New Vaio 2008 model listing with indication prices - FW - Z - SR - BZ

Pure speculations are something I really dislike (not to say hate!) as they are created to mislead people.

What I'm talking about is based on previous experience and (what is more imporant) information from Sony's sales people. Now, my son-in-law has very big company in Austria (programming business) and they are strategic partner of Sony (they have only Sony products/equipment: computers, laptops, projectors...). So naturally, I am the one always asking "stupid" questons to Sony guys: what is better, should I buy or wait.....

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I have some secret inside informations, because I don't, but Sony representatives have always nice hints and glimps of what's comming next.

Addition to this, I'm using only Vaio's for last 6-7 years, so I like to consider myself as great Sony's admirer monitoring (almost) every Sony's move when it comes to laptops.

Cheers,
Miki

 

Where are you guys seeing the photo? Better yet, would it be possible to post the photo (and specs you're seeing) here in this thread?

Yikes. Somebody get me a magnifying glass. Maybe a microscope!

I've got my eye on that E4300 (ya gotta love the deals you can get on a Dell ). Can't wait till it comes out.

 

I'm looking at it from this perspective: I want a lightweight 13" computer. I want it to be able to do everything.

MBA, X300, Sony Z are all 13" and light weight (1,4-1,5 kg)

The Sony comes with the best screen (assuming Sony continues what they're doing), best videocard and the best performance.

So performance wise I expect it to 'blow away' MBA and X300 and as a complete package. Who wants to spend >$2000 and get all kinds of sacrificies and mediocre performance? (rethorical question, not looking for an answer )

Mainly because X300 comes with ULV CPUs and Sony Z with Montevina.

 

Same here. Including AVCHD video editing.

I'd prefer <$2000 personally, which is why I've got my eye on the upcoming Dell.

 

Where Is The Picture Of The Z??

Edit: Ok I managed to open the pics of the Z (install winrar guys). It seems very similar ti the SR...what is the point Sony of making so similar laptops? Also in the manual was written the blu-ray option...how come here is not? And the resolution is not 1366x768??

 

don't think so, since the 4300 will only have wxga. or not?

 

Fair enough mate, but i can still hope...and pray...and wish. We'll see with the official release, you probably will be right, but there's always that little chance, ay.

 

They probably thought 'Everyone loves the TZ so let's just keep that design.'.

The cheapest has 1366x768. Expensive ones have 1600*900.

 

Regarding the Z looking ugly, I think the SR picture in the German spec sheets looks ugly, while I love the look of the Circuit City picture (which is less of a diagram). I expect the same to be true for the Z.

 

I think you're right. They will look better than on those pics we've seen. They choose bad pics for the specsheets.

 

Is the first post being updated with all/any new pics or do i have to skim through the whole thread to find images?

You guys are talking of the Z series but the first post has no images for the Z series

 

I see... but I suppose it's down to how much the power savings of Montevina - variable FSB etc - make compared to ULV processors. I don't mind mediocre performance when it's a direct cause of incredible battery life. But I'd prefer good performance if I got, say, 5 hours (compared to 6 hours with relatively poor performance).

For me, battery life is pretty important (which is another reason I've been erring on the side of the TZ in my decision making process vs the X300).

Like all these things, there's no such thing as the perfect notebook - you just have to choose where you're happy to compromise.

 

You have to look better because it's there (maybe you did not see it bc of problems with the image host)

I've only put one specsheet per model in the startpost.

Well it's going to be very interesting how they compare in battery life. I am curious how big the difference will be.

 

Just spent the whole night translating the document specs of the Z Series.

SONY VGN-Z11VN

SONY VGN-Z11WN

SONY VGN-Z11MN

There seems to be an error with the lowest specced model. In the documents, its listed as having a 9600M GS

The lowest model does not have Carbon Chassis, TPM Security, Fingerprint Reader/Sensor, or HSDPA and has VRAM of 128MB, 1366x768 Resolution.

The midrange model does not have Carbon Chassis.

Weight of 1.49kg seems to suggest the notebook without the battery weight, according to the translation. Bummer eh?

 

Found one, but im liking the SR more atm, i cant afford the Z anyway



any figures stated for the weight of the SR?

