Sony VPCZ1 running Linux Ubuntu - experience

Hi Guys,

I know there are some Sony + Linux threads out there, but mostly its about figuring out if it works on the VPCZ1 or similar.
However, I was thinking sharing some of my experiences using Linux Ubuntu on my VPCZ1. Ubuntu is running the 3rd year on this great piece of 'sony engineering' and I am still happy with it, everything works fine.

So here is the setup:

Sony VPCZ12MGX ; i7 ; 8 GB RAM ; 1600x900 non glare display ; 2x64 GB SSD standard + 480 GB Samsung SSD

- I replaced the DVD drive with a extra SSD Drive Samsung 480GB
- Ubuntu 14.04
- All FN-keys work as they should, keyboard led light better on Linux IMHO since they turn on once you type on keyboard (on windows they only work if sensor recognize its dark)
- The first year I struggled with the GPU couldn't make the hdmi output work, couldn't connect second monitor to hdmi, still can't. I use the VGA output, thats fine.
- Mostly I use my laptop for programming, GPU works fine, also CUDA works nice if u need to accelerate some matrix multiplications
- VirtualMachine windows 7 sometimes needed for Microsoft office and photoshop.
- battery life much better on Linux

Are here people running linux on their VPCZ1?

 

I still love my VGN-Z which is pretty much the same as the VPZC1, but use it only as a backup machine lately.

As such, I use it in a dual boot setup with Windows 10 and Linux Mint. I didn't invest a lot of time into getting everything right under Linux, but it always saved me when everything else was down...

I'm going to install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS very soon in a vm on my new Lenovo device.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

 

@galaxyge
Thanks for sharing! I had a VGN-Z before my VPCZ1. What a pitty that Sony doesn't build such laptops anymore....
I thought about moving to 16.04, but 14.04 works like a charm right now and I don't want to bother with this. However my company laptop which is a Dell its running 16.04. So I might move to 16.04 at some point.

 

Although this gets a little off topic, I installed Ubuntu 17.10 beta (official release will be on Oct 19th), which is the first release with Unity replaced with Gnome shell and so far I like it a lot.
Running remotely in a Hyper-V, 16.04 was just not usable with Unity/compitz putting constant strain to the CPU!

There are a lot of things that still need to be improved (e.g. HUD, global menus), but I'm looking forward to 18.04 potentially becoming a whole new chapter for Ubuntu.

And as for SONY: latest when I opened this machine for the first time, I truly fell in love. I haven't seen a laptop being inside and outside just the same premiere quality.
My hope is for them to get back to VAIO one beautiful day

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

 

Any tips for installation?