New Vaio TZ model leaked!!!

Just found this on SonyStyle USA looking on Google. Its a cached page as it looks like Sony removed this leaked info.

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cach...21665297456+TZ270N/B&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us


Its a TZ270N/B model, had a U7700 1.33ghz processor and 120gb 4200rpm HDD, but still retains the GMA 950 graphics from reading the specs page. No price nor availability date is given.

The top of the page states it has Vista Ultimate but the specs page says it still has Business.

Very interesting I must say, hope its true and hurry up and come out! But surprised they kept the 945 chipset when Asus's 11.1" U1 and U2 series (direct competitors to the TZ) now use the 965 chipset.



EDIT: Okay, also found the TZ250N/B page.

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache...21665294446+TZ250N/B&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us

Has a U7600 processor vs U7500 in the TZ150N/B and 2gb of ram vs 1gb in the TZ150 (Thanks Sony for putting the right amount of ram in the lower end model too this time!!) Still has the 100gb HDD from the TZ150N/B.

 

Nice find, Rahul! Given the TZ's amazing battery life, I am not completely unsurprised they chose to keep the 945 chipset...

 

True, that is much more important than slightly better graphics which aren't needed on an ultraportable nor which its users want, would make a marginal difference at best.

The Asus's get mediocre to poor battery life as well unfortunately. I guess I still wanted it if I'm paying $2000 (all my money!) for a notebook, to have at least the latest chipset. Not a chipset thats two years old.

EDIT: Hmm, says the TZ250N/B has a 1.3mp camera vs 0.3 in the previous models, that looks like a typo.

 

It lists the 1.3 MP camera on both notebooks. It must be an upgrade from the previous models.

TZ285N/RC
TZ295N/XC
TZ298N/XC

The TZ298 has a 64GB SSD and 250GB 5400RPM hard drive with an external optical drive. The specs list the 1.20GHz U7600 for the TZ298, which is a little odd.

 

OMG, this comes a day after i placed my order for tz190. lol. i wonder what the tz290 will have? im jealous of the 1.33ghz vs my soon to be 1.2ghz!!! arg.

 

Nice, wonder how much they will raise the prices.

 

1.33 to 1.2 is not much of a big diffrence but I am intruiged that they upgraded the camera its probably extrapolated through software

 

interesting find, sony just did some update on the TZ line and then another update so quickly? i guess the TZ is selling pretty well

 

Nice find, Rahul.

Yes, 2GB is a must in all TZ laptops, but this raises another question--the TZ is now less upgradeable. I think the next TZ after TZ2xx should be upgradeable to 4GB. I believe there is such a module available for laptops with one RAM slot.

As for my plans to buy the TZ, I will just wait until the Montevina platform comes out. It comes to a time (perhaps in April for another TZ refresh) when Montevina is just a few months away. I believe Sony wants to skip Santa Rosa in their ultraportable line altogether. Other than that, Sony is so close to make me want to buy one, but they were toying with my patience again by bumping up one major feature (1.3 MP webcam is a nice but minor feature though). On a high note, I am very glad there will be a 64GB/DVD combination TZ available state-side.

As for you, I think there's enough features in the TZ2xx to pull the trigger.

 

damn where can I find this on the sonystyle japan, does anyone know??

 

http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Style-a/Product/T/index.html

 

Which are the differences with the previous series of TZ? Only the 1.33 cpu and the 1.3 mp camera?
I wouldn't call it an upgrade or refresh.
In the TZ250N I see the 1.2 cpu. So, not all the models get the 1.33??

 

Great Rahul!

Finally it came a new model! But I'm dissapointed a little...still the old chipset? What about the SSD storage? Any news?
Damn Sony, do a worthfull refresh Who cares about the camera and the slightly faster cpu? I think I will go for Asus U2 or Fujitsu R. Rahul, you are right. We are spending here a premium and they offer an old chipset!

 

I don't think Sony will ever put inside the TZ a chipset that will discrease the battery life. This lappy is for portability first, so you guys don't expect the SR in the TZ. I really don't see the deal of the upgrade , I hope though that older models of TZ will drop the prices so also students like me can afford this kind of laptop.