 

Hmm. Your translation says "1.49kg (Without Accessories)". Do you have reason to believe that the battery is considered an accessory?

Edit: Is it just me or is sonystyle.com down?

 

What is the practical difference between these two resolutions? More I see it more I like this Z series...
I am bit surprised by the HSDPA, great to have 3G in such a small laptop.

 

I used Sony.com.au as a guide. On that website, it lists the battery and ac power adaptor as "Supplied Accessories". There are arguments for and against this issue. I mean, if the battery itself weighs around 300grams, then the total weight of the Z would be 1.49 + 0.3 = 1.79 kg, which is reasonable, and in line with the previous SZ series weight.

The argument against this is the new Centrino 2 platform is lighter, and possible use of lighter materials.

Nixon, can you confirm?

 

True, although saying a laptop weighs X lbs/kg "Without Accessories" usually means without the AC charger, docking port, extra batteries. It would be highly unusual to specify a laptop's weight without the battery, although I guess we'll just have to wait to find out for sure.

 

No i don't believe that. Without accesoires means power supply in this case. At least that's what I expect.

SR also weighs 1,9 kg 'Ohnze zubehor'.

 

If I'm not mistaken, then I did see some comparison/review of the G series where the weight (or any physicist should say mass ) was omitted - thus it is possible to specify a laptop's mass without the battery.

 

For the people that missed it, the european specsheets of BZ series and Z series, as uploaded by SpaceCowboy:

 

I like how the Z looks like. I expect more pics though for the final judgement. I remembered too in the manual of it that it had the bly-ray drive. I believe that the high spec Z will have this option. Specs are impressive for such a small chassis and 3G is a big plus for business laptops. Finally Sony understood that the majority of the people like the keyboard of the TZ and they put it in the SR and Z.
Maybe I will not wait for a Montevina TZ and I pull the trigger on the high spec Z. If the battery life is acceptable.

 

Wow, here it comes...
The Replacement of the SZ! Is absolutely beautiful the Z, seems like a little bigger TZ. So, all these people (and believe they are many) that they were thinking "Yeah, great design the TZ but too small screen", they gonna purchase this one. HDMI and full HD without Blu-ray?? Nooo, for sure it has it. Anyway in 6 days will know everything.
Great found SpaceCowboy!

 

Ok, then based on this photo, why are the "SONY" name on both SZ6 and S71 located on the same spot, whereas that tease photo lid of Z on a different region of the lid?

 

One you can read. The other? Good luck!

 

Count me in as one of many!

 

Did something just happen from where I left off when reading the posts of this thread. your quote, " The Z is Ugly", where was the photo posted? And where is the pic of the keyboard being chunky?:confused2:

(minutes later....) Oh! The pictures from the spec sheets. Yeah, those photos of the Z don't do justice. I agree it does look horrific. Maybe its because it hasn't been photoshopped by Circuit City yet. I really believe they will look better once this is done. Those who think it UGLY including yourself, will be sold on it. I'm sure you will be the first to get your camp gear ready to be one of the first to own the Z. Do you have an iPhone? I really hope that it looks in person like the TZ. From the photo on the spec sheets, it looks like they did away with the fingerprint and there's no seperate AV mode. The TZ was nice - did not have to boot to watch DVD's.

Based on the photos posted so far, The SR looks good, but I'm sure the Z will surpass the SR once better photography slowly, but surely are posted.

 

I have a question regarding pricing. In the first post you say "Prices in euros translate approx. 1:1 in US$.", which would be good - I could afford a nice Vaio Z in this case. But exchange rates show that even the low-end Vaio Z would cost > $2700 if euros are converted to dollars, which is way above my price limit. Is there something about international pricing that I'm missing?

 

All available specsheets are downloadable from the first post of this thread. This will be the last time I update it, the 15th all information can be seen on Sony.com

Either it was a picture from SZ taken from a different angle or a TZ. I don't believe it was Z.

PS. I don't know if everyone has seen it but a german reseller already delivered a Montevina notebook (Acer) to someone, by accident. So benchmarks for Montevina are available. Here's the info: Link

 

A Sony that costs 1800 euros in Europe generally costs 1800 dollars in the US.

