Official Canadian vaio user thread

nice, too bad it doesn't work with CTOs, oh well.

good news, the FW290 CTO will be available before the end of this month.

 

anyone knows anything about the new Z?

 

Please can anyone provide a copy of the recovery disc for the FE series notebooks...I had a major crash and lost everything.

 

um.... no. Analysts and economists provide their best estimate of what they think the loonie should be worth. However they can often be wrong (& usually ARE wrong), especially in crazy times like this. The market ultimately decides what the loonie is worth, same as the market decides what any other currency or financial asset is worth.

We're at $0.79 right now and still falling! ( www.xe.com for the latest rates).

 

I would like to know if anyone has successfully ordered their laptop from sonystyle.com instead of the Canadian website. I think the bilingual keyboard will bother me way too much. So if anyone has, was it that much more expensive (conversion, taxes, duties)? Any warranty issues?

I'm officially interested in the SR series. I've read most of the pages in this thread and could have possible skipped on this detail, but does the Canadian SR come with the same bilingual keyboard as the Z series?

Sorry in advance if this has been covered, I didn't search. I'm about to leave the house

 

Doesn't the CTO come with a normal english keyboard? I believe it does.

ordering online from the US now would not be a good idea with the dollar sitting where it is, you'd be hit with either the same price if not higher than in canada, and the duty and taxes would sour the deal.

 

don't think you can order from Sonystyle.com

I don't think they would ship to Canada.

It would help if you ship it to an american friend.

 

Hey guys, I talked to Sony about the issue with my laptop, their gonna gimme a new one, done and done.

 

Hey... anyone know where to get a good deal on a Vaio Z?

So far... the only place I can consider getting it at is from sonystyle.ca... but I've noticed that sonystyle.com is knocking off around $150 to $200 off their Z series... any way we Canadians can take advantage of that?

 

I didnt see any Z price drop on sonystyle.ca, how did you see that?
Is it possible to get carbon fiber on Z in the next upgrade?

 

No, I said sonystyle.com, the USA's site has Z discounts. T_T

I was kinda hoping we'd get some too... T_T

 

I think the Canadian price now is the cheapest in the world so far because of the current rate...what i am hoping for is the same more choices and some upgrade that the other country has.

 

I noticed that Future Shop started carrying the new Vaio FW. I was wondering though, in their flyer, they advertise a 256mb GPU on the VGN-FW265DB and a 512mb on the VGN-FW285. Their site lists both GPUs as "Intel Express GM45". Some on the flyer/site don't advertise their GPU, bu all of them show the "Intel GM45 Express" as the GPU.

Based on the model numbers, I'm tempted to say the 256mb GPU would be the ATI HD3470 and the 512mb would be the ATI HD3650, while the toher would e the HD4500, but I'm not sure.

Can anyone confirm this?

 

all you have to do is check the specs via sonystyle's site. both the 265 and 285 have the GM45 chipset but there is a difference with what graphics card they ship with.

265
Processor: Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with Intel® Clear Video Technology
Total Available Graphics Memory: 1750
Video RAM: 256MB of dedicated video RAM

285
Processor: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3650 with Total
Available Graphics Memory of 2280MB (max.)
Video RAM: 256MB of dedicated video RAM

this is rather conflicting but I do know the 3650 in europe came with 256mb of mem

If you can, always best to go and check it out at the store and look into the specs on the actual computer. The only 512 FW is the CTO model I believe. but you can always call sony and confirm, or check the laptops out at futureshop, I am sure QC has some larger FS's that will carry both the 265 and 285 on display.

 

Well I went there today and I noted a few things.

- Their sales reps are kinda bad >.>(but that's beside the point lol )

- Their descriptions of notebooks is kinda screwed.

