Sony SA Series Discussion Sony's next new 13.3 laptop

I won't believe it until it's officially announced. The VAIO Z series is well known to be a premium notebook range, surely even Sony are not silly enough to brand their premium notebook SA? Hopefully we'll see the ZA or Z20 or whatever they call it at a later date...

 

I think the point is that they're ditching premium in favour of consumer.
Remember that the TT didn't get any replacement that was in the premium category.

 

Omg, what a dissapointment by Sony. The best premium ultraportable Z becomes a SA glossy? What's wrong with Sony? Are they failing? Come on, we are speaking about CES, where is the Z replacement (not speculation), where is the X refresh, where is the P now that the Oak Trail platform is released? Just 4 series...too much 3D, huge fails!

 

I think this is due to the fact, that Sony made it to build a 4.000€ notebook (maxed out in eu i.e.) with a service that is NOT acceptable for premium product. In addition to that there where always things, not big deals but a lot of them, making people switch to Dell or Lenovo, like cracking hinges and wearing out palmrests. You know, that kind of stuff that would have made a 4K notebook 50€ more expensive.

Anyways I think there will be a 13" line (maybe not Z) because its the perfect compromise of portability and comfort for many of us.

 

when it's supposed to start shipping?

 

There, you have answered your own question.

Unfortunately, I think that Sony is putting most resources on 3D, betting & hoping that 3D will make it really big, & thus may mean that other non-3D stuff are not that important to them anymore.

 

Is the graphics switchable either like the Z or optimus?

 

No switchable graphics & no Optimus.

However, it is unfortunate that Sony do not offer the dedicated GPU option for the VAIO S in the US market.

 

Yeah it was offer exclusive and Best Buy and read part of the reason for not bring it 310m models here was price, and they(sony, intel, and BB) wanted to push their wireless display tech.

 

??????????????????

 

late february.

 

is it confirmed that it´s going to be a Z replacement? I don´t see a reason to replacing it, since Z is so well rated...

 

Is the Z officially discontinued then? Anyone?

 

nothing official yet, but this unfortunately supposed to replace the current Z series.

 

If Lenovo can have something like 4 devices with similar specs in the 11.6-13in range I don't see why Sony can't have 3, like the S is the base model the SA is the slight more premium model a bit more aimed for multimedia/gaming and the Z is the ultra-premium model/more business oriented model.

 

the size is a clear indication that this is obviously the successor to the vaio Y series, which apparently will replace the S series, hence the "SA"

i'm expecting the "ZA" to be announced soon

 

That could make sense since the Y did come with an optional ATI gpu(not sure if it was switchable), and I don't remember reading or not but does this lack an optical drive? I know the Y did.

 

I was almost to buy a vaio Z, but since it´s going to have an upgrade to a faster GPU, intel sandy bridge and lower price, i´m gonna wait...

 

The more I read the more skeptical I'am that the device pictured is the Z replacement. Particular the very glossy patterned monstrosity. The Z target market is business and I cant see many business people carrying around that laptop.

 

Beaups said this is the replacement for the Z series and that boy has some sort of connection to Sony's computer division because hes always right about stuff like this.

It looks tentatively as if the design is subject to change so I wouldn't get all hot and bothered until theres a release date and official promotional material from Sony about it.

I like the design, not the colours or patterns so much but I like the clean lines and the shape. I do miss the barrel hinge which for a long time now has been a sort of Sony style signature. Then again I have a VAIO SR and I've taken it apart to fix the cracking hinge and at times unresponsive buttons so I would say that in some ways it is needlessly complicated in terms of parts and assembly and as such is destined to develop some of the problems mentioned above, if not now then later.

As for the Z series target market being business - who needs a GT330M for business seriously? Its marketed to professionals because frankly, professionals are the only people likely to earn enough money to consider paying the price of admission. The truth is that you won't see many people (even professionals) carrying around £1500+ worth of personal computer. My office consistently spends the absolute bare minimum because computing for us guys is a means to an end and theres plenty of viable alternatives for boardroom/presentation/office work without the gaming lite gpu that cost less than half the money. We also tend to do it through companies like Dell which have a whole customer service division for enterprise and small business customers and it actually happens to be pretty good.

And most of the people willing to spend Z series kind of money on a computer? 8 times out of 10, Apple has that market cornered with MBP and the biggest reason for that has more to do with Apple's software acquisitions than anything else. Right now if you want to use stuff like OSX and Logic Pro, you don't have any alternative anyway. I remember when Logic was being co developed for Mac and PC before the Apple buyout. The popularity of software like Logic and its pervasiveness in the music production industry is one of the major forces that established the idea that Macs and MBPs are for creative professionals. Sony doesn't have the software exclusivity so I'd say Sony style is the primary motivating factors for buying into Sony computers. Its certainly one of the overriding concerns in this thread and that is self evident already.

 

well Z should give you "ability" to have best of both worlds: portability and powerhouse. It's up to personal preferences weather you fully utilize its potential. So, for me, Z all the way....

I agree with you on barrel hinge, it was quite a trademake for Sony, and I really love it. Makes you stand out from the crowd, something Z was meant to be in a first place.

