Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
Well, it finally arrived! Since there are a number of us on this forum who have been anxiously awaiting some hands on info on this model, here goes:
First -- a delightful surprise -- like some others I wasn't keen on the Bordeaux red, preferring the black of my TZ190N, but to my pleasant surprise the Bordeaux red is actually quite attractive! It's very dark, almost black, with a red iridescence -- cool!
Second -- opposite reaction -- while I prefer the SSD + HDD over having a DVD burner built-in I know there are others who want the DVD instead. The i.Link connected (IEEE1394) external DVD burner is attractive and (haven't used it yet although I've connected it) probably will do the job OK (it's about 6" square by 3/4 inch thick) IMHO Sony blew it with using this approach -- their 4-wire i.Link has no power so to use this DVD burner you have to connect its power adapter which is only slightly smaller than that for the TZ198 and no carrying case or other means for hauling it -- not a good approach -- I will put it back in its box and use my USB external DVD burner that can do most of its work powered through USB port.
Third -- for those who went the Japan model route this is not a surprise -- with the HDD instead of DVD the TZ198 also has a third USB port on the right side. I notice also that there's a cover over where the DVD drawer would normally be -- perhaps the TZ198 can be converted to replace the HDD with a DVD(?)
Fourth -- having said that, though, I have to acknowledge I'm glad I went for the SSD+HDD -- as it arrived, my 64G SSD has ~33G available space!! I know I will be able to delete a lot of bloatware and other junk I don't want but had I relied on having the SSD only I'd still be hard-pressed to install my typical package of software and docs w/o running into headroom problems like I had on my TZ190 (which is why I sold it and awaited this model). I haven't been able to do enough yet to see how effective the SSD is as "cache" for the HDD -- this is how Sony describes the combination and as we can all see in the computer media, there is definitely a move towards "large" (16G) SSD in combination with HDD where the SSD has the OS and speeds up things.
Am I glad I went this route? Well, I've really questioned my wisdom in opting for paying Sony's outrateous price, plus the sales tax -- came close to cancelling more than once -- but I'd given up on Chris Coalpit (colpic) only because I couldn't rely on postal delivery and, as many have commented (it sure matched my experience) he cannot provide much in the way of committed ship dates or any kind of tracking, so ordering from him may keep the price down but it's a long, somewhat uncertain wait before it arrives.
To answer the question, though, I will say that as soon as I lifted it out of its box and recalled the small form factor and light weight, I began to get that warm feeling. But when its fantastic colors appeared on the screen I knew I'd made the right decision. I have my SZ670 next to it and, even though I think the SZ6 led-lit screen is excellent, there is just no comparison in the richness of color saturation and sharpness of detail that the TZ offers.
Sorry for the long-winded first message. I'll add more insight as I use it. And other TZ198 users are welcome to contribute their experience.
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congratz~ I really liked the TZ198 concept and would love to get it if its not 4K
yah, 4 pin firewire doesn't transmit power. the extra 2 pins in 6 pin IEEE 1934 does that. I don't know why they don't designed CD/DVD USB 2.0 a interface since 5 watt should be enough to power CD/DVD ROM. however, firewire does have better sustain transfer rate when compare to USB.
um.. do you know the Sony style site says TZ198 only come with two USB ports instead of three? so I originally thought they didn't install the 2nd USD module. but good to know they did.
Can you post some pictures???? I want to see the Bordeaux red
BTW, you can get the VAIO leather case VGP-CKTZ2/B $149 for only $54 at Clearance club. Although it say reconditioned but I can't tell its not brand new (just received mine today). -
Bruce......................I hate you. You rich person you. Well, its not like too many college students can afford a $4000 laptop.
I am quite surprised the 2.5" HDD option made it out of Japan and that the highest end model is not premium carbon as most of Sony's models have been. But I'm sure they'll make a TZ199N/XC very soon. -
Yes -- that's why I was pleasantly surprised -- 3 USB ports afterall.
The TZ198N/RC comes with that case.
I'll post a photo but I had a difficult time with the lighting so I'm not sure this really shows the color -- it is rather subtle -- you can see the red in the black here.Attached Files:
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um... its hard to tell the color under tungsten lamp...
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This is the same color if I'm correct.
Attached Files:
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I was just going to say the same thing!
Too bad I'm not home, otherwise I would have mine too! I'm sure it's sitting at FedEx right now.
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No -- the TZ198N/RC is a solid deep red across the entire lid. Here's a couple more taken under brighter florescent lighting. The first shows the hue a little better -- on the second you can contrast the black battery with the red lid (but it looks brown here). Oh well -- I find the color attractive and I'm pleased it's not like the red case choice for the M1330.
Attached Files:
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thx for the picture~ I love the color, it gives the laptop a royal tone~ its classy
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Thats Premium Carbon, its from a review of a TZ90NS I found on Google, I wondered why in some pics, it looked red when I heard it actually looks blue.
http://www.game-over.com/reviews.php?page=features&id=580 -
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Look at my answer in the other thread, you get what you paid for. And the performance boost is 10% at best. The DVD is external because you get 264GB of storage, unheard of a in sub-notebook. The Dell is positively obese, but I'm sure you won't mind lugging it around, since you "saved" so much money!
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LOL! It's something that we all go through. It also makes buying any future laptops over 12 inches in screen size difficult to do.
Sony VGN-TZ198N/RC -- hands on
Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by brucewilsonpa, Nov 15, 2007.
