VAIO Z is gone from Sony's US website :(

I cannot believe it... the notebook world is collapsing around me. VAIO Z is gone... forever? Is there no one to serve us who can afford to spend extra on a premium laptop???? First world problems, I know but---full voltage 13", 3 lbs, 10000 3dMark06, and high-quality 900p IPS screen too much to ask for? You can axe the useless optical drive to save cost.

Name your price Sony. Is no-one willing to make such a thing and just charge a premium for it? What is this ULV 1366x768 mediocrity that is replicating itself? Yes make a few budget laptops, even make 90% budget laptops, but your crowning achievement????

 

With the exception of a full voltage quad core CPU and a slightly inferior screen, check out the Samsung Series 9. It costs 50% less than the Z did.

Assuming Sony kept the price of the Z series the same, by today's standards the Z would be an outrageous rip off.

Over the years I've bought 3 Z series machines and despite being great machines they are from a different era when you didn't mind spending £2000+ on a notebook. But the Samsung Series 9 can be had for half the cost and it's much better engineered piece of hardware. Yes, it doesn't have a quad core CPU but a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny percentage of users actually need that in a 13" chassis so it's irrelevant. And if you compare the build quality of the last two generations of the Z to the MacBook Air / 13" rMBP the Z series is embarrassingly inferior.

Everyone else moved with the times, Sony didn't. Just look at the rubbish they've produced over the last few years. They peaked with the 2010 VPC-Z and haven't been able to match it since.

 

So many opinions attempted to be stated as facts.

Just because your web browsing and facebook time can be done with a dual core ULV processor, doesn't mean there's no market for actual mobile professionals who place a premium on a real quad core processor to do you know, ACTUAL work, without being bogged down by a brick of a laptop. If Sony's engineering is so "rubbish" why can't anyone replicate a Z? No, your alternatives are laughable in comparison to someone who actually pushes the Z to it's limits. I don't know how you treat your laptops, but my SVZ looks like she did when I first took her out of the box, and I take my SVZ everywhere I go 5 to 6 days a week.

Also, I'm not sure where on earth you found a Samsung Series 9 for $900, but just a quick search shows me this:
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Series 9 NP900X3D-A03US 13" Ultrabook
Looking at that link, we have half the cores, an inferior and lower resolution screen, half the ram for the SAME price Sony was selling a PMD-Less SVZ. Ok, buddy! lol

So you throwing out numbers blindly like 50%, immediately discredits you. I'm sorry you couldn't afford a new Vaio SVZ, but that's no reason to hate on Sony. Enjoy your macbooks.

 

FWIW the CTO Z is still available on Sony's Canadian site, so they're still building some (or at least clearing out the parts bins).

And as nice as the Samsung S9 is, it isn't really an alternative to the Z. If someone needs a steak knife, a butterknife won't cut it.

 

Also, the US outlet has several starting at $1440 including a 256gb model at $1,680. These are usually brand new, just canceled CTO's.

 

The Series 9 is 50% cheaper! Well technically it's now a lot more than 50% cheaper:

Samsung Series 9 NP900X3B 13.3 inch Ultrabook (Intel Core i5 2467M 1.6GHz, 4Gb RAM, 128Gb SSD, LAN, WLAN, BT, Webcam, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

£799.99! I paid £2200 for my last Vaio Z which was the going rate for higher end Z's. And the Z was badly engineered. The thing struggled with heat dissipation and the fan noise was totally unacceptable on ALL Z models over the years. The build quality of the Z was pretty rubbish too. As a "mobile professional" those of us with Vaio Z's were laughed at as the thing made so much noise, particularly during meetings and times spend with colleagues. The engineering of the Z didn't match their ambition. Despite all its faults I still love my VPC-Z.

Anyway, the Z series is dead so quite clearly there just isn't the market for such machines so we have no choice but to look for alternatives. I personally find my T420s does a sterling job as a mobile workhorse but if I wanted thin & light I'd opt for a Series 9 if I thought my MacBook Air wasn't any good.

