Sony SA Series Discussion Sony's next new 13.3 laptop

How's the noise of this SB?
Is it loud when it stress

 

We sound alike.

If Lenovo T420s has discrete video, the Lenovo will give 14" at a similar weight size.

The Lenovo X301 Sandy Bridge replacement will be using the ULV cpus. So I believe only the S version of the T will be competitive.

Dell Dimension also has a Latitude model due out. Haven't found other competitive models with the Sandy bridge yet.

Haven't been inside the Sony store yet to see if they have models. They could be in stock this weekend at the Sony Store though.

AMD 6630M and the i7 2620M will be shipping out by Friday and so will the additional orders in all likelyhood. Unclear if the Sony Store will have them in stock.

Lenovo T420S is using business class GPU if it has one. Sony is using a consumer grade GPU.

Sony is a really nice looking machine with style. Lenovo is dull and boring but does have different user input options.

Who will be at the Sony store this weekend checking out the machines? I would assume they would have at least display units by now.

 

I doubt that part about the T420s getting discrete video but the battery life on the standard battery is amazing if true!

I didn't look at the X series bec of the relatively anemic processor but it does look better IMHO. The Asus U36J would have worked for me but with no actual unit to see, it's a hard sell for me.

Yeah the Lenovo is all business while the Sony can play. One thing I like about Sony, they know how to make it look good. Will definitely wait for the display units.

 

The spec sheet someone posted showed the discrete video option on the T420S so I don't doubt it.

It isn't fully on the website yet though.

I was fooling around with an old monochrome junky Packard Bell laptop recently which felt like a childs toy with Windows 3.1.

This computer will be even more powerful than my existing Desktop PC all in a notebook format with a super quality screen with 1600x900 when they come out. Quite amazing how far we progressed technologically.

I never bought a notebook PC before and didn't even invent the microcircuitry inside which is an amazing piece of work all around by the designers.

The question for me is if I need such a powerful machine and what will I do with it and if the money is well worth it.

It is going to be a lot of money for this notebook but I think there are just too many smart humans all over the place doing smart things in their respective fields right now.

 

Ah ok. Good to know.

Saw a Vaio Z with the 1600x900 screen. Not as bad as I thought. Readable. Fonts remind me of what it looks like on a HTC Inspire. Heck, I might just go for a Z if the price is right.

I'll probably get by with the entry-level Sony but prefer Win7 Pro on it. Hope these 2nd gen i-cores can run the next OS(win8) when the time comes.

 

is the base config for the sony S still in a stage of preorder? or is it actually available?

 

Just curious, who makes the screen for the SB

 

Nomisr: AUO most likely or CPT. The FCC test release showed a CPT panel while videos showing up showed an AUO Panel.

Matte screens. All the Matte laptops screens that are out are more or less the same for the stock resolution.

6 bit color 90/50 viewing angles and the like.

 

In the UK Win7 Pro gets you a 2 year warranty on vaios, Home premium is 1 year, so at £50 i thought i'd pay for it to get an extra year.

 

The SB screen looks matte, am I right?

 

Yes it is indeed matte

 

Sony released new BIOS for the new S series. New BIOS version is R1030H4, check your BIOS version under VAIO control centre.

New BIOS reduces the fan noise on the new S series.

EP0000247021.exe

 

Can't see that anywhere on the Sony support site - will it come down via that Vaio update program if I have a look there? (not on the Vaio atm)

 

it's on Sony China website.

 

Ah, OK - will wait for it to percolate through to the European support site.

 

Screen comparison: SR vs SB

 

I ordered the base config and mine is arriving today. FYI- i'm in the USA.

 

I saw the Sony SB16 (i5-2410M) in Manila today. My observations:

1. The bottom right (opposite the optical drive) was wicked warm. Palmrest temperatures seemed fine.
2. The hinge was wobbly, just as if not wobblier than the Vaio Z.
3. The 13.3 screen didn't impress, but perhaps the Sony videos playing did not bring out the strengths of what seemed like a matte or anti-reflective screen.

Otherwise, it looked gorgeous. I'd still pick the Z's FHD or HD+ display any day. I'm going to hold out for the real Z replacement and try out the AMD e350 in the HP dm1.

 

Thats where the Harddrive is, since i replaced it with an ssd it didn't get hot anymore.

I found out how to replace the dvd drive, just 2 screws on the bottom that are keeping it in place. take them out and you can slide it out.

 

Did you run any test yet? The benchmarks will probably show if the GPU was underclocked or not.. also temps if possible. Thanks!

 

Yup looks like these are coming in stock at all the stores around the world.

Still waiting for them to get in stock at local stores in USA but they should be in the coming days.

VAIO SA is my pick.

 

SA is where it's at.

Have to agree here. I can't fathom paying the premium for an SB when the biggest selling point of the Z was the fact that it's the ONLY 13" frame laptop with 1600x900 and above resolution.

It's paying nearly double for a slightly lighter notebook and the Sony brand compared to it's contemporaries.

My Z is only going to be replaced by the SA or the actual new Z.

 

What brand has a laptop at under 4lb with a pretty powerful discrete graphic, optical drive and high end CPU.

Please find one for me because I've been looking all over the place for one.

 

I'm not sure about the weight (nor the build quality) but for pure performance, the Acer 3820TG has always been an competitor to the Vaio Z in performance as it has an Arrandale Core i5 proc and AMD graphics that beat the 330m. Supposedly they're coming out with the 3830TG which is the updated sandy bridge models... Then again, screen is 720p, spinning HDD, no backlit keyboard, and build quality is questionable. BUT the 3820TG is $900... so are you willing to make trade-offs?

edit: i read somewhere the 3820TG is 3.9 lbs.

