SONY VAIO SZ6 with SANTA ROSA IS HERE!!!

Greetings!

I've been snooping around the Vaio Business website the past few days to check for updates, as they usually announce new/upcoming models on that site first. Well.... got lucky last night - they updated the pages overnight to add the VGN-SZ680 Built-To-Order model with the SANTA ROSA chipset! The specs are pretty impressive. Check this link:

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product/VGN-SZ680+Build-to-Order+Series

I'm sure this'll bring a smile to a lot of prospective buyers who've been wanting to buy an SZ with Santa Rosa over the latest Dell XPS m1330.

cheers,
-Harsh Agrawal

 

Wow. Looking good! Is this a US site?

 

no hdmi out

 

Its nice to see a 200gb 7200rpm hard drive option as well as the inclusion of the hybrid graphics system. I don't know why all notebooks don't have that feature.

How much dedicated video ram is on the 8400M GS? 128mb? It's too bad that none of the 13.3" comes with a 8400M GT.

 

Interesting, they bumped the weight to 4lbs. I believe this is the lightest configuration you can have..

 

Nice job, haragr!

I'm a little disappointed considering that both weight and dimensions (the height, specifically) have increased. Also, the lack of an hdmi port is another downside.

But, I will wait for some pictures...

 

Hmm...what's a C2D T7250? If you look on the specs page that appears to be the slowest CPU option @ 2.0GHz. I wonder how this differs from the standard T7300? It does say it still has 4MB cache too.

 

no expresscard slot?

 

There is an ExpressCard slot - see the Specifications page.

 

don't they have a regular and premium version?

do u think premium would have hdmi or is the specifications of that page show all possibilities?

 

Go to any non-CTO SZ page on www.sonystyle.com e.g. SZ491N/X and click on the "Learn" tab. You will find that the page is mainly updated for SZ6, and has mention of the SZ691 Premium version, and a few other SZ6 model numbers .

 

It's kind of funny that they are messing up their links.
According to that link, the new SZ uses a 8400M G instead of the GS.

 

the port replicator includes a dvi port, so atleast that slightly fixes the problem of no high def output.

if this is available before the m1330 starts showing up on ebay (in hand), then this wil be my decision....im sick of waitin!

 

I like how they give a choice between an "internal" and "external" graphics card. Lol

 

What a great device! Sony addressed most of my major issues with the SZ4. The SZ6 supports 667MHz RAM and 7200rpm HDD.

I'm so glad they are going with the 8400M GS; I was afraid they might use the 8400M G. I'm not concerned with the exclusion of HDMI. If I got this notebook I would definetely take advantage of the port option and the DVI output is all I need to connect to my LCD monitor. One advantage the SZ6 has over the Dell M1330 I have on order now is the inclusion of Gigabit Ethernet, which I would use in connection with a Gigabit router and Gigabit external HDD. That way my whole network could operate at Gigabit speed.

I noticed the dimension and weight changes as well. I'm wondering if they are reinforcing the lid on the Premium versions so they won't be as flimsy as on the SZ4. That would account for the slight increase in height and weight.

If these are available before my M1330 ships, I will definitely reconsider my new notebook choice.

 

Hmm

They skip SZ5xx?

I like how Sony offer 7200 rpm HDD.

 

M1330 pro:
128MB 8400GS.
HDMI
Good warranty. (International)
Easy to upgrade HDD.

SZ6 pro:
Hybrid GPU.
???MB 8400GS.
Gigabit network.

How much more do you willing to pay for SZ6 over M1330?
That is the question.

 

The Sony SZ6 spec says 335MB Total Available Graphics Memory for the NVIDIA 8400 GS, and 224MB for the Intel X3100.

The Dell XPS M1330 spec says 128MB Video Memory for the NVIDIA 8400 GS, and up to 384MB shared memory for the Intel X3100.

I find this all very confusing . I'm sure this isn't apples to apples (well it isn't of course ).

 

It gets more confusing then that. I don't know why sony does not state 128mb of dedicated ram, maybe because people found out that it was a lie last time. They used to say 128 and people found out that it really was 64. Which is a shame, there were topics somewhere in the forum about it.

 

I am sure this time, with the release of Vista & Aero, and the growth of widescreen LCDs, and the popularity of 22", im sure Sony would have upped the VGA memory to 128MB.

 

They have it wrong. The T7250 has only 2mb L2 cache. The T7250 will replace the T7100 in September. It will upgrade from 1.8GHz(T7100) to 2GHz, but keep the same amount of cache.

 

I have been waiting for this update for a long time, I was/am hoping the external design would/was updated. Any clues anyone?

 

Tomorrow is the NYC event. Maybe an announcement?

 

maybe an order page available ?

 

Many people have been waiting for the SR refresh on the SZ. I hope they have replaced the SZ4's flimsy keyboard issue. Other than that, the top of the line models will command top prices I'm sure. If this had come out the same time the TZ did in Japan, I would've had a harder time considering between the two.

I do hope they have a premium and a non premium model to give consumers a choice.

