Sony is not selling vaio in my country. What are my options?

In near future I would like to buy VGN - Z55X. I suppose you guys know this means custom version of vaio z.

My problem is little unusual. I am living in Serbia, and here we don't have vaio store. Now, I am willing to go anywhere in Europe to buy it, but buying notebook
in another country can also mean different keyboard layout, and non English version of windows.

So my questions are:

1. Can you guys in Italy, Germany France or Spain buy vaio z with English version of Windows and US or UK keyboard layout? English version of Windows is less important since I can buy windows myself but I can't rearrange keyboard or remove non English letters.

2. If I need to go to UK for this, is it possible to order custom configuration of vaio Z from Sony Style without home delivery.

Also if somebody have expirinace with this kind of problem please share it with me.

 

Hi!

As far as I can tell, virtually all laptops in Italy, German, France and Spain are sold with the country-specific keyboard layout. I'd suggest to buy in the UK instead. You should ask Sony Style UK whether they ship to Serbia.

The German keyboard layout is similar to the English one (Z and Y swapped), while the French layout is very different. I don't know about Spanish and Italian keyboards though. Don't buy a French version of the laptop if you are not familiar with the French layout.

In theory, you could buy a Vaio with a non-English keyboard, buy an English keyboard separately from a service distributor, and exchange the keyboard. However, this might be expansive and it also requires some technical skills.

At least the German Sony Style store does not offer an option to customize the keyboard layout.

 

Sonystyle UK will not ship outside of the UK.
The Z series has been replaced with the Z11 but it doesn't look like these are being sold in the EU yet or if at all.
Portableone is a US company and they do ship worldwide.
Notebook.de also do ship internationally and laptopsdirect in the UK might ship to your country also.
Notebook.de used to offer a custom keyboard option but they seemed to have removed it. You might want to contact them and see what they can do.

 

There are plenty of eBay vendors who ship internationally. As a buyer you're protected very well when you pay with PayPal.

 

Thanks @Derkurt and @Rachel

Now when new Z is announced I will probably wait for it. My poor Protege r600 will need to struggle with VS 2008, SQL Sever and virtual machines for a bit longer.

@Rachel when you mention US. What about 3G modem? I am using 3G modem very often on my Protege r600 (even now when I am typing this message). Can I use 3G modem if notebook is from US, further more is 3G modem in UK version bound to any specific provider?

 

That's the problem, no PayPal in Serbia and even with PayPal I would hesitate to use e-bay for something that cost over 2000 euros.

 

Hello igorstef,

dutch (netherlands) version has the english keyboard layout.

I think you'd be safer buying from some well known dutch online store, than some ebay seller.

PS. Polish version also has the english layout, and Poland might be closer to your country, but I'm not sure if the ones sold there are of the same quality as in the western EU (Eastern market - different (worse) built quality? )

 

I would suggest to check out Conics.net

If you really want to justify a trip, you can go to Greece that is near you to buy. In your place I would order from Conics, the 3G will work out of the box.

 

The WWAN in the EU is unlocked. The WWAN in the the US is locked on the current Z lines but i don't know about this new model. You might have to perform a hack to unlock it but it wouldn't be a real unlock. Also, you have the option to replace it but with the way this new Z seems to be designed i don't know if i really would recommend opening it.

I'm sure you will look at what works out cheapest for you everywhere.
The prices for the series that has just been eclipsed was decent in the UK.
http://www.technoworld.com/Sony_Vaio_Z51XG-B-laptop/59779/product.aspx

I'm not sure what import taxes would be like for you, in your case it shouldn't really make any difference i think if you purchase from Japan or the EU.

 

Thanks rmask, do you know of any good dutch sites that will ship internationally.

Yes Poland is one of neighboring countries. I don't think quality should be any different than anywhere in Europe, but I am not sure if you can find store in Poland that will sell you customized version of Z.

 

Yes that is correct. I didn't even know that I have option to buy it from Japan directly (like conics.net).

 

What about Greece keyboard layout is it same like for US or UK?

 

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there are no customized vaios for the Netherland market either

Only French (Azerty), German (Qwertz) and UK (Qwerty) sonystyle shops sell the customized vaios, but only to the local markets (no exports) ...

 

Thanks rmask, I guess if I want custom built z my options are:

1. conics.net
2. or to visit UK.