And where did I say I couldn't afford a new SVZ? In December I replaced two workstations with a £1800 Windows based PC & £1700 iMac. Money to burn...

 

Z is also gone from Hong Kong and Japan.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

 

So I paid 1550GBP for my SVZ, but how does the 9 series you linked to compare to my SVZ?

1. 4 vs 8GB RAM
2. 128 vs 2560GB SSD
3. HD+ vs FHD
4. Unknown vs 96% gamut
5. Half battery life because of the lack of a sheet battery
6. i5 CPU vs 4-core i7.

Should I go on?

EDIT: You also posted a link to a USED one and an older version.

There newer ones start at 1000GBP and still are much inferior in specs to the SVZ.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Series-NP900X4C-15-inch-Laptop/dp/B00862I4XY/ref=pd_cp_computers_1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-NP9...-Graphics/dp/B008EJGJKE/ref=pd_cp_computers_0

I have no doubt these are nice machines, but let's not say the SVZ is an ancient design if it still beats the above easily.

And as someone else said - the fact thar you use your laptop for Internet and Word, does not mean no one ellse needs the raw power SVZ provides.

 

It doesn't compare to the Z, but if you had the intelligence to read my posts you will see that I am saying the Z is dead, there's no replacement so you have to choose something else. Most people do not use the Z to it's full potential so the Series 9 is an obvious alternative for those seeking thin & light. For those that demand performance, well, you're lucks out isn't it?

I'd love to know where I said I only use my laptop for the internet & word. It's an absolutely pathetic & childish attempt to try and negate my points with complete and utter lies.

 

I'll have to look at the series 9 then. so sad. I don't like the S or T series at all.
Another painful thing for me is the stupid trackpads without a clickable button on all the new laptops

 

I've been holding out to buy a new Z for quite a while now since my current Z (2010) has been having issues for quite a while. Should I take the plunge and buy a Z now while some are still available through Sony Outlet or should I continue to hold out and hope Sony will release a predecessor at some point? It would suck to buy the last one only for a new one to come out a year later. Is it possible Sony just pulled the Z for now because the new Windows is out and the Z isn't really compatible with it? Maybe they just need time to develop a new Z.

 

There are still new Z21s available, so even if you wait till the spring you will probably be able to get a brand-new Z23.

 

I thought people were saying the Z is gone. So this only means the current Z is out of stock until they prep the small upgrade of the current model for release in spring?

 

We don't know for sure yet but it seems that the Z23 is going out of production, but that does not mean it's of of stock. There are still brand-new examples of the previous Z (Z21) floating around at certain retailers, so it's reasonable to assume that the same will happen with the Z23, namely that brand-new examples will stay in store warehouses for a while.

The only catch of course is that you can't configure them how you want.

It's currently unknown if there will be a new Z in the spring.

 

Then maybe you could enlighten us exactly what you do with your laptop? Comparisons are pretty useless unless we use it for similar tasks.

 

Oh my God---the whole point was that the Z---particularly the 2010 Z, which is what I have---was a niche machine. I'm in research---the Z could solve heavy, coupled nonlinear ODEs in a flash, make snappy 3D presentations to wow audiences, and play ME3 on max graphics settings on the go no problem. The funny thing is that I would constantly meet other mobile professionals that swore by the Z; CAD people on the plane, other scientists---this thing was made for the niche heavy mobile graphics and CPU user.

The point is, we are still out there. We want the power without having to lug around a 17" millstone, and it's a crying shame that no one is making a laptop that does this. They could literally just reuse the 2010 design and drop in new parts (and nix the optical drive). But they don't.

 

kanuk, where to find these z's

 

Z21 or 23?

 

Run two international Data Centers & support 100s & 100s of servers that 55,000 of my users connect to, run a huge Virtual environment, IIS/web development, heavy SQL stuff, Citrix/Terminal Services administration & plenty of other stuff.

 

It's strange for you to give a pointless comparison based on your bias.

