Sony SA Series Discussion Sony's next new 13.3 laptop

whats the need for CUDA? you can only use it in professional programs if you hack the drivers.

Besides the performance of the SB is astounding when encoding and decoding.

 

The drivers for the new Z are already out? I haven't used the SB Z yet though, maybe you're right.

Personally I would prefer to use a dock than have to plug in an express card, on top of all the other connectors too, when I get back to my desk. If it can drive a 30" in the next version then that would be even better.

S

 

something like this?
Gigabyte M1305 ultraportable has huge GPU docking station ? Computer Chips & Hardware Technology | Geek.com

If true, then this is nothing new, already seen.....

Cheers,
Miki

 

Totally agree! I never use powerful graphics on battery power, or on the go. I would only use the discrete graphics card for gaming. So having a powerful graphics card in a separate device is the way to go. It'll be much easier to manage the heat of the laptop itself. When using external graphics solution such as ATI XGP, SandyBridge cpu will turn off the integrated gpu which gives more thermal room for the cpu too. But then, I hope the price of that external graphics card box isn't crazy expensive like those $500 Bluray disc option. Maybe they'll release two versions, low end and high end.

Beatups said the graphics is going to be unique in next Z. I can only imagine ATI XGP as another user posted earlier.

 

What if Beaups meant the discrete graphics card and the cpu combine into one chip?

 

Hey it was me....

As we speculate on this, having discrete GPU "outsourced", maybe it will be possible to put 45W TDP inside, full fledged quad! It would be nice...

To be honest I don't like idea of having GPU integrated into docking station, current docking station for Z is about 200$ at sonystyle.

On the other side, this whole idea of "outsourced" discrete GPU could make new Z "just" another laptop, as it will probably have HD3000, so without discrete GPU - well nothing special (aside from astonishing design I hope ).

If they make it with ATI XGP, meaning they opt for PSI Express 2.0, then why users would purchase from Sony additional XGP and not from cheaper sources....ahh to much thinking makes my head spin

Cheers,
Miki

 

Maybe there will BE no other cheaper sources, and their dock is the only one that will work with the system

 

that is quite obvious, since sony's protoypes are a bit more outlandish and out there. this is like the X-series walkman, debuted at CES behind a glad tube, dubbed as a 'prototype' yet went on sale 4-5 months later.

 

I'm not quite understanding something in these quotes.
BEAUPS says, The Z14 won't come to US, as it stands today. However, in another quote it states that we won't see anything besides the SA for the next 90 days. And yet another quote, it states the SA is a temporary replacement for the Z. Question? What exactly we will see after 90 days if the Z14 won't make it to the USA. I'm confused . Can someone clarify. Thanks.

 

According to Beaups:
In the next 90 days Z13.
After 90 days Z13 and SA or only SA.
Then sometime in summer SA and Z successor.

 

Thanks for the Clarification. One last reply. So, this summer, we may expect to see a Z successor in a way of a redesign, correct? Meaning, the Z13 is the last refresh for the current VPC-Z?

So Sony, by this summer, will offer two 13.1 notebooks - SA and a Z redesign? Thanks.

 

I'm pretty sure the SA is supposed to be a 13.3".

And according to Beaups that sounds about correct that the Z13 will be the last refresh (aside from the Z14 in Japan).

 

The next 90 days reply was to someone that was looking to purchase a Z replacement within the next three months. Beaups was telling them that within their time frame they can rest assured that what we'll just see is the SA.
The SA will be 13.3 and so the actual 13.1 replacement is expected later i believe at least around summer.

From what i'm hearing about the 13.1 replacement i can see that the SA is much more preferable for me. I prefer to have my laptop in one unit. The gold SA has really grown on me.
I think it looks pretty amazing here with what looks like a black lid-
http://forum.notebookreview.com/att...first-photos-vaio-sa-ces-sonyvaio2011-lg2.jpg

 

correct. SA is also exactly what I was looking for unless it weights more than ~3.3lbs. People keeps making confusion on the 90 days frame of beaups. To clarify: 90 days is the dead frame for no new Z. BUT it´s also the time frame where SA will appear. So SA will hit the stores in under 90 days (1st week march is the last beaups hint).

