New Sony Vaio Z speculation/news thread

Well the writing is pretty hard to follow so I apologize upfront if I'm missing something but:

You're facts aren't... actually true? The new Z comes with a power adapter for both the main laptop unit and the PMD. Meaning if you have a PMD you have two adapters, 1 for the PMD and 1 for the laptop. So yes you could power and run the laptop "when being mobile" and does NOT require the PMD to be available.

Following this the USB3/Lightpeak has nothing to do with third party support simply because there is no third party hardware available yet. Plus read the previous posts and realize Sony had less of an interest in adding Lightpeak support rather than making a laptop with a viable eGPU. And who's to say everyone will follow Apple's implementation of Lightpeak (Thunderbolt) considering the original Intel development utilized USB connectors for the sake of standards.

I don't mean to vent but you (and I) should find something better to do.

ARRRGGG you beat me too it - the simplicity is appreciated

 

That is an absolut steal for a Z! Honestly, I am trying to talk myself into the Z2 again, but when I look at my loaded Z13, it is really a hard decesion.

+1's for the Z13 staying in the home..

Same screen
Negligable CPU boost
Built in GPU
Built in BluRay
Physical Button Trackpad
No large visible vents on the bottom

+2's for cheating on her with the Z21

Thinner
Lighter
Battery life
Although external (Not my favorite) better GPU
No pamlrests!
3rd Gen SSD (at a cost)


After having the SA and overclocking the 6630m, It seemed to get about 5 FPS more @ 900p and 8 FPS more at 720p. This is with Black OPs and still above 60fps on both at 720p.

The reason I am pointing this out is that I have my doubts that the 6650 will be able to be used at its full potential due to underclocking and or proprietary drivers. Seeing that the 6650 is basicaly a 6750 like on the MBP, that card should be ripping games apart. One of the latest reviews pointed out their disapointment in the GPU. I guess only time will tell in that department.

I want to be able to pop into starbucks or while waiting for clients pop a cap in someones butt on COD. I wouldint mind doing it with the PMD, it just seems like total tote weight would be about the same or more.

Rabling? Yes! But I know some of you are on the same page with me here.

 

of course it can. normal power socket next to the usb3/lightpeak.
you can use the smaller power pack when only charging the laptop.
you need the brick power pack if you're using the PMD.

 

18 days left.................

so, how much is the pmd without the blu-ray player?

i want to be able to play crysis 2 on medium settings, any hope of doing that on the 6650m? should i just forget about the pmd and get a small external monitor, vidock, and a desktop gpu?

 

^^
The later would be the better option

 

Well, this is my first time posting here, although I've been reading through the pages since its inception. I must say, this forum has helped a lot with regards to the delivery of news and information regarding the new Z; for that, thanks!

Anyway, like most of you, I am a current Z owner who has a vested interest in what Sony does with its flagship notebook. I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised with the direction Sony is going with the new iteration. I really liked the all-in-one factor of the past 2 Zs, but I can understand where Sony is headed with regards to the Z2. It was an acquired taste, albeit a really quick one - it took all of an hour for me to forgo its "flaws" and to fall in love all over again.

I'm really looking forward to the new Z. The only question is, what config models will be present on sale.

 

I don't believe Sony is this daft on purpose. It would greatly inhibit proper utilization of a premium ultra-portable if it had to be tethered to the PMD.

Besides, I did see an image that showed 2 separate power bricks.

 

One question, would the WWAN port also accept mSATA SSD or only the mini-pcie SSD can be recognized?

 

There is no way of attaching a vidock to a Z2, unfortunately. The 6650 in the PMD is the only way of attaching a GPU.

 

Stay non-confrontational please, I had to delete a few posts.

 

Well if believe Sony to not be this "daft" then explain to me why they decided to be proprietary with the USB3/Lightpeak port rather than going the conventional way so Thunderbolt peripherals would connect to it without special non-supported adapters? This is not just my opinion, there's been a great deal of negative press about Sony's decision with the light peak port. And Sony HAS been foolish with decisions in the past. Case in point the Walkman, their online store and the ATRAC music tracks. Rather than going with the masses for a successful product they went proprietary and it hurt them immensely.

