New Z model with Intel Core i5 CPU

I looked at the preconfigured models and it says preorder this month.

 

I got this page :
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...0151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644699498

I am still looking for the CTO page

 

I have not seen the CTO page.

 

Yikes, just made it through 2 weeks of new posts in this thread... For anyone interested- I updated all the new information I found from peoples posts into the VGN-Z vs VPC-Z comparison post. I used bold [UPDATE] and [NEW] for what I added just now:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5714582&postcount=333

 

I was thinking the exact same thing, putting a normal hdd in there would probably cut off a lot of the expense.

 

New Z may be designed to fit custom-SSD only because of space limitation.

You may add my question about maximum resolution via HDMI (it's important for those planning to use large 2560x1440/1600 external monitor)

 

Max. External Display Resolution via HDMI™ : 1920x1080
Max. External Resolution via VGA : 2048x1536

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=-1&productId=8198552921666073686#footNotes (check specifications)

 

@maratus, hmmm, seems like bad news then... is that a deal breaker?

 

Someone had posted a thread that indicated that in the Chinese market, the new Z does come with a hard-drive option.

 

Sonystyle.co.uk has details of the Sony VPCZ11Z9E/B up on it's website. Seems this one has an Intel i7 Processor.

Operating System
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (64-bit)
Chipset Architecture
Intel® HM57 Express Chipset
Processor Name
Intel® Core™ i7-620M Processor
with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Processor Speed
2.66 GHz
Max Turbo Boost Speed
3.33 GHz 2 Cores
4 MB L2 Cache
Memory Size
6 GB
Memory Specification
PC3-8500 1066 MHz
DDR3 SDRAM
Hard Drive Type
Quad SSD (RAID 0)
Hard Drive Capacity
256 GB
Screen Type
VAIO Display Premium with LED backlight
Diagonal Size (in)
13.1
Diagonal Size (cm)
33.3
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Resolution
1920 x 1080
Graphic Card Name
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M GPU + Intel® HD Graphics
Video RAM memory
GDDR3 1 GB

 

Finally a price... for one of them....!
$1899 for this version: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666039653

 

It has been displaying that price for over a week. In fact, there are a couple of other new-Z-series prices too on sonystyle (even though not displayed on this specific page), for the 2 signature series models.

The high-end maxed-out signature series model (Glossy Carbon fiber Z) is listed as $4500, while the lower-end signature series model (Metal Mosaic color) is listed as $2350.

If you position your cursor on the models (in the link below), the price will be displayed:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...198552921644649998&N=4294954789#/main/spring/

 

roweraay

I forgot about the price of that signature mosaic for 2350. I had my heart set on that one model on the Sony site, price yet to be determined (VPCZ11CGX/X). It looks like the only difference between these two models is the lid and the storage (256ssd v/s 192ssd). I can go for 192ssd, but the mosaic lid I'm not to fond of. So maybe, I can CTO, and still get my color choice and get the price range at around 2300 or less.

 

your idea is good ,
but if you remember the old Z CTO starting price was more than the preconfigurated model..........

 

The advantage with CTO is that one can pick and choose and compromise on things that are not absolutely necessary and adjust the product price to a level one can afford. That is exactly what I would do.

As for myself, I plan to maximize on specs like RAM (8GB), CPU (i7-620M), GPU (330M), Resolution (full-HD), optical drive (Blurray burner) etc but will be going with the base SSD of 128GB. I am guessing that when the SSD capacity is lowered from 512GB to 128GB, and the Windows version is downgraded from Windows ultimate to Windows Pro, one can shave off a cool $1500 from the price of the maxed out signature-series model.....or the $4500 model's price could be down to around $3000, with the above mentioned downgrades.

 

I've read about 70% of this thread but have not found the info.
In the models sony listed, how is the i7 better than the i5? Curious about what the real gain is.