PS: no, the gold one no to me =)

 

You've probably read that it supposed to be 3.4lbs. Probably you can get it down to 3.25lbs by using a bare 2.5 SSD. This is what i'll probably do if i get one-although 3.4lbs is still light. You can also remove the drive if it is not important to you. I still like having one built in.

 

yes, I´ve put an ~ before 3.3 to allow for 3.4 =)

 

don´t know if this picture was already posted but it looks hot to me:

 

beaups, what´s it´s going to be, i5 2540M or 2520M?

 

i5 2520M or 2540M are both nice.

From the specs of it with the battery you can get for the whole case, it looks like this is going to be one of the laptops high on my list assuming ratings come in very favorable compared to other models.

With an INTEL X25M 3rd gen or Micron C400 SSD, this notebook is quite favorable.

I need a fingerprint reader, 6GB or 8GB, integrated video (Assuming u can do 3GB + 3GB for dual channel, if not 8GB) and the SSDs as listed above depending which of the 2 drives comes in with better performance.

Am preferably waiting for 22NM ivy bridge replacements, but I will see how long it will take and how the reviews are on this sony and other models before they come out. If this one meets the test, then when ivy bridge is ready ill be there.

 

sorry if repost:
YouTube - Prototype VAIO Laptops

 

Maybe it's just me. But I hope Sony will release an all- white VAIO SA color option. If they do, I'll seriously consider buying that to replace my VGN-Z notebook.

 

I would really also like to see a white one with silver keys and i mentioned that in the other SA thread. I do though kind of doubt that it is going to happen and the gold one looks good to me as well.

They do look great in that video. The battery slice looks kind of chunky though lol. Hopefully the standard battery will be able to achieve good battery life.

 

Let's hope the colors or the pattern of the exterior that you want are not the Signature or super exclusive/expensive models.

I don't think the battery slice is that nice because there will be lot of heat build up, just like when using flush docking stations.

I am definitely interested in SA as well, but only the HDD option. I have a intel 80 GB that I would like to continue using from my x61t. The bad thing about SSD RAID in Z is that it's hard to upgrade later on because they use proprietary connectors. I would prefer i7 quads instead since they are also good on battery now. But if it has to be i5, then I don't really mind lower clocked version as long as it is Sandy Bridge. Let's hope SA has a very good build quality.

 

Thanks for posting Miki. This video illuminated some detail on the slice battery while also confusing me. Look at these two images:

1) Image showing "Slice Battery" connected to "Black Box" via docking connector:


2) Image showing Laptop connected to docking station with it's own 19.5V input but also a slot for the Black Box with label "Extended Battery". This would suggest the black box is an extended battery:


Why I'm confused: because the black box has a coaxial DC power inlet for 19.5V, suggesting that from picture 1) it is a smart charger for the Slice Battery (since you can't just hook up lithium batteries to a DC input voltage), which is contradictory to the label in image 2) that suggests the Black Box is an "Extended Battery".

 

the thinkpad edge e420s might be the one you are looking for, specs:

SB
AMD 6630m
lenovo enhanced experience 2.0 (jiber jaber to say that they added a mSata connector and added an Intel SSD to speed booting times while retaining the storage of the 2.5'' drives)
Magnesium alloy chassis
finger print reader
the screen is going to irk you out since its a 1366*768

starting price of 750

 

Why would edge e420s be better than the vaio?

The memory in any notebook is upgradable as well as the SSD though I dont know which brand Sony includes for their SSD drives.

Any notebook will work with the SSD drives. Curious why you brought up a Lenovo model. The VAIO SA was 13.3" with the weight I am looking for with the right cpu option. Memory and SSD are upgradable. In the picture it looks like it will have a fingerprint reader but I can't tell.

Edge E420s has a 14" screen, is one-inch thick, and weighs four pounds.

Too heavy. Sony is less and a 13.3" screensize on the VAIO SA.