As far as the new Vaio Z, unfortunately it doesn't offer much to the end user without the PMD as the PMD houses most of the important functionality and power. So say for example it's a sub $1000 notebook, the other $2000 goes to the PMD? No way. No matter which way you look at it, this machine is too expensive for what the end user gets out of it especially for the great amount of flex in the casing. Not very Sony-like for the usual high attention to detail that they've put into the Z in previous models. I fail to see where this is much of an upgrade from the past Z's.

 

Can you point me to these sub $1k notebooks that weigh 2.5 lbs, offer an i7 and a 1080p display?

 

If i choose i would buy the new Z without PMD but with a sheet battery. I really like the slim design and of course the most powerful dual core i7 in such a thin machine. And the WUXGA display also a must for me....

 

Don't forget the quality of that 1080p, space color, brightness, black depth, contrast, delta E..

 

Previous Z series versions were positioned differently, the new Z is more or less a MBA competitor but with a difference. It has a more powerful cpu and external solutions will provide more powerful graphics. It also has better connectivity options like built in wwan. For the majority of those on the go the Sandybridge graphics will be enough.

It weighs 2.5lbs as is and i think it is thinner than the Air. Although, i don't think that's the best comparison as the next gen Air may trump it in those stakes.
For those that prefer an all in one the Sony SA series may have been a decent alternative if it had a premium display.

 

Well, it is one thing to adopt a proprietary standard for their own products, and another to purposefully cripple the mobility and utility of a premium laptop. With regards to the latter, I am certain Sony would never tether the Z to a PMD in the way that you described. It just seems too foolish altogether.

I wouldn't say that the Z2 is an upgrade so much as a different path chosen by Sony. The focus on an all-in-one powerhouse has since shifted away from the Z. The latter is now a true lightweight ultra-portable. That's how I see it.

Well, as they say, different strokes for different folks. I like my previous Zs for containing the power of a desktop replacement in the footprint of a sub-notebook. I like the new Z for being an extremely light, mobile laptop.

 

I did use the word "example" in my previous post. Okay so for EXAMPLE, say this machine is a sub $2000 notebook. The PMD still isn't worth an additional $1000. Any way you look at it, this entire set up is outrageously priced and Sony is doing this because no one else offer's their implementation using the light peak to connect to the PMD.
Also I liked how you said it came with a 1080p display, haha. That's an option for more $$$. The standard display is 1600X900.

 

All the rumors state that new macbook air will use Sandy Bridge ULV CPUs.. so in this case the maximum CPU would be (taking into account a similar TDP) i7 2657M or i5 2557M. Much slower.

 

I just meant the measurements, the Z may be thinner than this current version of the MBA but SB MBA may be thinner.

 

As Beaups said, this laptop wil be 1999$ WITH PMD. That's a completly different scenario. In addition, there's no other 1600x900 with that quality at that dimension and still the 1080p costs only 40€ (probably 40$). In addition, with these dimensions and weight, there's no other laptop which have normal CPUs but only ULV CPUs. In addition, it's the lighter one with materials that are not cheap (Al and plastics alone are cheaper then CFRB).
1999$ it's the starting price of the previous Z with same specs.
So, it's not bad. It's simply a completely different way to see this market. I didn't like the previous, I love this one. Somebody alse loved the previous, not this one. SOmebody else loves them both, somebody else hate them both.

 

Uhm.. maybe.. but, it's difficult. I mean.. it's already really thin and produces a lot of thermal energy. In fact it's hot. I don't think they're able to reduce thickness.. to do that they would have to increase the average thickness I think.

 

removed my post

 

^they sold out pretty fast because the Z is one highly desirable laptop at any price!! And at $900 it's like it was stolen!!!
After Maven1975 posted last night about 10(?) hours ago there were 3 left.
The specs is in item/listing 300575712146. bye.

 

^ Thanks vaio.phil. I was removing my question at the same time you wrote. Yes, it was a very tempting deal, but gone now. This must mean I am destined for the Z2. How's that for rationalization?

 

sorry i dont understand, why is there no way of attaching a vidock to a Z2? and how about an expresscard gpu adapter?