 

I mailed sony a while back (2 months ago I think) to ask about customizing a sony vaio laptop and they said they were nowhere near to giving us (belgians) this opportunity. I guess the Netherlands and Belgium are too small countries with a too small market.

 

conics.net site seems indeed cheap

even with VAT and import tax (~+23% (unavoidable as the shop is outside of EU)) the vaio z93 they sell is much cheaper, than the netherlands sony style store ...

I'd research about the credability of the seller, as I've never heard about them before.

PS. You should also check if the warranty is worldwide.

PPS. Post your research and experience, I'm sure others will find it usefull.

 

Yes in Greece is exactly the same layout as US or UK. But, I don't know if you can customize it.
I think if you go with Conics is a safe bet (I did the same), you will not travel for purchasing a laptop and you can customize it how you want. If you can wait, it would be better. A new Z came and has much better specs.

 

Here is the link to the thread talking about Conics.net, PriceJapan.com and some other options for online purchase.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=133787

According to what guys say there Conics is reliable and prices are nice.

Warranty:

Warranty is 3 year but you will need to send notebook back to Japan if something goes wrong.

Payment methods:

You can use PayPal, wire transfer of credit card (although not directly and you will need to pay credit card fee 3.5-3.9%).

Shipment:

I suppose you can arrange any of standard shipment methods. On web site you can choose from:

1: EMS world delivered by your local post office
2: FedEx world
3: AIRMAIL (only for items under $20 USD)

 

Thanks exetlaios. Yes I already decided to wait for new Z.

 

I'm in a similar situation. I'm waiting for the new Vaio Z and I would like to buy a CTO one with US/UK keyboard layout. But in my country there's no CTO unfortunately.
I want to buy the laptop from Europe (i.e. not from the USA or Japan).

I saw in the new Z series thread, that the Dutch SonyStyle site offers now CTO (with US keyboard). But SonyStyle is not shipping outside of the given country.

Does anyone know a European webshop (Dutch or UK), from where I could order a CTO (configured by me, not the one with everything maxed out) Z?

 

As far as I can see best option is Conics.net since it is well know seller that ships world wide. Also you will probably have more CTO options then anywhere else outside of Japan, you can choose UK\US keyboard and Conics will even do clean install of English Win 7 without sony bloatware.

Only problem is Z is yet to be announced in Japan (Conics is seller from Japan). Ironically it seam like Japan will be last one to start selling new Z

I have friend in UK so I can use his address when ordering from SonyStyle but I am not sure if I can even pay for it using non UK credit card. Even if I send money to my friend so he finish everything for me I am not sure if that will create problem with warranty claims or anything else since machine will be on his name.

Also can you order CTO by walking in to SonyStyle store?

This link can help you with online options:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=90185

Edit:

Sites that ship more or less anywhere in europe:

portableone.com
Provantage.com
techonweb.com

 

Thanks for the answer!

The thing is, that I'd like to order it from Europe. I also thought that I can ship the laptop to friends in the UK or the Netherlands, but AFAIK the billing address has to be in the UK/NL as well. So I think that SonyStyle wouldn't work for me.

The only possibility (and the most convenient one) would be to order the laptop through a (web)shop selling Vaios, willing to take CTO orders and ship within the EU. But I don't know whether there are any shops, which would do that.

Edit: The main problem here is CTO, because preconfigured models can be found in lots of webshops.

 

Yes I know. For example portableone.com is offering CTO for old Z but it's US site. I didn't manage to find any web sites in Europe offering CTO.

Import from USA is not an option for me since WWAN module is locked to verizon. It really comes down to two options if I want custom configuration. I will order it from Conics.net or I will arrange with my friend in UK to buy it for me.

 

One site, which offers CTO Vaios and ships within Europe is notebook.de . But I'm not sure, whether they just sell some CTO laptops they have in stock or also accept custom orders. Furthermore, I'm not sure, whether you can get a US/UK keyboard.

Btw. can the Japanese WWAN module be used in Europe?

 

For old Z Conics was able to unlock it so people who bought Z from them were able to use it in Europe. If this is not the case with new model then I will be left with only one option (SonyStyle UK) .

As for notebook.de seems like they are not offering CTO per se, but still seems like they are covering all combinations you can get using CTO. Only question is do you get German or UK\US layout.

 

I'll contact them in March (when the new models can be bought) to ask them what the possibilities are.