Sony BX Series

Looks like Sony has their new BX series lineup on the website, the ones with the radeon x700s! This is the entire lineup, not just the small ones that theyve had for a couple weeks.

Go to their Small Business site
http://smb.us.sony.biz/is-bin/INTER...ers&RequestChannel=Business&INT=homepage_hero

and click on the "BX Series VAIO Professional" in the Featured products box. It will give you a nice little popup, then click on the "Specifications" tab.

they got 14.1", 15.4", and 17"! sooo nice!

the downside: the ones with the good ati cards won't be out until mid-October at the soonest! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I cant stand it!

 

well thanks for the heads up on the availability here, I'd love to have a 14.1" notebook with the X700 graphics card in, but looks like another case of hurry up and wait.

 

I just got off the horn with Sony B2B. The configurable 14.1 BX is now available... but, not with the dedicated video card. Apparently the card will be an Nvidia, not the ATI X700, and Nvidia is reportedly having some production issues that's holding up this option on the BX. The other news was the salesman told me the Magnesium alloy casing comes standard on the 14.1. Cool Beans!

 

Which NVIDIA card? Could it possibly be the 7.... no can't be.

Edit: You're right about NVIDIA. They pulled the top pre-configured model!

 

Any idea whether this has anything to do with the fact that the BX546 model with X700 is pulled from the site a few weeks ago? Does it mean Sony has decided to forgo all ATI cards in favor of nVidia?

 

That's what Eliwood opined. I don't know, I heard the news form the sales guy... and the Sony B2B guys seem to be more together than the consumer side (as regards getting the story straight and going out to ask managers questions they can't answer)... From what he told me there was no question that the new card was an Nvidia.

 

No, the new BX series will all have the x700 option.

If you look on that site it shows all of them as being available late october to december.

 

Could be, but Sony is not the best in keeping its web site up to date. They just changed the FS 790 "customize" screen to show the Go6400 two days ago, I have an e-mail from a chat session with them confirming that change back on Sept. 27th.

 

I believe that Togus is right on the NVIDIA switch. It only makes sense given that Sony's ties with NV very strong at this point. The site is just a little out of date right now (X700 still shows up on spec sheet but isn't available on the config or pre-config).

 

Probably unrealistic, but if the 17" version had an option for the new Nvidia 7800 I would be SO there (it has EVERYTHING else I want... except for that one critical factor).

 

Got this today in an e-mail from Sony B2B:

Here are the anticipated launch dates (dates that these units are anticipated to be posted on our business website for sale) for the BX Series.

BX540 (Configure To Order) (14.1” display)

· Internal Graphics with No WAN – week of 10/16

· Internal Graphics with WAN & External Graphics with No WAN – week of 12/12

· External Graphics with WAN – week of 1/31

BX560 (Configure To Order) (15.4” display)

· Internal Graphics – week of 10/30

· External Graphics – week of 12/11

BX570 (Configure To Order) (17” display)

· Internal Graphics – week of 10/30

· External Graphics - week of 11/13

Quick Ship Models

14.1” display pre-built ready to ship models:

BX541B – 10/16

BX543B – 10/16

BX546B – 12/11

BX546BW – 1/30

15.4” display pre-built ready to ship models:

BX561B – 10/30

BX563B – 10/30

BX565B – 10/30

BX567B – 10/30



17” display pre-built ready to ship models:

BX575B – 11/6

 

Hmm...the BX546B model is still listed. This is the model originally on the storefront with X700 but later removed. Maybe the X700 will stay after all, and only the configurable models will ship with an nVidia card. Or maybe...

Well, I guess we will know in a few months.

 

I talked to the sony support today and they said the bx's will be configurable on Nov 1 (arghhh i hate waiting!)

i'm still pretty sure there aren't gonna be any nvidia cards on them though!

 

Why?... on the Nvidaia question

 

The only Sony with an ATI card is the A series, which is being phased out. The configurable 14.1 BX with a video card option is expected to be available 12/12 (according to Sony).

 

The new BX ordering page is up, including the configurator. Both the specifications page and the product configurator indicate that the models will come with either integrated graphics or ATI Mobility Radeon X700 256MB HyperMemory. There is no indication of any nVidia card.

Listed in the configurator above graphics options:
"ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X700 256MB HyperMemory™ available in mid-November."

 

Yes, I've seen that. However, twice I've spoken with sales reps on this issue. One of them said flat out the card will be an Nvidia (and that an Nvidia supply problem was the reason for the hold up on the option of external graphics), the other rep said that he expected the card to be an Nvidia.

 

LOL, that is just like Sony. Reminds me of how they still haven't fixed the GeForce Go 6200 vs. 6400 issue on the new S and FS series yet. It appears as if the product development/manufacturing arms has little contact with Sonystyle or the small business sales site.

 

I've noticed that about Sony... I had information (from being persistent on the phone) that the G06400 was on the new S and FS line a month before the information was changed on the Sony Style page. They also have a terrible time telling you exactly what's in a given machine that's found on the re-furb page. They really need to pay more attention to that... but then; Sony has a bit of institutional arrogance that sometimes shows its ugly head.

 

Sony has had the configuration up on the B2B page this week, but calling the rep said its not available for purchase yet. My biggest qualm is that they don't have the SXGA+ option listed. Think this will be fixed by 10/16? Going to Sony's Japan website, the SXGA+ option is still listed, and their date would confirm the 10/16 date.

Is there any way that the external graphics option could be added after purchasing the notebook? I'd like the card, but really can't wait till december.

 

External graphics almost certainly cannot be added after purchase. Unless Sony moves the graphics to a removable daughterboard. Such a move is, of course, unprecedented for this type of notebook and highly unlikely.

 

Such a dilema, because I really can't wait that long to purchase it.

 

december are you serious?

 

Can any of you tell me what about these machines is worth waiting for? To be clear, I WANT to like these, but really what is the advantage over an HP nc8230 (thinner, discrete graphics, docking solution) or the new TP Z60m?

Thanks.

 

im guessing screen quality and style

 

Terrific graphics options. Each screen size in the BX line can be equipped with mobility radeon x700 (or an nvidia equivalent) graphics module.

Speaking of which, Sony just put the new AX570G on SonyStyle. The AX570 is basically identical to the BX570, with perhaps options such as fingerprint scanner removed. This model has the MR X700. That makes it very likely that the BX570 will have the X700 as well, doesn't it? Unless, of course, SonyStyle made another mistake.

 

Buzzben, more comprable to the TP T43, but better screen (imo), video card, and a few small features. Over the HP, well I dont trust HP.

 

no way december is way too long