Shoud I buy Sony VAIO Z11?

Hello,
I've had a Lenovo T400s and returned for a full refund after 2 weeks of use. Why? Simply because it suffered from a high-pitched CPU whine that was very unpleasant to me (send it for repair, Lenovo could not do anything about it - seems that a lot of Thinks pads suffer from the same problem these days). So here I am looking for an appropriate business model that will be PERFECT.

I've heard that Vaio Z11 might be the perfect computer.

But before buying, Sony experienced users please help me answer some of the critiques I've heard about Sony and why people tell me to stay away from Vaio Z11.

1. Heat and noise issues - I've heard that Sony overheat and that the fan on the Z series is generally kicking all the time and is loud. Is this true? What about the Z11? I work in very quiet environments so noise level is important.

2. Build quality + Sony service: the other common complain is that the Sony looks great but does't last. I need a portable computer - travel a lot, carry my laptop with me everyday. Should I really be worried? And is the Sony service really as bad as people claim?

3. Bad software support - Sony is apparently not great at providing new driver updates or software help in general?

4. Keyboard quality? some complain that typing on Sony Z is not comfy.

I travel a lot - need a portable but with a DVD. I do only office work (microsoft+ surfing) + DVD watching. I actually don't need a high powered machine. I do need a machine that is less than 4 pounds, is durable, quiet with a DVD.

Do you think that I will be satisfied with Vaio Z11? What are you experiences? OR MAYBE CAN YOU RECOMMEND A DIFFERENT VAIO THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ME?

thank you.

 

< 4lbs with a DVD drive...There are not very many options. The only ones I can think of are the Z, TT, x301, T400s, U20a, e4300. To be honest in your case I would go with a macbook pro. The Z is more of a performance computer for tech enthusiasts rather than the general consumer. If you just want something "that works" has good build quality and good tech support get a mac. The MBP is 4.5lbs but at least you don't have to worry about the product you are buying.

 

Based on your needs, I'm very sure that you'll be very satisfied with the new Sony VAIO Z notebook. Good luck.

 

1. Excellent heat management. The case never gets hot but the exhaust fan is spraying boiling air. The fan barely comes on for me unless I'm gaming or something intensive.

2. I don't know about durability but this PC is beautiful, hands down. So light too.

3. Can't comment on this however, it appears to be a problem w/ the GPU drivers as Sony isn't updating them very quickly.

4. Keyboard is one of the best i've ever used. I just have to get used to the spacing, I think they could be around 1mm closer together.

All in all you won't be disappointed, best laptop I've ever owned, and I tossed my Macbook Pro.

 

Why do you suppose that Apple notebooks have good build quality? My ibook G3 had 3 logic board replacements, and my Santa Rosa MBP had a new keyboard, new logic board, case replacement and fan replacements. Apple computers are no longer made in California , they are cheaply made in China just like everything else.

Also, my MBP consistently hit 99c while watching flash and there was nothing I could do to fix that, other than use it in the freezer. The bottom go so hot it would burn my leg, and in the summer it would make me sweat and was unbearable.

Also, PERSONALLY, I think its pretty disappointing they didn't update the design. The unibody is fine, but I think the silver/aluminium look is starting to look passe. I love the dark grey carbon fibre look of the Vaio. This is just a personal opinion though.

 

Xotica, thanks for your response. You are absolutely right. I am running of options. T400s (or t410s) is out because of the CPU whining issue. X301 is a great computer but I've got X300 at home and I'd like to have a change. E4300...in my opinion overprice compared to what Lenovo,Sony or Macs offer + I don't like the protruding battery.
Macbook Pro would be probably good but to be honest i am not a big Mac fan: software reasons (compability issues..i.e. if I was to have a Mac I would have to run Windows on it, not sure that this makes sense) and I take my issues with some of their aggressive marketing strategies.
There's also Acer Timeline 8471 which could work or Asus. Acer Timeline basically this what I want it does - and it received very good reviews..but I have not seen many real end-consumers comment on it.
What is TT?
Btw. would an older version of Sony Vaio do? Where would one buy it?

 

Thank you Mfpreach for the response. So you would say that Your Z11 is a quiet computer when doing the common stuff: word and surfing? I am really very particular about sounds, so this is important to me.

yeah, the weight is a HUGE PLUS IN MY BOOK. Also, I've heard that the screen is really nice, could you comment on that?

Where did you buy yours and are there any good ways how to get some sort of discount?

 

The laptop NEARLY silent. In fact as we speak I have boxee open streaming 720 mlb tv and typing this, the fan isn't engaged at a high speed. You can hear a small hum when the computer is 6" from your face but that is to be expected. The only time the fan goes full on is under intensive 3d gaming as I said. I am also particular about the fan and I have been very happy. It almost never comes on in Stamina mode.

The screen is gorgeous. What makes it great is that it is matte. but its not a really flat like most matte computers are. I refuse to buy another glossy laptop and I hope the trend towards glossy goes away. If I had a choice and didn't have to pay for it, I would take the 1080 screen however, even 1600x900 is almost too small for this screen. I find it to be perfect but 1920x1080 might be too small. I do have very very minor diagnol lines just in the very corners of the screen. You CAN NOT notice this unless you are 1" from the screen adn you move the screen. When the screen is static you can't notice this.


Lastly, I bought it from sonystyle.ca during their march madness sale so I got $200 off and free express shipping. I have heard that Canadians can't get much off though. i think you can get $150 off right now.
I don't really think Sony should have to give further discounts as this computer is constantly out of stock and they are having trouble building it. Common sense says they don't really need to offer you an incentive.

You won't be disappointed.

