SZ780 CTO in Canada - few questions

Im very pleased to finally see the CTO option in Canada with penryn processors!

Just wondering, on Sonystyle.ca they show the images of the SZ780 in alternate forms - the one with the silver platform and the one with the black.. which one is it? Im not a big fan of the silver, but when you click on "more imgaes" the black platform shows up. Anyone know if this is a mistake and the black is the right one?

and i know this is a basic question, but the sz780's come with LED backlight right? basically all models above the 750??

And anyone know if we have to place the order online or if any location wil lbe willing to take orders in the GTA/Scarborough area?

Thanks in advance.

 

There is a choice of black or silver keyboard; you'll need to specify to the seller.

XBRITE LCD Technology - White LED back light - applies to all SZ7 series.

No idea about store(s) in GTA/Scarborough area.


rgds.

 

while on the topic of the sony sz780CTO in canada...

when will it be available to order online and will the price change? (likely go up, seems to have a HDD price error right now).

 

Click :
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=20153&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665364375

No information on the date for price revision.


rgds.

 

its there, but you cant complete the order online. i've tried. i get a blank screen after trying to add it to my cart.

 

I did an experiment. No problem. After adding to cart and check-out, I even managed to proceed to shipping information page.

EDIT : I noticed a few hours earlier that SonyStyle Canada server was not able to cope with the heavy traffic. Try at an hour when most Canadian are asleep.


rgds.

 

I ordered one last Sunday. Went through fine & i got a confirmation email. Estimated ship date is 03/17 - Monday.

 

Did u end up getting it yet? Im about to buy one aswell, I do also reside in Scarborough by the way. How is the laptop? quality wise performance etc? I dunno if I should spend 2 grand on a it....

 

Still waiting ... I called Sony yesterday to get an update & they said that it is still listed as processing ... the rep said he'd look into it & get back to me by email, but nothing yet ... fwiw, he indicated that CTO's come from San Diego, so I suspect that it's still a few days away. harumph.

 

Oh ****mode, well lemme know when u get it, im ordering it this Sat!!, May I ask what specs u got and how much your spending? Also did u get the extended warranty? and lasttly but not leastttly do u think its worth gettin the extended battary for about $100? and I assume theres no return policy if I CTO it online? Cheers dude!

 

No problem ... it ain't cheap, that's for sure, but I had my last laptop for 7 years (!) ... I'd rather pay a lot up front & have a great machine for a long time than get a new one every year or two - that's why I went with the fastest machine available (cpu/ram). I wasn't sure what to do about the warranty - in the end I decided on one year of the extended warranty. I went with the regular battery, as 3-4 hours is adequate for me - I'd rather not add any weight and/or size - if I need to I can pick up a car adaptor or the small travel AC adaptor, which I might do anyway. And I really wanted the fastest HD, so went with the 7200.

Here's what I ordered:
Component: Video Premium
Component: Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007
Component: No Engraving
Component: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Component: Standard Capacity Lithium-ion Battery (BPS10)
Component: 13.3" WXGA
Component: Keyboard (Silver)
Component: Trusted Platform Module / Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
Component: Wireless LAN (802.11a\b\g\n with Bluetooth® technology)
Component: Camera
Component: DVD +/- R DL / DVD?RW / DVD-RAM Drive
Component: 200 GB Hard Disk Drive [7200 RPM]
Component: 4 GB DDR-SDRAM (DDR2-667, 2 GBx2)
Component: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9500 (2.60GHz)
Per Unit Price: $2,795.98

 

wow! great specs but you are paying $2800 (i guess tax not included) for the CTO model. p.s. the SZ791 only costs around $2400 U.S. and it usually has better quality than the CTOs (not to mention the carbon fiber wave lid )

 

so did they push back your estimated shipping date? I ordered the sz780CTO too and have an estimated shipping date of the 24th, I sure hope there aren't significant delays.

 

the sz791 is identical to the sz780 besides the carbon fibre lid, I don't see how it has "better quality" besides that.

 

Also, what's everyone's opinion on the best (in terms of looks and protection) case/backpack for the sony sz? It'd be nice if it were readily available in Canada.

 

That is ineed very true as I did read up on that. Anyway can't wait to purchase it sat!, Thing is, everyone's telling me not to spend 2 grand with tax on a laptop, I dunno, what u guys think lol? I was actually supposed to purchaase a top of the line desktop but decided to go with this instead.