 

Um...no. Not for most people. All the PMD houses is an increasingly obsolete ODD and a GPU that is of interest mostly to people who play games, not what the Z is primarily designed for, and a relative handful of graphics-intensive business applications. Even though I would probably prefer an SA with a premium display, the overwhelming majority of the new Z's functionality and power for most business customers is in the laptop, not the PMD.

 

The new Z doesn't have any expresscard slot

 

You assume that the Z2 has an ExpressCard slot. It's one of the many things that appears to have gone in order to make it thinner at all costs.

As far as I can tell, casualties include:
RJ11 port (POTS modem)
1394 port / third USB port (depending on Z1 model)
ExpressCard slot
FeliCa (Japanese models)
Barrel hinge
Physical trackpad buttons
User upgradable RAM.
Internal DVD drive / full sized HDD bay (depending on Z1 model)
Discrete microphone port
Discrete GPU
Speed/Stamina switch

Hopefully I'm wrong about some of these.

 

is the expresscard slot on the pmd? or is there no expresscard slot at all?

and... no wonder, for some reason i was under the impression that a vidock would work with usb 2, silly me.

i guess ... the pmd is going to be a necessity for me, then

edit: HOLY , is the pmd going to be $500?

 

THIS ⬆⬆is one of the things that will keep business users from upgrading to the new Z.

 

I'm not sure about this:

A lot of business customers want powerful CPU with light and thin body.
In the company where my father works, the main people have a Z1x and they're gonna change it with the new Z due to the thickness of the previous model.
It's an example but it can describe quite well part of the medium business customer.

 

VPC-Z had RJ11 port?

Negativity is always fun, let's add a few positives

1.) HD webcam
2.) Faster CPU/Faster integrated GPU
3.) USB 3.0
4.) Faster discrete GPU (albeit external)
5.) New style of speed/stamina swtich (having fun there)
6.) Lightpeak
7.) Better cooling
8.) Lighter weight
9.) Thinner
10.) No plastic palmrest
11.) Clickpad style touchpad (some of us actually prefer this)
12.) Smaller and lighter travel AC adapter
13.) Mono-hinge

 

It's still available - 5 left at $899.

 

When you do a list like this, it really does make you take a step back and think, "Wow, what exactly are we getting in the Z2?"

With all honesty, what I'll miss most in the new Z is the barrel hinge. I really loved it.

 

Why exactly would a business customer need a powerful CPU in an ultraportable? I'm an insurance agent and most of our office work and select softwares certainly don't require a powerful CPU. Most business users are using their notebooks for presentations, spreadsheets and business documents. At that point they (myself included) are looking for more connectivity options on the go vs. high CPU power.

 

The last Z sold millions of units primarily to deep pocketed business customers. The new Z will be no different. There is a gigantic market for very light, ultra portable notebooks with CPU power on par with desktops and very few companies able to offer it with the brand and specs of the Z.

I could be wrong but I think the new Z is going to sell extremely well regardless of price.

 

you have HDMI and VGA on the main body already?

EDIT: anyone else think there is more BS being spewed out here than in PC vs Mac threads?

 

I agree with that, in fact I don't know why a lot point to it even if they don't need powerful CPU. But at the same time, using an antivirus, a music player, an internet browser, an email client, some background application for printers or other stuff, adobe reader or powerpoint, at the same time or excel, word, access or other application.. with an ULV processor it's a really heavy situation, too heavy in my opinion (that's what i experienced on various tests I mean).. in those cases with so many applications opened, a normal CPU is in my opinion required. It depends on the way you work in laptop. There are people who need to run tons of program at the same time, becoming heavy on ram and cpu.

Or for example, somebody that needs to do something not light and not to heavy, using an external display when at office. An at the same time they want a light and thin one. It depends on needs, on a lot of aspects. But most of all, pocket availability and how "refined" is the laptop XD

 

Thread was perfectly fine until very recently but there must be a leak somewhere because the BS is starting to flood in.

 

Thinking about getting that old Z for $900. How much do you guys think I'd get for my Vaio CW in my sig?

 

Oh dear, that $900 deal is awesome.

Should I get that, or wait for the MacBook Airs to come out..... oh gosh....

What kind of battery life do people get from the Z13s in stamina mode with the extended battery?

 

First, on the part that I highlighted in red, show me visual proof in numbers from valid data on that immense claim you just made.

