TRUE - sz160 is history!

I just spoke to a Sony supervisor as well as the Sony Style store. They have both confirmed that the sz160 will no longer be produced (although some already manufactured units will trickle in).

I was told the 180 is supposed to be out in the next 8 weeks and the model replacing the 160 should be introduced in late June (the new heart, as expected, will be the Merom chips).

Wow technology move fast!

 

Forgot to add - they both claimed the 140 will still be manufactured... and no new changes to the keyboard/screen/case will likey be made on the forthcoming models.

 

hey what are the differences between the 180 and 160

 

If the specs have not changed. the sz180 has a 2GHz processor (vs. 1.8GHz), a 120GB hard disk (vs. 100GB) and the WAN card.

PC Connection says my sz160 will ship today.

 

What the hell !

I just bought this freakin' thing !

 

I know what you mean -- things change fast. I ordered a Sony VAIO in January one year and the new models started coming out March.

I would rather have the sz180 or the new ones with the 64-bit processor, but I need it today (so there are no regrets on my part). If you always waited for tomorrow's version. you would never have a laptop today.

 

I agree, but THIS is a bit fast !

So, what does this mean ?

I just dont like the fact that my computer is discontinued so fast, I want support and updates on it...

 

ahhh, thank god i didnt buy a premium.

 

I don't see what the big deal is. The 180 has not been a secret. Its not like the SZ line is going away.

 

yeah i wouldnt really complain unless i really wanted a fast cpu, or it had fixed all of defects to the chassis.

 

Sony should continue to support the current models for quite some time. The new models probably don't even have major hardware changes (just bigger, faster processors and storage). From time to time, you'd expect them to tweak things (at least on the non-premium models -- the premium model is already perfect )

 

Ergh...

It took me a while to make the SZ decision, and I brought back the 120 for the 160...

After all that, I'm understandibly a little upset / confused / worried by this development !

 

Law of the laptop. Once bought, never again look of other models.

 

I agree, but this is a little swifter than some other laptops !

The Dell D610 has been out for a WHILE and its still available for sale...

 

now this was faster than i expected. I would have never bought my 120 if i had known they would put the new meroms in there so soon.

 

I heard the hell out of that.

 

Merom has not even been released yet. You "might" see some for Christmas, but I think that would be very limited at best.

ikaris, you aren't missing out on anything. Are the 180's even out yet? Don't let yourself get worked up over it. Enjoy your 160 as a fairly rare machine. Unless...can you return it and wait for a 180?

 

Just wondering, I've heard that Merom is coming out in Q4 but what does that mean? Does it mean it's coming out in september? I can wait till about September or August to buy a laptop so should I wait for the SZ with Merom?

 

if you can wait, then wait. You still may not see a Merom, but surely you'll have better options, regardless

 

Interesting....Merom has been moved to Q3 instead of Q4.
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/04/19/intel_to_ship_core_inq3_2006/

 

It has been said that the Merom chips are pin compatible with the current Core Duo chips. I also read that the Sony SZ uses a socket for the CPU. So won't there be a possibility that current SZ owners can eventually upgrade?

 

From what I can gather, no. The only way this could possibly work, is if Sony released a bios update that specifically addressed this compatibility issue.

 

And here I found all the way in CA a sz160. $2499.+tax(8.25%)=$2706
(about+shipping).

IF I got this, I went from $1874(sz110+tax) to a $1978(sz120 before tax) to $2706. Or in other words, I ended up spending $832 MORE. Ouch... And this doesnt include the $230 I paid on the 2GB memory for it.

 

HK site still has the SZs on as NEW. I think that we HK are not affected by the discontinuing of products.

 

This probably means Sony will stop carrying SZ160 to push the SZ180 via SonyStyle.

The Sony representative you spoke to was a SonyStyle rep right? Thats just Sony's own retail division.

Besides the only real difference is the processor is a little faster and hdd has an extra 20gb.

Cingular EDGE sucks, you have to pay $60/month with a 2 year contract and it not even 3G like Verizon and Sprint.

I'll bet you will still see the SZ160 at FRY's, CompUSA, etc...

 

i agree dont even bother with edge it's useless. go hdsp

 

Hm...since Merom comes out in June/July, when will Sony SZ laptops have the merom chip? How long does it normally take for companies to incorporate new chips in their laptops? How many months did it take for companies to incorporate yonah chips in their laptops?

 

I say at least 3 months.

 

I wish CompUSA would get some 160's in. I've been waiting for three weeks now.