New Z model with Intel Core i5 CPU

It was

 

Yep, that was posted a few pages back.

 

Has anyone been to a SonyStyle store in the US to see if the new Z is on display or for sale starting soon? I was thinking of heading out to my local SonyStyle Store tonight, but thought I would ask here first.

 

Just as the retail sale started in Japan, the price for VPCZ119FJ/S dropped by 20,000yen (220usd)... only fools (and geeks) rush in However, that won't (perhaps) convince me from going for CTO anyway,　I'm such a fool, hahaha. Or how much is a color worth...

 

wow, i suck, lol

 

Whats wrong with CTO? I'm going to order mine in 1-2 weeks. The Netherlands has a great option with HDD and HD screen

 

I like the white Z, i think it is being only offered through the CN website though. My TT is a Hong Kong model and i purchased it privately. Models sold on the Hong Kong website come with a US keyboard. May be down the line if i'm convinced by the Z even though i already own a 2.8lbs white TT may be the white Z is the one i will go after but we shall see.

 

My bad... I wanted to say that even such a big price reduction on a retail model would not convince me FROM going for CTO, maybe... Come on guys, somebody tell me that I should be fiscally responsible

 

http://translate.google.com/transla...ined-by-project-leader/&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&swap=1

 

Again??? Hopefully someone can give us some new info soon, a forum user would of course be very nice. Or the full review by notebookreview.com

 

Well I'm finally getting around to writing my first post. Very enjoyable thread and great to see some hard facts finally emerging.

Anyway just got a cheque today from the insurance company - I spilt a bowl of soup all over my old Z series! Their repairers had replaced the keyboard (after a 3+ week wait for parts) but it wouldn't turn on when they shipped it back to me. When they rechecked it they discovered the motherboard was gone and deemed it uneconomical to repair. So all in all I've been without my beloved Z for about 2 months - am writing this on my wife's Dell Mini 10v netbook (the only good thing about it is that I've set it up to dual boot XP/Snow Leopard - was hoping to learn how to develop iPhone apps but don't have the time at the moment).

Hard drive capacity is very important to me so I'll be going for the 500gig regular HDD without the optical drive - according to SonyStyle UK there isn't room for both. If money was no object I'd love the 512gig SSD. Anyway I guess I'll be able to swap out the HDD for a SSD when they become more affordable - probably after the warranty has expired!

I'll need to use an optical drive occasionally so I was thinking of getting an external Blu Ray burner on ebay probably something like this - anyone used one?


The new z series isn't available CTO here in Ireland so will be ordering from the UK so will probably go for the full HD screen (it's only an extra £50). Anyone know if Photoshop scales up well? With my old z series I used Firefox together with the " No Squint". This allows you to set a default zoom level (separate ones for text and graphics) and also remembers custom zoom levels for different websites.

Does the basic black model has a gunmetal grey colour keyboard surround like the old z or is it more of a silvery colour?

Can't wait for the full teardown.

 

A delayed delivery, when compared to a pre-built one ?

 

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fchinese.engadget.com%2F2010%2F03%2F04%2Fvaio-z-explained-by-project-leader%2F&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&swap=1


Sony VAIO Z with Quad SSD stripped down and explained by its project leader
"For the average geek like us, there's nothing more satisfying than watching a gadget skillfully torn apart by its creator. That's why we're slightly envious of Engadget Chinese, who saw Sony VAIO Z Series project leader, Takamitsu Kasai, explaining the differences between the old and new VAIO Z literally part by part. Hightlights include Sony's proprietary Quad SSD (so not user-upgradable, sadly), a redesigned heatsink to accommodate the new chips' higher TDP (thermal design power), and various features of the "one-piece milled aluminum" and "hybrid carbon" chassis. Of course, all we really care about are photos of the naked VAIO Z, so go ahead and gorge yourselves after the jump."

Interesting... hopefully noone posted this before!! Cant wait!!!

 

lol quadruple fail, but it's ok, i missed it too!

 

Does anyone else who has pre-ordered CTO know the sequence of status messages? Mine currently shows "Shipping Update" and when I called customer service, the rep had no idea what that meant?? I'm going to give them another call and see if another rep has an answer, but I figured I'd ask here too. Thanks.

 

FAIL (or a joke hopefully), 6 posts above you, and multiple times a couple of pages back.

 

Means nothing my friend... mine went from 'Backordered' to 'Shipping update' almost a month ago. Supposedly, it will ship on 2/9/10

See my post with a screen grab http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5853741#post5853741 which is from 2/8/10, post 1608 in this thread

 

So what I've read in the last few pages is that the SSD/HDD can't be replaced by the user for an other SSD/HDD. I sure hope this can be solved in a way.

