Should I Purchase Sony Vaio TZ or Vaio Z

I am a full time student, and I am a full time worker. I need a laptop that has good power, and a laptop that is slim, and easy to lug around.

So I have two choices:
Sony Vaio TZ290

1.33 Duo
64GB SSD + 250GB HD
External DVDRW
2 Batteries

or
Sony Vaio Z
1600x900 13.1 LCD
DVD Burner
2.2Ghz Duo2


Now Im skeptic about which screen I will really enjoy to use. Has anyone owned both and feel to share their experience? I wish I could afford both and do side by side comparison, but thats why I have you guys

Thanks fellas

 

I think its important to know what is your price range...because there are advantages to both systems, but price becomes an issue.

With the Z, you get the more powerful CPU, and the built in DVD-drive, you don't want to carry an external driver around with you all the time if you want to be lugging stuff around.

The 1600x900 screen will provide you the most real estate to have applications opened. Also, you have the choice of having both integrated and discrete graphics in case you ever decide to game at all on your laptop.

 

I'm partial to the TZ series and have owned/own several laptops in that size range. If portability is a high priority than the TZ is an easy recommendation. However if this laptop is going to be your sole computer, you would do better going with something a bit more substantial in size and keyboard comfort.

 

I would choose the Vaio Z. You will be using your laptop for quite a while and will want something more future proof, which the Vaio TZ isn't. You may find yourself disappointed with its performance later down the road which I did with my Vaio TZ, in retrospect, I regret purchasing it. Also, I greatly disliked the heat my Vaio TZ put out on the bottom, I don't think its an issue with the Z.

The Z is not much larger than the TZ but much more powerful, higher resolution screen, decent battery life etc. I think Sony made a real winner with the Z.

Sure the TZ may have greater battery life. But with the Z for instance, if you ever need more battery life, you can just buy another battery. But you cannot buy something for the TZ to increase its performance.

 

As you said, you are a student and a full time wroker, i would really suggest going for the Z series, 11" VS 13.1": 2" can make a big difference, TZ is a beautiful laptop, but with an 11" screen, the keyboard is slightly smaler and would be troublesome to use for long periods of time if your typing up a paper, whereas the Z series and extremly comfortable keyboard, nicelyspaced, and that 13.1" has a 1600x900 res which is really hard to come by on a 13" so your getting a better more beautiful screen with more real estate. and the fact that the TZ has a 1.33GZ Core Solo processor thats made with a ultra low voltage , to have power over more notebooks its size, and not heat up as much.

with the Z series you have a Core 2 Duo2.2Ghz processor which will help you alot with everyday to day tasks, and working. and plus a beautiful point with this laptop is the hybrid graphics. to mave really good batter life i think around 6hrs? as noted by other members, you have Stamina mode which is integrated graphics, so you can use your laptop for long periods of time if you arent near an outlet. and if you want a bit more power it has a dedicated Nvidia 9300m GS 256MB Graphics card. so you can do some gaming, or if you work in Photoshop, after effects, flash, video and audio editing, anything of the sort it comes really handy.

 

are you selling it ? I am in Houston TX.

Well I will see.. I actually just received a gateway LT 11.6in netbook.. and its pretty nice so far. I like the size.

 

I have a TZ in the exact same spec as what you listed (TZ2500 model, I don't understand the numbering difference). It's a really nice machine, and it's certainly not slow at all. I use it extensively for scientific work in Matlab and Labview and I've never felt hindered by the speed. I'm using it on XP though--Vista may be a bit less responsive. I do remember Aero being a little slow at times with many windows open, but luckily I hate Aero and am happy as a clam with the classic look.

I've never owned a Z, but I honestly think that the cheaper 13" Macbook Pro is a MUCH better option than a Vaio Z. The TZ, on the other hand, is a really unique computer. I'm in college right now, and I have it with me 24/7. It's either in my bag, or plugged into a keyboard/mouse/display in my room. I've NEVER run the battery down before, in over a year of heavy use. The only time I got close was when I left it overnight downloading torrents, and forgot to plug in the adapter. It ran 8 hours while downloading to the hard drive and still had ~10% left in the morning.

Also, rehangohar77: The TZ is a Core 2 Duo, not Solo. It's still a dual-core processor, just clocked lower with much lower power consumption than a regular C2D.

 

coupdetat: thank you for pointing out my mistake, i didnt realize that
i think i was trying to say that the C2D SU(xxxx)processors arent AS powerful as T/P series processors. thats all:d but i agree that TZ has a really good CPU enough to daily tasks
one more thing, do you have trouble with extensive typing on the TZ or is it suitable to type for long periods of time or typing out a lecture or such, because i see mixed comments from TZ users, i have used TZ myself but not as an owner just few times. I think its a beautiful laptop in everyway, and i would deff like to have it but not really as a main laptop, more of a 2nd or other things. i would rather go with the Z as my 1st Main usage laptop.

