New Z model with Intel Core i5 CPU

Some information for those who prefer 1600x900 over 1920x1080 due to text being easier to read. It's just not 100% true. Here's why:

1. For many people 120 dpi is optimal with 100% dpi settings in Windows 7 (that is 18" full hd screen or 1366x768 Vaio Z). Even 130 dpi (17" full hd) seems to be small for default settings.

2. Both 1600 (140 dpi) and 1920 (168 dpi) require DPI scaling as they are a lot higher than average resolution for 13.1"
1600 screen requires 125% and 1920 one requires 150% in W7.

3. Windows 7 handles 150% so much better than 125% (no interference between text and fields for non-optimised software I tested it with)

That's why 1920x1080 is better even for everyday use.

Does my point make sense?

 

Hmmm.... Chassis not redesigned from old one..? Magnesium..? No room for WWAN...? That reviewer doesn't know what he's on about...

 

Well it makes sense. On the other hand I never felt like I need to change DPI on my 1600x900 Z whatsoever. I'm using it every day for most of the day and the text was never small. Not sure if it would be the same with FullHD screen though...

 

CNET and Pcmag reviews look like they have been written on a friday nite after having a few drinks. Not much stuff and very superficial

 

Will do.

I also never changed the DPI on my 1600x900 Z, and have no issues. I don't know how the Full HD model will be in practice, so I'll wait until I've been using the new Z for a couple weeks before deciding if a new monitor is necessary for my desk.

I wasn't able to make it to Ginza today, but I should be able to get there tomorrow. Anyone have any requests for things to check? I'm guessing it's going to be really crowded, so I won't have much time to actually use the Z, though.

 

It's very personal indeed. I'm sure somebody can stand FullHD without DPI scaling involved, but for those complaining about fonts being too small Full HD will offer better experience (given that 1366x768 isn't available anywhere except for China /not sure even about China though/ ).

BTW, Vaio W has closest to FullHD Z pixel density (155 ppi vs. 168 ppi)
and.... well, it's high enough to remind either Vaio P's 222 ppi or one of those WVGA HTC communicators (217...292 ppi). Everything is just extremely fine detailed and I didn't have exact same feeling with 1600x900 Z.

I suppose that video/images/documents will simply look superb on FullHD Z.

 

Could you look for the diagonal interference lines in both screens? That is what's keeping me from ordering the new Z right now

 

Agreed that a 16" laptop (like say the 16.3" F-series - 6.5lbs) is nowhere close to as "thin and light" as something like the Z-series.

However, what the F-series brings to the table, are i7 Quad-core CPUs.....something that simply cannot be fitted onto a small chassis like the Z-series, since a small Z-series type chassis would just overheat with the sheer horsepower that the Quad-cores bring to the table. In addition to the fast DDR3-1333 RAM that the Quad-cores are optimized to fully utilize (the Dual Core CPUs in the Z-series can only use upto DDR3-1066 RAM).

I seriously debated between the F-series vs the Z-series and finally flipped the switch on the F-series, primarily due to the fact that I will be doing quite a bit of photo and video editing, which in turn can fully leverage the power of the Quad-cores (with 8 threads) of the F-series. Just a better tool for the type of work I will be doing. And being a fairly big guy, the additional 3.5lbs over the Z-series is something I can manage pretty well.

 

Yes, I have special request. Can you test its torsional rigidity and flex?

1. Try to twist it as hard as possible. Will there be any creaks?
2. Push its palmrest and keyboard in order to see any flex. Does that single piece of aluminum is thick and as solid as Apple's unibody?
3. If you haven't already noticed I'm really concerned about ultimate build quality. Previous Z isn't good enough for me but current Z has all possibilities to become King of the hill. And yes, I'm crazy.

4. Diagonal lines and heat are another things that worry me quite a bit.

 

1. I won't do that in the shop. I'm sure the staff won't be pleased to see me twisting it as hard as possible. I will try to pick it up from one side and listen for creaks, though.
2. I definitely want to check out the palmrest.
3. I'm not unimpressed with the current Z's quality. Actually, my company's Sony machines have all held up far better than our Thinkpads (lots of broken plastic there). But, I would like if the new Z doesn't make creaking noises when it's picked up.
4. I don't have the diagonal line issue on my Z (I'm tried as hard as I could to notice it, but simply can't). I will see if there's anything unusual about the Full HD screen, though. It should be an interesting comparison to the current model's 1600x900 screen.

