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    Sony SA Series Discussion Sony's next new 13.3 laptop

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by sturmnacht, Jan 5, 2011.

  1. Crotia

    Crotia Notebook Consultant

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    You can always have the best of both worlds with a large HDD and a small SSD in your optical bay (who uses ODDs these days anyway!)
     
    Crotia, May 2, 2011
    #2401
  2. ShapeGSX

    ShapeGSX Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well, I bought the Best Buy Vaio SC yesterday.

    The Best Buy site says that the computer comes with this hard drive:
    500GB + 4GB SLC hybrid hard drive (5400 rpm)
    Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times.

    But when I checked the device manager, it is actually a 7200RPM drive! 7200RPM 500GB + 4GB SLC hybrid hard drive.

    This sucker is fast. On the second boot, it booted to a usable desktop in ~15 seconds! A Restart took under 30 seconds.

    I am not terribly impressed with the screen, but for our purposes, it is fine.
     
    ShapeGSX, May 2, 2011
    #2402
  3. xxGenericSNxx

    xxGenericSNxx Z1 Fanboy

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    Are you SURE your drive is a Hybrid drive? Sony advertised the SB having a Hybrid but then shipped them with regular ones.
     
    xxGenericSNxx, May 2, 2011
    #2403
  4. ShapeGSX

    ShapeGSX Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, I checked the drive's model number via the Device Manager. It is a hybrid. I can post the model number later today.
     
    ShapeGSX, May 2, 2011
    #2404
  5. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    I tought that those hybrid drives had some problems, like not living up to the expectations, did they fix it by firmware or what?
     
    fscussel, May 2, 2011
    #2405
  6. ShapeGSX

    ShapeGSX Notebook Enthusiast

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    ShapeGSX, May 2, 2011
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  7. avoid

    avoid Notebook Geek

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    yes they did
     
    avoid, May 2, 2011
    #2407
  8. amatot

    amatot Newbie

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    i checked this laptop at best buy yesterday - a very good deal for the specs compared to customizing it at sonystyle.
    i have a question regarding the backlit keyboard which i couldnt figure out at best buy - does it come with adjustable brightness (like the mbpro) or just on / off feature.
    Any information about battery life would also be appreciated.
    Thanks!
     
    amatot, May 2, 2011
    #2408
  9. ShapeGSX

    ShapeGSX Notebook Enthusiast

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    When it gets dark (light sensor next to the speed/stamina switch), the backlit keyboard fades on. I haven't found a manual setting, yet.
     
    ShapeGSX, May 2, 2011
    #2409
  10. Manipulate

    Manipulate Notebook Consultant

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    You can manually set it to never come on but there is no hotkey feature to manually engage it like on mbp.
     
    Manipulate, May 2, 2011
    #2410
  11. Rachel

    Rachel Busy Bee

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    Rachel, May 2, 2011
    #2411
  12. coldmack

    coldmack Notebook Virtuoso

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    SD? What does the SD have or lack that the others have, and where is that being sold?
     
    coldmack, May 2, 2011
    #2412
  13. ak-xs

    ak-xs Notebook Consultant

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    the SD is the Asian name for the SB. there are no differences..



    i think i might still buy the SA since i PAYED for the SB on 4th of April, and only on 10th of May it's supposed to finally be within my burning grasp... meaning more than a month from order to delivery... so if anything delays it even more or i don't like any detail it will be almost time for the SA to go on sale by the way things are going =/
     
    ak-xs, May 2, 2011
    #2413
  14. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    where's my SA?
     
    fscussel, May 8, 2011
    #2414
  15. Brianho1337

    Brianho1337 Notebook Evangelist

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    somewhere...over the rainbow lol.

    Speculations say June but given the disaster in Japan it'll probably be delayed a good month or two. The nuclear crisis alone would probably take a year to solve, let alone the mess caused by the earthquake and tsunamis.
     