EDIT*: I should add that in a SILENT room you can hear a hum. However you will hear something out of any computer that has a fan.

 

if you r not lucky, you still have a chance to have the whining cpu problem.

I have Z114GX/S and it suffers from it.

one of the 4 previous gen Z's suffered from it too.

U might get luck with your purchase... tho..

 

mfpreach
all that sounds really really good, thanks for taking the time to write it out. I have to look into it. you said that you get immediately 150$ off, how so?

 

Vavabavava,
that sounds like a nightmare to me if what you're saying is correct. I.e. the CPU whining issue would be then connected to Intel processors rather than to Lenovo's in particular?
Honestly, the whine was driving me so crazy that I had to return a computer that I otherwise loved.
Now just to make sure that we are describing the same issues, would you say a bit more about the whine that you're experiencing?
i.g. does it stop for a millisecond or so when you scroll on the web? (this is what would happen with my 400s). Is it louder when the CPU works 100% and other the other hand more silent when the performance is set on minimum? (or battery). I'd really appreciate if you could describe it.

 

Sony Style Canada - Promotion Detail - Spring into VAIO®!

Re Whining: I haven't heard anyone other than a few people complaining of this. Why don't you go on the owners thread and search if people have this problem.

 

I only hear the whine in a dead silent room or when I am trying to hear it. Of course heavy stuff like gaming puts the fan and then it gets noisy.

 

My Laptop Makes a High-Pitched Buzzing Noise | Dell

it is the same whining that my x200s used to have and i sold it to my friend. When it is at full load like doing Windows Experience Index testing, the whining disappears. from the pressing power button and before it is booted to I do not hear the buzzing or whining or high pitched sound from cpu.

This thing drives me crazy too but I can't send this in for repair.. because I can't trust the sony's repair service. This unit was an exchange for the 5th Z690. I returned 4 Z690's and one of them had the whining noise.

The link takes u to the explanation on the cause.

HOWEVER, you can always return it for full refund if you buy it on sonystyle.com and reorder it till you get the one what you like the most.

 

you could also look at the sony S

 

Honestly people who say that the whine is annoying are being unreasonable (Assuming mine is the same as theirs). It is SO quiet I have to put my hear right up to the computer to hear it. Computers all make sounds, especially if they aren't passive.

I have an i7 so maybe its different than the arrandale.

 

You asked about durability. Depends on what type of durability you are talking about. If just daily use, then I believe that the Z will be very durable.

HOWEVER, if you mean impact and rops, I do believe that Sony sacrifice significant amount of durability with their very hard/light but brittle casing. It does not take impact well.

UL

 

When people here say that the CPU whines, do they really mean the CPU, or do they use "CPU" as the technophobe description of a computer?

While it's possible for a CPU to whine, it'd be very uncommon, and likely at a frequency far too high for humans to hear. And it would likely not operate.
So the immediate assumption here is that this isn't the CPU, but a different component.

 

That link vavabavava posted explains the effect. I did not think of that being probable until I read it. Most of the time I encountered buzz sound it was caused by lose coil in power circuit. Applying some epoxy was enough to get rid of the problem. This one, if true, cannot be fixed that way.

 

I own the VPC-Z1 so here's my thoughts on it.

1. Heat is well managed in this laptop. When playing FarCry with settings maxed, my temperature measurements reached a peak of about 80 Celcius internal without the laptop keyboard or base getting hot enough to burn you unlike some poorly designed laptops. Granted the fan is spinning pretty loud at this point and it sounds like a video card going at full tilt but that's to be expected when you take a laptop this powerful to it's limits. The laptop is typically pulling in around 60 watts of juice at this point and there's no way that any laptop this small can run quiet. Picture a 60 watt light bulb in the thing and you get the idea.

In idle, power use drops to around 9 watts (quite amazing to be honest) and the fan constantly runs keeping temperatures cool at around 45-50C. The loudness is about the same as the previous Z model but I find the pitch is higher. Since this unit has a SSD I oddly find the fan sounds like a laptop hard drive so for most folks it will barely be there. In a noisy environment, you'll be lucky if you can even hear the fan. Personally I think this is a good trade-off. The only laptop I've ever had that could run silent was my old Pentium-M and that was only by undervolting. I don't think it's possible to run silent for a laptop this size with a CPU this powerful.

2. Build quality is excellent. I'm not sure where you are but the Canadian models are built either in the US or Japan. It's hard to explain but there's also a certain sense that things were designed to work well together.

Repair service unfortunately is terrible. In Canada they insist you mail it in to the service center and they automatically charge you a service fee even if you can tell them exactly what is broken and what to change. It's like bringing your car into a shop and telling them you have a flat tire but they insist they must charge you $100 right away to evaluate what's wrong! Sony parts are also expensive which makes for a brutal repair bill. All I can say is pray that you don't break anything. If you are accident prone with your laptop I highly suggest Asus. Most Asus models come with a free 1 year accidental Warranty which means even if you break it yourself, they'll fix it once for free.

3. Software support is pretty reasonable. Normally the only major update you should be concerned about will be the graphics driver and that's only if you game a lot on your laptop although with Nvidia planning to support more OEM cards soon in their universal laptop drivers I suspect this issue will go away entirely. Sony is also one of the few manufacturers that provide XP drivers although there's not much of a point in this laptop.

4. Keyboard is fine but it also depends on your typing style. I find some folks need some crazy ergonomic keyboard at work while I can handle nearly any keyboard. Compared to most laptop keyboards it feels spaced out reasonably well and there's enough travel to touch type easily. The backlighting is also a nice touch when using it in a dark room.