 

One of the easiest ways too look for diagonal lines is moving a window back and forth in the directions pointed by the red arrows. While moving, diagonal lines should be visible on the top bar (a blue background and standard Win7 Aero glass color helps too)



BTW, did anyone else noticed in the videos where the Z is shown flickering, that the flicker was diagonal, instead of horizontal like in other displays?

 

Well Sonystyle at Ginza is always totally crowded...sometimes I felt they're paying that ppl to look popular I guess Yodobashi should have new Z already as well and it's always much calmer place, where is not always someone just behind your back...not sure on Sunday though

I would be curious about the display as well. On the video the display looks surely more reflective than on the previous Z, could you check it pls? And take a coin and try to scratch the plastic palmrest, glossy premium lid and screen to see if the antiscratch coating is good enough

 

With great effort, I was finally able to see it. I had to bring the screen closer to my eyes than is comfortable and move my eyes around a bunch until the lines appeared for brief periods of time. If there's something negative that strikes me about the new Full HD screen, I'll definitely let everyone know, though it probably would have been revealed already in one of the many in-depth Japanese reviews.

When I'm done scratching the lid with a coin, I'll also be sure to try the standard firecracker test, whereby a slim (but not too slim) firecracker is lit carefully and then placed between the lid and keyboard. I'll close the lid, and...

*WHAM*

...in one second, test the keyboard flex, DuraView screen protection, palmrest rigidity, brightness sensor response time, and, most importantly (it IS a Sony), how fireproof the battery is!

 

:laugh: Well I wouldn't be too surprised to see such notebook test in Japanese TV...most probably done by some member of Morning Musume

 

Looks like a great all around laptop, but only for a select number of people, almost nobody needs those kind of specs.

 

I can't provide scientific points here but from just every day use, I'm in total agreement with you on that. I use my AW190 which has the Full HD 1920 x 1080 screen with no adjustments in dpi settings and it seems the 18.4 inch screen is perfect for this.

I use the 1600 x 900 on my Z820 with no dpi adjustments either here.

Very true, not sure since emails and basic web browsing could require an adjustment. But hey, look at the VAIO P with it's 8 inch screen and 1600 x 900 resolution. It actually looks good.

I'd rather have the screen already come with 1920 x 1080 on the new Z since my use is more for multi-media purposes and want as much detail to show with pics, videos from Full HD camcorders, and Blu ray movies.

 

About the need part, maybe. I'd only get a 256GB SSD and do without the glossy carbon, but everything else.....I want.....I meant " need. "

 

Yes, both reviews are bad (they're like summaries of the spec sheet of the Z), but I found the CNET one even worse than that of Pcmag.

 

Waiting to notebookreview/notebookcheck for detailed and unbiased review.

 

To read "the risk of disk failure is higher with SSDs than HDDs" when no-one has written that isn't any better, is it? You can draw a conclusion from what I've written, which is fair enough, but ascribing that conclusion to me isn't.

That's definitely one of the causes of SDD failure, and it is higher for MLCs than SLCs. Whether it becomes a problem or not, and how quickly it can occur depends a lot on both the drive and the user pattern.
If, for example, a drive doesn't have wear level algorithms that moves already written data around but only does wear level on free blocks, someone filling a drive to 90% full and then doing lots of write/delete operations on the remaining part can easily kill the drive in mere weeks.
And heavy database-like activities are also far more detrimental to the disk health than, say, writing huge video files.

It should also be fairly uncontroversial that RAID0 in a laptop is a bad idea in the first place. Not only are laptops less likely to have up-to-date backups (especially if they travel), but changing a drive and restoring said backup is seldom as easy as on a desktop. And a quad stripe? That's like flipping a coin four times and banking on it not becoming heads any of the times -- a completely unnecessary risk.
RAID 0 does not give you any read speed benefits over RAID 1 or RAID 10.
RAID 0 does give you write speed benefits over RAID 1 and RAID 10, but only for sequential data. And large sequential writes is the least common operation for almost all use.

