TZ is Pretty Impressive, So Far!

I just got it from the Sony Style store on Madison in NYC. I bought it with credit cards but am selling my blu ray laptop right away to pay for it. I wasn't planning on purchasing it, but it was sooo sexy. Starting it up and getting it running was an absolute nightmare; it took forever. I realized that it was really the bloatware that sony puts on that slows things down. After I deleted a lot of their bloatware, this thing runs fine. A little slower than I'm used to (I'm coming from a 2 gh core duo machine), but surprisingly fast for a processor that only is 1.07 gh.

Best of all, this actually plays hi def video recorded with my high def video camera perfectly. No skipped frames or anything. Editing high def video will be a challange with this computer, but I barely edit video and that's not what I got this for.

I just moved to New Jersey and am finding myself out and about all the time, traveling on the train, etc. I needed something I could carry with me at all times and something I can use to get on the Internet at all times. This fits the bill perfectly. I'm going to write a full review of this machine at Blogcritics.org and will let you guys know when it is posted.

If anybody is interested in a blu-ray laptop (fz) that is in great condition, go to ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280140304249&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=018

 

Impulsive buy?

You should post your FZ in the "buy & sell" forum http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18

 

I just wanted to say that I saw one of these things at Best Buy or someplace, and DAMN! It almost made me reconsider my purchase. I was very impressive with the quality and brightness of the screen compared to every other notebook that I looked at. Very impressive.

 

Yes, unfortunately, the American TZ models have a buttload of crapware. The other regions don't have nearly as much.

 

Consider installing XP. It will run full speed.

 

After losing more than 24 hours to the installation "challenge." By my calculations you would have to use your computer for 288 days, assuming you saved five minutes each day, before you recouped that install hassle time!

 

Eh, just install Ubuntu, I'm dying to know how it works on the TZ

 

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=514292

 

Thank you!

 

I'm impressed that BestBuy already has it in stores.

 

It's not on their site, that's for sure. Hey, Outrigger, how's your TZ holding up? I still haven't taking the pictures of my pitted surface, but besides that I've not had any complaints. I am running into capacity restraints now though.

I would love to get that 64GB SSD Toshiba R500, but I have a feeling that its screen may be as lame as the Dell M1330.

 

Stange. I heard only good things about the W-LED screen of 1330.

The Toshiba R500 screen is disappointing according to the reviews.

 

No, I have the M1330 since last Thursday, and the TZ90's screen is significantly superior, in the same class as the ASUS Lamborghini VX2.

If the Toshiba's screen is terrible, and I'm not surprised, that just leaves Apple and Sony for truly serious "color-sensitive" laptop aficionados.

Spreek jij Nederlands, Phil, or just living there?

 

Wow thats great to hear.That ticks some more boxes for Sony. Dell 1330 is my nr.2 option. What about 1330's design, how do you rank it?

100% nederlands Zo jij hebt je 1330 al, in nederland heeft nog niemand 'm.

 

I know this might be the wrong forum to ask this in, but does anyone know if Civilization 4 works on the higher-end TZ such as the TZ-190. This is really the only game in the world that matters to me and I've been seriously considering buying a TZ for college.

 

What's this pitted surface you're speaking of? Erosion of the carbon fiber?

 

Possibly the carbon colour choice? I stole this from Outrigger's review:

 

It's pretty poorly designed. Unit wobbles on flat surface (feet don't reach), black paint feels like a 90s laptop, not a state-of-the-art finish found on other notebooks, LED screen has leakage at the top, and I had "swollen" memory compartment cover that I had to pop back in myself.

Finally, the screen had dirty streaks. All in all, a dismal experience, especially when coming from an iPhone experience. Meanwhile, others have reported CPU whine, DVD loading problems and other miscellanous issues.

Nee, ik zit in San Francisco, daarom heb ik het al.

 

Sounds weird, but I'm really glad to hear that about the XPS1330. Sony TZ is really the only option for me.

PS. ik heb je ervaringen ook even gepost bij tweakers.net. daar zullen ze wel schrikken

 

The frame of the screen lid appears to be rubbing against the palm rest and has created a number of "pitted marks" that can't be cleaned off. I must be the only suffering from them, because no one else has mentioned it.

 

Zolang als je me niet in Fok.nl post dan is 't allemaal goed!

 

Hey I noticed some marks last night. Mine are on the palm rest in between the touchpad and buttons. Where are yours?

I also noticed that the keys were rubbing against the screen bezel. I bought a cloth keyboard cover (I was using the cleaning cloth) to cover the keys.

