Vaio Z being *replaced* by Vaio Duo 11?

Props to Skyshade for catching this and putting it in a Vaio Duo 11 thread, but I think it warrants its own thread.

Here's Sony's latest Vaio lineup for the Japanese domestic market:

http://www.sony.jp/vaio/2012_autumn/pdf/spec.pdf

What's missing? The Vaio Z. Instead, the Duo 11 appears to be the fanciest ultraportable on the sheet.

Thoughts?

 

Unless it has its own PMD and there's a more powerful version with non-ULV processors, I seriously doubt it.

Maybe it doesn't have a refresh yet because Z is supposed to be a premium machine which shouldn't have a direct upgrade in under a year? I'm not sure when was the last Z launched.

 

The Vaio T and the Vaio S aren't next-gen devices compared to the current models; they're basically what's already on sale. So it's not like this chart is only new models.

 

The current Z is the second generation in this chassis. However, this is their 2012H2 lineup, so we shouldn't be expecting new chassis, or even new components in old chassis anyways. The only new things should be Windows 8 and a couple touchscreen models, and maybe a spec bump or two on base models.

I think the lack of the Z is either mistake, or the Z is never included in these pdf's (idk, I couldn't find older versions by screwing around with the url).

I am leaning towards mistake. So, go to the 2012”NH“~”­”„ƒ‚ƒfƒ‹ | »•iî•ñ | ŒÂlŒü‚¯ | VAIOƒp[ƒ\ƒiƒ‹ƒRƒ“ƒsƒ…[ƒ^[ | ƒ\ƒj[ page. This is also missing the Z, but go down to
2012年秋冬発売モデルをソニーストアで見る orange button. "Look at available 2012H2 products at the Sony Store," and the Z is still available.

Anyways, I also find it hard to believe that they'd cancel their flagship model halfway through the year. I would expect they would at least wait until they release the Haswell notebooks to discontinue the Z.

 

Unless the Zs have been going bad or non-profitable anymore I don't think they'll discontinue them, at least it wouldn't make sense since the Z is like their crème de là crème (read: flagship model) and it has its own style.

The PDFs don't list all models through and through, maybe it just means the Z isn't getting any revision now since there's no new hardware? It's not like they need to change models to start shipping it with W8 instead of W7 anyway...

 

Z will stick around (with Win7)

 

Not that I dig Win8 at all, but the fact that it does not get Win8 refresh still worries me.

BTW, the PDF includes all pre-configured models that are either new and launched with Win8 or old models that will be refreshed with Win8. You can obviously CTO any of them further in Japan. Other markets will also have more pre-configured choices for sure.

 

This is really interesting. I was holding out for next Z4, perhaps, after CES2013. Any word or rumor on the next refresh on the Z3? Maybe, this will be an indication as to whether the Z will continue on. Otherwise, I may have to get myself a SVZ while they're still around to last me the next 5 years. Anyway, of knowing for sure?

 

Buy SVZ3 now with Win7 or will patience pay off at CES this year? Of course I don't "need" a computer now, but I'm just trying to weigh my options on upgrading since we're all enthusiasts here.

 

It seems Win8 doesnt like external graphics that you can undock like the Power Media Dock. If you remove external graphics you first have to manually kill ALL metro applications, if not it crashes or freezes.... Bad coding from MS so that explains why they don't push a Win8 version of the Z until they can fix this or work around it.

 

Ding ding ding...and can't get WHQL with those issues.

 

well, that sucks.

 

Not really - not getting Win 8 is arguably a good thing

 

Z is being positioned as a business machine for the near future. Businesses don't want win8.

 

eventually will, but not right away

 

Why is that - business' not wanting W8?

 

Businesses rarely upgrade to a new OS as soon as it's out. They let consumers be the beta testers for the first year or so. Also, they don't want to re-train all the staff because something looks different or works different. This happens with every single version of Windows. Hell, my office still primarily uses Windows XP.

 

For my company, the difficulty is more on transition our own internally developed software to work with the new platform -- kind of like the PMD situation that Sony encounters here. We will still be in a mixture of Win7 & XP for the foreseeable future.