 

I'm hoping that the HDD is replaceable, does Sony have a history of using proprietary interfaces for these? From the pictures of the Sony SSD, it looks like the interface is not mSATA. So it's probably harder to fit something in there...

 

I called my local SonyStyle store (Orlando, FL, USA) and they said they will not have them on display until closer to the end of the month So it looks like US stores are going to be WAY behind other countries. Odd since we were one of the first countries to be able to pre-order them online.

 

I think from what everyone is saying and the pictures we have seen, the SSD models will not be able to be switched out. But the HDD versions still may be able to. Also, others are talking about buying the SSD version and switching out their optical drive for a SSD or HDD and that may be possible too.

 

I just visited my local Sony Style store (Galleria Dallas). Sadly, the new VAIO Z notebook is not on display. They do have 1 old VAIO Z notebook (VGN-Z880G/B) on display though.

 

We just have to wait I guess. A replacement option will convince me completely on buying the HDD version. We have to make a list of who ordered the new Vaio Z. So we can ask that person for his/her impression

 

Do you have any links where there are photos showing the new VAIO Z notebook in white?

 

It was posted here in this thread many pages back that there was a white model. Various pictures was posted as well all of the different colours that were available. I cannot find that post now.
I've been looking though and even with the translator it is not that easy to make it out. It sure looks white but i'm sure now if it actually is silver.
http://translate.google.co.uk/trans....sonystyle.com.cn/products/vaio/z11.htm&hl=en

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...d=0CBEQ7gEwAA&prev=/search?q=sony+japan&hl=en

 

pretty sure it's silver not white...which is a shame

 

Perhaps a white carbon fiber Z Signature Series available as a future option ?

 

Those pics showing quad SSD setup are a bit dissapointing for me. But single 1.8" SSD still may fit when mounted with slight tilt using sticky tape.
And lower length means more space for LIF-MSata adapter as well.

Will it be worth it? In case of 160/320Gb X18-M I'd say definitely yes. Will it be possible? I hope so.

 

it was definitely possible to upgrade the hdd on the old z series.

 

Old and new are worlds apart in terms of internals.
What I am concerned about is since Sony had these SSDs custom made, nothing stops them from having a custom made ribbon cable to connect the custom SSDs to the custom mainboard. In which case we are screwed...
Again, time will tell and of course I am determined to find out first hand.
I have a few LIF and ZIF Sata and Pata SSDs laying around as well as a multitude of cables so I will try every possible permutation.
What I am thinking is that these are SATA SSDs so somehow the standard SATA communication signals and power need to be transfered via ribbon.
And having tonnes of ribbon cables allows me to cut up and try out.
Worse case scenario, it will take a while.
At 3.3 or even 5V it is virtually impossible to fry the laptop.
What I was happy to diagnose with the old Z was that it wouldn't even power up when I used the RAID (2 SSD) connector in place of the optical drive as a safety mechanism against idiot tinkerers like myself

 

I'm thinking: if the SSD and its interface is proprietary, it cannot be that Sony is venturing into this only for one product, it is not economical. It could be that the Z is being used as the guinea pig. If it works well, it goes into other Vaios.

And why couple a good (if it is good) SSD with Sony products? If it is that good, then having a standard interface means Sony can penetrate the wider market. If it is that bad, why stick it to the flagship laptop? So, I think the interface is not proprietary.

 

...feels himself being drawn into the Z by the invisible Sony amalgamation of style and power...

I am not sure why people find it so insane to think that Sony would have a proprietary SSD set up. I would say that it is almost a certainty that it will be proprietary. Sony, is still shipping this with a MagicGate. Sony is notorious for its utilization of proprietary formats and hardware. A third of the time, maybe, they knock it out of the park and they make a bundle on it (CD etc), the other two thirds of the time they fail and we will have incredibly useful and well engineered and not cross compatible pieces of hardware (The examples are too numerous to list as I start with MagicGate)

On another note I am getting dangerously close to pulling the trigger an purchasing my own Z. Oh how I wish that it came USB 3 compatible,

 

I was going to ask the same.

Hmmm? That might have been my post with all the available lids offered. Those were actually Silver lids. Silver and Silver Metal. "White" IMO would have been way cool. I would have preferred that over the Black Premium Carbon.

 

Oh nooo, I was hoping that this thread will reach 4000 posts

Congrats! We're waiting for your impressions!

 

Real wood would be nice.

(Bamboo veneer like Asus has had on some of its models doesn't count -- bamboo isn't a tree, and veneer isn't wood)

Actually, anything except silver painted plastic, which invariably will wear off.

 

LOL! So does that mean your onboard for a white carbon lid with black base.

 

Some people have their notebooks now, some have shipped and others will get their notebooks any day soon.
It is time to put a padlock on this thread and for prospective owners and owners and continue this discussion in the owners lounge.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=457519

I've moved the last few pages over.