My specs are

T9300 2.5ghz
4gigs ram but I am adding the other additional 2 gigs myself (I can do that myself by just opening the back lid correct?)
160gb Hybrid drive
All for $1720 without tax

To Memgreg, I wish I coulda recommended to u just get the T9300 and save urself the $300 for only 100Mhz more, but then again 100Mhz is 100Mhz!

Also I head for the Hard Drive I have to open the laptop to upgrade the Hard Drive, is that true? And does it come in Silver Black? Cuz they show both.

 

Sry that was to tgreg, my bad

 

Just one last other thing I thought of and would like to recommend to other ppl CTO'ing this laptop. Save urself the $300 for the upgrade to 4gigs of RAM, IF u can put it in urself, u can actually buy 2gigs of Kingston ram same speed for about $50. Also u can save urself another $300 as I was telling Tgreg, to just go for the T9300 vs the T9500. Thats a total of $600 savings!!! Omg!..so yea, good luck..(This is in accordence with sony.ca by the way)

 

I am well aware of the specs/feature differences between SZ models.

According to a Sony employee I've talked to, he said the SZ791 are checked most extensively before shipping. He also hinted to me that the pre-configured models are better than most of the CTO models. I guess it might have something to do with manufacturing procedures or assembly but I am not quite sure. Anyhow, the SZ791 being checked most extensively makes a lot of sense to me because SZ791 is their top of the line model, so they would want it to have the best quality possible.

 

I hear ya, I dont deny what ur saying. but u gotta also realize especially when talkin to the company itself, their gonna try and sell u their best stuff. They make a lot more money off it. I say this as I have done retail and owned a business for a fairly long time, and we always try and sell our best stuff, which is sometimes actually garbage, not saying in this case it is lol but u get what im trying to say!..Anyways cheers!

 

so you're saying the quality of CTOs are lower than preconfigs? How exactly? you've got me worried now.

 

U mighttt wanna read what I wrote on bottom of page 2. But thats just my opinion through experience.

 

Ordered mine on the 17th, estimated ship date is 25th. So far I don't see any 'updates' on the MyOrders link on their site.

Specs as follows:
Component: Video Premium
Component: Microsoft Works
Component: No Engraving
Component: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Component: Standard Capacity Lithium-ion Battery (BPS10)
Component: 13.3" WXGA
Component: Keyboard (Black)
Component: Trusted Platform Module / Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
Component: Wireless LAN (802.11a\b\g\n with Bluetooth® technology)
Component: Camera
Component: DVD +/- R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive
Component: 160 GB Hybrid Hard Disk Drive
Component: 4 GB DDR-SDRAM (DDR2-667, 2 GBx2)
Component: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50GHz)
Per Unit Price: $2,070.98

 

got the same exact config minus the upgrade to vista business. What MyOrders link? sonystyle.ca just tells me to call their help line if want to see the status of my order, last i heard its still "processing".

 

lol, I perfectly understand what you are saying but in this case (this thread) the CTO actually costs more than the SZ791 . While there is a possibility that the Sony rep is telling me the truth, I don't think it is worth it to spend more $ on something that might have a worse quality. These are just my personal opinions, please, they are not targeted at any CTO owners. I apologize if this comparison offended anyone. Without good proof (or first hand experience at their assembly line), I won't deny the possibility of mis-information from the Sony rep.
so cowsmoo, DONT WORRY !!

Regards

If anyone have further information on this matter, please reply.

 

Guys I gotta another quick yet an important question! So if I get the VGN-SZ780 CTO, are they Made in Japan like the pre-configured ones? Thanks!

 

This does really conern me cuz I dont want it made in China, I mean, if Im paying the same as a pre-configred I dont see why I should get one made somewhere else. To IC3Deamon, yea good point buddy, I hear yaaaaaa. Thanks again!

 

Oh what color does it come in by the way, Silver or Black?

 

all black im pretty sure, except for the keyboard which you have a choice of colour.

 

Ahh, see, guy at Sony told me that its Silver!, did u make this assumption or someone told u this?

 

all premium CTO SZs have been black since the 6 series. Various pictures of the 780CTO are in all black with a silver keyboard, granted not one of them on the main page where you choose your components. But i've seen the premium preconfigured models in store and they were all black (e.g. sz780CN). I'll be incredibly disappointed if my 780CTO comes with a silver palmrest.

 

Well damn, I was actually hoping for Silver lol, Silver would look sickkk man, I think at least. Black looks too plain and simple if u ask me.

 

Apparently it shipped out yesterday. So hopefully I get it on Tuesday!

