Vaio TZ298N/XC

http://news.sel.sony.com/documents/consumer/computer_peripheral/notebooks/VGN-TZ298NXC_spec.pdf

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/computer_peripheral/notebooks/release/32203.html

Interesting its supposed to run for $3600 when the TZ198N/RC ran for $4000 and they changed it from Bordeaux Red to Premium Carbon.

Dissapointed they left it with the two year old Napa chipset, oh well, in terms of practicality, the TZ is pretty good as it is now.

Its supposed to be available to preorder on SonyStyle tomorrow, the other lower end models should too.

 

Rahul: The Lenovo U110 FTW, my friend. The TZ is overpriced. It won't be this way for long. I predict a steady decline in premium pricing over the next six months. Could be up to a thousand dollars.

The chipset is no surprise. You CAN get as much battery life out of Santa Rosa if you do it right.

 

You can't compare a non-SSD laptop like the U110 with a TZ that includes a 64GB SSD -- a $750 option at Dell.

 

I am comparing TZ to the U110, not the configuration. Besides, we don't know anything about the U110. There is a solid chance it will sport a 32GB SSD at a minimum,

That $750 option at Dell is also about to go down in price this month.

Even accounting for the 64GB SSD at $750, the TZ is overpriced especially if Apple intros its high-end 64GB SSD subnote at $1999 (as rumored). Do the math.

 

Apple would be of little interest for many of us writers, for perhaps only one single reason: The absence of a regular Delete key up right on the keyboard. Why cannot Apple change their silly policy on this point?! Many writers have complained about this, as this key also is a part of many key combinations in text editing programs.

 

Had no idea this was an issue. Can't you remap the DEL key? Personally, my only issue is the whole right-click thing on the TrackPad which can be somewhat mitigated by the double-finger tapping/scrolling feature.

 

monakh, yes I think it's possible to remap the Backspace key to become a Del key. But I do not know how to do it, and I know that many others also have no knowledge how precisely how to do it.

But in fact, now I use my Vaio TZ, which has a very good keyboard and as a whole looks extremely beautiful.

 

Mandersen,

Could you post some pics of the white TZ? Are you satisfied with the colour? Is it easier to get dirty as they say?

 

There is no denying TZ's good looks.

 

Or you can take your camera and make a photo of a TZ at best buy and stare at it... Can't understand why people even bother to compare those. The Lenovo is a PIECE OF CRAP. The screen is ........

This release makes my TZ91 purchase a DUMB move

I paid 3397 for my TZ (premium carbon), Added the 2GB at 70$ and it had a 200GB drive (which I swapped anyways).

I couldn't stand the pink model and wanted premium carbon...

 

You have not seen the Lenovo so you are hardly in a position to comment on it, dude.

 

Actually, I've seen it, DUDE.

It is an ugly piece of ****.

Since it has no advantage compared to the Sony UPs, it leaves it only to how it looks. It is butt ugly compared to any T/TX/TXN/TZ

Check this out: * 11-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) CCFL display.

This is going backwards if you prefer it over a LED screen.

I also think that at 0.7" thickness, it will lack an optical drive, since the CCFLs require more space for the lid itself.

 

Where did you see it? Are you at CES?

No one has seen any pics of it except for the promo shots released by Lenove. Also, where did you see the specs for the display? If it is indeed CCFL, that is definitely disappointing, as is the resolution. I am not aware of any other 11.1 displays in existence aside from the ones that Asus and Sony share.

 

So, you are basing it on pics. Sorry, but that doesn't count--I guess I should have made it clear that I was talking about seeing the unit in person? And please give us a link to where you are seeing the specs for the display.

I have no doubt that the U110 will not be as good looking as the TZ. It's very hard to beat the TZ look, however, at the RIGHT price, everything becomes attractive. Which has been my point, all along.

 

I wonder if it there will be a configuration with the 64 GB SSD+DVD. About the chipset, I don't do any gaming so I don't really need the X3100.
I hope the prices will not go up for just minor upgrades than the TZ91.
A lot of manuftactures had tried to have the 965 chipset and good battery life, but they failed (see Asus U1E). Santa Rosa is a big failure, everyone admit it. So, thanks God Sony didn't include this chipset.

 

exetlaios, can you please elaborate the very interesting point you're making: "Santa Rosa is a big failure, everyone admits it." I have no knowledge about this, so it would be interesting to read more.

 

Promo pics are good enough for me. A CCFL WXGA screen should be a big no go for anyone on a market for a laptop above $1200

Define right price?

Do you care if you get arthritis in your hands?
Do you care if you screw up with your eyes or damage them?
Do you care if you have a lower back pain because you haul a brick or because of posture problems i.e. screen/keyboard position/usablity?
Do you care for your balls when you have your NB on your lap?
Do you care if it takes you 30 seconds to browse a simple page?
Do you care if you actually like what you have, not only what you can afford?
Do you care if you are productive with your box or you simply use for bragging rights?

How much is the right price for any of those for YOU? That has been my point all along.

I agree, no money no laptop or not as good laptop, but you can't make a case that this is almost as good, but it is 1/2 as cheap... It is moot.