 

with one extra: > 4lbs weight =/ that put´s it out of table to me

 

Same with me.

 

yeah me too

 

I want the basic system which has the best display + a fingerprint reader though with quality performance and nice style.

Computer manufacturers make money on the addons which you can buy elsewhere for cheaper.

Buy 1 4GB module to upgrade, $50 elsewhere. $200 from Sony.

Want an SSD? 500ish elsewhere or less. $700 from sony for probably a worse model.

I just want the barebones notebook with fingerprint, then ill just configure it to my liking.

 

the difference with that SSD is that it comes as I explained in a different port, it uses the mSATA connector, meaning that its the same size as the MBair SSD, with such a small device it can hold as well a common 2.5'' drive.

Currently there is no other manufacturer that offers that.

Agreed that its larger and that its heavier.

and you dont know the measurements of both laptops to compare.

and the finger print reader is going to be offered, in both models the e220s and the e420s.

depending on how sony delivers the SA, this is going to be my buy.

 

I agree, but I don't think business notebooks are meant to be "fun". Sony needs to realize that business is not all about being in a corporate forum. Advertising, Design, Public Relations, and Fashion are industries that would find an all-white Vaio acceptable in a meeting of some sort. I could definitely see it in a matte white lid with the word "VAIO" in satin black finish, and a matte black keyboard area like the photo shown previously or all-white with silver keys as Rachel just described.

 

The Micron C400 uses an SATA 6 Gb/s interface which is standard and will be supported in all the notebook pcs with the sandy bridge platform since the controller is part of the southbridge chip. There is no special interfaces between any notebook pc over the other. Micro SATA is just a smaller version of the SATA interface and is fully compatible with sata. The cables to convert msata to sata are cheap. Even a kit for the rails if necessary is on the market too somewhere. So were you saying that the Lenovo was offering a cheap cable/kit as standard equipment or that they were including msata drives with the units? Not sure what you were getting at.

Micron c400 comes in 1.8" and 2.5" formats so it will be able to be supported fine by the VAIO SA.

Form Factor 1.8- and 2.5-inch Drop-in replacements for existing designs that use HDDs
System Interface C400: SATA 6 Gb/s
C300: SATA 6 Gb/s Next-generation SATA 6 Gb/s provides ultra-high bandwidth for unprecedented performance. Interface is backward compatible for easy integration

 

^Clearly you don't have a VPC-Z..

 

I don't nor ever owned a Sony notebook. This will be my first perhaps.

Sony VAIO SA is being considered.

lenovo enhanced experience 2.0 (jiber jaber to say that they added a mSata connector and added an Intel SSD to speed booting times while retaining the storage of the 2.5'' drives)

Did you not realize that an mSATA connector if not included by the sony and even needed costs a whopping $1.99 or less. The Lenovos are heavier than the Sony as well so your point is moot if you are somehow saying that the Lenovo's cant use a full size drive since the drive bay is smaller?

In the Sony VAIO SA with the same weight and space internally it can use msata or mata drives without any problems whatsoever.

 

lets do this by steps:

1)Notebook, comes normally with 2 sata connectors.
-1 for the DVD
-1 for the HD
to change the HD you just need to buy another and put it in its place.
or you can go and remove the DVD and use the space in the bay to put another HD.

2) Lenovo with the ''Lenovo enhanced experience 2.0'', comes with 3 Sata connectors
- 1 for the DVD
- 1 for the HD
- 1 mSata for the intel SSD
the idea behind this is the space:
- the physical space in the laptop
- the storage space in the HD

You cant fit a mSata drive while you retain your dvd and HD, because there are no more SATA connectors left, and this is the case with every laptop out there right now.

I only pointed this out because, its a nice feature, and the thinkpad edge has your needed fingerprint reader.

 

Totally untrue on the connectors and the space.

If the Weight on the Sony is less, than Sony is better.

Can connect whatever drives I want to the machine or add any connector I want. mSATA is completely compatible with sata. Can use any combination of connectors I want to or splice any connector to add sata or msata or whatnot. There is no limitations there.

