VPC-Z2 - scratches on the palmrest the bezel

Hello everyone,

I start noticing some straight scratches appearing on the palm rests at the corners of the keyboard and touch-pad (on the left and right). It looks like they are caused by parts of the bezel. (see attachments).
It isn't just dirt or some grease, I've tried cleaning it many times. I'm pretty shocked and quite disappointed to start seeing scratches so quickly, especially if they are caused by the machine itself.
The Z2 is meant to be used, but this is... not good thing at all!. At certain angles it's clearly visible and looks like it's has been used for years.

I'm pretty careful with my Z2, I don't wear a watch or bracelets and guide the lid when I close it and transport/keep it in a really good/strong sleeve ( Booq Viper XS3).
I really like my Z2 (it's awesome), when I clean my Z2 and see those scratches.... damn.


Does anyone else have the same scratches? And do you have any suggestions what to do? Ask for a replacement?

(I'm going to report this at Sony anyway)

 

I have the beginnings of these too, but nowhere as bad as you.

 

i have one very straight scratch on my VAIO SA, very similar to the first picture you posted above. i have no idea how it happened, but i just had a quick look at the bezel, and it doesn't seem like it's been caused by that.

 

I have very similar scratches--in the same places too.

 

Are you guys using the supplied cloth?
I use it between the screen and keyboard...so far no scratches on mine.
I do however have a dent on the right corner...no idea how it got there...

 

I do not. This is probably why they say to use it.

Obligatory "I don't use protection, it affects how it feels" joke goes HERE

 

^^ In the beginning I used the cleaning cloth between the screen and keyboard aswell, but when it became dirty/greasy it made the screen quite dirty too. I think

I think I'm going to look for a thin screen protector cloth thing.

"Good" to know I'm not the only one.

I think those spacers on the bezel are a bit too short.

 

"use the cloth," lol. I guess Sony expects their laptop users to be in a perfect enviorment every day or something.

 

at least they didn't say you're using it wrong way

back to topic: first issues with memory slots deformation, then cracking left bottom corner at bezel and now this??? I start to believe all those "premium materials used" are pure crap.

Marty, how long you have Z already?

from Sony:

 

Does anyone know if a given finish is more or less likely to scratch?

 

No, wont matter.

 

miki69 I got it in the beginning of August and used it daily (quite a lot) since then.

Premium materials... Dunno what they mean by that.

I sometimes get a compliment like; wow, nice machine.... Thanks, Premium materials mate!


Nah, just kidding.

 

I use it daily, and I got these scratches, actually, I wnted to ask too

But I don't use the cloth.. and somehow, I can't make myself to use it, as I never used it and it would just make using the Z too cumbersome.

 

ditto.

But again there are people who would tell you "you just don't know what you are buying, it is unique" as in the other thread!
I wish it could also be used for working, apart from being "unique".

And here come the people with the ready solution - "use a towel"! Obviously a state of the art 2,5k laptop needs to be used with:

- Memory card adapter
- Towel
- Hard casing

in order to resist normal usage! Yeah - that's absolutely unique indeed!

 

Typical Sony. :/ A heart-breaking mix of awe-inspiring and poor engineering.

 

The magical bending chassis is still BS.

 

Let us know after a few weeks actually carrying it about.

My guess - from everything you've posted so far - is that you treat it like a glass slipper.

I've actually got a lot more than the line on the right hand side, although that started first and is now a very visible line. I have one running across the entire palmrest,from the top edge of the bezel plate. I've very recently trashed one of mine by accident but that until now has actually been the less marked one - although I'd say I've alternated the two pretty evenly, and both have the same issues. This one I'm on now has a very slight line beginning on the left hand side.

The problem, as I found out when I was removing the stupid stickers from both machines, is that the finish on the palmrest is not exactly what you could call durable.

Oh yeah, I've also got uneven keys so that the baseplate looks bent when it isn't.

The more I use the Z, the more I feel like I'm using a prototype or an Apple 'Rev.A', but in a slightly different way. I feel that the underlying engineering is pretty stable, but that the cosmetic attention is definitely off - so kind of the opposite of if I were to use an Apple 'Rev.A'.

 

^ Yes, clearly I'm the one handling the device incorrectly. Clearly.

I treat it like a $4,500 piece of hardware. This includes not sitting on it, using it as a land-bridge for my car, prying open doors or placing it in my bag in a way that bends the device past it's tolerances.

Also, I've had the machine since launch day and have traveled coast to coast.

In closing, I empathize with anyone who has a bent chassis. It sucks. What I don't agree with is saying that the problem is due to a design flaw. The thing is big, flat and thin. Be careful with it.

