Sony SA Series Discussion Sony's next new 13.3 laptop

Perhaps the Z will have Thunderbolt. Aside from being a different approach to a laptop, I wonder what capabilities will distinguish the Z from the SA/SB. Thunderbold could be one possibility, so could a FHD display since the SA apparently won't provide a resolution higher than 1600*900. Who knows, the Z might contain yet more goodies not available in the SA.

 

Just wondering, Intel usually comes out with new processors every year, what makes you think that they will stop for some time after Ivy bridge ?

 

btw was this review posted?

Sony Sony VAIO SB Series (VPCSB16FG) - reviews - Notebooks - All Purpose - Good Gear Guide

 

Toshiba R835 just got in stock with sandy bridge. Nice price but no discrete video and the HD is only 5400rpm. So it looks like these laptops are indeed making it to the USA right now.

So before you know it all the models from all the vendors will be in stock.

 

I ordered a customized SB on 8/3 from sony.nl and besides the first email (with 4-5 weeks) haven't received any update. And the websites shows the same message of being in production from the 2nd day

 

Heavily debating between Sony, Samsung and Toshiba right now. Was also considering Asus but no USB 3.0 on that.

The Sandy bridge models are definitely improved especially with the USB 3.0 equipped one and Windows 7 OS with full SP updates.

Will see how supplies are. The Toshiba just came in and there is full stock but I'll risk a shortage of japanese equipment because models always get improved and there will be competition from loads of players.

Dont get me wrong, Sony has made very nice laptops. But I'll compare them all and see which one meets my needs. Competition is so intense today.

 

Toshiba doesn't have a dedicated video chip and they're cooling of the R700 was quite bad (if you push on the palm rest, the fan starts rattling becouse of the thin magnesium)
Also the cooling was quite indirect so the fan was quite loud. The design of the R800 seems to be the same.

 

With Blu-ray & 3D being heavily promoted by Sony, I would speculate that the new VAIO Z will also come with LED-backlit Full HD 3D displays.

 

Maybe it is because adamj023 will have bought a new notebook by then & Intel shouldn't create new CPUs/CPU architectures until adamj023 is ready to buy another notebook?

Of course, I'm just kidding.

 

Toshibas R700 series has gotten high marks and they changed around the cooling a little bit on the new models.

The Sony does look nice though. No perfection on any models. Always going to be engineering flaws.

I guess the Sony has the switch on the laptop itself for battery saving or speed modes. I don't see this on the Toshiba models and I don't believe there is discrete on any of the lines though Im not sure.

Will wait for stock to come in and see what the configuration offerings are.

Sony's new VAIO does look like a prime competitor though but I need to see reviews and featureset differences amongst Toshiba, Sony, Samsung and others.

ivy bridge will be yr end 2011 or very early 2012. Haswell will be 1st half 2013. 1st half 2013 is just way too long to wait and yr end 2011 or early 2012 is almost here already.

VPCSB11FX/W has nice specs though and better than last years S Models.

Fingerprint reader is standard. 512 VRAM is standard with Radeon. And MSRP is $999. 4GB ram. Considering it has the switch for low power mode though if I use it in the extended battery mode, it will be using up my 4GB Ram for video memory.

Also wish it had RAID SSDs or a faster HD than 5400rpm. My desktop is 7200RPM.

R835 is the 1st Toshiba model out and they aren't listed on the main website yet. If I compare R835 vs the base Sony VAIO SB, the VAIO SB is nicer. Fingerprint reader is standard, AND 512 VRAM.

However Toshiba does have higher end models and Samsung is coming out with their offerings as well.

The base SB is my frontrunner right now but I would need to add memory and swap the HD.

 

I don't think that there will be 3D on an ultra-mobile business-oriented model, and personally I would be perfectly happy if they would leave it out. (But Beaups mentioned that the new Z will be very different from the current one, so everything is possible)

It was also mentioned that the new Z will be more compact, so a BluRay/DVD drive is doubtful in my opinion. But as opposed to 3D, I'd prefer to have an ODD.

