VAIO VPC-Z1190 CTO on Canadian Site!

Vaio Control Center will still be installed, Fresh Start is just supposed to remove the limited-value stuff - trial editions of programs, demos, etc. I think there was just some comment over some Sony multimedia player that was normally assigned to one of the custom keys that wasn't there, but I could be wrong.

aznblitz: I will caution you on expecting something that isn't specifically mentioned on the page. If it says 2x2gb, expect 2x2gb. If you get 1x4gb that would be a bonus, but don't _expect_ it. Just like all those people in the US that ordered 256gb when it was mentioned on the CTO page as 1x256gb when internationally it was 2x128gb, and figured they'd get the same. Nope - 1x256gb just as mentioned.

The US pricing for their memory is currently completely out of whack when them offering 1x4gb as the base option. Charging $150 for a single 2gb stick of memory is insane, not to mention $300 for a single 4gb stick. Their pricing only makes sense if the base option was 2x2gb, as it was originally.

My CTO supposedly entered production last Friday, but I havent had any updates since.

 

I forgot to mention that the June refresh may have a hard drive physical drive option as well as the SSD option. This is just the feeling I got with my conversations with the rep though I didn't really ask for specific details, apparently the majority of the people are still uncomfortable with SSD technology. I guess when the norm now is around 500GB for a hard drive and then you're asked to fork over another $1,215 for a 512GB SSD option or keep the small 128gb standard version, you're going to have a heart attack.

 

I read in another forum that the Blu-Ray drive for the Sony Z doesn't support Dolby DTS output....if that is true then I think its a waste of $432 bucks when you can buy pretty decent blu-ray player now for around $200.

Don't forget you can download 1080p movies off the net and still play them via HDMI cable. Considering that there are many different types of Blu-ray quality movies (ie.Batman being the best and others not so great) I decided to opt out on the Blu-ray player for now. I was already disappointed that this Z version didn't at the very least have a Blu-ray reader with the DVD option....but that's Sony marketing for you.

 

...but if you record Blu-ray, then this may not be much of a ripoff until you compare it with larger laptops with blu-ray burners.

 

I got it on the 19th. Interesting to note that the packaging is a lot more beautiful than the unboxing pics I've seen so far in this forum. I am going to post the pics some time this week.

 

Sure this is true if your needs require a blu-ray burner. But for myself I'm holding out and I can still record compressed 1080p content on a 8Gb DVD DL which most dvd players will accept. I still don't own a Blu-ray player yet and neither do most of my friends but I'm sure that will change within the next year. Too bad blank blu-ray media is still pricey around $25 or I would have considered the upfront cost if there was DTS support on the Z.

Cheers.

 

hey

yeah with the price of blu ray media so high and the initial upgrade for the blu ray on the vaio z so high..i decided not to add it into my z cto. i figure by the time the media gets cheaper ill just buy an external blu ray burner when prices are more reasonable...

i cant wait to recieve my vaio z ..this will be the most expensive laptop i have ever purchased..save up long and hard for this purchase.lol

 

The Canadian Sony Style rep I ordered through even recommended skipping the BD burner

 

so let me get this straight by going with the fresh start option it actually disables some of the functions of the vaio z? ie blacklit keyboard? what else is disabled with the fresh start?

 

I really wasn't very sure so I decided to just play it safe and will eventually uninstall the bloatware instead of trying to find drivers on Sony site. But I think Sunfox mentioned that you still get the backlit keyboard controls, but there might be the Vaio Media Center missing which you can download from Sony's site.

Maybe Sunfox can confirm this...

Now its a waiting game to get this puppy....can't believe I have to wait a month. No pain no gain....

 

Fresh Start is *not* a blank operating system.

 

It's not a blank operating system. It has several Vaio-made software, but I haven't come across any trial software so far.

 

"Thank you for your purchase at Sony Style. Your order has been shipped."

