Replace Vaio Z LCD?

Hey all, I broke my LCD screen a few days ago and just received word from Sony that they cannot cover it under the Accidental Damage Warranty because all of my past repairs + this repair will be more than the original cost of the laptop. They're sending me a check for $600 to buy me out of the contract (the original cost of the laptop - past repairs = $600).

Anyways, they said the cost of an LCD is more than the check they're sending me and that I'll have to get it fixed myself. Do you guys know the cheapest way of going about this? It sucks because when I sent my laptop in last (one of the three SSDs had failed), there was a small green line through the screen and they decided to replace the whole screen under my ADH. And now when I actually break the screen because of carelessness on my part - where you can't see anything at all on the screen - they don't cover it. :/

EDIT: BTW, it's the 1600x900 screen.

EDIT #2: I found the LCD on this site: http://www.smartmicrousa.com/TOSHIBA-satellite-l455-sp011l-laptop-LED-screen-15-6-WXGA-GLOSSY-3.aspx

Does anyone have any instructions regarding how to install the LCD for this model? Is it an easy thing to do?

 

Do you want to upgrade to the 1920X1080 screen?

Someone else upgraded from the 900 to 1080 a month ago, and he posted a link to the site he got the screen from. Generally speaking, you can find the screen for $450-585, so your costs should be covered. You've just got to do it yourself (there's a guide on this site somewhere.)

Assuming your link is accurate, that's a 1366X768 screen which is incompatible with the newer VPC Z. (I think that's a VGN Z screen)


EDIT: This should help: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/586682-vpc-z11-replacement-screen-weblcd-com-legit.html

 

Thank you so much for digging that guide up. I saw it a while ago too but could not find it for the life of me.

I don't think I want to upgrade the screen even though I use this laptop primarily for video editing. It's just too high of a resolution for too small of a screen for me. It's odd though - I can't find any of the 1600x900 screens in stock - all I see are the full HD ones. Does anyone know of a reliable website to buy one from because I just can't find any. Also a lot of the time when I use the stock number for the screen, I get the 1366X768 screen. Is there a more recent number for the 1600x900 screen? (I have the Z11.)

 

yeah try ebay... or sparepartswarehouse.com... or even sony's own parts site:

https://servicesales.sel.sony.com/ecom/accessories/web/index.jsp

1600x900 should run you ~$300 max... I'd go for a 1080p screen though... it's only $500 (or less)

edit:
here's the link to the screens on sparepartswarehouse:

http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/Sony,Vaio,VPC-Z1-Series,VPC-Z1290X,Laptop,LCDs-Displays.aspx

shows a 1600x900 screen for $200

edit 2:

here's a disassembly of the LCD to replace the screen if you need (i saved it in case i happen upon some case and feel like upgrading to 1080p)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...eplacement-disassembly-guide.html#post7420649

 

@achu, We all know you're going to upgrade to the 1080 screen sooner or later... You've been talking about it forever! Just pull the trigger!

 

Haha, do I have a sponsor? Think of it like this, if you pay for my fullHD screen... you wont hear me talk of upgrading any longer!

I would upgrade, but it's too expensive right now and I've gotta save up for a new phone(pending the Tmo-AT&T merger) or possibly the Sony S2... or just buy another GTX 570 for my desktop

 

I wasn't complaining about you saying you want to upgrade, I was simply trying to get you out of the "state of want." BTW: I'm a college student too, I don't think I can sponsor this. lolol Money needs to be thrown at the camera hobby right now.

 

I called around and only one company has the 1600x900 one - and it's for $455 (+$11 shipping). I think that's a little high - anyone else have any recommendations for LCD providers?

EDIT: http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale...EE11000&CatId=0&SortType=price_asc&SortType=y

^ Good deals for FHD!

 

Haha, i was thinking of the camera hobby, but i realize i can barely juggle laptop, desktop, tablet and phone hobby...

Also, there's not much hacking or overclocking involved with a camera

Wow.. i can't find any good deals on 1600x900 either. Well, your best bet is to get a 1080p screen and just run it at 1600x900 or just increase DPI. Your resale value will go up too. That's what i would do in your position... that's crazy how there's no more 1600x900

 

LOL, if that's the best you can find for the 900, you honestly should get the 1080. DPI scaling can be bumped to 125% to get a comparable image/size to the 900 screen.

 

What do you guys think would normally be a "good" price for both screens? I don't know if I should just hold off as long as I can and hope the prices drop or just go for it.

Also, this Friday, I'm going to the Sony Style store to see what FHD looks like. I remember the first time I saw it I thought it was beyond difficult to read, so we'll see if I still feel the same way. Not sure if increasing the DPI will make programs look "natural" though.

Any help/advice is appreciated!

 

I increase my DPI to 125% and all programs I use are fine (Photoshop Elements, MS Office 2010, Illustrator, AIM, Chrome, Firefox, Photomatix). The only program I have a noticeable text issue with is Skype.
Just go to the store and try it out for yourself (if they have any in stock) at 125% to see if it's OK for you.

 

What is it with Skype? that program always ignores my windows settings... everytime i have my headphones plugged in, and connected to external monitor, when i get a skype call, it outputs to the monitor...

I remember my CS professor mentioning that Skype was very good at dodging firewalls as it just keeps changing its ports until it finds one that works...

 

I hate how Skype doesn't close when you press "x." You have to right click the icon on the start bar and then close program. Due to these minor annoyances, I rarely have it running.

 

Do you guys know if the new Z's have the same LCDs? I find it hard to believe the screens are that rare.

 

Word is that the Z2 does use the same two screens. I'd imagine there should be more supply soon!

 

Well after two days talking to dealers on Alibaba.com, it looks like the cheapest I could get is $435 for the FHD screen (including DHL shipping). I talked to so many people... so tired of it all... lol. If anyone is going to buy a FHD screen, know that you won't pay anything less than $435 with reliable shipping.

 

Shoot, I'd be happy to sell you the 1600x900 screen off of my Z for $300 shipped if I'd have enough time to get a 1080p screen installed first. Not sure how quick you'd need it though. I imagine it'd take a week or so to get a 1080p screen shipped to me.

 

I'm getting the FHD screen too - not the 1600x900 one. Where are you buying your FHD one from and for how much? Or were you just thinking about it?

 

Just thinking about it. I've heard of weblcd.com before so I'd probably roll the dice with them.

 

They don't have any in stock.

 

welp, that settles that.

 

where are you from?
I have a Vaio Z13 with 1600x900 screen and I would like to change to a 1366 screen because I don't like how text and things looks, very small for me...

 

There are only 1600x900 and 1920x1080 screens available for the Z.

Try increasing the DPI settings in windows to 125%, that makes everything bigger while not losing sharpness. For browsing, you can also use Firefox with NoSquint plugin enabled that increases font size in webpages permanently.

 

I found this on ebay:
13.1"LCD SCREEN Sony VAIO VGN-Z29 WXGA HD 1366x768 LED | eBay

so, it could be a fake?

 

^
This is for the older Z series.

 

ahh ok!! thank you for the explanation, but it is totally impossible to be compatible with mine??

 

Chances are it won't work.

 

wow, thank you very much!, you made me save a lot of money.I will forget that idea
I was decided to change the screen, so i will try different things like changing dpi, and the plugin for firefox
bye!

 

It doesn't work. I remember someone asking this before (trying to upgrade an old Z screen to the newer 1080) and it had something to do with the connector that's incompatible.

 

Vgn-z used lvds interface, vpc-z uses displayport.