 

I was between the TZ and Z as well >
Have decided for TZ as I got a very good deal on it > The config for the Z I opted for was too much for my pocket right now. >>

I am still not used with typing on TZ as keys are arranged too close to each other and small(if u have big hands).Just a matter to get used to.

For my use the TZ is more than perfect.

Going for a Z down the road.

 

Before I got my TZ I had a 12" Powerbook, which had a full-size keyboard. I actually find that I type faster on the TZ because the keys are slightly closer together. Even though I use the regular "home keys" typing style, I often reach across the keyboard with the opposite hand to hit a key if the other hand is busy--the smaller keyboard allows me to do this motion faster.

I've written 10 page papers in one sitting on the TZ and have been very comfortable doing so. I'm 5'9" so my hands are probably average sized.

 

why not look at the TT rather than the TZ?

 

I would agree. TZ is still an amazing machine for its size but technology wise it is getting a bit long in the tooth.

The TT would be a good upgrade from the TZ. Although larger, it has the muscle.

 

Agree with you on this point.However I think that the problem with the erratic touchpad (i don't remember anybody on the TT thread has 100./. solved this problem) is something that made me not to buy it.

> Of course the TT has more upgrades option than the TZ .

> But the final price for the config I was looking for was out of my buying power.

 

As I mentioned above 1st paragraph:

Yesterday, 08:54 PM #73
agrez
Newbie

Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3
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Re: Fixing Sony VAIO TT touchpad Problems
Nico and Lewinr,

Have tested another 20+ drivers and am afraid that Acer is the only one near perfection. Right now I am using a release by Lenovo which seems slightly better than the Toshiba R600, but still not comparable to Acer since touchpad is still "sticky".

I'm considering to downgrade Windows Vista to XP and install Acer drivers... maybe the last alternative left. Was actually curious: which OS were you running when reported the "keystroke stream"?

 

Could you explain a bit? The dimensions of the TT are insignificantly different than the TZ, the shape is just rounder. Speed-size, I bet they are very close (other than the GMA950 vs X4500 graphics). I don't think a 1.4ghz TT would have much of an advantage over my 1.33ghz TZ...

 

I like my tz a lot, I can run sun virtual box with 3 virtual servers at one (with VT enabled hacked);
It's a great machine.

 

You can't assume that the clock rates are directly comparable -- they're different generation processors.

 

Would you care to elaborate more on that? Capitalizing "much" isn't all that persuasive IMHO.

I have used both the 13" unibody Macbook (before they decided to call it a "Pro"), and the Z. I have to say, the Z is faster, lighter, has a better screen, similar battery life (even with when compared with the battery updated Pro). However, I admit that the Mac "feels" sturdier (but the Aluminium body is easier to dent). I also prefer the polished straight black key finish on the Mac, but I like the punchier feel of the keyboard on the Z. The Mac keyboard feels a little shallow and mushy for my taste.

I would say the cheaper 13 in Macbook Pro is a nice contender to the Z, if you neglect the OS difference. However, in terms of performance, function, and everyday usability, I would say the Z is still a far flexible, superior machine.

 

There isn't a big performance difference between the two platforms AFAIK. I doubt you'd notice it in everyday use.

 

I googled it -- Vaio TZ with the 1.2 has PCMark05 score of 2446; Vaio TT with a 1.2 has PCMark05 score of 2956... (sources: notebookreview review of the TZ; reghardware.co.uk review of the TT). So a 20% difference for the same clock speed. You were comparing a 1.4 TT to a 1.33 TZ, so let's say that adds an extra 5% improvement to the TT.

I agree that 25% may not be noticeable for many day-to-day tasks, but it's not insignificant...

 

i think you should get the Z. over time, i found the TZ's screen too small.

i find the TZ pretty snappy if you tune it, i am using Vista Ultimate. just do a clean install and it will be fine.

the TZ has amazing battery life though, 5.5 hours with wifi continously on or 6 hours watching movies at brightness 3/4.

keyboard isn't too small unless you really have large hands

i found the TZ's screen too bright and i dont like glossy screens.

the TZ is also very portable although i found it a bit heavy

i hope my next laptop would be 13" matte display, HDMI, lightweight (under 1kg), long battery life, duo core

 

a 13" under 1Kg?? and with those specs??? you may have to wait a while...

TT over the TZ anyday. the slow performance of the 945 chipset, specifically the GMA950 component, on my TZ is very apparent...

 

The TZ had the infamous heat issue. The issue was soo great that they had to do a recall. As portable as it may look, the Vaio TZ is still old tech. The Vaio Z is much faster, lighter, and runs relatively cool for its size. imo the only thing the TZ has over the Z is looks.

 

I had a device with a gma950(in a netbook) and use it on a MB(in windows) and I currently own the TT, and you can easily notice the performance difference when playing video. The 4500HD has no problem with HD, while the 950, was struggling hard to play HD video. You may not play it now, but in few weeks/months you might need to play an HD file as it seems like everything is moving towards HD. This was part of the reason I went for the TT over the TZ.

I really like the Z and would have one, but for me I found the Z's spec would have been better in a smaller 12in size. I personally think the TT size is near perfect.