VAIO Z or VAIO SB?

I can't believe SONY would eliminate the branding of the "Z," which has become synonymous with "best laptop on the planet!" That would be marketing suicide, and they would have to compete with every other high powered 13" notebook without the cache the Z moniker conveys. As it is, I find it annoying to keep track of their new model designations, where it seems almost everything starts with an "E" followed by, like, 11 letters and numbers.

Lenovo has it right: T, X, W; each has a form factor, price range and intended use. Sony has lost all control of its model designations, but if it drops the "Z" I hope it gets the shellacking it deserves.

 

I doubt Sony will drop the "Z" name.
The "Z" has been used numerous times by Sony.
Even if it goes away, it will come back at a later time...

 

I have to believe you are right. BTW, I am green with envy at your config. I mean, it's hard to say we both have the same computer, given how loaded up yours is. Do you think the Core i5 and 128GB SSD will make it perform like a vastly inferior machine? I mean, I spent a whopping $845 on it (refurb) and it was a big stretch from the $500 I planned to spend on a knock-around ultraportable with the AMD Fusion 350 cpu/gpu, but I'm getting an inferiority complex I know I can't change the cpu, but do you think it worth investing in increasing the SSD to 256 GB/Raid0 like yours, or am I just as well off to stay with the 128 GB configuration (also Raid 0?) and add capacity by putting another drive in place of the DVD?

 

Wasn't there an issue mentioned about the SB series, where its fan runs loud and it heats up on one side quite a bit?

Could this be caused by an i7 processor and the ATI 6630 GPU?
Would having an i5 processor and the weaker graphics remedy this problem?

 

I would say our Z's would feel the same doing regular daily stuff. Your Z still kicks . You got a really good price for it. Changing the SSD is either expensive or alot of work. I personally would just get a 64GB or 128GB SD card to stick it in.

Currently I have a 64GB SDXC and 32GB memory stick in my Z138 which I never take out. I am satisified with storage space.

 

There seems to be a BIOS update addressing the fan emission for the SB series. Could someone owning one of these beauties please give it a try and report back?

Thanks

VAIO : Sony Europe

 

Apparently as all notebooks made of metal they do ''heat up more'', just meaning that you can feel more than if it was with a plastic notebook. However as said in the owners lounge the palmrest got hot because of the HDD position, I dont remember a single mention about the heat over the gpu or the cpu.

Moreover there is a strange recommendation on the page 14 of the user manual, saying that the laptop can trap heat if under load for extended periods of time while completely open (I take that it was from the maximum opening angle that was offered on the screen, not that the screen is open itself)

I also do sure hope that, since that is exactly the config that Im going to get (see sig)

 

As I said before, I bought the sony vaio sb with i5 processor (and weaker gpu model). The noise was so annoying, even on stamina, (like a washing machine) that I got a refund.

Seriously avoid this laptop for your own sanity.

 

It's that bad? Maybe you got a defective unit?

 

probably since people at the owners lounge said that it was loud but with the bios it was at an ok level.

using the igp also helps a lot, which should be the standard if you are not gaming or doing some intensive gpu stuff. and if you bought the 6470m than there is no need to use the igp

 

I got my unit replaced twice, so it wasn't a defective unit. It's really that terrible.

 

Wow...I am sorry to hear that...

 

You got your unit replaced twice and it has been shipping for only a week or so?

 

what were your specs?

there is also the drivers and bios issue, I remember that when I first changed to linux my gpu would run in a high c-state that it should in a 1.2v and so forth, it wouldnt default to the idle clocks.

 

Wow... is anyone else having this same problem?

 

Hi, i have been reading this forum since i started thinking to buy the new sony vaio sb..
I ordered my custom vaio SB on 9th March and it arrived today (to Spain)
So now i have it, i must say that the only noise you will hear is just that of the hard disk spinning (which is really really low). I didn't notice any other noise apart from it.

Also, i must say that this laptop is just great!!!

 

specs pretty please?

 

i5 2520
Ati 6630
8 GB RAM

I am really happy with it!everything works like a charm and it's really quiet!
Still need time to see how the battery performs, but it's fine so far!

 

I live in Malaysia. Here, sony products are released earlier.

Here are the specs from my (now refunded) sony :

SB16 series SRP RM3,299 (1 090.44 $)

Intel Core i5-2410M Dual Core Processor 2.30 GHz
4GB DDR3 RAM & 320GB 5400RPM HDD
DVD Writer
Mobility Radeon 6470 w/ 512MB DDR3
13.3 inch wide (WXGA: 1366x768) TFT colour display (VAIO Display, LED backlight)
web camera (Resolution: 640 x 480, Effective Pixels:0.3Mega pixels)
Backlit Keyboard & USB3.0 x 1
VGP-BPS24 Lithium-ion battery: up to 6 hours of use
1.72 kg

It really breaks my heart, since the noise was the only problem for an otherwise perfect laptop. In malaysia, you can buy an acer with better specs(same i5, 4gb ram, gt540m, 500gb hard drive) for less than 2300 rm (760 $), so I guess I will buy that.

 

Nice specs!

Does the notebook's heat management perform well? Could You please post some temps? TIA!

 

I may be too late... but DO NOT GET THE Z, esp with 1920x1080 Resolution. I have it on the Z12 and frankly I can not see myself using a screen with a lower resolution. The screen will spoil you make you go through withdrawals if you have to downgrade. Save yourself... while you are still in control!

 

Lol you meant bot to get the SB right?

Anyway I kept my Z and my dad got the SB. I think my Z can serve me well for quite a few years.

 

Hey, ForumNewb here. I'm thinking of buying a vaio SB (i7,6630m+5400rpm 500gb drive) for school purposes (university). With the bios update AND while using the igp, do you think that the fan noise would annoy other students while taking notes?

 

If you're just planning to use the igp with MS Word/Web browsing, then the noise won't be that horrible as I described earlier. However if you're planning to stick with the igp for the whole time then I'd recommend you to get the Thinkpad X220 instead, because it's a much better deal (with +- the same specs other than the GPU)

 

Brianho1337

I'd suggest you keep with the VPCZ13 which you allready have. Its the dogs dangliles

 

I need some help. I own a Vaio Z117GG with 8GB RAM 13.1 inch screen and 1920x1080 screen resolution and 256 SSD - I love it. For complicated reasons, I had to purchase it in Singapore and only received a 1-year warranty.

16 months after my purchase several substantial areas of the screen displayed pixel damage, and it is getting worse. My laptop is out of warranty, and living in Sweden there is no repair solution. Or is there?

I have been looking at possibly purchasing a new SB model but don't like it. -It is bigger, heavier, less screen resolution, and apparently with a HHD. And apprently the screen is 13.3 inch with lower resolution and thus bulkier.
I want my Z "back".

How can I repair/exchange my screen? Or which new line Sony (or other brand) laptop provides the absolutely top specs (8GB RAM, i7core processor, 1920x1080 screen resolution, 13.1-13.3 inch screen) in an ultrportable package? HELP!

 

To get to the point, none. Your Z is the only one like it. You should get the screen replaced. I don't know where- but if a computer store can't source the part, I believe there's some screens on eBay. Be prepared to pay ~$500 USD for the screen.