Sent from my LT30at using Tapatalk 2

 

What bias? I own a Z...

 

@kanuk that would be the SVZ13's for me, because of the 1080p display

 

I understand that the Z is not out of stock and that one can still purchase it. At first I was asking if we know the Z is really gone for good and if I should try to purchase one now since I've been holding out on doing it, but then you brought up that we might get a refreshed Z in the spring (not a full refresh, just the incremental ones I assume). That's where I'm confused.

Ughhhhhhh... to purchase a Z now or hope they'll release a brand new one or a successor eventually. It could just be they retired it for now because it's not compatible with Windows 8 and it would be embarrassing to sell their "top model" without even being compatible with it. Maybe they're just redesigning it for Windows 8 or rethinking it. What do you guys think?

If I decide to hold out until say the summer, do you guys think the last Z will still be available to buy somewhere? And if so, it would be at a cheaper price, right? Or since it would be rarer by then would it be even more expensive?

*decisions decisions decisions*

 

There is no evidence whatsoever that there will be a new Z, even though I really hope that one comes out with Haswell and that my 2010 VAIO Z will make it till then.

If it is true that Haswell will have twice the performance of the HD4000 and support DX11, then perhaps there will be no need for discrete GPU---but I am taking those claims with a grain of salt.

If they could take out the optical drive in the VAIO S and throw in an IPS display, I would pay for that---the VAIO S 13" is already the closest thing to ideal right around now, but has from what I hear a terrible screen quality.

Time is on our side. The whole "retina" thing, plus the gradual dying of optical media, should eventually produce the ideal machine---which is, like I said, 13", 900p, IPS, 3lbs, 10000+ 3dmark06, full voltage, no optical drive.

 

Would this Series 9 compare to this Z2
Sony VPCZ214GX L Vaio Notebook Core i7 2620M 2 7 4GB 2X64GB SSD W7P64 Blue Used | eBay

 

Man, you own just a single few years old of Z and no more. I respect your personal thought about Z2 and SVZ, but your comparison was just like Accord, Camry to MB E Class or Audi A6.

 

So, basically, your laptop doesn't handle any CPU load worth mentioning? You only connect to other computers? I mean, I doubt you run all that *on* your laptop.

My problems with a slower CPU than the Quad i7 3612 in my SVZ would be at least twice as slow startup of Eclipse, twice as slow compilations (several minutes now depending on how much I compile), twice as slow JBoss startups (now 25s and done ~10/day), twice as slow restarts of the virtual machine(s) that I run *on* the SVZ (Now done in ~20s with the ~1000MB/s SSDs of the SVZ and would probably take a minute on most other laptops you mentioned). These seconds and minutes add up! And I haven't even mentioned the speed of running the app and unit tests that would also increase, and decrease my ability to make a good job, and being happy about my tool. And that's probably the most important factor here, to be happy with the tool I use and to know that it's only my own choice of using a laptop that is the limiting factor. If I used a desktop, I could go faster, but mobility is even more important.

The "fact" that the Z might be discontinued is not something we can just absorb and accept, because it means that our jobs will get sooo much more tedious, slow and boring.

And you must accept one thing if you ever want a good conversation with folks like me: "We don't care about what 99.9% of the people are content with. We're not! And we're willing to pay for it." It's exactly the same for all professionals, they need good professional tools, not consumer tools. It's as simply as that.

 

This is definitely a sign that I should upgrade now before their stock is depleted entirely.

I can only imagine my disappointment when Sony announces their flagship Vaio Z"4" Touch screen laptop with Windows 8 *shudder*

 

I am in no rush to replace my Z12, continues to serve me well as a mobile gamer and programmer, and does so with style

 

You have to accept it because it's been discontinued but there are plenty of good notebooks out there. My daily work tool is now a ThinkPad T420s. It's an i7 dual core and even when under very heavy load the fan noise is a mere whisper. The footprint is more or less the same as a Z series (maybe a cm or so larger in W & H) but I'm pleased with it. Granted, the screen isn't on par with a Z but it is better in many other areas. If you are waiting solely on Sony to deliver a portable powerhouse then you'll be waiting a while.