 

well you guys will have a while to wait before the SA arrives

 

The Sony VAIO SB with AMD 6630M is the 1st sandy bridge model on the market to fit this. If you are looking all over then buy the VAIO SB right now. Should be in stock tomorrow with your specs.

So head to http://www.sonystyle.com and order it. Seems like you need this one and you need it now.

For those who wait, other models are going to be appearing from multiple other makers.

Check all manufacturer websites and shop and compare. Enjoy.

 

Yeah, but again, lack optical drive. I have no problem with the Acer models because i'm still considering those vs the SB/SA. But for those that says Sony is overprice has to compare with the competition. For the same specs, especially gaming power, you either have a lot heavier, a lot bigger, or missing stuff like ODD, and evne then, you only one one competition when you're missing ODD. For weight, you typically lose ODD, or lose discrete graphic card, or both!

This is a great package.

 

Yadda yadda yadda. Just buy the SB and report back when you get it which should be any day now. Enjoy!

 

that is true, but for those on a budget, the Acer is a much better deal. Also, there a huge amount of interest here for people to swap out their ODD for a HDD/SSD to augment the drive space in the Z. Personally, i could live without an ODD, in my year of owning my laptop, i've used the ODD... 5 times maybe? For some, the loss of an ODD is not a requirement, you can always buy an external one for $30 or even less.

But like the Z, the SA/SB series offers something that no other manufacturer offers and that's why they can charge the premium (and that's why some of us are willing to pay for it )

 

That's the point, Sony is offering a package NOONE else is offering.
You are getting sh*tloads of goodies, like backlit keyboards, odd's, dedicated gpu's, high-res screens (matte) and so on.
If you are looking for an all-in-one multimedia, gaming and working machine, Sony will have something for you.
On the other hand if you can drop the drive and the gpu, most can, you have some really nice options out there.

 

how about in retail stores, do they have the new S series on sale, like in best buy or something?

 

Yeah, i'm waiting for the tests of the 3830TG to see how the cooling does vs SB. If the cooling is at least as good as the 3820TG. I'd get that because of the price. If the SB is similar in graphic performance to the 3830TG and 3830TG runs hot and is non-OC, i would go with SB and replace the ODD for a HDD. Additional TB of space can store a lot of pr0n...

 

Not yet.. it's not even out in Sony Style stores yet, supposedly it'll be in tomorrow. We'll see.

 

I have seen the S series in the Mediamarkt today, its a big chain here in the netherlands. So it should be in sony stores as well.

 

Have a look at the Acer AS 4750G at 14". This came out last week. This i5-2410m model comes with a 640gb hdd, 2gb nvidia gt540m, 4gb ram, Win7 Home premium. No backlit KB (Godalmighty, shouldn't this be standard equipment like say, a display?) I can't tell if the new Sony SBs screen is any better than this one. This Acer felt like a 4 pounder. Looks great with the metallic blue finish. This came out a week before the new Vaio S and according to the Acer reseller I spoke with, sold very well.

All for US$900 in cash. (Note that in Manila, laptops are taxed heavily and this one is probably overpriced by 25%.)

 

I have never heard of such Acers. Where can you buy them? Preferably in Canada. I also can't find any reviews on it.

 

Might be an asian release only. I couldn't find it on the acer site as well. Strange huh?

 

Sony Store will have which model tomorrow in stock?

I know the website will have stock and Sony style had stock in the USA of the lowest grade SB and sold out the initial units.

Tomorrow they seem to be getting more of the model they sold out of as well as the other models in stock but its unclear if the Sony Store will have them.

 

i admire acer for putting so much in such a tiny package, which includes the timeline X i currently use right now, but they have to step it up in the build department. Acers have one of the most horrid screens ive seen so far, and they really have to do away with the glossy finish, after a couple of months mine started to grow mold

 

Singapore version has 4750G with i7 2630QM and GT540M..

 

Mold. Wow. Means Water got into the unit due to use in wet or humid environments.

Well, some are Mil spec'ed but the VAIO I don't believe is. So it may be better than Acer but you need to use it with an appropriate notebook bag and the like.

 

The pre-configured SB series laptops are back in stock on sonystyle.com

 

Depends on the country you are in I guess.

"Temporarily out of stock. We will email you when your product ships."

 

in Italy still out of stock (from Sony Store).

it is possible to find some pre-configured model in other e-shops.

 

still not available on the canadian website

 

I thought they killed the X301 line. Is there really a Sandy Bridge replacement coming along?

 

the x300 line is dead, there is only the x220, which uses a full blown SB chip

 

on sony.jp there is the possibility to configure your serie S with a 256x4 1TB SSD, but no 1600 monitor

didn't find any info on SA serie, in chat the sony man said that I have to wait a long to buy it or configure mine

I need a new notebook, what to do then?
wait for a SA or buy a serie Z?

 

I, personally, wouldn't buy a Z serie notebook now, but if you need one now, the answer is obvious, buy it now
You still could go with a Lenovo x120 or some sort of budget notebook aviable and maybe sell it later

 

For information only, my CTO Vaio-SB ordered on 04th March arrived in Germany yesterday. I got a tracking number from DPD.
Now I have to see, how long it will take from Frechen (near Cologne) to Berlin