 

Do you guys mind taking some pictures? If it is going to cause some problems, I would like to purchase a solution before receiving my TZ.

 

I'm not sure I could capture it with a camera. I didn't notice it until I had it tilted just the right way in the light.

 

Yeah, it was either Best Buy or CompUSA, somebody was doing a demo... I was pretty blown away.

 

Hmm... The included black VAIO cloth, isnt that supposed to be
keyboard-cover when the lid is closed?

By using the cloth the keyboard shouldnt scratch the screen?

Maybe different regions have different included accesories.
At least I got the cloth, a VAIO-bag and inside the bag
I have a custom-sized TZ-pouch...

 

Yeah mine shipped with a cloth, but it was cut crooked and didn't cover all of the keys. The cloth I have now looks like it was custom made for the TZ.

 

you're running into storage restraints already? wow, what have you been installing on it? I still have about 15GB left. I just installed a bunch of must haves when I'm away from home. I do have a network drive so I store everything on those, giving me free space on the TZ.

64GB would definitely be a sweet spot, but I'm not sure if they're the 1.8" or the 2.5" variety, cause we both know, we can only install the 1.8" SSD in ours.

Sorry to hear about your blemishes. I noticed that on the screen, there appear to be tiny dots or specks, but they're easily cleaned off with a microfiber cloth I have. So far I have not seen anything on the palm rest. I'm still loving this laptop, it is just so damn light that I can take it everywhere with me and I don't have to worry about the power plug, I'm getting close to 6 hrs on medium battery if I just surf the web and do typing in Word.

I have a trip coming next week, and will be using this on the plane to maybe watch a movie. Will let you guys know how comfortable it is using this on the tray.

One thing I'm spoiled by was the my Thinkpad's IPS flexview screen. Regardless of how extreme the vertical angle was, it was no problem, no distortion. But the TZ or most laptops out there, the vertical angles kinda suck. Its not a big deal, but I would happily pay a premium on an IPS screen.

But you're right, in terms of color saturation and brightness, I haven't seen another that can beat this one, it just wows you. The brightest I have is only 80% or else it hurts my eyes.

For those of you that are worrying about protecting the screen, I was thinking about a screen protector. Anyone has any experiences? I have so far only used on smartphones, never on a computer.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing how the privacy filter looks and whether it's worth getting it for that fact as well as a possible screen protector.

 

@ Outrigger, did you configure your TZ without HDD, only SDD?

I did not think of this option. I was opting for SDD +160GB HDD.

what was your motivation for doing this?

Edit: Oh I just read you have it with DVD. I was thinking only SDD, no hdd, no dvd. Is it also possible to configure only SDD?

 

I configured mine as SSD + DVD drive. You cannot opt for SSD with nothing else as far as I know. I use the DVD often, but for others, they rather have the extra storage.

I thought about the privacy filter, but there are times where I use this to watch a movie with 1 or 2 other people and they would not be able to see the screen, so thats a no go for me.

I would advise those getting a screen protector though, its an expensive machine, so do something to protect it.

 

If you decide on one, Outrigger, let us know how it goes!

 

I just purchase a laptop screen protector (11.1" Widescreen ShaggyMac Keyboard Cover / Lcd Screen Protector) from ShaggyMac, is only $10.
I also took some Cleaner Spray- because i notice that goes a lot of dust to the TZ- and the Kensigton Security Cable.
I agree, is an expensive machine and is worth it protecting it with a few accessories.
For me-i have TZ one week now- i'm fairly impressed with this laptop and i'm happy i didn't took TXN few weeks ago the TZ was released. The SSD against the 4200rpm HD...
The screen is incredible, the fan is quite always off, it does get warm but without disturbing. And really, i don't notice any slowness with multitasking or heavy work (encoding videos or photoshop).

 

congrats on another happy purchase. I actually looked at the protector from that place. is it the clear plastic type that goes on top of the screen or its just a piece of cloth that goes over the keyboard to prevent them from touching? if its the former, I'll get it right now. and please comment on the quality.

 

I saw someone else here use some clear rubber self adhesive thing-a-ma-jobs. I'm thinking I'll use some of those adhesive backed felt dots that we all have lying around in our junk drawers. I think the black color will match well enough, and hopefully they'll provide enough separation if I place them properly.

If I don't like the look, I hate to admit it, but I'll probably hit up a scrapbook store near where I work. They have all kinds of useful little things there, and in bulk so you don't have to buy a million.

Another thought is an adhesive backed rubber film from McMaster Carr. Unfortunately, what I have now has a white powdery finish to the otherwise nice black color. I'm not sure which type of rubber to choose for the cosmetic side of things.