Vaio Z - Buy now or wait for IB

So I've been eying a Vaio Z for a while now... should I buy now or wait for Ivy Bridge?

 

If you're going to pay absolute full price for a Z then I would say wait. If you're buying a discounted Z then no. I got my Z2 for $1400 at sonystyle.

 

Good point. In that case however, it's best to wait for the IB to come out irrespective of whether someone's you're looking for full price or discounted since the Z2 discounts will only increase once the new Z comes on the market. Heck, if the IB Z has a baby quad-core option, I'll probably upgrade and sell my Z2.

 

This is really going to be a pretty big changing point. Quad core hyperthreaded cpu's in 2.5lb machines. and also the IPS is making it's way around, so if that's important to people that will be another new variable when choosing.

All in all, I agree with your post and the OP should wait for this beautiful season that is to come.

 

The biggest weakness of the Z is the fan noise. IB will have both 22nm die shrink and tri-gate transistors which will reduce power consumption and heat. This could make the upcoming Z a nearly flawless computer.

 

Is this true? I mean I can't deny what Intel says, but from what I can tell from ES samples of desktop chips, they tend to run more power hungry and release more heat... then again, they are ES samples...

 

IB will be more energy efficient, that's not the same as "release less heat", especially when we talk 4 cores instead of 2.

I'm hoping an idling IB Z will release so little heat that the fan won't be needed, but I don't expect it to be more silent than a current Z when all 4 cores are working full speed.

 

The biggest weakness is actually Sony. They haven't made a great notebook since the 2010 VPC-Z series.

Whilst the latest generation Z was their best release in 2011, all the 2011 models were deeply flawed.

 

Certainly there are many users here that won't agree on this comment as long as you don't bring some facts that prove your opinion.

 

I really hope so. That thermal data for IB mobile processors isn't in yet as far as I'm aware, but AnandTech compared an IB desktop processor (i7-3770K) to a roughly equivalent SB processor (i7-2600K) and found that under load the new processor uses ~17% fewer watts.

My Z sounds like taxing jet plane under virtually no load and with power saver setting. What's the point of such power and beauty when the computer wails annoy everyone in the room? It would be a stroke of genius for Sony to switch to 17W (3667U). What user needs that kind of power anyway? I use Photoshop, Illustrator & Matlab for work and I would happily give up that sliver of added speed for a quiet computer.

Are you listening Sony?

 

^If your Z is loud when under little or no load you have a problem. Possibly a bad unit. Under light load for me (web surfing and email), it's silent. And under heavy load it's loudER but I would not describe it as loud. And certainly isn't as loud as a jet plane

 

My Z is also silent. I was just appreciating it's invisible brawn last night, coincidentally.

 

I strongly agree with this advice. Historically Sony aims a new-model Z with decent configurations to price at $2,500 - $3,000. Depending on how much Z2 inventory they have between now and the launch of the IB Z your talking 50% - 100% price premium for the new model - if past pricing patterns are followed. If there are no other major improvements on the new Z beyond cpu/gpu upgrades you should ask yourself if you need (much) better integrated graphics and/or discrete graphics in the PMD than the current Z2 and/or the possibility, at a staggering cost no doubt, 16GB of RAM. The Z will likely again be at the bleeding edge of power in its size class, if that's what you really need or want, but prepare to pay plenty for it.

Bottom line: the Z2 is already stupid fast and it's hard to imagine that many people would need more power given the $1,000 - $1,500 more it will cost you.

Then again, we could always turn the conversation back to audio quality...

 

What about for portability? I have a z12 and will most likely wait for the IB version because I want to maximize battery life and try to be adapter free during the day. Given what people are saying about IB... there should be a significant jump in battery life... for me will be worth paying more... but Im not sure about paying a 100% premium for.

 

Are we sure there is ivy bridge refresh of Z?

 

^ beaups confirmed that.

I like the Z2. Before bought I wanted to wait for IB, too, but now I am very happy.
My Z is almost very silent, much more silent than my Z1 with Intel GMA active. Also with the leshcat driver gaming on the PMD is very good.

 

Right. And right again. Seems the IB Z is the only new model that probably won't price to market, and products like the new Samsung 900X3B may start to take some sales away. Sure, it's not nearly as powerful as a Z2 but I'd wager that a significant chunk of Z owners/buyers are as attracted by the screen quality - which is apparently superb, though only 900p, on the new Sammy - and extreme portability as they are by the power and speed. Not all Z buyers, but definitely some, and before the 900X3B there was nothing to challenge the screen, let alone portability and premium design.

With the Z2 falling to low-mid teens in price, it's at price parity with the 900X3B, but the latter apparently has excellent audio, another Z2 achilles heel - but please let's not start that debate again! - and the Sammy is drop-dead gorgeous and impossibly thin.

For us consumers, it's all good.

 

Heh I actually came from the Samsung 9 13" 1st gen. I sold that and thought about the i7 version but then I saw the low prices on the Z2 and it was just no brainer.... 1080p, better processor and of course the gen3 ssd. I wasn't impressed with the s9 build for some reason... It felt cheap... Although the 2nd gen samsung 9 looks well constructed but not enough to sway me away from my beast of a machine. Don't care for fast mobile gpu as I have my 6990 on my desktop for gaming. It is a good point on battery though... Could be better. Curious to see the batt. life for the Z3.

 

As beaups said, it sounds like something is wrong with your computer. My Z2 is silent much of the time and my settings are for performance. Under load, the fan can rev up, but I don't notice it much.

No. It would be a stroke of idiocy to try and turn the Z into a Sony Air.
If you don't need the power, maybe the Z is the wrong machine for you. There are times I would like more horsepower under the hood and, although I'm fine with 8GB RAM, there are plenty of people who would take 16GB if it were offered.

 

The question of whether to wait for IB may soon be moot. There are reports that IB laptops will be shipped this month -- perhaps as soon as next weel.

HP to launch Ivy Bridge laptops next week - Crave - CNET Asia

 

July for the IB Z.

 

^End of June, early July. Only ivy bridge you'll see over next few weeks are i7's from mostly small suppliers.

 

I might hold out for an IB refresh but if I can get a older gen Z1 for <$1500 for an i7 I would get that

 

That article has been updated with a note saying that those laptops will use SB, not IB.

 

^That makes more sense.

 

Are we going to see Z3 in 2012?
or we have to wait for Haswell for Z3?