Sony Vaio Z discontinued???

Check out sonystyle, it's longer there. Even the signature collections all say out of stock..I was just about to order one too! The new SA doesn't really look that appealing to me

EDIT: In USA I meant

 

If only you would say which country you are referring to....

Z still available online in Germany.

 

In the Netherlands it isn't available anymore . Only the last ones in stock are still available, but I think they will disappear when they are out of stock.

 

I think he meant Sony USA. The Z disappeared from there.
From the German site, the HDD CTO model was also removed a few days/weeks ago.

 

Hopefully this means the SA is coming! Of course they could just be prepping to start shipping the z14

 

Maybe, I think it's more likely it's being discontinued though... The Z is no longer the amazing, cutting edge machine that it was when first released... Putting a slightly better processor in won't really cut it in 2011...

 

What makes you say that? I still have not seen any other 13" notebook with a 1080p display, dual-SSD, optical drive, and still under 3.2lb

 

A few SB submodels are already presented with pictures and specs on the German Sony website.

SA/SB is neither S nor Z though - looks much different, so I hope they keep the S and Z lines the way they are (or with hardware upgrades but no design changes).

 

Oh no. Really really want this bordeaux red one Signature Collection

They had it available till 2 days ago... now pulled without any notice... geez.

Is there some other way to get it apart from Sony Style?

 

I don't think you can get CTO model elsewhere.
Why don't you give them a call and ask what's going on and if it is only temporary...

P.s. I assume you have read the threads about current Z' build quality and you are aware what you might/will face in a few months?

 

while owning vpcz since june 2010,

the new updated MBP 15" looks attractive with a quad core and 6750M gpu...

but the one i want costs a just little over 2699 before tax

 

ha! It must be their web guy at it again. Various (other) Sony products are known to disappear and re-appear again (after somebody writes in there to complain).

 

I already talked to Sony, they said it's permanently discontinued..what a shame..It was the only notebook that seemed perfect for me

 

The whole Z is discontinued or just the color/CTO you wanted to have!?

You can still get Z in the stores, just not that color.

 

The entire Z line has been discontinued. The CTO, the signature models, everything. The only one that's available in the Sony retail stores is the signature model which is like $5000...no way I'm paying that much. I guess I'll check eBay and other online places. My only question is since the Z is discontinued, how would they handle warranty? Would still manufacturer the spare parts?

 

They have to and they will.
This is not the first time a model is discontinued. That doesn't mean the support is gone too. Same as with cars. I wouldn't worry about that.
If you are certain you want a Z based on the facts I mentioned above in the thread, I would buy it from another store - you won't get CTO, but the price might even be lower than in Sony.Style. At least in Europe you find better prices in private stores and online shops. You will be able to find the Z in many stores even months from now, so no worries. Obviously just CTO is gone now.

Or if you would wait - the prices will drop a bit once the new "Z" is introduced and hits the market.

 

Hopefully this is because Sony plan on unveiling the ZA-series (I just made up the name ) now that Apple have shown their cards... doesn't hurt to hope! But yes, the Z has NOT been outclassed AT ALL... nothing in it's range has outdone it yet...

 

I also think the ZA or/and ZB must be on its way...

 

x2 that bummer. I found this thread when I went to SonyStyle.com, saw no Z, and googled for the possible discontinuation of the model.

I've been rockin' my MBP for a year, it's up for a replacement, but the ho-hum Apple announcement today does not really make me want to whip out my credit card.

The Z was a great high-end laptop that I used to have before the MBP, and now I was thinking of going back. This is a monumental screwup by Sony. The >$1000 laptop market may not be the biggest segment but it's very profitable, and Apple has a 90% share in it.

In lieu of a Vaio Z option, and not considering any of the "new" Apple stuff, what laptop would you guys recommend if (hypothetically) price were no issue?

 

Still holding out here. Let's just hope the SA has an equivalent-quality screen to the Z's 1600x900 in terms of brightness and color fidelity.

 

Well this sucks

 

So no z series refresh?

 

There will be one in June, check the Sony Z Speculation/News thread.

 

Well they're still selling Z14s in markets around the world... (ie Japan). In any case, if you've read some people's experiences with warranty support for their VGN-Z, some got a new Z13 when Sony couldn't source the parts (some went from C2D/320gb HDD to a i5/256GB) so it's all up to how lucky you are. I have heard one report about a person getting back a $2k+ check for the amount of their VGN-Z and they simply put it back into a VPC-Z.

Now to reply to the question of "where to get a Z". You can get one from Tigerdirect, J&R, Amazon, Fry's, Microcenter and Best Buys... it's not the end of the world, but yes, there will be no more customized Z, at least in the US for now. I'm pretty sad about it since, if you think about it... Sony doesn't have a MBP competitors on their site right now... and Apple just announced their MBPs... talk about bad timing...

 

Japan is still selling the CTOs, I don't think they're discontinued

 

they probably have some parts left in stock since thats where they're built.. it'll be gone in a few days

 

The Z13 was the last Z for the US market and so, it's been pulled from CTO in the US as well as other markets that don't have the Z14 (as per Beaups, who is our resident Sony insider ). I guess it's because maybe Sony's scaling down their production of the Z's in preparation for the next Gen Z's... I initially though it was because the chassis of the Z has the printed VPCZ11/Z12/Z13, but i just realized that on my chassis it just says VPCZ1 which applies for all the minor refreshes... What about VPCZ2 anyone? Z seems so much sexier than ZA/ZB (although ZB sounds like it would be the Y replacement as a "weaker" Z series)

 

China is still selling Z.

 

Yes it is. There's still no equal.

 

I just ordered a VPCZ13X5E yesterday in the UK.

