The Official Z Successor Prediction Thread (CES 2010)

I've been following this forum for several months now waiting for the next Z-esque laptop to come out. Everyone told me months ago that Intel would be releasing a new processor in January, and now apparently they have just announced it. Can we expect new Vaios to be announced in January when the new processor is released? Talk of the next Vaios has died down recently with people buying them for Christmas, so I figured now would be the time to bring up the topic again since January is only a few weeks away.

 

Yes. CES. Is. It.

 

I believe we will hear lots of laptop news in early January with CES 2010 with a slew of new Intel processors coming for desktops and mobiles.

 

In past years, how long after that convention have the laptops become commercially available? Do laptop makers have access to the Intel processors before they are announced, meaning they can develop the laptops ahead of time, or do they work with them around the time everyone finds out?

 

Maybe within a week or two pre-orders are available.

 

What do you mean new processors? Sony didn't add a i7 yet on a laptop.

 

There are new dual cores (Arrandale) launching in January under the Core i3, i5 and i7 brand names.They launch January 7th at CES.

 

To echo the above, expect to see some new things at the Sony booth at CES. Very nice things.

 

When is this CES?

 

Jan 7-10th. Apparently Intel is holding the press conference for Westmere at 7:30am.

 

Do you mind divulging more information?

 

@nixon,

You drop a bomb, and after you dissapear! Come on, tell us something more..new models, new design...what?
Personally I am waiting something between 8" and 11"...Maybe the Vaio P or something new, maybe?

 

Why would a random forum user know what Sony plans to show?

 

Some posters that post on these forums have contacts or work for Sony. I think that is enough to say on that.
I'm not that excited about this launch yet. It is the holidays and no doubt after the new year my interest will spike again.

 

You still have a couple weeks to get excited Rachel. CES is always fun for all the new announcements from all the electronic companies!

 

It's all very well, but historically Sony has a habit of opening their kimono very early - and by the time it comes out, it's no longer such a big deal anymore. If they actually took a leaf out from Apple, I think a lot more people would be more enthused about their stuff when it actually comes out to buy.

I'm jonesying for a real TT replacement much more in the spirit of the TZ - a fairly potent and non-bulbous ultracompact, and hopefully a slightly different method of building the darned falling-apart things.

 

Well Mr. Nixon, I hope I haven't been waiting months for a Z replacement for nothing.

 

It's not so much that they reveal too early, but since they have partners and people who sell their machines for them and have a huge retail presence, they have to get information to those partners early and that's where the leaks often happen.

So I'm sure over the next couple of weeks we'll see Joe's Computer Shack from the UK or BillyBob's Compustore putting up specs or SKU's early and then quickly taking them down. It's not usually Sony who leaks but one of their partners.

What I've seen them do more often though these days to prevent this is not release official information on the specific SKU's/specs until really close to or just after the announcement so "accidents" can't happen as easily.

 

Could you tell us something more nixon? I will not tell to anyone!

A touchscreen P? A new redesigned Z?
For me it would make sense for Sony to make a tablet. Sony always put excellent screens on their laptops, so imagine in a tablet.

 

I'm not talking so much about leaks from the retail channel, or indeed late-stage leaks from those seeking to drum up interest without giving anything away. I've certainly done it for Sony in the past, and it seems you're either in the retail or PR channel as well.

I'm talking about the time it takes for a Sony announcement of a product and it actually being on the street outside of Japan.

The issue is for example that Sony announces something in April - and it will eventually go on sale a couple of months later in everywhere but Japan.

In the context of that, a leak before the Japanese release (which probably has a maximum lead time of 2-3 weeks as promotional literature / details start to get into the hands of associates) is kind of irrelevant in the overall scheme of things - either way, when the things actually become available people have moved on to other stuff.

Apple usually announces on availability, and that I think is a huge factor in maintaining consumer interest after launch.

 

Im assuming Arrandale will be released on laptops during the first week of Feb ,will sony launch any new laptops

 

I am seriously looking at picking up a Z (3.3lbs) with 8GB DDR-3 RAM, 3.06GHz processor, Windows 7 Ultimate OS, Blu-ray burner etc., but wonder if it is a smart move at this juncture, when Intel is supposed to release the new breed of processors.

I too will be using this for video/photo editing.

 

Wait for the newer processors if you can - that's the best advice if you can wait.

If you can't by all means get it, as its till a good computer, but newer processors may be better.

 

Thanks for the advice. Yes, it is a bit of a dilemma, especially since the current Z (with the specs I am looking for) is not discounted at all and I don't want to be tearing my hair out in a month, after paying top dollar for the current one.