People can and will have SSD's in all of the brands. If its a decent brand, the PSU power and reliability in the range should be on par with each other including electrical specifications and united laboratory ratings to boot.

Trust me, lenovo enhanced experience 2.0 is totally meaningless in any imaginable way.

If someone does like Lenovo as their supplier that is fine, but your acting like this Lenovo has something meaningful that this Sony doesn't have and that is not the case.

Anyone can configure the notebook internally to make it however they want and to use the device they want and most people will wind up ordering the notebook with the options that the manufacturer provides for SSD or HD and Sony Vaio SA will offer up the same options as other vendors in this regards.

"You cant fit a mSata drive while you retain your dvd and HD" I can use a DVD and a mSATA or a DVD and SATA on any notebook out there.

Of course you can, in the card slots and the like. If your talking about the Lenovo having space inside for an added mSATA + SSD + HD, I think this is totally useless, but it also adds weight as well to the notebook and for a 13.3" thin and light or ultraportable I would want one SSD (can be mSATA or SATA) along with the DVD.

Totally useless. mSATA should be about getting thinner and lighter notebooks, not be an add on peripheral if somehow the Lenovo does have added space inside the unit for drives.

Lenovo doesn't score any points on this. Weight of the notebook counts and you can configure it with any SSD you want mSATA or regular SATA.

I like the thinnest laptops out there but they are often missing a DVD drive and suffer some performance hits. Its like the MacBook Pro 13" vs MacBook Air argument.

If performance didnt take a hit on thinner and if a dvd or newer technology was able to be had that works just as well or better, then the thinner would be better.

Sony is being awfully secretive on this model and the photos appear to be preproduction versions. I am hoping for a significant improvement over the S line which didn't fare as well as some of the competition. Sony has a lot of time here to revamp the model along with add the Sandy Bridge chips and make it a success.

 

I sure cant make it clearer for you, if you cant read the post, there is nothing I can do.

 

Awesome! Lenovo's Enhanced Experience 2.0 is really fast. Seems like they are using an extra mSATA SSD 310 which fits into a mini pci express.

Looks like they aren't using standard 1.8" SSD + 2.5" HDD + DVD. (adamj023, were you thinking that Lenovo are using these three combos?)

Now, I wish Sony does this kind of optimization to the next Z! Or better put it on the SA.


edit (quote from press release):
The Intel SSD 310 supports SATA signals over a PCI Express (PCIe) mini-connector for on-board, compact storage in single-drive netbooks, tablets or handheld devices. Weighing just 10 grams, the compact size also enables dual drive all-in-ones, notebooks or small-form-factor (SFF) desktops to help accelerate boot time and access to frequently used applications or files.

"The Intel SSD 310 series will allow us to provide the advantages of a full-performance Intel SSD paired with the storage of a hard disk drive in a small, dual-drive system,"

 

Wow. Can you list, with pictures, all the above mods you did? Not just swapping a drive with another, but splicing, connector type change, etc.

 

No I wasn't confused. The Intel SSD 310 is the same as an SSD but smaller made for boot files.

In other words the PC Maker can include HD + a SSD 310 drive rather than providing a faster and more appropriate single SSD.

Lenovo isn't optimizing anything here. Sony will be going the more appropriate FULL SSD route which will be faster and allow for more storage space. Totally useless and nothing extraordinary Lenovo is doing.

Pictures? No I don't have a Sony VAIO SA at this time to work with. However I know how power supplies work on notebook and desktops and I have added adapters before and the like as well as modify drive bays to fit certain drive types.

Sony will be out soon enough and I'll compare the models, but I doubt I will be going with Lenovo.

Lenovo was good with the Thinkpad when they were IBM at the time and when they just migrated over to Lenovo.

But since that time, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, Asus became some of the better notebooks on the market.

The Intel 310 is a small boot drive and has much worse specs than an appropriate Micron C400 SSD as well as much less storage space.