Thanks,
UL

 

I'd just add an approximate price for a model mentioned by mbassoc2003,
for instance here: http://www.cheapelectricals.co.uk/a..._7_Professional__64-bit__256gb_VPCZ11Z9E.html

and there's an offer for a lower model as well:
http://www.cheapelectricals.co.uk/a...7_Professional__64-bit__128gb_VPC-Z11X9E.html

 

In the middle of January, when both European preconfigured models were announced, the price was said to be 1899 and 2499 Euros (I posted a link in this thread somewhere with the source).
This should be the price in Germany. However, some Swiss webshops offer the better model cheaper (for around 2150-2200 Euros): Source .

 

You have some tests here:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Intel-Core-i3-i5-i7-Processors-Arrandale.25085.0.html

However there is no way to know what will be real difference in performance between Z configurations until somebody actually have them. Even then it will be hard to determent real life difference. For example it may even prove that i5 is actually performing better overall then i7 because for example i7 is over hitting more than i5 and therefore goes to lower clock speeds more often than i5.

 

The reason I choose a CTO model was that you could check a box to get it installed without all the bloatware. You still got some bloatware (old versions of Adobe Acrobat and WinDVD whether you wanted them or not), but far less.
Hopefully, you can still elect to not get all the "Value Added" crud.

 

I've been using Microsoft's TechNet Direct subscription (anyone can get it for less than 400$) and I no longer care about bloatware.
I just buy the laptop I want, first order of business is to make a DVD set of the recovery partition, then do a wipe of all system partitions and install whatever flavour of windows I like, straight from TechNet 100% legit and just reinstall the vaio drivers. (TechNet subscription provides up to 10 keys for every version of windows, office or any other MS product)

That way I get a clean system, plus (thanks to EU laws) I get to install the N versions of windows (without Media Player, Movie Maker or Internet Explorer)

Hope this helps some of you wanting to go CTO just for a bloatware free system.

 

How do you create a driver backup? When u do create it, will it have all the necessary files even if u don't do the Microsoft's TechNet Direct subscription? Like if I have a legit version of windows can i still do it?

As well with a screen that small is it worth it to have 1080p naive resolution? Will it use more power as more pixels need power? or is the 1600 x 900 good enough?

THanks

 

I really like this, but it's too expensive. It's the only 13-incher with both a 330M AND an i7, though. But the SSD (I just want a 500GB 7200RPM) and high-res screen (768x1366) is fine) both are a bit excessive for me, and I'm sure add quite a bit to the cost.

 

I think you will find that the difference is due to VAT - in Switzerland they only charge 7.6% VAT - in Germany it is 19%.

I have preordered the Vaio Z11X9E/B in the Netherlands for €1700 incl VAT (€1429 ex VAT) - which seems to be an extraordinarily competitive price...

I am considering upgrading to the Z11Z9E/B model - but not sure I can live with the full HD display - I think it will be too small for text etc... And at around €600 more - it's going to be one expensive laptop...

 

Is there any place in Europe where I can order a Vaio with UK/US keyboard and UK/US english Windows? Appart from UK of course.

 

So based on my quick read of the VPC-Z user manual, interesting points of note are:

1. No mention of multitouch trackpad in the manual
2. Interesting new circular continuous scroll gesture for single touch on the track pad
3. Sony appear to be supporting Virtualization on the VPC-Z providing that the Intel chip offers VT

 

From that one could guess it'll have the same Alps touchpad as current Z.



Also the Virtualization was already officially supported on the last refresh of current Z..

 

Yes, in the Netherlands. I have ordered from hardware.nl - which seems to be the cheapest option for the i5-520M, 4GB, 128GB SSD, 1600x900 version (€1700 + €29 shipping)...

Otherwise check out tweakers.net for other prices...

 

So wait, people can already order it? Does that mean you'll have it within the next week or so?

 

Wow the (near) max. model of the Vaio Z in the netherlands is f***ing expensive.

Sony Vaio Z11Z9E/B is ~€ 3.040,72. That is the 1080p, i7-620m, 256gb SSD, 6gb ddr3 memory and a dvd burner.