Wow, I just ordered my Z Series last Wednesday and apparently it already shipped yesterday from California. That seems like really fast, doesn't it? Especially given what people write here about their estimated shipping dates.

 

im guessing certain configurations (e.g. i7, carbon fibre) will delay your order.

 

The funny thing is that from what I remember you had to select both (i7 and carbon fibre) to get your shipping date pushed back. I chose carbon fibre but went with the i5 and mine shipped within 6 days. Even the rep on the phone was surprised.

 

Looks like mine shipped yesterday and is expected tomorrow.

 

How many days before shipping did you guys get the e-mail saying the notebook was in production?

Also, did your Estimated Shipped Date in the Production e-mail match when it was actually shipped?

I just received my production e-mail at 11AM EST yesterday, but my ship date is April 13th!

 

This is the timeline for my order:
Placed - Mar 17th, around 3pm
Production Email - Mar 19th, estimated shipped date - Mar 25th
Shipping Confirmation - Mar 24th, according to FedEx was shipped on Mar 23rd at 1:37pm

It all seems pretty fast if you ask me.

 

What a coincidence, I got an email saying my order was in production at the exact same time and with the exact same estimated ship date! When did you place your order and what configuration did you get?

 

That is a coincidence!

I placed my order on the 8th of March (They 'lost' it until mid-last week though)

i7-620
4GB Ram
256GB HD (wish I got the 192GB)
Premium Carbon Fibre

 

Ordered - March 12th
Estimated Shipping: March 30th (mostly due to Premium Carbon)
In Production - March 19th
Shipped - March 23rd (notice emailed March 24th)

According to the FedEx tracking number, the shipping service is "IP Direct Distribution", which means an entire pallet of them are shipped as a block to a distribution point in Canada where they are then broken up and sent to their final destinations.

Mine is still showing in Winnipeg.

 

Yup that is the same configuration I got too. I regret not getting the 192gb ssd configuration too... could have spent that extra money on 6gb of ram or an extended battery.

 

hey could anyone comment on the recent findings that adding in ram after purchasing the laptop will not work on the new vaio z? or there is compatibility issues...will these issue be resolved later on and we will be able to add in more ram ?

also, is it too late to modify an order to add in more options if you have already placed an order? or would you have to cancel the order completely and order again? thanks

 

One guy mentioned that his memory did not work. No one else has reported yet.

Also mine is at the airport!

 

wow, just got an email from sony style saying that my order has already been shipped and I should receive it tomorrow! I wasn't expecting it so soon since the original estimated ship date was april 13th (placed my order on the 17th).

 

hey keisuke28

thats great news that your order has shipped

what did you have configured ? i still havent recieved my production start date yet..and i placed the order on march 19

 

intel core i7 620m
256gb ssd
4gb ram
premium carbon fibre

 

hey

thats almost the same configuration as my recently order cto except i got the 192gb ssd instead

btw did you get a production start email before having the shipped email sent out?

i ordered 2 days after you but i still havent recieved anything yet just wondering

 

Yes I got a production notification email on March 23 at 10:59PM EST and got the shipping notification email today at 7:07PM EST. I'm tracking the package on Fedex and the package was apparently shipped on March 24 at 4:37PM EST. Honestly I did not expect everything to progress so quickly, this was a pleasant surprise indeed.

 

So what, no one else got theirs today? FedEx was at my door before 10:30, but I haven't "had time" to open it yet... just working and looking at the nice plain brown box, waiting for tonight...

 

Just ordered a z1190 today March 25th.. i7.. carbon fibre.. 256gb ssd, 6gb ram, ship date is April 27th... guess they slowed down some! $200 off March Madness and free express shipping was the best I could get..

I got the 256gb x1.. but it seems there are options for 2 separate ssd's.. can I add another later? Anyone know?

Finally ... i keep reading people regretting getting the 256gb and wished they would have got the 192gb... why?

 

You'll be surprised how beautiful the packaging is inside.