Mandersen,

The 945GM Napa chipset has half power consumption (7W TDP) than 965GM Santa Rosa (14W TDP). Considering that the U1500 was 6W and the U7600 is 11W TDP, I doubt that it would be very energy efficient to have the 965GM as of yet. The CPU is a different story. It has a better power management than the chipset. As for a DVD+SSD in this Lenovo. I doubt it. With a CCFL screen and 0.7 thickness ... you can guess how much space will be left for a 0.5" DVD drive.

Actually, here you go (NO DVD, Piece of crap CCFL with a reflector screen). I guess I can say ... it's shiny

 

Mandersen,

Thanks for the pics. I will sent you a PM when I can about Santa Rosa.

Sonystyle just introduce the new model TZ298...near there writes:
Pre-sale item available on or about 03/04/2008. In March will be available?

 

I doubt that they will now. With the battery backlog and Sony NA catching up with the TZ2XX, I think that we will see the TZ92 in March/April. If they decide to finally push their Blu-Rey drives, we may see X3100, SantaRosa + BluRay in the next TZ, other than that it will be the Hard Drive only

 

The new TZ92 in March? And they announced it two months before? Doesn't make a lot sense. Is also strange that in Japan will be anounced later than North America. Other times Sony Japan was the first to annouce the new models.
So,if this is going to be available in March, the next TZ93 will be announced on July.
Nice pics, by the way..Lenovo seems a mirror more than a laptop!

 

You can directly see in your soul with it. I agree . The Lenovo is quite a mirror, but hey, that is multifunctional. Let's look at it as a feature that the TZ doesn't have

The story is different with the TZ

They introduced the TZ90 first, then it showed as TZ1xx in NA and EU
Something happened and the TZ2 was introduced in Europe for some reason with bigger SSD/HDD option
Later a higher models TZ1 (195,198 popped up in the US)
At the time The TZ91 showed up in Japan with the 64GB SDD/HDD
Now NA / EU is catching up with the 64GB SSD.

It is extremely inconsistent.

At this point the EU/JP/US markets are evened out. All offer the same thing.

The delay in the TX298 availability being in March is due to the battery factory going kaboom in October

 

See above. I do agree that a CCFL screen is a step backwards for this form factor--As is the resolution (speaking of that, I still have not seen the definitive source for that info, was it on engadget CN?). Also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and frankly I don't mind the U110 look at all (sans the red top with the funky design).

The right price is one that is affordable for the masses. I think it is understood that the TZ isn't for the masses so I am not going to argue that point. What I am trying to contend here is that the TZ is WAY overpriced. Partly this is because Sony has had no competitive pressure to change its premium pricing strategy. While the U110 may not be a direct threat to the TZ in its current form, subsequent revisions will change that. Also, it isn't too hard to add a LED-based display, so we don't know exactly what Lenovo is planning--it is simply too early to write it off as a contender, And personally, I can't wait for Apple's subnote. One more week to MWSF! That introduction will increase the competition in this relatively uncrowded arena. In the end, the consumer wins.

And in terms of casing, the TZ is hardly the best built laptop by Sony. I worked on a G for a few days and I assure you that unit is much better built.

p.s. When it comes to insulting someone, I am actually pretty good. However, we follow certain netiquette around here at NBR. You are new here and I would recommend you just relax and give your point of view and kill the flaming. There is nothing wrong with heated discussion but it should stay within the realm of reason and common courtesy.

 

The specs is no different than my custom TZ91.

Why can't they fit the x3100 inside TZ? is that thing too big or is Sony just getting lazy?

 

who cares about apple and lenovo?!! let's talk about this sexy tz298!!

 

Will the Montevina platform be available by July? Maybe Sony will just skip Santa Rosa altogether and just jump into the more power efficient platform.

 

when montevina comes up thats when i will upgrade my laptop. Also the new asus has Smart Logon Face Recognition wich lets you log on with the webcam. I hope Sony includes this feature in the new TZs. Also monakh is right you need to chill with your comments SONY you are just a new member here and you are already getting a bad rep. Keep your comments respectful opinions are welcome but keep them civil

 

Well a few differences there are with the TZ91.The TZ298 has a 64 GB SSD+250 GB 5400rpm, 1.33 CPU and a 1.3 MP webcam. Nothing else, I think.
Pretty disappointed that we have to wait untill March, though.

 

Others say Q3 2008, and others Q4 for the Montevina. I hope we don't have to wait untill November/Dicember for a TZ with it. I don't know if I can wait untill then. Maybe I will grap a TX from e-bay for a year.

 

I'm surprised that Lenovo would offer a high end option like SSDs for the U110 but not LED backlighting? Or will it be an option on higher end models like the XPS M1330?

 

Raul

Lenovo is not DELL

 

if i could wait a few more months like you guys, i would get a high end Tz1xx series becuase not much specs have change, and the price will take a dive once the tz2xx series are release.

 

if no one mentioned before, the lenovo has an ssd option, 32 or 64. its already been posted in the other forum.

im sure it'll be a lot cheaper than the sony, and the res is the same as the tz, 1366x768 i believe. and its not official yet, so maybe and led screen is coming.

or hell, the ccfl could be really good you never know till someone has one in their hands to review.

 

Guys,

Please respect the opinions of other forum members. I deleted/edited some posts.

Thx
Kdawgca