Secondly, you're probably wrong. If the new Z sells extremely well regardless of price then that means Sony can sell junk and slap a high price and lemmings will follow. I'd like to think that people interested in a Sony Vaio would be a smarter shopper than that.

 

Statement:
Since when did the thread become an opinion poll? Could people please try and avoid the gray areas the Mod's can't tackle and keep to the thread title "New Sony Vaio Z speculation/News thread" - as in stick to the facts/ Q&A of the New Vaio Z.

I'm all for debating value and utility but I think (correct me if I'm wrong) people look to this info source for information pertaining to the Vaio Z and not the opinions of people (especially those who haven't played with one).

Question:
Has there been a disassemble of the PMD posted yet?

 

At the moment, no pics about PMD "exploded"

 

If you don't like it, don't buy it. Instead of pissing on our hopes and dreams

Review units haven't gone out yet, so no ones been able to to tear anything apart. Even the articles titled as "reviews" were just people who spent a lot of time with the machines at an event. The internal pictures of the main unit were provided by Sony.

Too bad, i would really like to see what sony has going on in the pmd.

 

EDIT: The seller has put 4 more up for sale (as of 6:15 EDT). Seems they like to create the idea of shortage, get people excited then let down when they see they're all sold out. Then you see at the top of the listing that says "This listing has ended," you see a hyperlink that says "The seller has relisted this item or one like this" and, voila! it's back up for sale and there are 2 or 4 or 6 more! Makes you wonder just how many (dozens??) of these are around. Blinq.com had been selling the exact same retail model for $1,399 last week and sold out on their web site, then showed up on eBay with some 10 more, still at $1,399. I feel really badly for anyone who went today to buy the one for $899, found it sold out, bought the one for $1,399, then saw the $899 one was re-listed.

Nutty stuff. That said, if I had the $, I'd buy up every one at $899 (no tax or shipping charge!), cuz at that price (or a few $100 more) these things are going to remain hot competition for a year or more for the same reason the debate here has been raging: the Z1 may not be the best of anything (except 13" screen quality) but it is so chocked full of features and performs way more than well enough for a very significant percentage of the market. As arth1's list demonstrates, this model has so many features none of the competition (including its own successor) have, things that people really use. Yeah, worth snatching a few of these up if you have the cash, even just for when yours is dropped or stolen

 

I myself just ordered one, despite having recently bought a refurb silver Z from sonystyle. I decided I couldn't live with the silver Z and wanted a black Z instead

I have to say though, this seller has A LOT of brand new factory-sourced Zs in stock. They keep replenishing it after each unit sold. I've been keeping track of the units sold and units in stock. Seller relisted the item several times. I don't remember the specific numbers of each relisting, but I can tell you the past two days, this same seller sold at least 91 units of the same model (Sony VAIO Z VPCZ134GX/B)!

And amongst the buyers, bostonconsultinggroup seems to be the biggest buyer. They had been buying these Zs like crazy!

This is my opinion, but I think there's a lot of Z13's stocked in factory, and since Z2 is coming out, they want to clear that inventory as fast as possible (Z13's will be devalued quickly once Z2 comes out...but IMHO I still think Z13 beats Z2).

Nope, still at least 4 units left. I suspect the seller will replenish the stock when the existing 4 units run out...but who knows. If you like Z13, get it now! It's brand new from factory, sold at $899.99.

 

There's still 5 available:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-VAIO-Z-VPC...25683962?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item56450d40fa



On another note, I'm sure this has been asked many times but will we be able to either get a better external GPU through a third party to work with the new Z or somehow be able to upgrade the GPU in the PMD?

 

Where did all the Z13 crop up all of a sudden (and nowhere to be found on sonystyle)? Hope the seller has these units in stock... and doesnt sell units that they didnt even have

No kidding, they are indeed on a Z purchase spree the last few months.

I am really eager to find out the definitive US price of the Z2. Anything south of 1500 without the dock would be fantastic

 

They have to have them in stock? I mean, their credibility seems very good with their near 100% positive feedback rating.

I'm thinking of selling my refurb silver Z1390x at a lower price than what I paid for...but this 899.99 deal is preventing my Z from fetching a good price lol