 

The toshiba doesn't have switch becouse it only has a integrated video chip. the sony has a dedicated and an integrated videochip, to switch between.
I am very curious on how the cooling is going to work in the SB, only 1 fan and 1 heatpipe might be a problem.
The toshiba will use the 4gb ram while integrated as well. But running desktop only requires something like 64mb ram so you won't notice that.
What the sony has that currently makes it a good choice is because it has a AMD 6630 option, wich is better than the integrated in the macbookpro, thinkpad x220, thoshiba R800 and the low end/integrated that will probably be in the samsung.
If the real reviews come in and the machine doesn't have any drawbacks it will be one of the best 13inch laptops this generation (except the port layout)

 

Nice. Can I now also assume that Sony is going to drop the optical drive since the new VAIO Z is going to be even thinner than before? If that is the case, will Sony package the VAIO Z notebooks with portable external optical (maybe Blu-ray) drives to make up for the lack of a built-in optical drive?

 

VAIO SB seems to come standard with the fingerprint reader and discrete video for the $999 price. 512 MB VRAM to boot.

The comparable Toshiba is $100 less without discrete video or fingerprint reader. Toshiba usually has a higher end model with fingerprint reader but Im not sure about discrete video options. Apparently Toshiba doesn't have the models on its website yet even though the R835 has come out.

The new models seem to be due out from today till May for the entire inventory of models for Sandy bridge mobiles in this range.

Can't say which the top rated ones will be. But the models are just trickling in right now in the coming days but some will be released as late as May for the Sandy bridge generation.

Ivy bridge could be anytime from 2nd half 2011 to early 2012.

 

I just sold my Toshiba R700 and I'm so glad I did. Worst laptop screen I have ever seen. Seriously I usually dont care too much about screens but the viewing angles were just terrible. Also the fan was running at 40% even in idle. On top of that it made a high frequency noise which was extremely disturbing. Although fan was running all the time, laptop did not run very cool at all. Overall pretty bad cooling system.

I dont think they changed the screen in r830. They are saying that they improved cooling system but I highly doubt that noise will be any better. Overall I think it is a poor design.

 

The cooling system was redesigned and in fact they showed the internals.

As far as screens go, most laptops have similar visual qualities on their screens with some rare exceptions.

One would need to visually see the screens in person to see which they like and prefer.

I am sure that someone will review and compare the models when they are all out. Most of the Sandy bridge mobiles are still not out yet and some won't be out till as late as May for some models. Will take some time.

If I bought today I would likely get the VAIO SB over the Toshiba R835. The Toshiba R835 could also be using the older chipset since I believe they came out in early March. VAIO SB seems to offer more than the Toshiba R835 right now. As far as other models go, there is still plenty of models not out yet and no real comparisons will be in till May since that is when some models will be coming out.

 

New SB series launched in Asia.
Tons of pics at the following links.
There are even internal pics of the SB.

???????? 2011 VAIO ??? - Mobile01

[????]?2011 VAIO????? - Mobile01

[?????] ?VAIO??????????? - Mobile01

http://www.eprice.com.tw/nb/talk/990/8358/

 

SB looks nice and all. But lots of competition in the marketplace to absorb.

 

For me there isn't any alternatives. The SA is the only model for me that ticks all the boxes.

I want a model with built in WWAN, full powered processor, good screen, looks good to me and I prefer switchable graphics. I also want a laptop with a built in drive. I just hope the SA comes with a premium screen.
I think probably the new Z will end up being delayed and from what i've gathered i don't think it will be the right noteboook for me.

If i wanted a 12.1 i would probably strongly consider a Fujitsu P771.

 

Hi am new here.

Also anticipating the arrival of the SB models in stores. It's hard to tell how good the screen quality is by pictures alone. If it's at least as good as my old SR, I'm gonna get one. Hope it's not washed out like those S models being sold in Best Buy or I'll be looking elsewhere.

Agree with the competition heating up. The Toshiba R8xx is tempting but without discrete graphics, it's almost a dealbreaker. So many choices! Will probably decide by April.

 

So the possibility of an OLED display is still open.

 

Me too, but we are doomed. SA will take ages to arrive.

 

^^^^^^ that eprice.com.tw link is awesome!!!

here's another info...
Taiwan market: Sony launches new notebooks, aims at 10% market share


bye

 

Thanks for the link!

This is good news (hopefully in the long run there won't be any problems, too):

And this again seems to refute the words of the sales reps, that the SB is made in Japan:

I hope the new Z will be really made in Japan.

 

kind of a dumb question here, but I have some unfamiliarity with Sony VAIOs...

on the new SB anyone know if the wifi supports the 5GHz frequency? Kind of a dealbreaker for me because I have so much interference in the 2.4 range

 

Aren't all wireless N chips capable of 5ghz? If that's the case, then it does.