    Brianho1337, May 8, 2011
    #2415
  16. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    Nah, I think if sony has to reschedule it for more than june then they would do better just cancel it... too much waiting for customers...
     
    fscussel, May 8, 2011
    #2416
  17. ak-xs

    ak-xs Notebook Consultant

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    no canceling needed. The SB was delayed enough, my guess is they'll just "temporarily" relocate their productions out of Japan and its misfortune and keep the deadline with some delays.. the PC's are already built in Chine anyway so it's just a matter of figure out what to do about some parts...

    i "feel bad" for Sony.. the Japan crisis, the anonymous hacking crisis, geez how much more pain can they overcome as easy? i think they reaaaaally want to sell products to minimize some major losses they'll have this year...
     
    ak-xs, May 8, 2011
    #2417
  18. aras87

    aras87 Notebook Consultant

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    aras87, May 9, 2011
    #2418
  19. Rachel

    Rachel Busy Bee

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    Rachel, May 9, 2011
    #2419
  20. Brianho1337

    Brianho1337 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well you're right but the SB is still a very successful new series of notebooks by Sony. If the SA doesn't make it's appearance in the upcoming 3 months then it might as well be scrapped, as the SA is supposed to fill a similar niche like the Z did. The higher price and the introduction of Ivy Bridge in 2012 will give the SA just a few months to test its place in the market.
     
    Brianho1337, May 9, 2011
    #2420
  21. sugarkang

    sugarkang Notebook Evangelist

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    Oh well, there goes any hope of me buying the S series. It can't just be me that thinks the screen resolution is the most important thing. Then why can't Sony just slap on a 1600x900 on the existing $900 S? I'll pay a hundred bucks more. What in the motherpuck is the problem?

    So, now I gotta think about a T420s or wait for a new MBA, if that even happens.
     
    sugarkang, May 9, 2011
    #2421
  22. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    $1499.99

    Redeem 149,999 Sony Points
    Estimated Ship Date 06/22/2011

    how is this estimated?

    Intel® Core™ i5-2540M processor (2.60GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.30GHz
    Microsoft Windows® 7 Home Premium
    Black
    NA_MemoryOnboard/-/-/-
    4GB((4GB/DDR3/1333/on-board)x1+(No_MemoryStd/-/-/-)x1)
    ((Memory Stick Duo slot/PRO-HG/MagicGate/-/-/-)x1 +(SD Memory Card slot/SDXC/CPR
    500GB (5400rpm) Hard Drive
    No_SSD/-/-
    SuperMulti/9.5_topcoverless/-
    ((AMD/Whistler-LP/1GB/-)x1 +(Intel/SandyBridge/-/Integrated)x1)
    13.3/1600x900/LED/ClearLikeAG/Flat/-


    1499 is ok to me =D BUT.... BUT... where is the dedicated vga?
     
    fscussel, May 9, 2011
    #2422
  23. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    AMD/Whistler-LP/1GB that's the dedicated GPU.
    It's the codename.It's a 6630M.
     
    Crystal1988, May 9, 2011
    #2423
  24. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    ah, ok then, i'm ready to go =)

    june 26 is annoying tho =/
     
    fscussel, May 9, 2011
    #2424
  25. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    I hope that in this case, the LCD pannell will be something which is REALLY a PLUS display... in Italy it will cost at least 1400€ this laptop.. at that price I want a good lcd pannel.
     
    Crystal1988, May 9, 2011
    #2425
  26. Rachel

    Rachel Busy Bee

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    Lol
    It is actually $1,399 so the poster who posted this first on the previous page was correct. The large capacity battery is made standard and if you remove this from your basket it deducts $200.



     
    Rachel, May 9, 2011
    #2426
  27. Sadiki

    Sadiki Notebook Consultant

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    Now I'm starting to get very excited.

    Why are people acting like Ivy Bridge will be out in a few months? How long did it take for us to see the majority of Sandy Bridge laptops? Even without delays it probably won't be until late Q1.
     
    Sadiki, May 9, 2011
    #2427
  28. Brianho1337

    Brianho1337 Notebook Evangelist

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    Ehh, Ivy Bridge seems so near our grasp because Nehalem and Westmere were branded essentially the same (1st generation i3, i5 and i7 were based on both Nehalem and Westmere). Ivy Bridge may still share the same 2nd generation Core i series brandings but its only a little over half a year away now, so it just seems faster :D
     
    Brianho1337, May 9, 2011
    #2428
  29. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    yes I've noticed that, removed the sheet battery, removed bluray, upgraded CPU and are good to go at 1499 =D
     
    fscussel, May 9, 2011
    #2429
  30. aras87

    aras87 Notebook Consultant

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    Wow! At 1399, SA is great value consiering 6630m, 3.2lbs carbon fiber case, 1600x900 screen are all standard. I'm glad I waited and didn't get the SB!
     
    aras87, May 9, 2011
    #2430
  31. euchrid_eucrow

    euchrid_eucrow Notebook Consultant

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    Ugh...i wish i hadn't jumped the gun...
     
    euchrid_eucrow, May 9, 2011
    #2431
  32. Crotia

    Crotia Notebook Consultant

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    Keep in mind they did the same thing for the SB in Canada with messed up pricing and didn't release the model for actual order for another ~2 weeks
     
    Crotia, May 9, 2011
    #2432
  33. Geeee

    Geeee Notebook Deity

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    Is 1399 Canadian or US Dollars?
     
