VAIO VPCZ1390X limitations: 1920x1200 external display? Non-replaceable SSD?

I'm looking into buying the latest VAIO Z before its USB3.0 successor is released and I have some questions:

1. Does it really not support 1920x1200 on an external monitor? I read in the VPCZ1190X spec that the maximum resolution via HDMI would be 1920x1080.
2. Are the SSDs really not user-upgradable? Someone mentioned that their Z has a standard SSD.
3. Can it read SDHC cards?
4. Any other non-obvious limitations?

PS: How is the noise profile? Any whining or non-uniform noise? For comparison, I'm fine with the noise from my Lenovo T400.

Thanks!

 

1. The HDMI's max limit is 1920x1200 on the Vaio Z
2. SSD's ARE user upgradeable, but only with certain 1.8" drives that need to be taken out of their cases read this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/511578-how-replace-ssd-vaio-vpcz11-vpcz12-non-sony-ssd.html
3. Yes it can read SDHC, and IIRC all SD card readers can read SDHC/SDXC with the correct software, the ports are all forward/backwards compatible, but i know for a fact the Z support SDHC, not so sure about SDXC, since it's *kinda* new
4. obvious limitation... your eyesight? 1080p on a 13" screen... some have complained it is small, but what did you expect? Uhh... the GPU is a low/mid range card... then again this is not a gaming laptop. Oh! one thing i have noticed... the Z has GREAT cooling in that much of the heat gets shoved out the left hand side (so dont put anything like a cell phone there) and not transferred to your lap. However, this is due to the fact that most of the vents are on the bottom of the notebook, i find that when i place it on my lap, it blocks the vents and the Z heats up a little more than i'm used to (if you come from a Macbook/HP Envy it'll feel just the same )

5) fan noise: some people have reported a slight annoying whine to the fan... sometimes i barely notice it, but if there's any other noise... then you cant hear it... even my typing blocks out the whine at times... the fan's that silent... unless you game in which case the fan kicks into gear and that's why they gave you a pair of noise cancelling earbuds

 

it's supported in the newest Z refresh Z13.

 

A few other caveats:
- 6-bit TN screen.
- No support for dual external monitors.
- Most (all?) of the newer Zs lack a 1394 port.
- Short supply cycle -- you need to buy accessories immediately, because once a model is replaced, Sony no longer sells accessories. Sometimes supplies stop even before then (as with the old Z, where docking stations were no longer made while the last iteration of the Z itself was sold).
- Bad upgradability. Sony doesn't sell upgrade parts, only horribly expensive replacement parts.
- It's not built to last. Peeling paint and lacquer, rubber feet falling off, wrist rests that discolour...
- Few to no driver updates.
- Sony utilities of dubious quality and value.

Weighed against this are the pluses; it is low weight, good speed and high resolution, in a good looking design.

 

There is a firewire port if you customize in Japan no? Then again you also can can choose the Intel 6300 card or a non-backlit Japanese keyboard too i think (as well as a HDD instead of Optical Drive)

 

- crappy speakers
- poor Linux support (so far)
- battery life isn't that great compared to Apples
- small touchpad compared to Apples
- weird placement of sound ports at the front (terrible for plugging into a sound system, which I must do, given how bad its speakers are)

 

Yeah, the Japanese tend to get more options.

I'm seriously considering ordering my next laptop from someone like Dynamism, in order to get more choices. One of the non-toughbook Panasonics could be nice; fast, well-built and serviceable.

 

Firewire is available as an option in Europe as well.

 

Sony Europe models are hell expensive compared to US and Canada!, they also sell you the headphone for 30GBP, Finger Print Reader for 30GBP and Illuminated Keyboard also for 55GBP which all are included freely with American and Canadian models.

 

I agree with the speakers...
- Battery life... can be better but really 6 hours with extended is VERY possible (and you can do much more on this Vaio than a 13" MBP not to mention your GPU and CPU is better) Also, the Z's battery is also removable.
- MBP's have a 16:10 layout, so they have more height to their screen. Their screen is also 13.3 compared to 13.1 of the Vaio Z, the bezel of the MBP is also thicker than than the Z (and the screen is glossy!)
- placement of the sound port makes sense though especially if you're using headphones

 

Thanks for all the replies. I've researched practically all laptops out there, and the Z13 is impossible to beat in its weight class, until Panasonic comes up with a ToughBook S9 with Blu-Ray and illuminated keyboard.

I'm looking for a thin-and-light in the 13"-14" range with illuminated keyboard and Blu-Ray, and the only contenders to the Z13 are the Dell Latitude E6410 and Lenovo T410s. They both have a screen of only 1440x900 (for 14"), and removable optical drives that can be replaced with an additional battery, for battery lives of over 8 hours under low load. Lenovo's screen doesn't have great contrast, and Dell's screen is lacking, but it runs very quiet and is easier to extend than the VAIO, although that's not a huge factor. Lenovo has the twisted Ctrl/Fn swap, but that's configurable via the BIOS, even though the keys will be mis-labeled. And they both are 1lb heavier than the VAIO Z, but my upper limit is around 2kg (~4.4lbs).

So I'm not sure what do go... get one of the three, or wait for the USB3.0 successors to Dell and to the VAIO Z (I haven't seen any news about a USB3.0 T-series Lenovo).

I posted a spec comparison on gdgt.com at gdgt compare gadgets.

 

you have to also consider the gpu of the Z which the gdgt.com comparison didnt... the Z has a much more capable card...

 

It's listed, click the arrow at the end of the Video row under "Additional specs"