The flyer advertised a 512mb GPU, yet none of the pre-configured models on sonystyle.ca have a 512mb GPU. Also, when I went to see, the one advertised with a 512mb GPU(the FW285) was said to have an ATI HD 3400 series in it, which I'm assuming the HD3650 is not part of. Therefore, I would conclude that it has an HD3470, which is obviously not the same >.< Oh how I am confused lol XD

 

Ya best buy and futureshop employees are fools, I could not work there as I would get fired for telling the customers too much info and not to buy stuff but wait lol.

regardless, just check the specs on sonystyle.ca site and what is on sale at the store.

the only 512 gpu comes with the CTO model, the rest are either 4500HD or 3650 with 256MB. older 190 came with 256MB 3470 card.

 

lol I'm a horrible employee then because I normally tell the customers outright when we overprice stuff and where exactly to get it cheaper! lol XD And yet my Staples store likes me...maybe it's my nice smile?

Just a quick recap of an adventure I had today. I was looking at desktop GPUs and I couldn't find info on some GPU(Shader clocks and etc) on the box(and I was too lazy to walk up to a computer there and check Nvidia's site lol ) so I asked someone. Firs thing he did was check the box for 30min and I was tempted to say the only reason I called him was because it wasn't written on the box lol XD

Oh and this guy was trying to sell an old guy the Toshiba X305 and when the guy was asking for a "Toshiba with a Geforce", he kept looking around when I knew full well they didn't have any in stock except that one >.>

Anyways, I'll trust Sonystyle and say that it must've been an HD3650 with 256mb in that on. It makes sense seeing as the retail price is exactly the same one as the FW285 on sonystyle.ca

Btw, would you notice any comparable performance change between that and the FW290 CTO's HD3650 with 512mb?

 

On Saturday I went to the Sony Style store in Montreal to see the Z. They had the Z555 (with 1600 x 900 screen & 2.4 Ghz, made in japan ) for 2,000$ CAD. The clerk really wanted to make the sale & offered a free warranty upgrade (200$/1yr), which would have meant 2130$ with the three year warranty. A similarly spec'd Z590 at PortableOne (in U.S.) is 2,298.00. Even with the free business/mobile accesory bundles currently offered in the U.S., the Canadian model would come out cheaper with the current USD/CAD conversion. Don't see that very often, no?

 

Yes, I think it is a good deal. It has the better screen, and also built in Japan, and you get the Canadian Warranty. Not sure if Sony Canada will touch any vaio from the US.

 

Hmmm... so... what are the odds of the Z555 going on sale before January?

I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a Z for sure. However, the when is kinda up in the air. I kinda want it to go on sale and wait for that sale... but the other half of me wants to say screw the sale, just get it now.

EDIT:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

SONYSTYLE.CA IS SOLD OUT OF Z555's!!! T_T Till Dec 11th anyways. T_T

 

I hope you will not miss out on the hi res screen. At the time when Z555 came out, the spec says 1360x900, but because of short supply of this lower res screen they substitute it with the higher res one.

 

dec 11th is an estimate, sometimes things appear sooner and I've seen it happen with the AW and FW models. So keep checking each day, as they might be back in stock any day.

 

here's the specs of the Z555 at the SonyStyle store in Montreal. I'm sure it's available in many Sony stores, with clerks willing to discount them (mine took no prompting). I got this by slyly emailing myself the url from a commercial sony site that the clerk used to spec the computer. I'll only include the details that aren't common to all Z's. It seems the high-res screen is standard.

VGNZ555DNB
Processor Type: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600
Speed: 2.40GHz
Front Side Bus Speed: 1066MHz
L2 Cache: 3MB

Memory
Type: DDR3 SDRAM
Installed: 3GB PC3-8500 (2GBx1 + 1GBx1)
Speed: 1066MHz

Hard Drive
Capacity: 250GB
Speed: 5400rpm

Screen Size: 13.1"
Resolution: 1600 x 900

Graphics Processor: NVIDIA® GeForce® 9300M GS GPU with Total Available Graphics Memory of 1370MB (max.) and Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with Intel® Clear Video Technology with Total Available Graphics Memory: 1300MB (max.)
Video RAM: 256MB of dedicated video RAM