 

I am not sure that 10+ inch OLEDs are going to be readily available anytime soon, and even if they were I am positive that prices for such screens would be insane. Besides I believe only Sammy will have such screens and no doubt they will want to use it in their laptops and tablets first, assuming production is limited.

back to the SB, it appears that the CTO laptop section of the sonystyle canada website is not working for me, takes me back to the splash screen.

 

Considering Sony were the first company to launch an OLED television, why do you believe that?

 

the XEL-1 was limited production model, and at 2500 for 11 inches it was not cheap, I saw one in the store, sure it looked fantastic but not worth the price.

Since its introduction, there has been no successor probably due to the costs currently and limited capacity of OLED production lines for larger screens.

I am not sure what Sony's capacity is for OLED screens, but I doubt it is enough to handle a large OLED screen with large production need.

 

Sony's notebooks are not made in Japan. The Sony's ODM is Quanta or Wistron and they are all made in China.

I can't tell if the VAIO SB is Wistron or Quanta.

I am wondering however, does the VAIO SB have the TPM chip on the motherboard for the fingerprint reader?

Would be able to tell more if they had a closeup of the internals. The internal design looks okay. I saw a closeup of the Toshiba internals and they did redo the copper cooling element, but people were saying they didn't change the fan on them.

On first glance: The Sony VAIO SB is very nice and does have roughly what is needed. The i5 CPU 2410M, fingerprint reader, discrete video, a well built design with backlit keyboard and more.

Note: The Sony VAIO SB only has a touchpad.

 

I need some comparisons since all these models are due out soon. Obviously notebooks will have differing price points, differing feature sets and the like.

For me I know for certain I'll want 12" to 14" range but Im more sensitive to weight. Some manufacturers are doing 13.1 to 13.3" like Sony while others are only doing 12.5" and 14" now.

How does one really determine the laptop to get and the size they need? Hard to make decisions with so much on the market. Even harder with limited supply and models on the market and only a slight few reviews on product.

Will be nice when stock is fully out and reviewers get their hands on them.

 

tpm chip comes with the fingerprint reader. but its on select models.
Could it be possible that the premade SB is made in china and the CTO in japan ?

Lenovo is nice but it's also more expensive, no dedicated gpu and not as thin. The lenovo X220 isn't going to be available here .

 

IMHO, it is unlikely. If the pre-config VAIO SB notebooks are assembled in China, then the CTO VAIO SB offerings will also be assembled in China.

 

High-end models like Z and X are made in Japan. I have an old VGN-S (which was a high-end model back then) and it is also made in Japan.

 

the SB in poland, and the same model on the sony UK site comes with a fingerprint reader.

 

Most of the current VPC-Z models were assembled in Japan, except for some of the earlier ones (the ones sold in the U.S. market) that were assembled in the U.S.

 

I'll prolly go Sony.

http://www.squaretrade.com/htm/pdf/SquareTrade_laptop_reliability_1109.pdf

Thats why. Asus is missing USB 3.0 on first glance. Toshiba well, they seem to be less featured as of right now than the Sony.

Sony seems to be the best alternative. Lenovo just has too many problems. Other than these, the only question mark is Samsung from Korea. Samsung seems to be concentrating on the MacBook Air segment. I don't see any models of Samsung competing favorably against the VAIO SB at the moment.

So from a preliminary read, it does indeed look like the VAIO SB is the frontrunner.

VAIO SB comes stock with the fingerprint reader for $999 in the USA. I wasn't sure about the TPM chip.

Seems like Sony VAIO SB is good.

 

IMHO, as long as the notebook you eventually buy fits your needs & you're happy with it, that is all that matters. Good luck.

 

I didn't really think they would offer OLED laptops this year. I was just using OLED as an example of high-end, next-plus generation feature. What seems reasonably certain is that the SA is going to be pretty much an updated version of the Z and the Z is going to be something else.

I'm guessing that one attribute of the forthcoming Z will stay the same as old version, it will be the highest end executive notebook made with features/atttributes not available elsewhere. What those features will be, I (obviously) don't know. Thunderbolt and FHD are two possibilities, I'm sure there are more.

Sure, it's possible that the Z could be just an SA split into two or more parts but I'm betting it will be something more.

 

The nation of manufacturing doesn't matter. In fact my Panasonic TV was manufactured in Mexico and has been flawless. Not a single issue with the TV and Ive had it for many years except for a remote control that broke which was my fault so I replaced it. Japanese only mattered in the sense of production delays due to the earthquake though I will say the Japanese do make some top reliability models in Japan like automobiles that are unique such as the Acura TSX that aren't found anywhere else.

