Old versions of the Sony Vaio Z

Hi, I really want to buy a Vaio Z, but not the latest model because of the reportedly bad keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and fan noise. Is there anywhere I can still buy the previous model(s) brand new?

Thanks

 

ebay may be?

 

Have looked there, can't find a new condition one.

 

Sony is selling some VPC-Z1s on Sony Outlet. *All are refurbished

 

Thanks, are they returnable?

Would still love brand new of course..

 

Also if anyone happens to have owned both the new and old models, I'd really appreciate any comparisons.

 

Absolutely (30 days)

 

As one who has owned 6 Z1 models, 5 refurbed and one used via eBay, I can tell you that the refurbs (and lightly used, from a reputable seller) are usually indistinguishable from new in looks and performance. It's such a great computer, it's worth going through 1 or 2 in case your first refurb order does not arrive looking and working like brand new. All 5 of mine did.

Plenty of people here who can tell you first-hand. I can tell you from reading what everyone - owners and reviewers - have been saying that if you don't need the extra cpu power of Sandy Bridge, the Z1 is pretty much the better route to go, mostly due to its better keyboard, touchpad and its on-board discrete gpu A DVD drive matters less to most, but it's nice to have when you need it and the Z2 doesn't; especially handy because you can take out the DVD drive and put any 2.5" HDD or SSD in it. Screens are apparently identical (Z2 vs Z1) and they are as good as it gets at 13", but SSDs on the Z2 are 3rd generation vs 2nd in the Z1 so if you want just about the fastest notebook in creation, it's gotta be the Z2. If you just want the closest thing to a perfect notebook, and 1st gen Core i 5/7 cpus and 400 Mb/s SSDs will do it for you, again the Z1 is the winning choice, and it will cost you $800 - $1,500 less than the comparably equipped Z2. And it is still very, very fast.

 

Thanks mate. Is there a sheet battery option for the Z1 to give it similar battery life to the Z2 w/ sheet?

 

no, Z1 only offers bigger capacity battery which lift the laptop in an angle, there are not "sheet" battery

 

True, it adds about 0.5lbs and sticks out on the bottom, but it is just a small protrusion and it gives you both a better typing position and better air ventilation. It is exactly 50% greater capacity. I get 6-9 hrs on mine. You can't have them both on together, as with a sheet battery, but if you take a standard and a high output one fully charged, you will get somewhere between 8 and 15 hours of battery life, not that far from the two batteries on the Z2 - but not as slick looking and not as ffffff-fast!