 

are there any more pics of the SR?

 

WOW!, Those were great photos. I know this question should be posted on a different thread, but real quick, what kind of camera and lens were you using and what other suggestions can you provide to get my pictures to look like that? Can a Sony Cyber-shot T1 or T7 shoot photos like that. Amazing....You've got to be a pro and not some rookie amateur, right?

 

Hm..which photos are you talking about?

 

And some more somewhere in this thread. Forgot where.

 

Feeling excited about the Z and feeling worried about the price of custom made model with the specs I want

btw, there is new presentation on the 10 years Vaio webpage

 

Here in Canada, the price of a customized SZ was about 25% cheaper, no idea why.

 

Damn, I seems to lost the link...where is it, to the Anniversary thing?

 

The ones taken by InfyMcGirk, a few pages back...click to his photo link.... amazing photography! Page 57 of this thread, Post #564.

 

Here it is:


http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/gb/en/vaio10/

 

Sad but true! Not only Sony, same goes for Apple, I was checking CTO MacBook Air and in US it comes as close as 3,000 USD in Apple.de store (Germany) it costs around 3,000 EUR. So, forget google currency converter, 1:1 is real ratio


About picture I have posted SZ61 vs SZ1: this was proof to someone's comment that Sony is using different colors for its logo even through SZ range, I have clearly stated this, no intention to present it as Z series.

BR
Miki

 

The photo of the Z on that spec sheet is very disappointing in terms of design. It just doesn't look like the TZ. I totally understand where certain TZ DNA transferred over to the Z such as the keyes for example. It's gotta be that photo. Since many of you feel that it will resemble in some way to the TZ, do you honestly think it will look like it as shown on the following pics:

View attachment 20789 View attachment 20790 View attachment 20792
View attachment 20793 View attachment 20794

These TZ pics are awesome - Photoshopped of course to some degree, but a great selling tool to capture interest.

 

I believe Z will not be the "next TZ", its just something in betwin TZ and SZ, with a lot of power and high res!

There will be a new TZ later on this year, just like NR and AR...

AFAIK.

 

The Z
View attachment 20796

SR and Z side-by-side design comparison.
View attachment 20799

Photo on spec sheet too small. I guess thats where that 1440x900 can come in handy.

 

Yes it is. They choose a horrable shot, also of SR. It's a very bad angle that makes it look chunky.

I promise you, better pictures will come next week.

You can make the TZ look bad too, with certain pictures.

 

i'm sure i'll love the way it looks when press images are released. i'd be happy to buy regardless to be honest. I dont have an iPhone, but I will have an Xperia X1 (Sony fanboy)

 

I wouldn't worry about a Blu-ray option. It will come...particularly with SR series. I am not suprised at all that the SR and Z models we've seen so far have no Blu-ray...after all they are squarely targeted to business customer with Vista Business which does not have all the Vista media software. When you see a model with Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, then you'll see Blu-ray. Patience.

 

I agree, especially with Microsofts Home Media Center OS, in some notebooks,, Sony has to include BD. If not on the first models released, definitely the refresh models.

Also, with these new dowloading of movies which I'm sure include Blu-Ray's, you need BD to watch them. Business travelers are not immune to entertainment. A notebook is both work and entertainment - just look at the bloatware Sony puts in those notebooks. That alone should signal BD on those SR's and Z's.

There was a post a few pages back about buying VHS-DVD-BluRay movies and that it was a waste. In a way, its sort of is, it may be less expensive to pay for a download and save it to your 200-250Hard Drive than to pay $29.99US on Blu-Ray Movies. I don't know of anyone who can watch the same movie over and over and over again to make buying a Blu Ray Movie cost feasible; unless your the narcissistic actor in that movie.

 

What now we have to wait for a refresh of the Z to have a blu-ray drive? IMO at least the Z will have a model with this option. It was written in the manual that I trust more that these specs at a german site. Why advertise with big letters Full HD and HDMI if has only DVD burner? Doesn't make sense to me. With this NVidia 9300M it will be possible some gaming?

 

My guess is that Sony US will offer customer configurable models with bluray optional. maybe same for SR.