    Geeee, May 9, 2011
    #2433
  34. beaups

    beaups New Jack Hustler

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    ^It's only a ~5% swing right now, does it make a difference?
     
    beaups, May 9, 2011
    #2434
  35. Sadiki

    Sadiki Notebook Consultant

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    It's a quote from the Sony Canada website...
     
    Sadiki, May 9, 2011
    #2435
  36. ascariss

    ascariss Notebook Deity

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    although nice and enticing, I will pass the SA as well
     
    ascariss, May 10, 2011
    #2436
  37. ak-xs

    ak-xs Notebook Consultant

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    i'm also kinda regreting buying the SB and waiting for it over 5 weeks since i really needed it.. because of the initial comotion i waited until april to order which brings the real wait time within over 2 months..

    now that i don't really need it that much it's finally getting here and the SA is just a month or 2 away and not so expensive as initially rumored..


    ascariss why? are you waiting for Ivy or the new Z ?
     
    ak-xs, May 10, 2011
    #2437
  38. Markwebster1

    Markwebster1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Wow the SA pricing looks pretty decent actually. Am keen to pick up a SSD with it too.

    Just wondering if it is really work going from i5 to i7 and from 4gig to 8gig ram?
     
    Markwebster1, May 10, 2011
    #2438
  39. mariusvt

    mariusvt Notebook Guru

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    The i7 maybe, if you do a lot of cpu heavy stuff. From 4 to 8gb of memory however no, at least not with what Sony will charge you for the upgrade. If you want 8, order your machine with a single 4gb stick and then order another 4gb stick online for far cheaper than what Sony is charging.
     
    mariusvt, May 10, 2011
    #2439
  40. Brianho1337

    Brianho1337 Notebook Evangelist

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    For the i5/i7 upgrade, I'd say it's an average bang for the buck if you do wanna upgrade it. Since both of them are dual core models they'll both suffer in running a few heavy duty applications. However, the extra 0.4-0.5 Ghz on the i7 might save you some time in the long run. For the RAM, it's a definite yes. Upgrading the RAM for 4GB to 8GB gives you a far better bang for buck than the i5/i7 upgrade does. Like mariusvt suggested, it's much cheaper if you buy a 4GB RAM stick and stick it in the computer yourself (it's fairly easy).
     
    Brianho1337, May 10, 2011
    #2440
  41. Markwebster1

    Markwebster1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Does it void warrenty or anything by upgrading RAM? Do I need to find the exact same frequency or brand or anything like that or will any 4 GB stick that fits be ok?
     
    Markwebster1, May 10, 2011
    #2441
  42. xxGenericSNxx

    xxGenericSNxx Z1 Fanboy

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    No to part one.
     
    xxGenericSNxx, May 10, 2011
    #2442
  43. ascariss

    ascariss Notebook Deity

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    the new Z although will be thin, I am not fond of the design and I doubt it will be what I need.

    after intel announced the new Ivy architecture, I will wait to see how that will advance the game. I just bought a new cell phone so no new laptop for me this year, so I will wait for CES 2012
     
    ascariss, May 11, 2011
    #2443
  44. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    how do you know that, have you seen a picture of the new Z?
     
    fscussel, May 11, 2011
    #2444
  45. Soulboy

    Soulboy Newbie

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    sorry if this has been answered before, but is the SB on sonystyle.ca 800 bucks? and is the site bugged because I can't add anything to cart =O
     
    Soulboy, May 11, 2011
    #2445
  46. ascariss

    ascariss Notebook Deity

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    ascariss, May 11, 2011
    #2446
  47. fscussel

    fscussel Notebook Evangelist

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    fscussel, May 11, 2011
    #2447
  48. ascariss

    ascariss Notebook Deity

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    not sure, but check the new Z thread which is somewhere on the first page here
     
    ascariss, May 11, 2011
    #2448
  49. Rachel

    Rachel Busy Bee

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    Rachel, May 11, 2011
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  50. nutral

    nutral Notebook Consultant

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    hinge looks like the SB, even the rounding and overal style are alike.
     
    nutral, May 11, 2011
    #2450
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