Using stripes increases failure frequency over individual drives regardless of media used, and the more drives in the stripe, the higher the risk.
I believe stripes should only be used when you really can take advantage of the extra speed, really need the extra storage space over real RAIDs, and either don't care about your data, or have recent backups and the means to restore them before the lack of access to the data becomes a problem. For a typical laptop, I think the latter makes it a problem.

 

SDD failure?

My Ocz vertex runs like 22h*7d*49+ weeks with no problem. <<-----always run programs

I don't think SSD has such high level failure rate

 

Is the new Z available for purchase from Sony or from shops?

I will be in Japan in in another 2 weeks and I would like to buy one from there.

Thanks!

 

For me it's very simple. I like thin and light laptops, because I travel somewhat frequently. I have an external monitor/keyboard/mouse, so I don't need a big laptop for home use. And I want to have at least the capability to play some games. This made my list of demands for my next laptop as follows:

1) Core i5 or i7
2) GOOD discrete GPU
3) 13"

So far, the Z is literally the only laptop I can find that can meet my demands. That's why I'm really hoping there's a way to break down the RAID array and enable TRIM. Can't wait for some REAL reviews

 

Agreed. Can I turn RAID off completely and enable TRIM? Im for sure not planning to keep RAID 0 on.

Hmm, if the laptops on but youre not doing anything (as in you have walked away from it) is the SSD still losing space? Or does it only degrade when youre doing things?

 

similar thoughts. The weight of M11x's killed any appeal of it to me( I am not a big gamer, more multimedia and I really want that full HD screen).
SSD technology is still young an it does sound like a lot of trouble in the future. Luckily We can now customise laptop on UK Sony website starting with hdd-base model(means no dvd/blu-ray). Those laptops are not going to be shipped in couple months(stated 5-6weeks). I am surprised to see that price difference for 720p and 1080p screens is only 50 £. I will wait until reviews and first benches. It must be compelling increase in performance to justify a 140£ hike for i7 over i5. The other possible upgrade is faster 500Gb 7200 HDD over std 320Gb 5400 HDD(80 £ upgrade) and I am not sure If I really want to shed 90£ for WWAN.
Those are minors. the price is still high but much better compare to SSD-based laptops. it is a good future-proof multimedia-oriented laptop for the next 5-6years for me.

 

I think I'll switch my order from he Signature Metal Mosaic to an i7 Premium Carbon Fibre 128 GB with no Verizon module and fresh start.
Comes to $2278.99 tax included. Seems like Portable One used to CTO and not include tax (bringing it to only $2149.99). Maybe I should give them a call. Hope I don't have a problem canceling my order with Sonystyle, since they do not charge the credit card till it ships. I made the Metal Mosaic order under the impression they would be shipped the next day and that transaction left a bad taste in my mouth. My post 2222 states the saleslady assured me that they were ready to go.
"I called and the sales lady said only these (Signature series Metal Mosaic) are ready to go and they are the limited edition; only a certain number will be made."

But I guess I have plenty of time to change or cancel unless you guys know something I don't. Strangely my order still has a shipping date of 2/19/10 so I will wait a bit longer. Miracles do happen...

 

PC Mag was wrong before about the Z, guess they continue their trend of not researching things and getting things wrong.

 

Hello, I just wanted to give you what may be some useful info regarding discounts:

Let me start by saying that I am not a rep nor nothing similar, I am just a regular avg customer like everyone here for the most part. Anyways, I ordered an M11x maxed out with 3 year ADP (have a devilish kid) for like 1800 but I canceled my order when I reallized it was just dumb to spend that much because of the "soon to be outdated processor" so I was willing to spend some time to buy till I found something good for a decent price, a week later I found some videos about the Z (CES). I went to the CTO page and was confused about the processors and wondered if there is a big difference about speed, so I called my Dad (works in a software/hardware firm) and asked him about it, he told me that the i7 620 being the lowest processor of i7 and the i5 540 being a high i5 there is just about a 5% increase in speed, THAT'S IT!! And her told me that if it was a quad core (860-920) then it would make a huge performance jump, but in this case of the Z its just marketing gimmick.