I really need a laptop soon, since my current 3 year old Lenovo laptop is seriously showing its age (and might just die out) and thus I don't have the luxury of waiting either.

 

Well, clean it out remove the dust and don't bash it around then it should easily last you another month or two which is for when we hope new models will be released.

 

So it looks like we have little over a week left until that CES! What are your guys' predictions? New Z?!

 

I am predicting the new SX :]

 

I'm hoping for a Z-class update. My original, first generation SZ is in need of an update. I'd have gone even with the current Z, but they're full price and for all practical purposes end of line...

Lenovo had a fastastic sale on the T400, but I hear bad things about the LED screen quality. My SZ has one of the first LED backlit notebook screens available, and it's quite good for the age (although the gamma requires serious tweaking). Thinking I'll only be happy with another Sony screen.

 

Here is a threat about your guys prediction on the not yet confirmed but a soon to be determined successor to the flagship model Z.

What are you guys predictions on the new Z?

Keeping the design? New design?
What's in it?
Price?
Purchasing?
When will it be available to the market?
Will it be successful?

Anything about the Z!!!

 

Oooh, circular link loops!

 

my current Z is almost perfect for me, i just wish it had a slightly beefier GPU. Not asking for an ati 5850 in my thin and light, just something with around a nvidia 230m level of power. Although I guess the lack of GPU grunt is the reason i still keep my core i7/5870 rig around. ooooh maybe no battery drain would be my secound request ok, now that i'm being a little greedy, i would like the all black version to come out from the start. i'm slightly jealous of all those sleek black Z's out there D:

 

An ATI 5850 would indeed be overkill, but an ATI mobile 5650 would be brilliant.

Rumors are this card, which is also expected to be announced at CES, uses about 10 - 15 Watt, which is similar to the current used GPU in the Z series.
The performance it delivers is around that of the nvidia 250m.

As others pointed out to me in another topic, the 230m (or 330m) would actually not be a good option, as it uses considerably more Watts.

 

the 5650 would indeed be great. I'd much rather have ATI in my laptop over nvidia.

 

I think it'll be more along the lines of the 5570 - size, weight, and efficiency (power&heat) come into play for a thin laptop like the Z. Not to mention they'll probably want the 56xx in their larger laptops to differentiate their lineup. TBH I'm more worried about the battery drain issue

 

I'm jonesing for an SR upgrade

mine is fine as is, but I'd like a lighter version, stronger build. Heck, even 15 inch screen if they can keep the quality up and weight down.

Moreso I want a nicer screen. I just want a screen I have no complaints or nitpickings about for the next 3 years or so.

 

You have a good point there incomprehensible. The 5570 would be more likely.

And what is this exactly about the battery drain issue? I read a bit about it a while ago, but thought it was solved already. Or it could at least be solved by using a modified bios.

SR's are nice too, but in my opinion it has two major failings. First is indeed the screen. Second is the lack of switchable graphics. They put in a good GPU, but no switch for when you don't need it.

The later may be resolved with the introduction of the Arrandale line of CPU's. The screen will probably intentionally be left as it is, to distinguish the Z from the SR.

A potential third failing is the lack of a HDMI port. Of that one I'm not sure though. Sometimes the SR's are listed as having the option of a HDMI port and sometimes not. Considering the other two failings I didn't bother to really look into it.

 

Some people posted this link:

http://www.laptopshop.nl/product/87024/category-1561-laptops/sony-vaio-vpc-z11x9e-b.html

What do you think?

 

Well, the 330m is a great improvement over the 9300, but still, I'd much rather have seen them use the ati 5570. If rumors about the energy usage are right, that would also have made much more sense.

What would really interest me now would be some information on how long it would last on a battery under various types of useage.

 

well when i bought it the screen was better than anything non-mac on the market, so i was fine with it then. Z's I've seen in store in person looked worse, though

dont really care about gpu switching as I opt for on-board graphics

 

The Z's screen is anti-glare. Compared to the glare screen of the SR the colours will look less vibrant, but it does mean you can use it outside without it turning into a mirror.

 

I like mirror screens. You can see what people are doing behind you.

 

I would have bought the SR series actually...but the build quality wasn't really that good.

Seems Nvidia offered Sony the better deal, otherwise i can't understand the decision using the 330 GT as ATI's mobile gpus are better.

16:9 display
Not so good for office work, but surely more fitting for multimedia task.

Seeing that price one has to expect the best build quality, otherwise i would say it is overpriced.