 

It's dropping...at Amazon at least...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TRKUWW/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=pc

So tempting...

 

Nice find, Rahul! Another typical Sony speed bump that will make the unloading of my TZ198 more difficult.

Then again, there are always people who don't know from nothing, unlike us!

 

lol... there is always going to be newer update every 6 months so I don't think there is a point of waiting. Just make sure you purchase it from the cheapest seller.

personally, I always buy what I need (not I want or I think I might need) at the moment and upgrade when it is required. It is nearly impossbile to consider the factor of future proof in tech sector.

 

I agree, live in the moment. I'm still 110% happy I got my tz 2 weeks ago.

 

The TZ is the best notebook on the market today, no matter what model you have!

 

imma have to give you a true dat ubercool

 

I've found one more model, TZ250N/P.

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cach...21665293955+TZ250N/P&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Said to have a "Luxurious Pink Champagne finish", guess we have another
color to add to the lineup and to cater to the ladies.

Though the description says it has the U7500 processor, the specs page says it has a U7600. Whats with all the discrepancies?

 

Don't you know that marketing departments start writing up new products using templates of the old ones? That's why unconfirmed features are often left "as is."

 

a little birdy told me that very minor specs will be change on the new generation. price will be increase for the 2gb RAM standard and 1.33ghz for premium model and 1.2ghz lower end. there still will only be 32, 48, and 64 SSD.

 

Japan is running behind, those are all the old TZs. And I wonder why they still have the 505 Anniversary edition listed, since that model sold out last month.

 

A bit sad since my TZ is 1 month old, then again its hard to keep up with technology.

I am still very happy with my TZ.

 

I think we must wait before making any thoughts about this refresh. Seems strange that Sony changed just minor futures that they don't change anything essential.
Can't wait to be officialy announced.

 

Hehe, I'm on my third TZ and I feel like a guinea pig on a fast-moving tread-wheel!

Well, that's good for us owners, because the upgrades are minor at best, we don't feel too left out!

 

lol i am waiting delivery of my 190 from portableone and as far as my concerns about the new series? i hope it burst into flame!!!

 

I think Sony is making all the right moves on this "minor updates". 2GB is just what all TZ needed and 1.33GHz refresh to keep TZ sync with current ULV Intel processors.

New GM965 chipset upgrade may sounds good but it offers ZERO performance gain on these ULV processors. Currently, everything in TZ are bottlenecked by its processing power. In fact, GM965 was designed more for performance laptop with add on x16 graphic card.

Of course, I would still love to see it happend if Sony offers this upgrade not at the expense of a price increase. But I highly doubt it since a new chipset would require Sony to redesign of almost everything. But 2GB and 1.33GHz are nothing but plug and play.

 

you know that Amazon is selling TZ190N/B for $2099.99 right?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...c_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

 

ya i already paid for portableone 2 days before i found out about amazon crazy deal. I had though about cancelling and getting it from amazon but i figure its better to stick with P1 cuz they got great services and i could always call in if i ever get trouble with the tz. though i didn't pay full price for the tz190 they listed. and they are removing bloatware and installing xp pro on the tz. so i kinda just figure its worth the security rather than going with amazon and getting a junk. It does seem fishy that they selling it 800 dollars below what the competitors are selling it. I'm not fully 100% sure its brand spanking new without flaws or some other catch that goes along with that massively reduce price.

 

There is no reason why a newer chipset, be it Santa Rosa or Montevina, would warrant a price increase. It is highly unlikely. Prices (even accounting for inflation) only fall over time. I owned a ThinkPad ten years ago that cost well over $5000 and it had a measly 32MB of RAM. Besides, manufacturers like Sony have the advantage of economies of scale so they make more money than their smaller counterparts. I assure you that the price of the TZ is inflated to a great degree. It's considered a high value item and is priced as such. This was the same case with IBM ThinkPad laptops (especially the X series) until Lenovo bought them. Today you can buy a nicely configured X61 for $820 delivered. This is all thanks to Lenovo. They are running a tighter margin operation and probably believe in the Ford principle (sell higher quantity, lower price) rather than the Ferrari principle (lower quantity, much higher price) because in the end it is all about net profits.