Now regarding the discounts, I called Sony and got a super nice lady (not pushy like most, nor rude) we configured a laptop for like 2 days LOL, I called the Spanish line by the way, and she being so friendly we started a conversation, she told me that they were located in Ontario Canada (not in India, perhaps the English speaking line is, I did not asked her). Also, the way we configure a laptop in the Internet is the same exact way they do it!! They have to go to Sony style.com and do it the same way an average consumer does it. This is where it gets interesting, once they configure the laptop to your specs they can apply coupons they have sometimes they are the same available to the public and sometimes not. There is a "Boss" who they have to send a request for a higher discount besides if they have coupons or if there is no discount available for the computer they have to submit a request; this request works like msn between the employee and the "Boss" they send him a short paragraph and they either answer yei or nei. Getting a hood discount depends who is the Boss that day, if he is nice then you'll most likely get could just get a 10% off. Just try it and wish for a "boss" having a good day! LOL

 

I have a few questions that I believe will benefit quite a few people in this thread.
If you can reboot the Z, hit F2 and take pics of the BIOS menu, I believe that will answer many questions.
Also if you can hit Ctrl+I and take pics of the RAID controller menu then these two things can set at ease many people in this thread
Also if you can get a USB stick with you and run CPUZ http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
Then we can see if it is a P socket (removable with pins) or if the CPU is a BGA (soldered) Printscreens will be appreciated.
Better get both 32 and 64bit versions with you so depending on the OS you can run what's needed.
Also, on the last page of CPUZ you can click Validate and it will display a page on the browser (Explorer or Chrome) with all the details and chipset names then you can just make note of the seven digit number in the end and link us to it.
Example: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=1031386
As you can see in the SB section it lists ICH9-M
that is the ICH9M-E in this list of features it supports only 2 Disk RAID
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-022304.htm

 

Sorry for the misspelling, I used my iPod to write this longgggg reply, PAINFUL!!!

By the way I don't like to post what I buy because for me is like online bragging, Its like when a kid tells other kids that he got a bigger and better toy than them, to me that's just plain stupid and immature.

I just posted the big thing I did above to tell you guys that even if they say that there are no discounts that is pure BS.

Anyways,

Enjoy life as much as you can, if you can't afford stuff right now don't be negative to yourself. Just believe that soon in the future you will have what you wish, always be positive!!!

 

Hi,

If i go to a physical sonystyle store, can i buy a CTO or they sell only Pre-config models?

If i buy a CTO how much time would it take from the date i buy it to the day the model arrives at the store aprox? less than a week?

Thanks.

 

Maybe dimension6 should just try to set the raid array to JBOD, run some IOmeter benchmarks and do some colour calibration tests while he's at it. I think people are expecting a wee bit much of what dimension6 should do when he go to see the Z.

Either way, whatever info he can post I would be grateful.

 

Well, I just made a few suggestions.
CPUZ doesn't require an installation and I always take it with me in a stick when I want to buy a system.

 

With regard to the whole SSD/HDD/TRIM/RAID discussion that's gone on here ad infintum, I'm amazed to see just how many people are willing to make a hard decision based on pure supposition and sheer lack of facts.

No one has any experience with this model and those who have the current Z with SSD have stated that they have had no problems. Why, then, would people tend to assume the worst?

Mind you, RAID SSD's may turn out to be as bad as some think but for me the HDD subsystem has been the Achille's Heel of laptops since they were invented, even at 7200 RPM. I've used portable gear for literally decades and the SSD represents the first time that reasonable-weight laptops are in the same league as desktops.

(I used an Envy 15 with dual RAID SSD a couple of months ago and the speed was sublime, although HP's packaging left too much to be desired for me to keep it.)

While I, too, wish I had some hard data to work with, I don't have the luxury of time to wait. I'm going to go with the "glass half full" approach and get the full 512GB SSD. I'm going on the assumption that Sony has spent the time and effort to figure this all out and hope, that like those people with the current model Z and SSD, there will be no problems.

