New Sony Vaio Z speculation/news thread

I meant the exact dates, I don't want hints.

 

repeat: LINK!?!??!

 

hey beaups, do you have any info on that FreeStyle Hybrid PC? Will it be available around the same time as the new Z?

 

Can you possibly identify the source of that info? Thanks.

I just called Verizon and spoke to 3 different people who gave 3 different answers as to "grandfathering." Not sure I want to jump in to sign a contract now when it seems the contract does allow them to change the pricing structure. AT&T had a policy of grandfathering unltd data plans for those who had them when they changed their pricing, but it was always their prerogative to change it. I'm still on an ultd plan, but for their lousy 3G service, which does not allow tethering.

Isn't it strange that wireless bandwidth is pretty much all now sold on a pay-per-GB basis, but there is a revolt every time the wireline IPSs want to charge either end users or content providers for the bandwidth they use? I mean, as much as I want everything I buy to be priced for light users and allow me to use it as much as I want for that price, but bandwidth costs about the same for cable companies as for wireless phone companies. I dunno, just seems like people are still on this "the Internet is a public resource" compulsion when it's really just like electricity and water: the more you consume, the more [someone] has to pay.

Oops, got preachy there. My bad. Sorry.

 

Not even a tad earlier now. The date being thrown around is pretty damn accurate.

 

Calender marked. I'll be sitting outside a Sony store with my laptop and tent.

 

I should have done that originally. See, Verizon to Cap Data Plans on July 7

Also see, Unlimited No More: Verizon Joins AT&T in Tiered Mobile Data Plans

 

Does this mean that it will be shipped ON the 27th?

 

ha ha usually that happens with some other brand
glad to hear ya liking it!

 

Thing is: already bought an SA, I don't really care though; friends always need another laptop and I like technology.

 

I'm seeing a fair number of articles about the forthcoming LG P330 but they lack enough info to tell if it will be a real competitor for the Z.

To be a Z competitor it would need to offer FHD, a full voltage i7, USB 3 (it's probably not reasonable to expect an Ian Fleming port), at least 320GB SSD storage, and a blue rai [sic] burner.

Given the GT 555M GPU, I would also be curious to get a sense of the P330's battery life under typical in-use loads.

 

Do you know anything about Europe dates?

 

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1366475&r=29920750#r29920750
there's basically no information on it, only speculation there is what i posted from reading these forums.
this person has posted in a previous sony thread pre release with info so it seems like they may work for sony, or at least have some sort of connection

interestingly like the last person in this forum to add apparently genuine info, they're an aussie

 

yea that Notebookmaster characters looks kinda credible i guess. We'll have to wait and see.

 

There's been plenty of genuine info posted in this forum too if you are willing to read through 300 pages .....

 

it wont make sense to put a 45w+ TDP gpu in there to not hold a standard cpu, they aint aw to do that.

Can we at least expect a man with a golden gun?

 

Thunderball, Thunderbolt...what's the difference?

 

The former is used by Pikachu. The latter by Zeus.

 

ouch

well at least Im hoping for some atomic threat coming from LG, they are SPECTER!

 

that made me lol.

 

I lol'ed

 

Actually you'll find Pikachu uses both

 

mmmmmm........NEW Z

 

Where did you get that photo and how do you know its the new Z?

Honestly,it could be any other vaio laptop....

 

already got?

 

NEW Z screen bezel......acceptable?

 

It could be a Signature color, perhaps? I've been meaning to post this but know it isn't currently explicitly Z-related (though most likely).

The new lineup of Signature Edition computers has a mystery model right in the middle.

VAIO® Team Launches Summer Signature Collection:Hints to New Addition SONY make.believe

 

Can we have a side shot ?

 

nice try

 

That looks HOT if real, easily way better looking than my current VAIO VPC-Z notebook IMHO! That pic suddenly makes me want one so badly.

 

It certainly looks good! I may trade my Sammy Series 9 for this if it is also thin enough!

 

Yeah, now I feel so stupid for being too rash in buying my VPC-Z notebook just last month.

