOOTH Core Specification Version 3.0 + HS. For the high-speed communications, enable both the wireless
LAN and BLUETOOTH functions on the computer."

 

So... bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with WLAN off and bluetooth 3.0+ HS with WLAN on...

 

For an order sent to Singapore, you may also want to consider ordering from the US and using a forwarding service such as Comgateway (via DHL) that I mentioned here earlier. In general, it will still be significantly less than the SG price (even adding shipping and GST), but it depends on whether the US will have the color/configuration you desire. If not, Conics or similar would be the only option unless you want to pick one up in HK.

I believe the Z2 warranty is international, so this should not be an issue, but someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

 

^ if the purchase is from Sony US for sure warranty is only US.. so you must send the laptop to San Diego quarters..

 

That used to be the case but not anymore. If I'm not wrong, nowadays all the "high-end" Sony VAIO series notebooks bought in the US market come with a 1 year international warranty as well. However, you'll need to register your product for the international warranty to take effect.

Edit #1: Things may have changed back again for VAIO notebooks bought in the US market. For more info, check out the following link:

https://ebiz.sel.sony.com/secure/IRSP/gotoHomePage.do

Edit #2: Looks like VAIO notebooks bought in the US include a 1 year international warranty. The following may be useful:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?info_id=363

Good luck.

 

..... it changed??? ... In that case.... it would be better for me to buy it from US... O_O

 

few note from a manual

- there will be a TPM
- there will be simcard slot at the back of the machine, frequency is still unknown
- You can use the noise canceling headphones as a microphone by using the built-in microphone on the headphones.
- Be sure to use the supplied noise canceling headphones. You can plug the headphones supplied with a Walkman® to
your computer but the noise canceling function of the computer will not work well with such headphones.
- High-speed communications between your computer and BLUETOOTH devices are available when they are compliant
with BLUETOOTH Core Specification Version 3.0 + HS. For the high-speed communications, enable both the wireless
LAN and BLUETOOTH functions on the computer.
- Be sure to press the UNDOCK button and wait until the IN USE indicator light turns off before disconnecting the docking station from your computer
even when the computer is in Hibernate mode or Sleep mode.
- Do not disconnect docking station from your computer while the IN USE indicator light is lit. Disconnecting the docking station while the IN USE
indicator light is lit may result in loss of unsaved data, no response from the computer, or a failure of the computer
- Alternatively, you can disconnect the docking station from the computer as follows, Click Start, the arrow next to the Shut down button, and Undock
- To connect a TFT/DVI monitor, use an HDMI to DVI-D adapter to connect it to the HDMI output port on the computer or the docking station. DVI-D stands for Digital Visual Interface - Digital. It is a type of DVI port that supports only digital video signals (no analog video signals). It has 24 pins. (24 PIN = Dual Link)
- there will be Fast BIOS Startup Settings on the VAIO Control Center.


??? - Closing the LCD screen lid with a LAN cable, a display cable, or a security cable connected to your computer may cause
damage to the corresponding port on the computer. Be sure to disconnect each cable from the computer before closing
the lid.

 

From Wikipedia:

Version 3.0 + HS of the Bluetooth Core Specification[26] was adopted by the Bluetooth SIG on April 21, 2009. Bluetooth 3.0+HS supports theoretical data transfer speeds of up to 24 Mbit/s, though not over the Bluetooth link itself. Instead, the Bluetooth link is used for negotiation and establishment, and the high data rate traffic is carried over a colocated 802.11 link. Its main new feature is AMP (Alternate MAC/PHY), the addition of 802.11 as a high speed transport. Two technologies had been anticipated for AMP: 802.11 and UWB, but UWB is missing from the specification.[29]

So it's really the WAN that doing the HS work anyway.

 

Thank you

I made some calculations with VAT, postage fees and fortunately no duty
The same configuration (excluding PMD which in Italy is not included) it's cheaper in Italy.. about 100€ cheaper. Taking into account PMD... it becomes nearly 250€ more expensive then US order. But... those 250€ signify 2 year (not one) of ITALIAN warrany.. and telling the truth, I don'have special need at the moment to request PMD... so... thanks, but I'll buy from Italy

 

I think it means that since the laptop is so thin, when the lid is closed and the laptop is not raised by the hinge, the laptop will be resting on the ethernet/vga/hdmi/kensington cable head. They're probably just saying that to cover them though, i doubt its an actual problem that will damage the ports.

 

^ exactly... in fact they're the most bulky cable... a part lan cable (but in that case, lan port has a cover.. if the cover is open, cable inserted and we close the laptop.. te cable would be pushed from the cover of the port)

 

Thanks for the info.

 

I highly doubt that the HDMI port will work as Dual Link DVI with a converter cable. I have heard that HDMI only supports one TDMS link and the Dual Link part of Dual Link DVI is Dual TDMS. Something like that, I don't understand how it works, but according to what little I know you should not expect to get more than 1920x1200 out of the Z2 from the HDMI port, no matter what kind of converter cable you use.

 

I tried this on my cousins SA, its a nice shortcut if you need access to the WEB immediately, however, we could not figure how to change the settings so that it would launch CHROME or FIREFOX instead of the generic web browser it uses, which name I forget. This may be a disadvantage if one is stuck with the Sony browser. I'm certain this may extend battery life, since this will be the only program open. W7 could not be accessed unless you power ON the notebook.

________________________________
O.T.

Something odd with SA pricing. My cousin's SA was originally 1369.99, then down to 1299.99, now its 1149.99. All in two-weeks time. Other pre-config. SA's seem to have undergone a good slash in pricing as well. Could the Z2 follow this path (lol)? Wishful thinking?

