New Sony Vaio Z speculation/news thread

While I don't care much about the color, Sony says they know nothing about LTE support which is a big issue for me. Anyone have an idea what happened to the LTE support?

 

isn't this because first generation core i dual core processors were clocked higher than first generation core i quad core processors? and because pcmark vantage favors higher frequency over more cores? i suspect that different tests would have resulted in the 840qm and 920xm being much faster than any dual core first generation i7

with second generation core i, this is no longer the case, the top quad cores should have higher frequency than the top dual core

 

Didn't realise this (this is my first Sony laptop). I assume they're still normal sized SSD's but just hard to get to right? This guy ( http://www.techatplay.com/?p=5070) seemed to manage it on one of the older Z's. Also I figure SSD prices will drop so its probably more cost effective for me to do in the future anyway.

I'm quite happy pulling things apart if I need to!

 

not to mention that it also favors SSD equipped systems, benchmarks never served for anything, the m17x R2 would still spit in the face of the Z, try running the same game and programs on one and then the other to see the difference a quad makes. If you count the R3 its even worse.

The z was all about the form factor and compromises were made, no point in comparing benchmarks of such vastly different pcs

 

Louche, you can always get a hotspot or usb modem!

Carbon Indigo is still an option for me in CTO.

 

Well, let me explain:

SSDs built-in (the one that Sony gives with the laptop) are made by Samsung.. the form factor is similar to mSata SSD and not the normal Sata SSD.. in addition, they don't use mSata connector but special connectori similar to ZIF, which is proprietary.. that's why it's impossible to make substitution with other ssd which are not by sony. So you want to put in a m4 crucial or a vertex 3 or agility 3 or intel 310 mSata or other... you cannot.

On previous Z it was possible IF you purchase the laptop with mechanical HD and not ssd. I cannot see you link... that guy what purchased from the beginning? Z with Hard Disk or SSD bult-in?

 

What is "carbon indigo"?

Besides that, are there different versions of carbon finishes? Because to me it seems some guys are talking about a "normal" carbon finish and others about a "premium" carbon finish.

Here (in Austria) the only carbon option is premium carbon.

 

Dark blue carbon.

 

I think it's black on the outside and purple on the inside.

 

^ it's the same.

I mean, carbon finish is black finish and premium carbon finish is a black "fiber appearance" finish.. (in Italy on the first page is told to be Black and Premium Black.. but in CTO becomes Black and Premium Carbon ... it's only a problem of language I think)

 

I am NOT buying it if it is NOT Gold. I will consider buying from conics. Problem is the dock is $500+ from them.


Another thing that is not making sense to me. The US page lists Bluetooth 2.1 and Intel 6230 WiFi. The Intel 6230 card is a Bluetooth 3.0HS/WiFi card (I have one in my Z1 right now)

Then conics gives the option to upgrade to 6300 WiFi but says nothing about Bluetooth.

I have to wonder, does the Z have a separate Bluetooth chip like every other VAIO? or does it in fact have Bluetooth via the Intel 6230? If I get a 6300 3x3 option from conics do I lose Bluetooth? I know it works like that in some Lenovos, they don't allow you to get webcam, BT, WWAN and still get 3x3 WiFi.

We need some clarification on the Bluetooth implementation in the Z2.

 

I could use a USB modem but I don't want to. After paying about $4k for a laptop, I don't want to buy a USB modem, tie-up a port (for me the 4G would be the primary way I hook to the internet, not wi-fi), etc. What really makes this a deal-breaker is that there are reports here and in the media that the Z will support LTE. I'm figuring that the lack of LTE support is just a Sony screwup that will get fixed.

 

^ what about tethering to your phone?
It's pretty convenient.

 

It is just a matter of what card it has anyway, you can always just stick a Gobi 3000 in there. I am pretty sure that the card will not be soldered, so if you order a WWAN model and it just has 3G, you can swap in an LTE card.

Not really, and it kills the stupid smartphone battery even faster

 

yes i was hoping for LTE from verizon also, now i look at order page it say ATT/Sprint. now i'm a little bit hesitate on ordering may be wait for z22?

also is it intel 6230 or 6300 anyone know?

 

seems like 6300 is not available in the us, even on the signature edition

 

that's sucks

 

I've seen tethering do minimal damage to my battery life.

ComputerCowboy, I think someone will be able to answer your blutetooth question when one of us gets our Z. I think smarshallsay will getting his the earliest out of everyone on this thread.

And clarification about the colors:

Carbon Black is what USA calls the normal black color
Carbon Indigo is the black/blue model we have been seeing. It has the same color as carbon black on the outside but is a bluish purple on the inside (it is NOT a bluish black)
Premium Carbon Black is the black color with the fibery or brushed texture. It is only available with the signature models, not through CTO.

The above applies for USA ONLY.

 

^thanks for clarification!

So overall 4 colours available (worldwide).

 

Nobody else concerned about performance degredation with the RAID0 SSD's? If there's still no TRIM support then I'm not too happy thinking about how long those SSD's will perform decently.

 

Haha we've been over this already. Samsung (thats who it is right?) has some anti-degradation things going on with the SSDs that was worked very well for the previous Z, and is expected to do the same.

 

in a year or 2 you will change the laptop anyway : ) so who cares?