 

In a constructive post, Clear-Coat.com has a full film covering package. One of the pieces covers the palm rest and should be resistant to these pressure scratches.

Has anybody called Sony on this issue? I don't know if the Blurple version is painted or anodized, but I would think the scratches would be even more pronounced on that color. We won't discusss Gold, feh

 

I have Vaio Z and I am also seeing shiny spots appear on the premium carbon body. It is good that it isn't an aluminum case like that of a MBP, but I hoped that the laptop would be better considering it is in the macbook price range.

If it was an apple, then they might have changed the top case, but I have had terrible experience with the sony customer service. I am just wondering if I should wait and send it in later when the problem become worser.

 

Looks like I have a very shallow mark in the area by the END key. It may be too new but right now it's very hard to see on Blurple.

 

That's good

 

Starting to see scratches too (not using the protective cloth) but I have been very, very careful with the laptop.... Just travels with me from work - home - work in a case.

The other scratch on the palm rest is from my watch buckle.

 

The Z2 shouldn't be scratching this easily. It's not, nor should it be, a ruggedized laptop and I'm not worried about it bending out of shape. Instead, one of the goodies that Sony should include with the Z2 is a scratch-resistant (not proof) finish.

 

That's kind of hard with plastic, without something like Invisibleshield - long-term VAIO users should be used to scratched-to-hell machines, but the aluminium is way too delicate for sure. The palmrests on my $700 - $1K HP Probooks have a more robust finish. Consequences of diet and all that I'd imagine.

 

I've been dinking with adding rubber bumpers on the lid to prevent further scratching. Somewhat frustratingly, the magnet actuator in the lid is either VERY sensitive or VERY weak. The lid has to be very close to the palm rest for the machine to sleep.

I'm honestly thinking black electrical tape might be the easiest way to avoid scratching.

In other news, I noticed that I am getting shiny bits on my keys. I get this with all other laptops, but I hate it. My fingers must be made of fine-grit sandpaper.

 

Either that, or you can wait for them to evolve into go-faster stripes.

Tape is not a bad idea if your machine isn't very noticeably marked already - which kind of proves by the way the remark I made in the other thread Zoinks that you've not really used the machine enough to be able to comment on its durability or issues through *normal* use. Mine were marked literally within 2 weeks of starting to use them with any kind of regularity.

Your tape will have to be a 'u' shape around the palmrest. If you want to run the tape from the edge of the aluminium plates on each respective side, it will have to be 20mm wide on the left and right, 13mm wide on the bottom.

 

My keys too are shiney...with the older Z's it took a bit longer though...

 

Horsesh*t. Don't project your anger at damaging your machine on me.

As I said, I've had the machine since it was launched. I also carry it to and from work every day. I've traveled with it twice. If this isn't normal use, I don't know what is.

What I do know is that you don't take very good care of your machine. Worse than that, you are clumsy.

PS, the tape would go on the LCD panel, not the palm rest.

^ A-duuuuuh!

 

^I'm not totally convinced these lines are scratches at this point. Could be oil or plastic transfer from the bezel to the aluminum c surface. I'm going to test some aggressive chemicals soon. I can get new lappys whenever so I don't really care if I ruin something.

 

^ Interesting

 

Anger? Er, no

It's just that I don't really appreciate my machines looking very secondhand so soon. It's an observation on the very (and very justifiably arguably IMO, too) delicate nature of this machine in normal everyday operation for someone who's actually mobile. The only actually truly egregious thing about this machine TBH from my perspective is the ATI-provided-Intel driver but these cosmetic issues should have been caught by Sony prior to sale. It's rather pathetic IMO as although yes - there are no functional demerits associated with this (although surely at this rate screen marking can't be far off) - these are clearly glaring / easily exhibited problems.

Don't project your glass-slipper-usage-mode / purchase justification defensiveness on me

They are contact scratches. The anodising marks very easily as I've said before.

 

^ Whatever dude. Lets move on.

 

Ahhh! I know what you mean. Had exactly the same issue with my VGN-Z. After few months some of the keys looks totally polished, like being made of cheep plastic. In FEB 2011, I got replacement keypad, same issues after few months. So, in 3 years time Sony didn't manage to resolve this issue.
I thought things would change with Z2, but as you say problem persisted.

I don't any issues with aluminium palmrest with VGN-Z. Not a single scratch after 3+ years (and I do wear both watch and bracelet). So what you're saying Z2 palmrest is worse than VGN-Z? My Z2 should come anytime soon, starting to ask myself if I made a wrong choice. The ONLY reason I didn't went for VPC-Z is those palmrest marks.....