I do believe a similarly configed SZ6 will be more expensive than the m1330 though.

 

I think HDMI out is a pretty big thing to leave out.

S.

 

well the port repicator has dvi so they have the high def option, but yah i dont see why they couldnt add dvi or hdmi onto the laptop itself

 

The whole site is messed up . They're mixing specs of both series. It seems the weight didn't change much in the premium series (SZ6 - 3.76lbs and SZ4 - 3.72 lbs).

Waiting for definite specs.

 

Any news from NYC.

 

Engadget talked about the TZ, no news on the SZ.

 

Is the VAIO event finished? any news? I'm holding my breath. Dell xps 1330 or Sony SZ6? Im going back to school and my current laptop is barely alive.

 

All Quiet on the Sony VAIO Launch Event Front.

 

One more disappointment. Even the gizmodo.com site (where the event was first related) says nothing about the SZ.

It seems that this event happened just to announce the "new" TZ.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

All the new SZ6 models are up on the Sony business site along with pictures and price!

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/subcategory/notebooks/sz-series

It looks like they updated the design a bit, including a new keyboard design similar to the TZ.

 

Nice rbg08!! Now it's confirmed that both weight and size increased a little...I guess the SZ650 will be my choice!

 

Is anyone else having trouble getting that b2b.sony.com URL to load?

 

I think all us NBR readers crashed it.

 

I hope the keyboard is better than the current SZs. overall, I like the design a lot. and the ability to have such powerful specs on a thin and light 13.3in is fantastic. One thing that kinda sucks is that SZ doesn't offer the option for SSD.

If the SZ6 series were around the time I made the jump to the TZ, it would've definitely made a very hard choice to decide between the two.

 

I think I may have been wrong on the keyboard being updated on the SZ6. The picture I looked at was angled and appeared similar to the TZ. But after comparing to other similar SZ4 pictures, it appears the keyboard is the same design as on the SZ4.

Too bad. If they had updated the keyboard, I would have seriously considered cancelling my M1330 order.

 

I have to concur with you; the site finally loaded up for me, and frankly it looks pretty much like the previous SZ keyboard.

I have to admit, it seems baffling to me that they'd update the keyboard for the TZ, and even on the consumer-oriented CR, but leave the old keyboard style on the SZ.

 

Site is taking really long for me to load. Could so far only load the top green picture of the SZ keyboard.

 

could someone post the specs or at least some of the prices and basic differences? the sony site is not loading

 

Well, if I'm not mistaken (and have a good memory ):

SZ650N/C - base --> $2049,00
SZ660N/C - base + wwan --> $2149,00
SZ670N/C - sz660 + 2.4GHz processor (instead of 2.2) --> $2299,00
SZ691N/X - sz670 + 200GB HDD 4200 rpm (instead of 160 5400) --> $2699,00 (premium carbon casing)

 

It finally loaded. I like the SZ650 and the SZ680, which hopefully will be cheap with the base options.

 

I agree. I don't use Sprint, so the other models are pointless. Too bad Sony dosen't partner with the other US carriers like Dell.

 

Could anyone tell me if the SZ6 video gpu is exactly the same used in the XPS M1330 (even the memory available) ?

Thanks in advance.

 

Some one stated the SZ6 only has 64MB dedicated, unlike the M1330's 128MB. But I can't figure out where they obtained that info.

 

In fact, that's the reason why I'm confused right now. Sony and Dell describe it using different terms...

 

does anyone know for sure that it is 64mb dedicated on the 8400? i know there was a big debate with earlier sz models and it was found that the chip in fact only had 64mb dedicated -- i hope sony didn't due the same thing here -- though their vague description suggests as much.

looking at the specs -- and if i understand correctly there is no "benefit" to getting the premium model anymore -- aside from the "cool" case -- before there was a weight and size reduction

i'm glad that all the models show LED backlighting but surprised that all of em except for the lowest have wwan (i guess thats the 0.05lb difference?)

I wouldn't mind the wwan if it weren't for the antenna sticking out -- sprint has great deals on internet and phone plans -- esp if you are SERO

just spec'd out a dell xps m1330 to match the sz650:
came out to $2184 with no dell specials or coupon codes added
+ has an hdmi port
+ is thinner
+ 128mb gfx card
+/- price (though more expensive, with specials and coupon codes will probably be cheaper)
- does not have dual video cards
- does not have proprietary docking ability
- does not have option for hybrid hard drive (though -- do any other manufacturers even offer this drive -- will there be a real world benefit?)
- does not have gigabit internet

man and i was so close to making a decision on which laptop i wanted to get -- now i guess i'll wait it out a little longer to see how the sz6 holds up in reviews -- will hopefully drive down the prices of sz3s a little further and make my decision easier

 

i was the one that obtained it: it is because it states that the total memory is 831mb

in dv2500t which was 64mb dedicated it was the same, 64mb dedicated, 767mb shared (with 2gb system memory): 831mb

in the dv6500t it has 128mb dedicated, 767 shared (2gb system memory): 895mb total

with only 1gb system memory, it is : 319mb and 383mb