 

i would very much appreciate if anyone could tell me if there are any discounts that can be applied to the student discount?

like.. purchasing through a different website, website referral, credit card / mastercard benefit?


on a side note, why isn't the search function for this thread working?

 

I'd like someone with the previous gen Z to install SSDLife and report back.

My 1.5 year old X25M is still at 98%, for comparison. Estimated life 9 years and 7 months.

 

I don't use a "smart" phone.

That may be a possibilty. As worst, I may ask for advice on how to do that. I haven't opened a laptop since the original Dell From Hell. I used install drives, memory, power supplies. Haven't done that in a long time. Besides, there's supposed to be integrated LTE support for the Z.

 

There are threads on the performance already. SSDLife? Really?

 

There's a 3% Cash Back from FatWallet.

 

In thread concerning SSD of Z1 there are users who have ssd built in that after 3 years still go at full speed without any failing, thanks to Garbage Collection which works really well in samsung devices.

If you want to check it, also with SSDlife, ask in that thread.. there are some users.

In addiction, TRIM doesn't improve consistently life service of ssd. What improve life service of ssd is the wear leveling which is obviously implemented.

 

The search function has always been very bad on NBR. Almost impossible to find a specific post out of over 4k.

 

I read quickly through it. Looks okey. Thanks.

 

I'll be glad to help. I can stop messing with the guts of my VAIOs, processor upgrades, SSDs, WiFi, WWAN, HD decoders, I am never satisfied, and it can always be better.

use google, type in forum.notebookreview and then some text, that works way better.

 

Great. Much appreciated. Thank you.

Alternatively, use google, type in your search words and then follow them with the string: site:.forum.notebookreview.com

 

You have everything on sony support page, so no issues there. All new updates will be posted there as well.

Cheers,
Miki

 

You're welcome.

In the start I was worried about trim too.. not due to service life but due to loss of performance. Trim it's useful to keep performance always at 100%. Without trim a lot of ssd already with 30% of full space, start to slow down.
But in this case, due to a good garbage collection, if you have at least 20GB of free space and latest driver by intel, you'll get your bult-in ssd at 100% performance easily (I assume that 3rd gen ssd work fine as well 2nd gen .

 

For all of you who waited for this:

‪Interview with the VAIO Z Designers‬‏ - YouTube

Njoy!
Miki

 

i learned nothing from that video besides the new hinge was designed so that the bottom part of the screen bezel is hidden when the screen is opened

 

you: this one is listed at "premium carbon fiber" and has a brushed finish

Richard G: Yes, that is the exact same brushed look as the CTO Carbon black

you: really??

Richard G: Signiture Z (please click here)

Richard G: If you click on the link above, you can see the signature model

you: it didn't look so in the pictures

Richard G: It is the exact same color and look as the CTO

you: so the CTO options where i can choose my components carbon black option looks just like the signature model?

Richard G: Yes, it's confusing I won't lie. They should have made it more clear on the website

*** Apparently the CTO black finish option is the same as the ones utilized in the signature models (in the USA) - least that's what the Sony rep says. I'd believe it when I see it.

 

Man, I love that design. So clean and uncluttered. Especially in straight black.

I just hope that the ones we buy won't be covered in hideous stickers.

 

Does anyone know if they ever do CTO on signature series?

soooooooooooo he is saying that Carbon Black = Premium Carbon?

 

it will. I've seen like 5 on the main unit and 3 on the PMD in videos.

No problem though. Very easily removable.

I think im going to try and make the design even cleaner by buying some sugar cubes and rubbing off some of the unneccessary text/icons like the wireless on/off, port icons, etc.

@the process co. There is a high probability that the rep is wrong. If he is right though and my CTO comes with a brushed finish, i might ejaculate.

 

lol maybe sony noticed 99% of people would opt for the premium carbon, so they just didn't bother with normal black, and to eliminate confusion, didn't use the words 'premium carbon'

anyway, i doubt this is the case.. but i hope so

 

They list 3 colors on the explore Z page though. VAIO Z Series PC | Sony | Sony Store USA

 

Yea I noticed that too so the rep is probably wrong

 

Oh, i see! Thankyou for the explanation. So if later date i wanted to upgrade the SSD, I'd have to get it from Sony. Annoying! :| Sony are as bad as Apple!

 

Isn't it annoying when the customer knows more than the rep?

 

silly reps, think they know more than us notebookreview members who have been following the new z for the past year

 

The last suffix in the model number tells you what color it has. X is the brushed premium carbon, B is just simple black.

 

Mmmh... remember that it's a really thin notebook.. so space is not much. Putting in a normal sata it would have been impossible.. maybe it would have been possibile with msata but.. how many msata are on the market?? Here in Italy I can find only one made by Intel. In addition, they have cover.. cover adds a little of thickness.. and it's more difficult to put 2 in and make a raid 0.
So, in some way, I can understand this choice.. (sure, maybe with a better layout, it would have been possible to put a normal ssd.. who knows).

 

Oh thats nice to know. based off that the sig models have premium carbon and the the $2000 model has carbon black.

It still doesn't answer our question about CTOs though since it doesn't have a character after a slash.

 

I was thinking of the "premium" carbon but I'm really tempted to go for the gold -- if there is a gold to go for.