* Sustained Sequential Reads
o Up to 170 MB/s (40GB)
o Up to 200 MB/s (80GB)
* Sustained Sequential Writes
o Up to 35 MB/s (40GB)
o Up to 70 MB/s (80GB)

A Micron c400 is:

C400: up to 415 MB/s read and up to 260 MB/s write

And can be gotten in as high as a 512GB size. Thats a big difference. So why would I want a Lenovo which is heavier and has a 310 + a 7200RPM HD over a Micron C400 SSD drive which will also require less energy and be much better and faster even if I could put an Intel 310 in a Sony along with a HD and it will fit (the controller design allows for such, and its possible it can fit and do the same with a small retrofit possibly) but totally useless nonetheless.

 

Anything to substantiate what you just said?

 

Have you priced out a 512gb ssd lately? That's why mfr's aren't jumping to them. Lenovo's solution is smart, give users the o/s speed of ssd while still getting the high storage capacity that many users want. And intel's new tiny solution is effective.

 

I was at CES and we met with Lenovo. EE2.0 is quite a lot more than merely an SSD for boot speed. It also entails a custom BIOS that rapidly loads the MBR of the SSD and a small script upon Windows launch to bypass some of the lengthier logon procedures and service loading. Some of the machines cold boot from power off in as little as 7 seconds... it's pretty impressive. The only thing keeping me from considering a Lenovo at this point is their poor LCDs.

 

And their stupid keyboards..

 

Why you dont like those?

 

The more I watch the pictures and the youtube movie of this notebook, the more I like it, especially the black one. The design seems 'clean' and down-to-earth.

 

Im really thrilled with the lenovo edge e420s, so if you dont want to read my comparison then please by all means skip my post. First off the biggest craziest thing that drives home to me and screams Im brand new is no removeable battery on the lenovo. I think that's friggin awesome. I Cant wait to see how it performs in battery benchmarks. 4 pounds lol! That is so light...I realize sony's are extreamly well light, and the take pride in them being so but you have to take into consideration the logicality of the situation. 849.00$ starting price for the lenovo edge e420s(without dedicated) with discounts that lenovo always gives which are better then dells to how ever much there going to be charging for these sa models. Also lenovo boosts 14 inch screen even tho the laptops are smaller then many 13.3 inch laptops out there. I would not pay double to shave off a few ounces of weight and a few centimeters off the screen.

I would get the SA though, I love the gold looking patern it really brings out the design in the new models, makes for something special and the keyboard looks amazing. The media controls make me sick though, I don't like them at all. They could at least make something that looks from this century with that weird shaped power button or what ever it is. I like to play with media controls, its fun and having something special is always nice touch like the z's Video card switch that's brilliant. I don't see anything with this model that stands out and says I have new features and am different from the rest. It does make me happy though but personally If I was to pick which laptop makes me more happy, the lenovo e420s or the sony sa there is no question in my mind I would get the lenovo in heartbeat.

Im glad to see sony come out with a model like this though and its alot tougher for sony to make a laptop like this in this category then it is for lenovo so props for sony in this regard. When comparing laptops in this category alot of people are also looking into the new Y460p laptops( link), they have all the latest tech in them and are available now no waiting for less then what both of these models will cost and more close to the size/weight of these two laptops then anything else out there( link).

 

custom bios updates and a script aren't what I call anything worthwhile. Adding proprietary features to a bios is bad since it can cause issues with the system itself. BIOSes are made by a few vendors and they differ so slightly. (Award and Phoenix) Also that script essentially removes features that are loaded and you never disclosed what features they were.

Every manufacturer will claim differences to make their system appear better but this EE2.0 doesn't want to make me buy a Lenovo at all, in fact it seems like it is something I want to avoid altogether.

Dell uses their own modified bioses as well and on the PC I have right now, its not my favorite bios because it seems to be too simplistic.

The Sony VAIO's I saw seem to use Phoenix for its bios and it looked pretty nice.

 

^Everyone's bios's are custom/modified/dumb'd down. I'm beginning to wonder how much actual experience you have with laptops in recent years.