Sony Vaio Z Canada

Just wondering what the keyboard looks like for the new Vaio Z in Canada. I went to the store and the keyboard looks like this http://www.computerweekly.com/PhotoGalleries/234771/618_30_The-Sony-Vaio-TT-Isolated-keys-keyboard.JPG. I know this is a Vaio TT but I don't like the enter button on this keyboard and thats the type of enter key the vaio z had in the Sony Store. The z in the store said it was a VPCZ12 and it had the core i5 520m processor. Just wondering if anyone from Canada has a Vaio Z and if their keyboard looks like the one above. I would much rather the keyboard look like this http://cache-02.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_vaio_z_-_4.jpg.

 

It should look like the 2nd link.
If anything, just ask them.

 

Canadian Z models have the lame french multilingual keyboard layout (first pic).

US Z models have the decent US layout keyboard (2nd pic).

Canadian Z12 CTOs, as far as I know, have the US keyboard.

Which model are you looking at specifically? If you tell us, we can tell you which kind of keyboard it'll have.

The VPCZ122GXB model that appears at FutureShop.ca (but is not yet in stock in any locations... it's been weeks already >_>) seems to be a US model, so it should have the US keyboard.

 

The one you saw in the Sony store was probably the Z121 bilingual, base model with the European style keyboard.

See if the Sony store has the Z122GXB, black, in stock. It's unilingual English only, and has the US style keyboard. The list price for the Z122 is $1999.99 CAD. It's also available at futureshop.ca for that price. If you look at the US Sonystyle site, they have the Z122GXS, silver, for $1949 USD. Except for the color, the US and Canadian laptops are identical, so the Canadian price is excellent. When you factor in the exchange rate, the Canadian price is actually slightly less.

 

The Z122GXB is available at Future Shops in the Vancouver area. The situation with the new Z12 in Canada is mirrored by the new F12. The basic F121FDB is a bilingual model, and is what's on display at Sony, Future Shop, and BestBuy. The F127FXB is a loaded English only F12, with US keyboard. It's in stock at some Sony stores, but you have to ask. It's also available, in stock, at futureshop.ca, but the FS stores with stock are, again, only in the Vancouver area. What's up with that?

 

I believe the CTO's are made in the US and theres no option like one of the other models for what type of keyboard you want, so I'm pretty sure it will be the US keyboard if you order it from the site.

I'll call tomorrow to confirm.

Although the Phone CSR's don't seem to be too knowledgeable because they told me the Extended Battery was physically the same size as the standard. I'm not sure if I should file a complaint against that Rep because he told me that and I ordered the extended battery, and I wouldn't have if I knew there was a size difference.

I saw the US keyboard at my local SonyStyle store though.

 

Ya i want to buy a customized version. I want either the i5 540m or the i7 620m with 6GB of ram the extended battery and the 1080p screen. Hopefully the guys at the sony store know what im talking about. They offered me $150 off the display model but I don't want that one and the enter key really turns me off that computer. Hopefully they have other z series laptops in stock i would like to see one without the multilingual keyboard.

thanks for all the information guys/gals

 

I have a Canadian CTO and the keyboard is like the 2nd link you posted.

 

Is there any major improvement going from the i5 540m to the i7 620m processor?

 

I think one difference is that the i7 has a 4MB cache size, while the i5 has 3MB. There's one other difference I don't remember...


I'm wondering if the first keyboard has backlight, it looks like it does since I see the light sensor (or maybe it does nothing).

 

@Tofu, and obviously the higher clock speed, but I guess that difference is sort of implied.

@dgetson, unless you know you are going to be doing very CPU-intensive activities on your computer (which judging from the fact that you posted the question, the answer is probably no), the i7 is probably not worth the upgrade. The i5-540m is a very fast processor, and should be enough for the vast majority of users.

 

Ya the only difference I have seen between the i7 and i5 is the cache size and the speed of the processor. I was just wondering if it is worth the extra $60.

Ya the first keyboard picture is of a Vaio TT I was just referring to it because it was the only multi-lingual keyboard I could find that looked similar to the one I saw in the sony store.

 

@JP$ ya I figured that the difference wouldn't be very much. Thanks for responding

 

What's up with the Z in Canada? None of the Sony Style stores have it. All there is is on-line ordering from SonyStyle.ca and there is NO description of it. At the US site, it says that there is a back-lit keyboard. Is this true for the Canadian model? I currently have the previous generation Z and I will buy the new one if it has a backlit keyboard. But, I can't find out???

The US model is the VPCX1290X while the canadian model is the VPCX1290 with no X.

Anyone know?
Thanksd

 

Yes, the new 2010 gen Z11 and Z12 all have backlit keyboards. Canadian models too.

 

Yes, the Canadian Z 2010 series should be identical to the US.
Our site is not as well made as the US site, and if you order your laptop from their CTO, you WILL NOT be able to check it's Order Status, you will have to call them to check on it.

 

Ya that is pretty brutal that the Canadian website has so little information compared to the US website.

 

Regarding the posting of the keyboard. They do look like the keyboard you have mention that has a good enter button. If you have verified that it is a z series be sure that it is the z series Vaio you are looking at has the 1 GB Video memory and the keyboard will be what you have asked. If your keyboard is not the one you perfered it is because you are looking at the z series which does not have the 1 GB video memory due to the different grades of the z series. You may checkout more information on the types of z series models by going to Sony website. I also believe that carbon fibre is an option not a stardard component for $50.

 

Regarding tomb18 comments about availability, If you live in Calgary, Market mall has one that i have seen in the sony store. It starts at $1899 but you can do a price match and as well as ordering from the website you may have the option of putting on the better processor and premium carbon which i found out is an option not a standard. Futureshop has inventory, if you can go to Northland Mall and live in Calgary. One feature which is important to me is the 1 GB Video Memory and the option switch on how to use your video. Premium Carbon Fibre exterior option and raid 0 on two SSD Harddrives. In my opinion they should lower the price by having an option of no Hard drives so I can purchase my own SSD harddrives and come with a seperate recovery disc for that instance. It is too expensive in my opinion but after carrying it and see the compact features which some how they engineered a CD/DVD Rom to be inside a 13 inch computer, powerfull processor with the backlight keyboard, I can't see how much more perfect this model can be besides increasing the life span and capacity of the battery. After that, mass produce and lower the price, which I am hoping for. In my mind this is a very perect computer. I found it lighter than any netbook I know.