There's nothing worse than having you laptop looks like 5 years old after only few months of regular use. And yet you tell people you have premium materials? (that simply cannot sustain everyday wear and tear!)

I guess Sony did compromise on everything despite their slogan "no compromise".

To sum up:
- memory slots being deformed (to various extension, several users reported this)
- scratches on palmrest (to various extension, several users reported this)
- low left corner of screen cracking sound ( SirRobin reported this)
- keypad wear out after several months (several users reported this)

All cosmetic, but makes your laptop look like $hit in no time. Are we being suckers for paying premium price? Cash-cows for Sony? Just can't shake this feeling.


Cheers,
Miki

 

^The OG Z had a clear coat of sorts over the aluminium, the Z2 does not. If you wear a watch, be careful. Luckily my hands are big enough where my watch doesn't hit the bezel.

I really wish Sony would move to metallic keys. I won't do it again, but this is how I got around it on my old trusty TZ. Worked, but screw a bag of cutting pieces for each key.

If you are so inclined, you can get a keyboard cover. It might even help with the bezel scratching issue. Personally, I hate the things.

Back to the bezel, I ordered some of this stuff to touch-up my Lian Li server case this morning. I'm overhauling it with a new motherboard and upgrading the SSD's to 4x 120GB OCZ Vertex 3's (got tired of my lappy being faster than my over-the-top PC).

Amazon.com: Birchwood Casey® Aluminum Black™ Metal Finish: Sports & Outdoors

I've used the stuff before to cover up blemishes on my Walther P99QA, but that was a while ago. Worked great.

I don't have any scratches on my Z2 (yet), but if people are interested I could scuff the keyboard tray on the bottom and do a color test.

 

As I said, I don't have any serious FUNCTIONAL issues with the machine.

But it is *very* clear that there are a lot of structural compromises to hit the weight, especially in terms of the cosmetics, and that if you care what this machine looks like - as I think most of us do - and you don't treat your machines like a glass slipper but 'normally', it might be a better idea to hold off buying this machine until you've also purchased a full-time protection method (such as invisibleshield or SGP skins) against abrasion that you like the look of, that you can apply out of the box. AFAIK there is only one solution on the market and one that was I believe test-fitted by a member of this forum. But hopefully SGP will not be far behind for starters with a palmrest and lid skin.

Although the easily marked palmrest is new, the lack of everyday abrasion durability is just something that is a consequence of Sony using what is essentially plastics - and easily marked, matte-finish plastic at that - in their construction. That is nothing new. If you've had a Z1, you will know that. The unskinned of the Z1's I have look like crap after significant use, just like the SZ, TT, TZ, yada yada that I've owned. They do take drops better than e.g. machined aluminium but for most people, I think it's fair to say that everyday abrasion resistance is just as important - and that's something the Sony's don't have.

Key shine - you can't prevent. Metal keys would add weight and probably exacerbate the keyboard marking issue common to all Sony flagships to date (and there's no reason to assume that the Z2 will be any different).

But ultimately, you're buying this machine for what it can do, and how it does it, because in that respect it has no equivalents. Your call.

 

^ It is partially carbon fiber man. Not sure what else I or other forum members can do to get you to understand this. I recommend you pull your base-plate off and look for yourself.

I do, however agree with your comments on scratch resistance. Step 1 for me has always been to apply film coatings to all my Sony devices, even when I have to cut them myself. I do this with phones and tablets too.

The only precision cut film available is from Clear-Coat.com. Many thanks to edwordsigh for being the Guinea pig and sending his machine in for fitting.

Thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...t-application-vaio-z2-available-tomorrow.html
My experiences with it: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...vaio-z2-available-tomorrow-2.html#post7996037

I recently replaced my Wrapsol film with the Clear-Coat stuff and am pretty happy with it minus the initial problems with black particles all over both kits I purchased. Fitment is great, but it is a fingerprint disaster. Also, there is no piece for the base, just for the sheet battery. I cut the left overs for the base plate. I'll take some pics tonight when I get home.

 

The question is why, on a $4500 laptop (ok, you can get it for less but it's still a high-end machine), Sony doesn't include or at least offer as a CTO option, whatever Clear-Coat/Wrapsol/proprietary film/coating is most appropriate for the specific materials/finishes used. Doing so would add virtually no weight nor require any basic design changes.

 

Dunno, good question. I'd buy the upgrade/option.

I understand why OEM's don't sell them themselves. Since most kits are wet-application types, I'm sure some poor person has fried their device with over spray. I took the base off completely when I coated it.

 

^In my opinion, if you are going to coat aluminum in plastic, you might as well build the part out of plastic. In my opinion, all of those coating products feel cheap and look bad. I would rather have a few scratches than ruin (again, my opinion) the look and feel of the laptop.

