Theories on the missing Japanese "Type S" (SZ6)?

Hi all,

I have followed the release of Vaio products in Japan for many years now, and it seems typical that models are released there first, or that they always seem to reserve the best models or options for the Japanese market only. Think X505, raw carbon finishes (more of a recent thing in US etc), the original U1, and so on.

So I thought it was very odd that the Santa Rosa based SZ popped up in the US first, and is still yet to be seen on:

http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Products/SZ4/

There was an announcement in late July of a campaign of cheaper RAM upgrades etc on the "SZ4" models, which suggests that they are clearing stocks.

Considering all this, is there any weight behind the following theories:

1) Japan are holding out for something better like Intel Extreme processors

2) Japan are working hard on a more significantly upgraded Type S, perhaps with new keyboard or SSD options, and the US model was just a quick rework

3) Japan has realized that US market timing is becoming more competitive due to rising US based companies such as Apple

4) They've just been lazy

OR, please throw in your own theories...

 

I tend to believe your theory 3. US is most competitive market with Apple and Dell in 13 inch space.


A more negative theory:
They expected so many problems that they did not want their Japanese customers to go through them

 

They have a 10,000 Yen off CPU and RAM upgrade (20,000 Yen total, if you upgrade both), so we can safely assume that they have been and are trying to run out the current model. The promo deal ends on the 31st of August, so that could be another indication of when the new SZ will appear. The older SZ versions have also been discontinued, paving the way for a new SZ and the non-Santa Rosa version to become the "new" older model.

I have a few theories as to why there is no release yet:

1) They are trying to run down stock levels as much as they can, and will release it on the 1st of September.

2) They are planning on launching a number of revisions together, and are waiting on other notebooks to be finalised.

3) They were rushed for a US release, but they are going to take their time for a local one.

I don't base these assumptions on anything more than hunches. I don't believe that they are waiting for a different processor. I also don't believe that they are waiting for an SSD option, considering they added that to the G series after launch. I also doubt that they will be planning to release a new keyboard design.

Either way, it's annoying when they do this!

 

it might be just branding the product differently for different market segment (don't ask me why, ask some marketing idiots).

for example: i have a digital camera canon ixus 70, it's known as canon powershot sd1000 in the states. go figure.

 

I am no good with Theories or rumors so i am just going to wait and buy it when it comes out. I just hope downgrading from Japanese Vista to Japanese Windows XP won`t be too painful
I use my SZ90 more than my more powerful desktop and bigger screen. I don`t know why. Using the desktop just seems... dull. The premium SZ models are a really exciting product.

Edit: Hmm reading the "Installing Windows XP on the Vaio SZ6xx" hasn`t been particularly encouraging.

 

maybe they took so long to make xp drivers for the sz4-5 series they cant be stuffed doing it again for the sz6 series

 

Drivers are being made for both the TZ and SZ6 series. It's just a matter of time.

 

True, I've seen this happen before too. However, the lack of a Santa Rosa platform on the current Japanese SZ models is a clear pointer to them being old models.

 

or i could be sony is developing a version with additional hardware to cater for japanese market.

i saw a recent review (can't remember where) of a guy who bought a used sz from japan. it has a rectangular pad to the right of the touch pad. this is used in japan as some kind of scanner (for credit cards / value add card) for monetary transaction during online shopping.

 

That's a FeliCa port. I believe that it is now standard on all Japanese VAIOs.