Bottom line: You should get more for less. Especially if you are privileged enough to be in the US of A which is the echelon of Capitalism.

 

Well said monakh. I'm sure sony makes a killing per unit on the TZ line.

 

You do not compare the price from two time intervals on same technology items, which the R&D represent most of the cost. The price of a notebook will depreciate even without mass production model. You should always compare price of two available items in the same time frame.

Would a new GM965 chipset design be more expensive to consumer? YES~ Because when a new technology was introduce, the price of 2nd generation model get a cut. Even if the newer GM965 model take over the same MRSP of the existing TZ. Its still more expensive than current TZ because now the current model received a price drop.

Also, computer components from the same product line doesn't always drop from time to time. The best example is the new Intel flagship 45nm Extreme series processors, around $1400 when purchased at 1000 unit batch. This is a 40% increase in wholesale price when compared with their existing Extreme series processors, price around $999.

 

It is interesting that the Asus U1F (11.1" notebook like the TZ) was recently updated to the U1E with the 965 chipset, there's barely any info on it, I wanted to know how its battery life, power consumption, etc compared to the 945 U1F. Though Asus notebooks get mediocre to poor battery life anyways, fully unacceptable for an 11.1" notebook.

When do you think these new models will be formally announced and available to buy? I fear I won't be able to buy one before classes for me begin on the 14th.

 

and count on higher costs and no deal below retail price. i suggest u get the current tz cuz man its dropping in prices.

 

I am not comparing anything, I was simply making a point that equally good technology will be available later at lower prices. And I never said anything about depreciation either. Notebooks will always depreciate but there are Hyundais and there are Hondas. The TZ is a Honda, even if it has dated technology. And by the way, do you remember a time when laptops were the domain of the elite? Now, everyone+dog has one. It's no longer a high-end commodity that costs an arm and a leg but more like an every-day necessity. The decision to purchase a laptop vs. a desktop is strictly governed by your lifestyle, in my opinion.

I think you have just proven my point here. The price of the older component gets a cut but the the newer component is introduced typically at the non-discounted price that the older component used to be at. I am talking about MSRP here. So it is not that it is more expensive to the consumer, it is simply that the older technology is less expensive to the consumer and since we think in relative terms, we think newer technology is more expensive (I am comparing apples to apples here not jumps like 32GB SSD to 64GB SSD, for example). I can wager that if there is a chipset refresh, you will not see any price increase. It all depends on demand and supply actually. Feel free to refer to this thread and throw it in my face if I am wrong, I will be the first to admit it

Of course, the high-end will be relatively immune to price elasticity at launch, but you neglected to mention what would happen to it one month later The high-end will always cost more money because it is the 'Ferrari' part (see my note above). Do you really think the Penryn ULV on the Montevina platform is comparable to the EE CPUs? I don't think so. The ULV is expensive, sure, more so than its non-ULV brethren but not OMG EXTREME expensive.

Rahul, just get an eee, dude I am serious, save your hard-earned student cash for a rainy day. Believe you me, I can afford any laptop I like but it is incredibly difficult to justify anything over $2500 these days. If you are waiting for TZ 1.33GHz, that should be announced in short order (along with the Penryn-based SZ71). I got some info on the U2 from Taiwan, but it is totally skimpy on the details. My guess is that we will not see anything in our grubby little hands until mid-to-late February.

 

monakh, how do you like your Eee PC?

 

I love it Sadly, it shall be donated to my kid making room for my new Penryn-based Lenovo X-series tablet next month.

It totally gets the attention of the chicks in the Middle East (if you are into that kind of thing). They don't know it's 500 bucks!

 

1.3Mpix camera and 133Mhz do not justify the upgrade if you already have a TZ. The difference with U7600 will be less than 6-7% if even that.

Hopefully this time they harmonize the way they manufacture the screens. One is warmer than the other. It seems that the TZ90s are hard-coded with MAC 1.8 D65 Gamma Profile, while the TZ91s are coded with the 2.2 sRGB D65 Gamma Profile.

I recall a post from Uber saying the his new TZ has a brownish/yelowish tint to it. It is not the screen. They are identical. It is the way the GMA950s are coded.

Get powerstrip and adjust your TZ91 to 1.8 D65 Macintosh