The VAIO Z was a custom design not used on any other notebook manufacturers since it was a 13.1" model. While it may have used an ODM I guess final production occured in Japan.

The VAIO SB is nicely equipped but its design isn't extraordinary. I checked Samsung and I don't see any 13.3" models in the works that are comparable to date.

The Apple MacBook Pro and the Sony VAIO SA/SB lines seem like the most competitive and most fully equipped models to date for the 13" segment at this time for the non MacBook Air competitors.

MacBook Air has the Samsung 9 series as a serious competitor.

So as of right now, VAIO SA and/or SB would be the notebook I would get.

I am tired of looking around so unless by mere chance someone comes out with something dramatically better, the Sony VAIO SA/SB will be my next notebook with either Sandy or Ivy bridge depending how long I wait unless they rename the model completely when Ivy bridge appears.

Does anyone know if the SONY VAIO SA or SB SPEC SHEET and/or manual is online via the sony official websites?

 

Do you have a laptop right now ? Ivy bridge is another year from now, and a year after that there will be an even better intel platform or even amd. Right now is a good time to buy a new laptop, if you need one.

 

I found the VAIO Manual but not the spec sheet from the UK website. Seems like it does indeed have the TPM module and all the notebook features.

Wish I found a spec sheet though. VAIO SA/SB it is. Manual was just released today in fact to the EU website.

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/MANUALS/NOTEBOOKS/VPCSB/SB_H_EN.PDF

Shows todays date.

I guess it should be showing up in stock shortly.

 

Isn't that the manual I posted from the FCC site? looks identical.

 

vaio-link is the official Sony website. I can't comment on the FCC manual since I never saw that one before.

Due to FCC restrictions, those FCC manuals are posted but I can't comment as to if Sony made changes. This is their most recent manual and there may have been changes along the way.

Do you have the FCC ID or the fcc link for the website? Then we can compare the two.

From the final manual it does indeed look like TPM has been implemented and it seems like a feature rich notebook pc.

 

here is the link I posted

2shared - download User manual.pdf

bah, no SA on that link you posted :/

 

My virus checker shows that link as having spyware after I attempt to download the file which it successfully removes. My link was spyware free and the official Sony Manual released via the website. In fact, if you go to the Sony UK site and enter in the VAIO SB model # it directly brings you to the manual link.

Your link was not an official FCC manual which would be found on the fcc.gov website. The Sony link I posted was an official Sony manual.

I urge people who have downloaded that file to check their computers out with a virus scan from Avira which is a free software application.

At any rate the VAIO SB does look like a nice computer although Sony Repair Service is known to be poor.

Which Credit Card has the best warranty protection in the USA I wonder.

 

if you want the fcc link then here

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas...N&application_id=913900&fcc_id='AK8PCG41217L'

if you check the link you will see there is a manual there, and the link I uploaded at the start of march has the manual from the FCC, no one has reported a virus from the file earlier in the thread.

Besides if you checked my file you'd see that the fcc manual is 210 pages and for the SA/SB/SC models and your manual is 209 pages for the SB model.

 

The site has the SA/SB and SC models as well. I just posted the SB link because that was the model I am looking at.

I just know what my virus detector showed and it removed the virus successfully without me downloading the file. It could just be the website you posted to that had the spyware application.

At any rate even the FCC images show this unit including the batteries were indeed made in China so I don't see any issues here from the earthquake.

I gather the lithium ion batteries produced in Japan were being used on other Sony products than this notebook.

I wonder if the fan is an appropriate ball bearing fan. On some Sony models they wound up using a non ball bearing fan which would wear out and cause issues with the laptops.

Other than that, based on specifications, the Sony looks like a decent notebook PC on the market right now.

The internals of the Toshiba with the redesigned cooling seems to be using more copper elements on first glance. Can anyone confirm this?

 

Well I expect the Z to offer FHD. If not, FHD is gone from the 13" notebooke market!
Can't see a reason why the would "downgrade" the screen res.

 

I love how on page 14 of the manual, it says... "It is recommended that you do not use your computer with the LCD screen lid fully open for an extended period of time. If you do so, the temperature of the bottom of the unit may rise."

From the first day I saw the SB/SA and noticed the air vents at the back being covered by the LCD screen, I knew it was a bad design choice.