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    VGNZ540EBB made in US or Japan ?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by pardes3, Jan 5, 2009.

  1. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    I am interested in the pre built model VGNZ540EBB, do we know for sure these are the ones made in Japan? Can people who have this model also chime in?

    Thanks !!!
     
  2. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    All pre-built Z series are labeled made in Japan but the components inside are made all over the world. Japan, USA, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippine, Singapore etc. There are hardly any notebooks this day that are entirely designed and made in just one country
     
  3. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    excellent, I just wanted to make sure it was assembled in Japan... I just feel things assembled\built in Japan have better fit, finish etc.
     
  4. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    No, Z540EBB is a CTO quick-ship model and it is assembled in USA!
     
  5. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Z540EBB is pre-built and labeled made in Japan. Z540 is Configure to Order and labeled assembled in USA with foreign components.
     
  6. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    hendra you absolutely sure man ?
     
  7. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Z540EBB is preconfigured. Z540 is Configure to Order. Check the link.
     
  8. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    so all Z pre-built systems are from Japan regardless of price... because I think what slyshade was trying to say is that VGNZ540EBB are pre-built systems from the San Diego plant in California rather than from Japan.
     
  9. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    San Diego plant do all the Configure to Order work but they don't built the pre-configured one. The pre-configured for the Z models are all assembled in Japan.
     
  10. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    Hendra, thanks for the info! I went ahead and ordered that model using the coupon. :)
     
  11. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Hendra, please, I am typing on a Z540EBB. CTO quick-ship is not a pre-built from Japan. Period.
     
  12. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    I think you misunderstand the term quickship. Quickship is pre-configured. CTO is Configure to Order. Quickship and pre-built do not belong to the same sentence since they are different.
     
  13. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    You might want to cancel it if you care that much where it is assembled... :(

    All Z540/Z590 are assembled in USA. There are quick-ship models like Z540EBB and Z540NAB, but they are still assembled here in USA, they are just not built after you specify your configuration.

    Made in Japan ones are Z520, Z530, Z550, Z570 and Z591 (I think that covers every model for the Z5xx).
     
  14. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Well, whatever, it's what Sony printed on the box of my Z540EBB, I am not going to defend Sony's misleading or misunderstood logic in pre-assembling certain configurations using CTO components and then calling it "CTO quick ship models". :rolleyes:

    On the back of my Z540EBB, it said Made in USA, just like Z540NAB and Z590UAB and all the other Z540/Z590 CTO quick-ship models that you can buy from PCNation or Amazon.
     
  15. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    I am now confused .....

    It seems like made in Japan models are 100 to 200$ more expensive with less ram and smaller HDD. I guess I will have to live with the Made in US Z540 quick ship BS
     
  16. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    All Z540 and Z590 are made in USA, while Z520/530/550/570/591 are made in Japan. Just that simple.
     
  17. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    i wish i could afford the z591 :(
     
  18. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    You and me both.

    Z550N/B and Z530N/B are close in spec to Z540EBB, if you really want one assembled in Japan.

    Rumor is that any CTO, including CTO in Japan, uses slightly different components (with more toleranc, I guess) so it's easier to assemble (and disassemble, too).

    I have used Sony VAIO CTO built in US for six years now and I feel their quality to be pretty decent. I consider the flexibility to choose specs outweighs any loss of assembling quality -- granted, when you are buying Z540EBB, you can't choose the specs, but it is also cheaper compared to a full CTO (where you actually choose the specs).
     
  19. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well the cheapest I see the z530n/B is on amazon for 1549.99 no tax and free shipping BUT it has 2 gb ram and 250 GB 5400 hdd. thats 100$ more for less ram and hdd but made in Japan sticker..... decisions decisions... what do you guys think ?
     
  20. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    The above is totally correct.
     
  21. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    sky: is the hdd 5400 rpm or 7200 rpm? model/make?
     
  22. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    5400RPM, Toshiba. Toshiba is not my favorite brand, but it's alright.
     
  23. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    I received mine today and it is MADE in USA ... and it does say CTO QS on it which translates to what skyshade said earlier .... it is a CTO quick ship.

    It is flawless, excellent fit and finish. I love it.
     
  24. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Congrats and welcome to the Z club. So what happens to your SR now?
     
  25. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    gave it to my younger bro.