 

Working on that...

Nope. The only one that comes close is a Quad 15" MBP, the 13" is only dual core, right?

I just looked at the specs, it has a freakin' HDD!! We left those years ago with the Z1!

And if the fan noise is a mere whisper for that 35W CPU, it's either an 8" fan or it's not really running near full speed. I seriously doubt you have an 8" fan so it's either throttled or you don't know what heavy load is.

 

The old model had 1080p displays too, if that's mainly what you're after.

It's still up in the air because Sony has dome this before - seemingly dropping models without any announcement, then releasing a new version some months later.

 

Were you looking at the budget models? Mine came with a Intel SSD (160GB). Decent enough and easily user replaceable.

The T430/T430s is available now so I wouldn't look at the T420 series.

 

But back then beaups was here to tell us that there is a new model coming and make us excited

 

Who?

10char

 

Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in!

Please, tell us SOMETHING, even if you don't know.... LIE to us! we don't care

 

OMG!!!
I cant believe you are here!!!
Please say you have news of a Z successor.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

 

Heh, I was trying to remember your username. I thought Sony had found out you were posting here and dragged you off to their prison camp or something.

 

Haha, good to see that you are still around

 

Beaups-sama, please tell us if you know about a new Z being on the horizon. Pleaseeeeeee.

 

Come on! You're just wasting our time. Mine, your's, and everybody else's here who are looking for a *better* laptop than the SVZ. I found a review for the T430 here

There's a Crystaldiskmark that, to put it mildly, does not impress:

	T430	SVZ
Sequential Read :	118.4	899.197 MB/s
Sequential Write :	119.4	748.315 MB/s
Random Read 512KB :	50.00	412.880 MB/s
Random Write 512KB :	65.55	612.510 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :	0.763	18.419 MB/s
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :	1.320	69.455 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :	1.527	376.346 MB/s
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :	1.160	263.025 MB/s

Please check what you're up against before suggesting any more.

And remember:

Who don't care what 99.9% of computer users are content with?

WE!

 

Sadly, I've got nothing. It may not mean there "is" nothing, but normally I'd have seen it by now. That's about all I can say. you'll all be the first to know if/when I know.

 

Guess I should buy the Z now since it doesn't seem like one is coming out anytime soon.

Right guys?

 

Really good to see you pop up again round these parts, Beaups! Hope all goes well. The beast needs to be fed, so anything remotely newsy you can throw out as bread crumbs will get everyone re-energized. I still love my Z2 and Z1 laptops so much that, other than craving the new, I am in no need of "better" products. It would be a kick for us who have more money than sense to have a new toy to over-indulge with, but just knowing you're still making the rounds will drive 100s of fans to absorb your every morsel! Cheers, man.

 

Thanks beaups---absent a new Z, would you happen to know whether an decent quality (dare I say, IPS) screen is in the future of the VAIO S series?

 

the samsung series 7 ultra does look interesting? it's got a 1080p ips panel,16gb ram and 256gb ssd. Might be worth a look

 

The requirements were to have full voltage and discrete GPU in a 13" body. Samsung doesn't touch that. VAIO S comes close but does it on a budget with poor quality TN panel. Also, the optical drive needs to go to make room for GPU cooling.

There are plenty of options for those who don't need the power. WE NEED THE POWER. On the go.

 

The Series 7 Ultra does have a dedicated GPU, but only a ULV CPU. The Series 7 Chronos has everything, but in a heavier 15.6" chassis. Here are the specs: link.

 

I have looked at it, but at over 2x the weight it is not exactly comparably portable solution

 

Don't know if you saw the specs of the Series 7 Ultra (it's a bit further down on the linked page). It weighs 1.46 kg with non-touch screen, approximately as much as the VPC-Z1. But it has ULV CPU, so, there is still nothing quite like the Z2/Z3.