 

I've come to the realization that no laptop is ever going to do the same for gaming as my stationary desktop and PSP can. So I've taken that out of the equation.

 

True. However, I prefer to have only one computer. I am also not a major gamer, so I don't need super performance, I just want my computer to be able to play the occasional game.

 

I made an image of my two disk RAID 0 (2x OCZ vertex) on a memoright 128GB GT and added an OCZ Core V2 (one I use as an external) both drives on the original Sony raid cable and opened up (Ctrl-I) the intel Raid config during boot.

Booting and operation with JBOD (non RAID) worked just as easily.
I trust the new Z will use either the same controller or one that builds on this one.
As you can see, the controller supports RAID 0,1, JBOD as established.
EDIT: the keyboard is sideways because I just opened it up to boot, take a pic of the raid config and then revert back to my original raid configuration.

 

A swallow doeth not a summer make.

Anyhow, comparing your Vertex to the striped Samsung drives in the new Z isn't really fair. Your drive isn't striped, for one thing. And it does TRIM. And can be wiped with the "wiper" tool. And has an Indilinx controller, which according to Anand is far superior to the latest (fall) generation of Samsung. If the new Z came with two Vertices, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Anyhow, what does your S.M.A.R.T. table look like after a year of near 24/7 use? I'd be interested to see that!

 

SO true.
My 2x Vertex RAID 0 has proven VERY fast (about 250MB sustained sequential writes) and very reliable. Even though I am using 2x 256GB I think I will switch them with two 128GB Vertex EX drives as they are made of SLC memory and if nothing else, I'd feel safer.
Also, as you can see the specs of the entire lineup of Q4 09 SSDs have yet to be published. so we can be hopeful. Though not for SLC but for some sort of TRIM or whatever smart trick they may come up.
Maybe some of the SONY ingenuity has rubbed off on Samsung (or vice versa)

Hey arth, what do you think of the JBOD photo I posted?

 

How did the keyboard get so lopsided from the screen on that photo?

 

Well, it's no surprise that you can disable an Intel Software RAID -- but glad to see that someone other than me would consider not using RAID 0! I'm just slightly envious, cause you have a sweet setup there, but I Have Plans

I also expect that RAID 5, RAID "10" (really 01 on Intel) and designated spare options will pop up automatically on the post-BIOS Intel screen with 3+ and 4+ drives.

My perfect laptop would probably be one with two Intel X18-E drives in RAID1 for Windows, and a large HDD for storage and high-random-write data.
I might be able to pull that off with a TT, which can fit an 1.8 plus a 2.5. Unfortunately, in the "fast, reliable, cheap" triangle, it would not be anywhere near the "cheap" corner :-/

 

I just hooked up the SSDs on the raid ribbon and connected the keyboard-touchpad panel to make everything work.
If I were to screw everything in place, I'd have to remove the casings of my SSDs like I have for the two I use in RAID 0 and then screw back the entire laptop only to disassemble everything a few minutes later. Made no sense as all I needed was a photo of the screen (granted, to avoid questions I could just as easily have cropped the photo in the first place...)

Arth: I think I will hold onto my old Z and remove the optical drive (DVD-R) and since the connector for the optical drive and the hard drives is the same, I will use the single connector to add another SSD.

 

Ah...the Mickey Mouse Club of Japan...

I'm guessing the only people who will have the Z in 2 weeks are the people with 50,000+ STAR points. If you're incredibly lucky, you may be able to track one down at one of the big electronics shops (Bic, Yodobashi) or in Akihabara. You could check Kakaku.com for stock information. You could certainly order an Owner Made model at Bic Camera (or other retailer), but you'd have to provide a Japan shipping address and it would probably take a few weeks for delivery.

I probably won't be able to do this, but I'll bring my USB key in case. I would also like to see the RAID menu. I guess it's similar to the one in my current dual-SSD Z.