 

All the more reasons for Sony to offer it as an option. Some people excel at DIY, others do not.

 

Is the carbon fiber outside? No. Are we talking about abrasion resistance of EXTERNAL finishes, which is CFRP (i.e. plastic)? Yes. Not sure what else I or other forum members can do to get you to understand this.

(Or did I not explain overmoulding well enough?)

Besides, carbon fiber in the form of how Sony has likely employed it inside wouldn't actually even stand up to everyday abrasion either. The overmould shows that it's purely a structural reinforcement component.

 

Louche, indeed.

Vogelbung, I stand corrected. I did not read your post correctly.

 

I thought the c surface was aluminum on the Z2?

 

The palmrest / keyboard baseplace is a single piece of aluminium. It doesn't on the face of it look machined to me, but rather a stamped sheet with maybe welded or bonded extra hardware underneath.

As we've seen thanks to Zoinks, the baseplate is a carbon fibre inner core overmoulded with carbon reinforced plastic. I don't see any reason to think the screen lid isn't the same arrangement either...? But that's assuming.

- Plastic just does not do well against everyday abrasion, especially when it's finished like it is/has been on the VAIO's - this hasn't changed since the days of e.g. the G's. And the 'premium carbon' finishes that Sony have used on limited edition models to date are just as easily marked. They really need to start thinking about this if they haven't done so already.

- As for the Z2 palmrest area, you can hard-anodise aluminium with a range of pretty durable finishes as e.g. on the Macbooks. The actual aluminium of the Apples itself may be prone to dinging / bending in relatively minor impacts that Sony plastic would survive without missing a beat, but the anodising makes it a lot more tolerant of everyday abrasion. However, for whatever reason Sony have picked anodising that is cosmetically damaged really easily for the Z2. Maybe it's the particular upper layer finish and not necessarily throughout the entire anodising layers, but it really is very easy to mark.

It also doesn't help that this is a relatively bendy machine, so parts come into contact each other through everyday handling. But really, all this should be blatantly obvious to Sony if they do any kind of handling testing at all. Given the usual flexibility of the screen, I'm also pretty sure as I've said before, that we'll start seeing instances of keyboard -> screen marking pretty soon.

A Z is a much less volume product than an Air, and it won't attract the kind of third-party ecosystem. It is indeed funny that you see people talking about the durability of the crApple gear and they swaddle them in protection without a hint of irony - but there are *lots* of options should you wish to do so.

Not the same for the Z - so Sony themselves has to take up the slack here. Sure, the Sony stuff is actually a lot more durable against catastrophic impacts - i.e. of the machine-threatening kind, but they just don't seem to have the everyday handling aspect down, which is arguably more meaningful for more users from a quality perception aspect.

And I don't understand why - it's not rocket science to mitigate or resolve altogether.

 

^regardless, I'm still not convinced those are scratches we see from the screen bezel. I'm 50/50 to say it's transfer from the plastic to the aluminum. I'm going to play around with it some next week when I have some free time

 

Already tried to remove any deposits of plastic. The rest is actually marked.

 

^It seems odd that it would scratch to reveal a darker black than the panel begins with. I'm not ruling it out entirely, but won't be convinced until I play with it.

 

Ok this is complete crap. $3000 notebook I basically not used at all. Still using my X for daily use. I removed it carefully from the packaging, its been on my desk away from everything else most of the time. I took it to work once in a soft notebook caring backpack and then took it downstairs a couple times. I'm very careful with my toys. Just looked over it and there are a fiew hairline scratches on the top of the LCD. Not a big deal yet. No idea how it was even possible to get them there. Maybe thats how it came new?

My X is gold, got it used on ebay about a year ago in almost brand new condition. Besides the couple scratches that it came with, looks like it accumulated quite a few now. The keys are starting to show use and the bottom of the screen is showing paint rubbed off in a line along the bottom. I was hoping the black Z would hold up better but I guess that will not be the case.

I'm thinking about buying some CF vinyl foil and wrapping the Z as best as I can. At least the back of the screen, bottom of the notebook and wristpad.

 

I figure What The Hell. I was debating whether to get one of the new ultrabooks to replace the one I trashed a short time ago, but I decided to stick with the Z - I already have enough problems nursing different types of machines without adding another.

It's only when I'm cleaning the machines I notice these problems to be honest - the rest of the time I'm just using this machine, and cosmetic issues won't affect how useful it is to me.

Mind you, that is no excuse on the part of Sony. I do wish, as I noted above, that Sony would get a handle on this aspect though - it really does compare badly to the Crapbooks in this area.