I talked for a bit with the business sales manager, and he told me the reason the Z is low on stock and often shown as "We’re sorry, temporarily unavailable" on their website is because they are offering a £250 discount right now, and it's selling a lot. This "unavailability" only reflects their current available stock, and not the fact they have stopped production. When you see this message, it only means you have to expect more then the usual 2-3 weeks delivery. You can still order it if you call them and if you refresh the website, you can still catch some available as they are registered in their inventory.

I also asked him when he expected the SA/SB to come out.

He told me the latest update they have is that it has been heavily delayed and they will not be taking orders for the SA/SB until late April at the earliest.

 

They are taking orders for the SB right now (admittedly only the first pre-built SKU, the VPCSB1X9E/S) on the Sony UK website. Sony have told me on the phone that this product will be arriving in the country for shipping March 14th, and additional models & the custom configurator will be on the website in the next week or so.

Based on the fact that the last line of your post is immediately refutable with a quick look at the Sony website, I would be very suspicious he (in the grand tradition of salesmen everywhere) is feeding you a line to try and burn through his remaining Z13 stock...

 

Before digging through 180+ pages: Is there a quick summary of the issues to be expected and do they refer to "heavy" business use or even with private use at home?

PS: My first entry here, great forum, already helped me to spend money on a Z13 yesterday which I am now typing on

 

I have to admit, I feel like the luckiest guy ever. I just received my 1390X on Tuesday and had been debating for months when to upgrade from my old VGN Z. Thank God I finally decided to.

I really don't see how they can replace the Z. I totally disagree that anything else competes on the market with its style, portability, specs, weight, and battery life. I had search high and low looking at every laptop on the market before going with the original Z and it has only got better.

I have absolutely loved my old Vaio Z and the only reason for upgrading is to get the latest and greatest processor, RAM, SSD, and video card. The only thing mine is lacking is the Bluray drive, which I think is totally overpriced. I purchased it with just Home Premium to save some dough and did a clean install and put Ultimate on it after receiving it. Everything works perfectly.

My only disappointment came today when I tried to put it in my old docking station (VGP PRZ1) and quickly learned it is not compatible! Grrrr. Now to find a new docking station.

 

Quick summary: Gracy123 goes on a lot about tightening the hinges or some such, most everyone else seems entirely happy with build quality.

 

It is really hard creating a summary and I would avoid summarizing all I have read (unfortunately far more than 180 pages...!) as I will be accused once again from those in love with their Z in overreacting.

I can only advise you to google or use the search function here and look for "Vaio Z problems" - this will give you a good overview. This is valid for every single model of course.

Here is a very short thread that kind of summarizes what a few different owners have experienced. This is the shortest among all I've read. Of course this by far does not mean this applies to every single machine but can be used statistically:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/556150-just-me-all-z11-users-please-reply.html

To all - I'm not the author of the above thread - just linking to it. If you don't agree with the information - address your claims to the author.

 

Lol, you linked a topic about one guy's problems not a general review about the laptop. How is a service tech scracthing his computer a fault of the Z itself? :\ Most of his problems he listed no one else has. It's unfair to state that those are things that WILL HAPPEN to EVERY OWNER of the Z.

I think i figured it out, Z Envy on the part of gracy

 

Why is everyone picking on Gracy? How many attractive women show up on this forum? None? Then we get one and you guys try to run her out? Crazy!

And no offense to Rachel, her avatar is a cartoon so I can't pass judgement

 

Wow. I was going to suggest people keep an eye out for a Microsoft Store blow out of the Z if it is indeed discontinued. I just checked though and it's already OOS. I guess they sold them all last week for $999.

 

^ lol

Hmm, i guess you could try calling in to see if you can get the same deal. I heard sometimes they just don't know how much stock they have and you have to call in to check inventory (and hopefully get some discounts)

 

They sold 13 3gx for $999, this is 13 4gx they are OOS now, 133gx isn't even listed

 

I noticed that in shortly after in the SA/SB thread. And since I'd like to be optimistic, I'll stick with the happy part. Although I have to admit that the flimsy screen cover would make me really anxious if I would carry the Z all along every day.

Thanks!

PS. On the other hand, the other statements about performance of Grace123 make sense to me (i.e. have to, since I just bought an "old" arrandale), but this is another thread. Might answer there as well. Again, nice forum with nice members

 

CTO model (VPCZ13X5E) is still available in Austria.

 

What about this?:

Z14 is comming out in Japan, while its discontinued????

Sony Vaio Japan Website: Z14 features

(use translator if u see japanese words)

http://www.sony.jp/vaio/pre_include/html/Z14/spec_vom1.html

 

Z13 is discontinued, and it's looking like Sony Europe/USA will not be selling the Z14.

 

Seems like the Z13 lives on...

VPCZ13M9E/B (VPCZ13M9E/B) : Technische Daten : VAIO & weitere Computerprodukte : Sony

 

Isn't that a pre-config model? The CTO Z13's are discontinued and because some markets aren't going to stock the Z14, the CTO VPC-Z is effectively discontinued for them

 

I want to get a high capacity battery for my Z13 someday, after I have recovered from the initial purchase cost. If they are dropping the Z and pushing the SA is there a chance I would be unable to get the battery later this year?

 

You probably won't be able to get the battery directly from Sony but there should be plenty of other places selling the Z battery for at least another year. You can still find brand new batteries for the 3 year old VGN Z's so I don't think there should be a problem, just don't expect the prices to drop down by much.

 

VAIO Z is showing up as available for CTO models on SonyStyleUSA right now..
even while the VAIO S is showing too.

 

I was at Sony (in Canada) today asking why the sony style site has no Z CTO available and he said it will soon be re-added to the site w/ Sandy Bridge CPU offerings...