 

Nice man!, Well I just ordered mine and its in for 31st. Question though, does anyone know about Hafnium Technology in the T9300? cuz I read on the U.S website and it says Hafnium technology Now avaible, I wonder if the T9300 already has it or?? Ciao!

 

to all my fellow 780 owners...

any problems so far? design, noise etc.?

i've ordered mine to be shipped on the 31st... i had an xps M1330 which was making a noise and just drove me crazy so had to return it and swith to this...

anyone has any complaints so far?

 

i'm receiving mine tomorrow. i'll tell you how it is when i get it.

 

Yea dudeee, Pls do let us know how it is, im also gettin mine on the 31st. Also IF u can, try to see if u can play Crysis or BF2 and let us know how it goes loll. I heard ppl played it on an older verion of the SZ680 or something on Medium-Low setting and it worked pretty smoothly. Anyways cheers!

 

thanks dude... looking forward to your review

 

There is a coupon for $200 off the SZ780CTO on the SonyStyle promotions page. You need to spend $2000 and it expires March 31, 2008. I noticed that if you specify a custom machine to the same specs as an SZ780CN and buy an extended warranty or accessories to get it up to $2000, it ends up costing less than buying the CN.

Yesterday I ordered an SZ780CTO with identical specs to the CN but with a T9300 2.5 GHz processor instead of the T8100 2.1 GHz(+$200), Vista Home Premium instead of Vista Business (-$50) and a 2 year extended warranty (+329.99). After using the coupon, it came to $2090.97 plus taxes. Shipping was free.

A SZ780CN sells for 1999.99 on the website and in my local Sony Store.

 

I got

VGN-SZ780 Configure-to-Order
VGNSZ780
Customization Details
Video Plus
Microsoft Works
No Engraving
Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Standard Capacity Lithium-ion Battery (BPS10)
13.3" WXGA
Keyboard (Black)
Trusted Platform Module / Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
Wireless LAN (802.11a\b\g\n with Bluetooth® technology)
Camera
DVD +/- R DL / DVD (+/-) RW / DVD-RAM Drive
160 GB Hybrid Hard Disk Drive
2 GB DDR-SDRAM (DDR2-667, 1 GBx2)
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50GHz)

For $2035 With Tax

 

Oh for all Vaio owners, heres some wicked Vaio Wallpapers

http://mrbsdomain.com/vaio_wallpapers.php

 

man you guys are rich! lol

i just got the 2.1 and 160g 2g but with the extended battery came out to 1831 roughly tax included

 

You're right, I am rich. rich in spirit.

QUESTION! Can I upgrade ram myself??? Cuz im gonna go and get an additional 2 gig for $50 Thanks!

 

Finally got mine today, I got them to ship it to my workplace. Package arrived via fedex. I was quite impressed with the packaging as the laptop was quite well protected.

Anyways, initial impressions so far:

(1) not as much bloatware as I expected
(2) machine runs pretty smooth and haven't had any glitches yet (T9300)
(3) don't opt for 4gb of Ram unless you're willing to hack the machine or upgrade to 64bit Vista (32bit at most will see around 3gb).
(4) keyboard is clickity but i reallly like it
(5) at first I thought my screen was scratched, but it was just some residue from something. wiped off with water and kimwipes.

I'll do a longer review once I get time.

 

Yes, you can upgrade it yourself. It's very easy, just open the door with the two screws underneath the laptop.

 

Oh great thanks man! I heard to replace hard drive u gotta open up the whole damn computer?? If thats the case, will that void the warrant????

 

Can u tell me what it says on the back also as to where its Made?? And how long did it take for it to get shipped? from the time u ordered it? Appreciate it!

 

sorry guys I don't have time to report very much on my sz780, but i'll answer a few of the easier questions. the sz780CTO from sonystyle.ca is assembled in the USA, battery from japan, adapter from china. it took about 4 days for it to be shipped from when Fedex got hold of it.

A few positives:
- solid construction and build quality
- very quiet
- quiet cool

A few negatives:
- bloatware removal is quite a pain, its quite slow before removing all the crap
- theres slight screen light leakage when displaying black, but I don't see what the big deal is
- the battery wiggles a bit, not really a problem

i'll update with more info when I find some time.

 

What did the laptop come with? When u say 4 days, u mean from the time u ordered it? if not, how long from the time u placed the order? Also, screen leakage!! meaning what? Thanks bro, lookin forward to hearing ur review!

 

Unfortunately upgrading your HD does void your warranty.