 

that's crazy talk, you only see the screen, how's that better looking? wait till you see the whole thing, then you can safely say you wanna throw old Z out of the window

 

i think the keyboard looks too close to the screen? And people say it's nice? Hmm..

 

stop teasing and show us the whole laptop than

 

OK, there you go

 

ARGS lol. Take out the lettering!

 

A standing "dock" with the GPU in it? Colour me unimpressed -- that's form over function. Perhaps it makes more sense in the Japanese market where desks are much smaller, but us clumsy Westerners will just knock it over.
Also, the bezel is noticeably bigger, so either the notebook itself is bigger, or the screen smaller. The latter I can live with, but if I wanted a 14" class PC, there are quite a few to choose from.

 

do want one, NICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

I agree.. Bezel looks huge.. Notebook will prob have bigger footprint.. I have a feeling it will resemble a larger version of the X series..

 

The dock can go flat as well as stand, this has been mentioned 50 times in this thread.

 

can't see the pics being posted

 

I went to a Sony retail store today and spoke to a rep. He mentioned that they had a trainer come in to speak about the new Z. Not much other information was given.

 

Looks great! the bezel seems quite fine compared to the SA. I am psyched for this now!!!

Cheers Eddie, +1 rep.

Also, let's note that everything we see in this pic fits with what beaups and beaups *only* has told us (like the vertical stand and not so big bezel).

 

Thinks bezel looks fairly bigger than the current Z, no?

 

A few notes from the pics:

1) the three buttons are still there, looks like the red lettered "ASSIST" button has survived from the VPC-Z
2) can't quite tell, but it looks like there are two new vertical rubber feet either side of the webcam, this is certainly to address the keyboard scratching issue, let's hope it's finally resolved
3) bezel is clearly wider than both the VPC-Z and VGN-Z, but looks maybe marginally thinner than the SA and thinner than the MBA.
4) looks like the graphics switch is gone, which makes sense since you unplug it when you don't want it and are shouldn't be using the Blu-ray if you are trying to save batteries. Beaups explained this logic a while back
5) looks like that might be the external unit laying flat over to the left, thus stand is optional (not fixed)

6) Darth Vader styling theme continues on the external unit. Angular top matches the sides of the silver back plate from the previous "Ultimate Mobile PC" image (below)
7) looks like it's a slot loading drive, yay!
8) eject button is on the external unit, can't see if the eject button is gone from the notebook, but looks like it gone
9) somewhat gaudy looking gunmetal finish stand, assume it's chromed plastic. Might match the rear plate of the notebook (below).
10) I can see a wedge of light shining through under the notebook. This means it is being propped up by something. I will assume that it's not from the classic and horrible signature Sony "battery hanging out the bottom" since there is supposed to be a sheet battery and this would not be compatible. I thing this is explained by the little rubber feet that should sit under when the screen is up. See below:

11) From what limited detail there is in this picture from Eddieaus below, it certainly matches the image above (i.e. chrome logo, spacing, Sony logo and no faint line in between them), so safe to assume he is right and this is a genuine pic of a gold Z:

Darth Vader is supremely happy with this design!

 

Drvec, you are definitely right about the rubber feet on the hinge. also if you look really closely, there's a SONY logo on the middle of the hinge too.

 

OK that makes sense that the metal hinge acts as a prop for the notebook when the screen is open. However, where are the heat vents going to go? Wasn't it mentioned in this thread that the vents are on the back of the notebook like the SA?

I'm not sure, but with the hinge acting as a prop for the notebook when open, the only place I can see the vents going would be the left side of the notebook.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

the vent is on the left side, next to VGA port.

 

This might have been in the earlier 300 pages, but anyway..

Considering the bigger bezel and footprint of the laptop.

I was talking to a guy in a Sony Store and he was 95% sure that the screen would be smaller than 13,1 inch. I havent heard this before so i didnt belive him but if you think about the concept "ultimate mobile" and a laptop with no hdd, no dedicated graphiccard, the "big" bezel. It seems strange to make one "ultimate mobile" notebook with a bigger footprint than the last. Even though thin. Especially when it doesnt house that many components. Maybe his right. He was talking about a screen "around" 12 inch..