Ultra-portable with Blu-ray?

My question is the same as I had about a year ago in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/474949-tt-replacement-any-ultra-portable-blu-ray-2.html


I.e. does anybody know of an ultra-portable with built in Blu-ray?

With the TT gone, I don't know of a single lightweight laptop with built in Blu-ray. Is it just I who find it really odd that no other company makes something portable with Blu-ray? There must be a lot of people that wants to watch HD movies on the go (and that are willing to pay a premium for it).

 

The CLOSEST thing you'll find is the current Vaio S series, AFAIK. It's also avalible at almost every BB store, with BluRay configged by default. (the SC variant with i5 2410m, 1366x768 13.3" display, and HD6470m).

Maybe Samsung has one, but that's all I can really think of atm.

 

Yeah unfortunately when I was in the market for a computer last year, one of the features I wanted was a built in BD drive. Shopping around, the smallest computer I could find was the 13.1" Sony Vaio Z. Of course that model has now been discontinued, and the next generation Z no longer has a built in ODD and it is now external. Like jeremyshaw said, I believe the 13.3" S Sereies Vaios are currently the smallest computers that have Blu Ray built in (or as an option).

I too would love a modern incarceration of the TT, but that doesn't appear to be happening any time soon.

 

If it helps, the current S series may also be configured with a 1600x900 display, a better GPU (6630m). Issues are only one mPCIe slot, kinda wonky exhaust placement, but at least it comes with a backlit KB.

 

Vaio S is the only option I've seen too. In my mind though, it's just a little bit on the heavy side. I compare it to my current Vaio Z (VGN-Z790DLX) and Vaio TT, and it's unfortunately quite a bit heavier. (fyi. The Blu-ray drive no longer works in any of my current laptops, otherwise I'm pretty happy with them.)

I would love if an updated Vaio TT existed, or a version of the new Vaio Z where it's possible to attach the optical drive to the unit (making it bulkier, but still portable as one unit). I like the look of Samsungs latest offerings, but I've unfortunately not found anything lightweight with a built in optical drive.

 

go on ebay and buy a working blu-ray drive replacement for your two lappys...

 

Yeah it sounds like your best bet would be to replace the BD drives in your existing computer(s) since nothing on the current market quite fits your needs.

 

No, you're not the only one nutte that wants an ultraportable with a built in ODD. I would probably consider a last gen Z but i want my next notebook to have USB 3 built in. Expresscard USB 3 for me doesn't work so well as i've said before and i've used it less than 5 times as a result. May be though a last gen Z is something you may want to consider.
I also prefer 12.1< form factor.

I read over the old thread and i recommended the P770 as a possibility.
I would now recommend the Sandybridge version, the P771.
The optical drive is now modular and can be replaced by a battery or weight saver. It would be perfect for this upgrade if Fujitsu is using a bezel that will lend itself to this upgrade. I will most likely buy one of these when they turn up at discount may be next year. I wish that they introduced a bit of colour though.


Also, i do wonder about the x220. I have looked at that and as i see it some handy modder may able to remove the 2.5 HD in the bay and fit an optical. Now, if only the bezels were available that would make such a mod possible. It though is again let down by looks to me and I would like more colour options, white would suffice.

Also, i do wonder what 9.5 BD readers Sony is now using in some models?

 

Alternatively, you can purchase the Sony BDX-S500U for a reasonable price. Not ideal, but at least then you can plug in a blu-ray recorder onto any computer.

Caveat is that it requires it's own power supply.

 

Thanks for all responses...

I can agree that the "best" would be to replace the Blu-ray drives in my existing laptops, but I'm just not the type of guy that like to mess around with a laptop, i.e. be really sure to find the right part and open it up. It is so much more fun to buy something new and I sure am a tech geek that appreciate a new toy, even if the only change is just getting the latest chipset. Since there are no comparable computer on the market though, I might actually consider looking into replacing the drive in at least one of the laptops.

@Rachel.
I also think around 12" is the perfect form factor. The P771 seems nice, but as far as I see there is no Blu-ray option. I tried to customize it on Fujitsu's site, but could only select DVD.

@tanalasta.
An external drive is not useful to me. I only use a laptop while "on the run" and only want one piece of hardware to carry around.


I'm leaning toward replacing my current Z with the new S, even though it feels a little bit like a downgrade. Anyone know how fast the 256Gb (RAID 0) SSD is?
In my previous Vaio's the SSD's have been suuuper slow, so I don't want to get disappointed again.

 

Don't get the Sony external, that power supply is dumb. I have a little Polariod BD drive and it is great, USB powered.

If anyone wants to buy one of the lesser model Z1 and put a BD drive in it I am selling my OEM BD drive from my Z1 for like $200