Price is ridiculous, but desire factor - PRICELESS

Cheers,
Miki

 

Yeah if they just updated the specs of the Sony Vaio Z with all the stuff found in the SA, I would be happy. Truthfully, the Sony Vaio Z design is ALMOST perfect. The things that make it stand out for me is the small bezel, the trademark barrel hinge, and the awesome keyboard.

 

Whatever they do they better not skimp on material like the VPC-Z. My Z12 palmrest easily got scratched all to hell (my 3yr old also took a pedegg to the lid but that's another story). Efforts to fix it only made things worse. I have a 3+yr old SZ which still looks as good as the day I bought it.

 

true. Same as with VGN-Z keypad, after few months of use, they all (well most of the keys) look worn out, no more that fancy "sandpaper" feel, just ugly cheap "slick" plastic.. quite disappointing, considering premium materials used and premium price. My ancient old FZ is still in mint condition, how about that?

All said, I really LOVE my Z, can't compare it with S series (also having SR and VPC-S in family)... but they really need to upscale quality - pronto.

Cheers,
Miki

 

Well said miki ...

 

With Sony these days being led by an American, you can pretty much count on quality continuing to go down, not up.

 

The SA models are the official Z replacement models, same pricerange (2~3000 euro). Again with 2 models, i5 and i7, both with SSD raid configurations for my country as fixed models in the stores. No FullHD on the i7 but both have a bluray player. Thank god they had the wisdom to make them black. They have a /XI colorcode so I guess premium carbon as /BI stands for premium black on the F series over here. My own Z has /X as colorcode, that also stood for premium carbon so I hope the /XI isnt glossy...

But I dont really like the design, doesnt look as premium as the current VPC-Z.

 

Hopefully NEVER!

 

The GT330M for business (on a vaio Z) actually comes in pretty handy while using 3D CAD software We can use the standard 13" small screen on the run or plug into a large HDMI monitor while stationary. And plug into a VGA projector while in meetings
bye

 

It's that bad, huh? So much for the speculation for weeks and promising specs...

 

Exhibit A:



I rest my case.

 

Sucks that it won't be available in any other colours, and that there wasn't a picture of the same notebook in matte black in the same website. Oh wait

 

You never cease to amaze me with your comments So true!

It will be available in more colors, totally grey one (without any "patterns") looks ....OK, though I cannot picture current Z owners rushing in to replace their precious ones. Personally I prefer old VPC-S design better (I'm not talking specification-wise, just pure design).

Cheers,
Miki

 

I guess the big question is sandybridge worth it as I was pretty close togetting a z13. Would've nice if there were some deals but we all know Sony hates Europe. Could fly to new York buy a z and still save £500 but then there is the warranty issue.

 

Picture above looks like same keyboard (replacement part number) as the current Z.
but the laptop itself is definitely wider and deeper (overall larger) than the current Z.

ok i'll hug my z too

bye

 

That's not the only color shown, the matte one looks much much better. With hints of VPC-X (from front), VGN-S (side), and VGN-FS/C/Y (lid). I am not sure I like it yet, but I must say the shot from the back with it sitting on the docking station makes it look much more familiar.

 

I have read somewhere probably PCMAG article that it will cost less than Z, one reason is the avaliability with HDD, not only SDD...

 

I'm still weaiting for the real Z successor...

 

Well, you know what they say... black is slimming.

Look, I know the black one looks a lot better, but it's to do with design philosophy. An arbitrary colour teamed up with some arbitrary pattern is too reminiscent of HP for my liking. I'm totally convinced that whoever designed this copper monstrosity is not from the same design team that designed the previous Z, and that's a bad thing.

Remember this golden oldie:

 

The only real gripes I have with the BLACK Matte "Supposed Z succesor:

-The Big Bezel
-The fact that it has the dimensions of a 15 inch laptop. There is SO MUCH wasted space there.

 

You must have missed the fact that they are labelled "concept notebooks" at CES. This has been widely reported on several Japanese websites including Impress Watch.

 

I will be getting myself a real Z instead of this piece of crap. I'm sad I actually waited for this.

 

Waited for what? It hasn't been announced, no specs are known and it has no release date or even an official name. It's labelled "VAIO Concept Design" at CES. But if you want to jump to conclusions on your own, go ahead.

 

Sure. Google releases beta products all the time. In the end, all they do is remove the 'beta' sign from their logo, and call it v1.

You can't seriously believe that Sony will turn this design upside down. What we're seeing is 99.9% of the end-product. Or else they would not even bother showcasing it.

And it has been announced, unofficially nonetheless, on these forums. Hence I knew what to wait for. Just wasn't expecting this major turn-off.

 

Dude this is NOT engadget

 

...I don't follow

 

I hope you are right!! (...and that this isn't the real SA or Z successor). Still waiting for Beaups to show up and tell us if this is the laptop he has seen.

 

I honestly don't know why Sony didn't atleast release some info or indication they were going to update their Z series.

It's their flagship laptop that is in need of an update. Where else would Sony get this much press if they updated it? They don't need to change ANYTHING but the internals and I am sure 95% of the people here would be happy.

 

oh no i'm happy they didn't update the z yet. my z is 2+ months old and it's way too early to upgrade it

 

honestly why did they get rid of the power button design on the side? that was soo hot~

i know its a concept design, but I can bet that things won't change as much when the "SA" or whatever is going to be called gets released to the public.