Operating System: Genuine Microsoft® Windows Vista® Business with SP1/XP downgrade - Bilingual (English/French)

 

Some updates

FW290 CTO back in stock and available for ordering

and also SR290CTO appeared on the site (can find it when you visit the main page)

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...mId=8198552921665706668&IRTrack=HomepageSpot3

6 colours
-night black
-platinum silver (without ati card)
-classic pink (without ati card)
-titanium gray
-glossy silver
-glossy pink

ati card with hdmi output, 128 ram still, the blu ray drive is read and write but with the BD you do not get the xp downgrade disk.

 

I wonder if we'll ever get the carbon fiber lid as a CTO option for the Z... the U.S. just got it this past week.

 

Brain Boy: you are right, it is indeed 1600x900. I have not looked at it since August, so they have updated the spec.

 

brain boy, how much did you end up paying for your Z?

I think I've got the Z555DNB model at my local SonyStyle store, however, I've got a coupon that takes off 10% for buying from the website. Think the store would let me apply that discount, and toss in some extras too? >_>

 

I'm sure glad I bought my machine in a store. My unit ended up having a defective screen, so I did a straight exchange in the store for a new one. Thats what's nice about buying in a local store, I was straight up when I bought it that I wanted a machine with a problem-free screen, and as it turned out, my screen ended up having a very noticeable defect. I called the store the next day and did the straight exchange. A local Sony store will have no problem letting you examine the laptop before you bring it home, as it saves time for both parties, in the end. The store is happy to close a sale, and the customer is happy with a problem-free laptop. Sometimes, if you're lucky, the Sony Store may even offer you a discount, but as some have noted, this is not always the case.

(Just in case anyone is interested, Best Buy now carries the Z555DBN notebook.)

 

I know Best Buy has it... but uggh... I don't really want to deal with Best Buy... I hear service there is shoddy... and no chance you'll ever be able to get any discount from them. >_<

EDIT:
Just spec'ed out a SR290 for myself... crap.

The specs I config'ed to with expanded battery work out to $1400~ ish. (P8400, integrated GPU, no blu-ray, mostly basic parts, probably upgrade the HDD and RAM later myself.)

That seems pretty darn good. >_> ...but the Z is still so spiffy... :S

 

I just saw an SR update on sonystyle.ca, does this mean the refresh (even a slight change) will happen to Z very soon? Like carbon fiber lid and 7200rpm HDD?

 

It's entirely possible vaiodyssey. Sonystyle.ca is sold out of Z555DNB's right now.

They could produce more, or do a refresh of the unit for Canadians.

Well... if they refresh... I hope the price stays the same, but we get better stuff. The price could drop too... just like how the SR's did.

(when I CTO'ed a SR190 with the same specs as the 290 today, the 290 comes out like... 150 cheaper. )

 

I'm actually going to wait a bit until a 2.5GHz model is offered for the same price. I think it would have come to 2,129 CAD with a 3 yr. warranty.

 

They better do a refresh, now its like every country and place have refreshed Z except Canada, I dont wanna get a 320G 5400rpm HDD then the 7200rpm comes out the day I received my order.

Also, anyone in Canada find an official sleeve for Z? USA have two on their sonystyle web while Canada doesnt even have one!

 

Hmm... I don't honestly know if I want a refresh... since I kinda like the Z as is.

With regards to sleeves... I did see a black vaio sleeve at my local sony retailer... I didn't actually check, but it looks like it'll fit the Z. It was just a standard Neoprene case IIRC, for about 20 bucks or so.

 

Can you tell me where the retailer is? The one I saw on the US website costs $69, I dont think an official one would take only 20 bucks

 

I saw these neoplene ones in sonystyle store. There is a matching one for the power bar as well.

 

you from Toronto rite? Which sonystore did u go to?