 

The reason is that the 192GB is a 64GBx3 raid set up vs the 256GB which is 128GBx2 raid.

Because the 192GB is a 3-drive raid, it is much faster, but not really in typical real world applications.

Pros of 256GB to 192GB:
- 64GB more space
- Higher reliability because of fewer raid drives

Cons:
- $175 more expensive
- Slower, particularly when benchmarking

In my case, I don't really need the extra 64GB of space because I store a lot of information on networked drives or on externals, so I would have rather gone with the faster 192GB option but everyone has their own preference.


-- QUESTION: Does anyone know if accessories are available on the Canadian site? I can't find any yet by searching or model number.

 

hey

i got the 192gb triple raid ssd as well but i didnt know that it was in theroy faster then a 256 ssd ....but i did however wished i had opted for the 6 gig of ram though...does anyone know if ill be able to upgrade the ram later on when someone finds a solution to add in more ram to the vaio z without compatibility issues?

anyways i am anxiously awaiting an email to let me know that my vaio z has started production...

 

Whelp, got my new Z running and I have to say that I love it.

With all of the recent *&@# going on about the Z - creaky palmrests, diagonal screen lines, noisy fans, missing software, loose batteries, crappy speakers, weird noises - I have to say I was starting to get a bit hesitant about my purchase. But now that I have it, everything's great and I have NO problems or issues whatsoever!

 

Sunfox, I'm glad you said that because they are concerns that have been making me nervous, especially the diagonal lines issue.

Cheers.

 

Found my own answer.

 

I checked out the $1999.99 Z i5 model at the Sony Store - I was blown away with the design. Awesome. One thing that irked me was how flexible the screen was when opening /closing from the side - when in the middle/top of the screen it was not an issue.

Otherwise, I'm still trying to muster enough courage to drop the ball on a CTO...

The carbon fiber model is now pushed out to April 27 :<

 

it now seems that the option to cto in canada for the 128gb ssd has been removed...so the minimum you can get is the 192 gb ssd...must be short supply or not too many people going with the 128gb ssd option for their cto

 

It is short supply, spoke with someone high up at Sony Canada and they mentioned their supplier is having some manufacturing problems with the 128GB since mid last week

 

That sucks because I was waiting until Monday to place my order to try and get free shipping, now I have to pay for the 192.

Although it could be a blessing in disguise.

 

But that kind of makes no sense. Both the 128gb and 192gb models take the same number of 128gb SSD drives: 1. The 192gb just has a bonus 64gb (single sided) drive.

Unless the two drives are pre-assembled in the bundle, but I wasn't aware that was the case.

 

Thats what I was also thinking.

 

Just wondering... since we dont have an option to choose the Mobile Broadband network on their website. Does the GPS work or not in the cdn Zs?
Thanks

 

No GPS.

10 characters.

 

sucks about the 128g option, the CTO is just too much $$ now to consider at the moment.

 

Yeah - I asked about if the 192GB would also be delayed and they said it was only the 128GBs - so maybe something to do with how they allocate drives (192GB higher revenue config) or what comes in the 'bundles'

 

I ordered my 1190 today.
Like the other people said, they are having trouble allocating them.
When I asked the salesman what the difference between the 128+64 and the 128 is and he said the solo 128s are integrated.

Now the waiting game, I have to wait until early may.

 

If they stopped supplying 128gb option how would they make the 384gb option? Would they use (2x64) for the difference?

 

Did anyone find a nice looking case for this laptop.
The official sony leather case doesn't have any slots for a power adapter or anything else. And of course the case must look good since we did buy a very nice looking laptop.

I know Acme makes nice stuff.

Found this, its a sleeve so not exactly a case but a nice price for a sleeve and looks nice.
http://www.proporta.com/F02/PPF02P05.php?t_id=4570&t_mode=des

I also found this for someone who wishes they had the carbon model
http://www.sgpstore.com/product_info.php/cPath/23_37/products_id/368