 

Thanks for the info! Yeah, I was also considering using a 3rd party forwarding service such as MyUS.com, and ordering direct from Sony US or Amazon. However, they don't currently stock the Gold/Brown option, so Conics seems to be the only available avenue for now.

 

Smart Network is the utility bundled on European VAIOs for the last few years (whereas the US got some other utility I think) for managing Wifi, Bluetooth, WWAN, LAN etc. It's actually quite good; a little green icon in the system tray with one click access to turn on or off the various radios, and launch connection utilities etc. Also can be used for setting Profiles and proxies if you need that kind of thing.



Looks like they're rolling it out to all regions now.

 

Other things I now know about the Z2 that I didn't before, thanks to the manual:

• The ambient light sensor appears not to be just for the keyboard backlighting, but also for adjusting the screen brightness automatically. The last VAIO that I had that could do this was my 17 inch A series back in 2004!
  
• There are also air vents at the back of the machine, just underneath the silver bezel thing
  
• There's a battery-off button at the bottom of the laptop. Seems to be a reset button for the battery; Sony batteries are getting that complex?
  
• The long life battery takes priority over the builtin battery when connected.
  
• The assist button launches the Recovery partition when the laptop is switched off.
  
• The Quick Web Access function doesn't work with WWAN
  
• The WWAN Sim card holder is at the back of the machine (makes sense since the battery is screwed in on the Z2). Should mean you can install remove the SIM card while the laptop is still on. Handy.
  
• The US get the GPS option officially, I wonder if it's the same in the EU? My X had GPS, but "unofficially".
  
• It's a bummer the EU isn't getting those noise cancelling headphones; they look sweet.
  
• The CNET reviewer who said there are 5.1 speakers and a subwoofer on the Z2 was obviously smoking something; the manual specifies stereo speakers only.

 

Anyone knows if the US CTO version is going to have:

-TPM?
-Unlocked WWAN and sim card slot?
-Backlit keyboard?

I called sales as well as technical support and nobody knows...

 

^^^ a few notes:

The ambient light sensor works to do both on the new S line, too Looks like Sony is stepping it up (though new Dells are strangely missing this feature that they used to have, lol....)

The GPS function is on all recent WWAN cards (except WiMax), for several reasons. Whether it's enabled via firmware or disabled for different regions, remains to be determined.

 

Sonystyle HK just put up the Z for sale 10 minutes ago.
I just ordered and payed for it.
Pickup is not on the 7th as they said before but on the 12th.
Comes with a free matching VAIO case/free Office Home and Business full version. (it was originally supposed to come with just a free bluetooth mouse...the BMS-10 I think)

Plus I think they changed the specs...now the bundled dock comes with a bluray writer instead of just a bluray reader.

That's just awesome for just 2700$ US

 

a few nitpicks I have:

DVI-D is DVI-Digital, indeed. However, that's only because HDMI doesn't have the 5 analoug pins required for DVI-A or DVI-I (most desktop GPU have DVI-I, which allows the DVI-->VGA adaptor to work).

HDMI in it's common form, only has 19pins. There is no implementation in consumer products of it's dual link variant (afaik, it has ~30 pins, much more than DL-DVI has).

The few pics of the PMD I have found, only have 19pins in the HDMI connector.

And if a HDMI-->DVI adaptor has 24pins on the DVI side, doesn't mean all 24 are connected to anything.

 

and some other European countries.

 

Dunno if i am slow but Sony HK is accepting pre-orders now. Has gold colour. US$2693.36.



http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/products/apps/product/simplePage.do?modelCode=_M033801&lang=en

 

^ Sure, the Russian "youngest" Z21 model with 128 Gb SSD comes without PMD (though the price is about 2200 USD).

 

Ordered the black one already

 

congrats!

 

^
Thanks...now I just need to wait...

 

sell me ur Z1?

 

I´m going to the european VPCZ21V9E

 

according to the manual on sony website

TPM - Yes
Unlocked WWAN - Unknown, but the laptop will work with ATT and Sprint that is for sure so both CDMA and GSM
sim card slot - YES
Backlit - YES

 

Thank you! Now its official, speakers on the bottom...

 

Sony (HK) accept order finally.
VAIO VPCZ217GG - Sony Store, Online(Hong Kong)
HKD$20,980(around USD$2,700), bundle Office 2010 Home & business.
i7-2620M, 8GB DDR3, 256GB SSD, FullHD Adobe RGB 96% VAIO Display Premium, PMD with ATi 6650M & Blu-ray writer.

 

Comes with a free carrying case too
And the standard 15% off of all accessories.

 

@ota-con
What was the price of your Z138GG and what is the price for the Z217GG ?

 

p139 of the manual is interesting. If I'm reading it correctly, you can't use the external GPU to power both the laptop's screen and any external screen connected to the the PC/docking station. Either it powers the laptop screen only (and no external screens can be used) or it powers only the external screens connected to the dock, and the Intel GPU powers the laptop screen and external screens connected to the laptop itself.

Additional edit: this obviouly means that "You cannot display the same images individually on your computer screen and the external display(s) connected to the docking station at the same time." (p195)

Also, can't see whether the laptop supports multiple monitors (i.e. VGA and HDMI together) when the docking station is not connected.

Also from the manual: "Your computer is not equipped with the microphone jack. You cannot use an external microphone". Even though you can use the noise-cancelling headphones as a microphone, I found that on the Z1, they were pretty poor as a microphone - people could hardly hear me.