 

I saw them at Leaside where the sales guy was going to give them to me for free if I buy Z from him.

 

As in Eaton Centre?
Does that sleeve have a sonystyle or vaio logo? Is it just matching the Z or is it official?

 

..Bleh... so Sony Style stores don't price match their online retail.

Guess I'm buying online... but hmm... that new SR290 CTO is looking spiffy... but then there's the issues with Sony's CTO... ugh... >_<

I wish the Z would just be instock again right away.

 

what issue with sony ctos? the price on the site actually is matched with sony stores, infact the stores can usually give you a better price on stuff.

edit, 400 posts \o/

 

...no, I'm just referring to the paranoia that when you CTO a model, Sony NA gets their hands on it, and it somehow ends up with more problems than the non CTO models.

Either way, the lack of switchable graphics is kinda iffy. I think ever since I read the Z's specs, I just can't imagine not having switchable, that's probably why I'm so dead set on getting a Z over the SR. That and my coupon only works on non CTOs... and the SR210 is just lame. T_T

 

its the same thing with non cto models, they install the same stuff as cto models, so there is no difference. but no coupons on the cto models is a shame and something sony canada needs to address.

 

Im looking into a Vaio fw290cto. On sonystyle.ca you can only choose 4gb of RAM. On the FW overview page it lists the RAM being expandable to 8Gb. i talked to a rep and he said they max out at 4gb. i thought with a 64bit OS the Ram would be expandable to 8gb. Im wondering if maybe they are using different motherboards in canada than in the US? If someone could clarify that would be great.

 

A 64bit OS can indeed address more than 4Gb of RAM, but that doesn't mean the company has to provide it. When the sales rep said they "maxed out" at 4Gb, he/she probably meant that the store doesn't offer any option above 4Gb. That doesn't mean that the laptop can't take it though.

First of all you'd also need to check if the rest of the parts in the laptop were compatible to accommodate 8Gb of RAM(i.e 2 sticks of 4Gb).

If you really want 8Gb and it's compatible, then just buy the RAM yourself and upgrade it(it's feasible and doesn't void the warranty).

May I ask why you'd want 8Gb of RAM though? That's like a lot >.>

 

The rep said that it could only be expanded up to 4gb and would not be able to use 8gb.

I am just trying to think ahead as i hope this computer will last me at least 2 or 3years. So being able to add Ram in a few years would be a plus. Also most computers at this price-point allow for 8gb expansion and i want to get the best bang for my buck

 

Well that might be due to the motherboard, CPU and chipset then. One of those components may not be able to accommodate 8Gb of RAM. I know my old laptop was unable to accommodate more than 2Gb due to chipset limitations.

And honestly, RAM doesn't really future proof a computer. My desktop still has "only" 2Gb of RAM and I've yet to have any problems with it(and I multitask and game on it. I actually ran 2 games at once this one time lol ). Having more RAM only becomes useful if you really plan to multitask to the max. It doesn't yield any other increase in performance really >.> For faster loads, you'd need a better HDD or CPU, but RAM doesn't help that really.

And as I said, if you want "bang for the buck", you'd be best to buy the RAM yourself and install it since companies tend to overcharge for RAM upgrades anyways.

But since the sales rep said the chipset can only accommodate 4Gb, then that's your limitation I guess. But I really doubt most people would need anything more than 4 at this point.

 

hi -

have any of the cdn z555 users experience squeaky keys/sticky keys / double lettering?

i've been reading a lot about it for the z590 line - and i'm hoping its not a problem in z555. I haven't bought one yet - but i'm thinking about it.

thanks!

 

Any Canadian Vaio owners have Sony's extended warranty? If so, does it cover accidental damage, like the warranty in US (called ADH). I think the US warranty covers things like broken screen. I would like to know if it is worth $329 to buy the 2 years of extended warranty on my TT. TIA

 

...Yea... me too. Just bought a Z... I'm wondering if it's worth it.