I wonder who will be the most angry after I destroy the RAID 0 array: the shop staff, or all the people in line behind me waiting to test it out! Again, it's Sunday so I'll bet the place will be very crowded. It's the only place in Tokyo I know of that has the new Z for viewing at the moment. I'm primarily going to check out the colors, because I'll be placing an order this week.


As a side note, I think there's a free engraving service. Anyone planning to get the engraving? I'm thinking of having something like "PROTOTYPE" engraved. Or, nothing at all...

 

Actually, the TT I had last year was the single 2.5" (no optical drive) model, and it even came prewired for a MicroSATA 1.8" drive. I didn't have the 1.8" drive cage, but this wasn't a big issue. I used a 1.8" 64GB SLC Samsung drive as the main OS drive and 500GB WD drive for storage. If I were to go this route now, I would only use SSDs for both. I wonder if the non-optical Z will come prewired for adding SSDs. I could probably get to step 2 in the dis-assembly today to find out before I'm escorted out of the Sony Building...

 

Biased much-CNET Review is Bull

The guy in the video says the Macbook pro has better battery life??? wth?

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/sony-vaio-vpcz116gx-s/4505-3121_7-33976156.html

"It feels like it belongs in a '90s industrial art space/coffee house. It's not unpleasant to look at in any way, but our tastes have moved toward devices that at emphasize unibody construction (or at least try and simulate that look)."

 

OK arth, I just tore my poor Z apart once again just to see if I can do the tripple SSD configuration (two in the usual place and one in the optical drive connector.
Apparently the optical drive connector may look the same but it is wired in a different way and as the ribbon ends in uSATA (or micro-SATA if you like) I do not have an SSD with such a connector.
But for your geeky pleasure I have added a shot of my two regular 2.5" (standard) SATA Vertex SSDs with the original SONY RAID Ribbon modified to make it work.

EDIT: Oh, and to whoever said the VGN-Z does not have a solid construction, I beg to differ. For example today I've already torn the poor thing apart two times and for me that is an "every-other-day" occurrence.
My Z has no marks on the display from the keyboard or the armrest, doesn't make any creaky noises and though the screen has much flex and I have slapped or even punched the back of my display many many times to slam the lid shut, it still works just fine. Bottom line; a solid laptop able to take all kinds of abuse. Oh, and while I am at it, glass of milk spilled on the keyboard and through the speaker-holes while the thing was running.
Though to be honest, my dad's Z51 (one month old) is not the premium CF and is squeaky, creaky and the seam where the armrest and the bottom of the laptop meet clicks in and out of place each time you click the left touchpad button.
(I think I will tear it apart and put it back together just to make sure everything is in the right place.)

 

I really like this. Can I unscrew the Z and take out the optical drive, then have it replaced with an HDD to compliment my SSDs? I imagine an HDD would be able to fit in that optical drive bay, however, put simply, im stupid when it comes to laptops.

Honestly not quite sure then what would happen when I pressed the eject button.

 

It seems to me that he wanted to find something, for which he could say the macbook was better

According to some reviews, the 13" macbook pro really has better battery life and some others say, that the Z lasts longer. But in the Z you can always put in the extended battery if you need it...

 

I have to admit I don't really like the raised palmrest either, really wish it was all just one flat piece of aluminum for the keys/palmrest etc but not sure where the 90's comment comes from LOL?

 

I was going to say the new Z reminds me of late 40's industrial design.
Oh wait! no personal computers back then.
But then there were no ultraportables in the 90's either...
EDIT: You guys realize we are already seriously considering modding the new Z though not a single one of us has gotten one yet?
EDIT 2: on nVidia's Optimus and lack thereof on the Z, I like the fact I can switch it to Speed and the computer won't even think of changing it back because it made a "guess" I want to go on stamina... sorry nVidia but I like to have power to burn all the time plugged in or not, running 3D Apps or just browsing.
EDIT 3: arth: yes I am thinking of going JBOD with the new Z soon as I make DVDs of the recovery partition (and maybe make an image of the entire system to be on the safe side) Then the idea is to disconnect the one PCB (of two sandwiched SSDs) and have the other 2x128GB in RAID 1 for the OS and apps and then reconnect the other two and have those as RAID 0 or JBOD for storage.