 

I'd like to know this, too.

Do you know any other sites? Expansys would be a possibility, but I think they're more expensive.

I think, when others begin to sell them, the prices will go down by 400-600 Euros.

 

Yes, I think you're right. Synaptics would be better IMO.

No multitouch is a surprise considering the other new models.

 

I would also like to know...

 

Sonystyle US lists a shipping date of March 9

"Estimated Ship Date 03/09/2010"

You can CTO the new Z now.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...52921666065651&categoryId=8198552921644702498

 

Where's the blu ray option ?

 

It doesn't show up on the edu store. no screen config either.

 

Cool, thx for the information!

I think the hard drive specs are not correct, though:
# 128GB (128GBx1) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
# 192GB (128GBx1 + 64GBx1) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
# 256GB (256GBx1) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
# 384GB (256GBx1 + 128GBx1) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
# 512GB (256GBx2) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology

RAID 0 with one SSD drive does not make too much sense. Furthermore, this would mean that there are no quad SSDs. So they probably made a mistake there.

The screen is not customizable for now.

 

Check the model without the XP downgrade. There you'll find it for $500.

 

No 1080 screen either.

Well, so far Sony is sticking with their timeline. They said early Feb for pre-order and March would be when you can get them.

 

Ahh....thank you.

 

So whats the deal with the EDU discount... :-/ and did I hear somewhere that the discount is 10% in sonystyle stores? Can you order CTO's in store? (and final question... for now) Do you think it is worth it to spring for the i7 (620M) over the i5 (540M)? The price seemed interestingly low, but what would the battery life trade off be (worth the extra power gain?)?

 

That's what I'd like to know, too. I'd probably go for the better preconfigured European model, which has the i7. But based on the test, which was posted here, the i7 has significantly higher power consumption with little higher performance gain.
I'll wait for the reviews (probably in March) to see, whether people have problems with the i7. If no, then I'll be happy

 

The i7 is not quad core here and also we can't use the faster 1333Mhz ram which make me lean towards the i5 540.

 

I'd also buy the i5 540m! But there's no preconfigured EU model with this CPU and it'd be hard for me to get a CTO Z with UK/US keyboard (since I'm not in the UK).

 

man, $500 bucks for the bluray option, sony sure is milking us! lol

 

Maybe you only get those option on the premium models?

 

The new Vaio Z - VPC-Z1190X CTO is up for pre-order on the U.S. site now, shipping estimate is March 9, 2010

Some Example Prices

VPC-Z1190X Screen Resolution - 1600x900 / 1920x1080 listed as "Notify Me"

US $1899 - Silver - i5 540M + 128GB SSD + DVD RW + 4GB RAM + 7 Home Premium
US $2099 - Silver - i5 540M + 192GB SSD + DVD RW + 4GB RAM + 7 Home Premium
US $2799 - Silver - i5 540M + 256GB SSD + BluRay + 4GB RAM + 7 Home Premium
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

US $2299 - Carbon - i7 620M + 192GB SSD + DVD RW + 4GB RAM + 7 Home Premium
US $2999 - Carbon - i7 620M + 256GB SSD + BluRay + 4GB RAM + 7 Home Premium
US $4049 - Carbon - i7 620M + 512GB SSD + BluRay + 8GB RAM + 7 Ultimate

+ $50 for 7 Pro
+ $150 for 7 Ultimate

+ $150 for 6GB RAM
+ $300 for 8GB RAM

+ $150 for i7 620M
+ $500 for BluRay

+ $50 for Carbon Black
+ All Samsung SSD's, no casing (U.S./ Canada according to Rep)

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...0151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644702499

 

Any info on screen or screen upgrade? Thx

 

That is the price to pay for fitting a bluray burner into a 13" form-factor. The same player on a desktop replacement might have cost $150 or thereabouts.

 

Just wanna share the specs and pre-sale pricing for Malaysia current sale:


credits to V12Kompressor @ VAIO thread, forum.lowyat.net