While the situation is understandable, and Z has always been a niche product anyway, I still feel that the lack of Win8 (for the moment anyway) will further marginalize Z. We'll just have to see how consumers dig Win8 and Duo 11. It certainly make sense for Sony to keep just one halo/Made-in-Japan/flagship VAIO in the future.

 

Current Z has run it's course anyhow. You'll just have to wait for the next one

 

Are you allowed to say when the Z successor will be available to buy?

 

Okay, this was all I needed to hear. Plus, you placed a smiley so that's must mean something. I recall, you having some inside information to Sony. I'll just wait and hold off for the Z4 as I had planned and I expect the new Z's to be announced and unveiled this January 2013 CES.

I was going to get me an SVZ, but I needed to make sure the Z's weren't being phased out.

Thanks.

 

If the PMD is incompatible with Windows 8, going back to the drawing board with the Z line makes sense to me. It's not like it can't be a Z without a PMD...the Z1 didn't have a PMD.

It'll be interesting to see what direction Sony goes with the next Z. Maybe an ultra-high-res convertible tablet with a full-power CPU packed into a body people associate with ULV tablets or even Clover Trail tablets?

 

Never allowed, but I don't know just yet, either.

 

Can you give us any hints for the next Z or is it too far away at the moment to know much about? Just trying to make an informed decision if I should get an SVZ now or whatever the next Z is... Evolution or Revolution?

 

My guess it will be unveiled in January CES 2013 and be available by May for Pre-Order.

I'm just glad the Z isn't going to get phased out. I almost went out today to buy an SVZ.

 

All I need to know is if the next Z will be able to drive a 30" monitor (ideally two), which would likely require it having a DisplayPort. If not, I am going to give up on the Z line completely and wait for something else (such as the new 2560x1600 13" Samsung). The Z is an engineering marvel but there's simply no excuse for a top-end product designed for professional users to not support large high-res monitors (especially not when even low-end Apple laptops have had DisplayPort for years).

 

^ that screen on a new/future Z will be nice!!
...along with an onboard nvidia or ATI video chipset!

 

Microsoft has described 2560x1440 as a "common" resolution for Windows 8. I suspect that in a year, it'll be what 1920x1080 was for Windows 7: something you pay extra for, but not hard to find on premium-level models. I think that resolution the next-gen Z is all but a given.

 

I skipped out on the last two z (nearly identical) because I wanted something with dual simultaneous video out. I'd like less bezel and more screen. Now that it is towards the end of the year, I'd expect 802.11ac even if it isn't official we've had 802.11ac stuff shipping for 6 months now. Hopefully it will be a teeny bit slimmer without giving up the RJ45 connector.

 

The only thing i was confused is why SONY doesn't want to make Z a bigger screen.
Now VAIO Z has a great rich color screen, which is valuable and rare in the market; however, 13.1 is really a tiny size for 1080p, though you can call it a business machine, which is not for entertainment.
But i think now everyone is making a narrow frame and maximize the area of screen, why not SONY do it, too?
I hope when HASWELL finally is released, SONY can really focus on upgrading VAIO Z to a 14'' screen or offering more options.

 

I don't think Sony will replace Z serie with Duo 11.

Different screensize, different form factor, heavier (200g more), and I'm almost certain it will be some ULV CPUs so less powerfull than full mobile quad core.

I personnaly think 13" for the Z is perfect, I currently have a 15" notebook and it's too large, too heavy, too big for me.

14" Z why not, but, higher size doesn't make sense I think, there are a lot of other models with bigger screen size, well, they don't have the Z quality ;-)

 

oh no i'm allergic to the ULV processors I had it once... that laptop had awesome battery life daily because it couldn't do anything. All the 2D design stuff are just fine though but not the 3D stuff or photo processing stuff.
(A 13.1" screen for a new Z is just right. 12.8" is better, but nice if it's the same 13.1".)

 

Here is the question.
If you got two very same VAIO laptops, except for two different screen size, one is 14'', the other is 13.1'', which one will you pick?
Please remember "very same" includes resolution, color...
I will pick the one with bigger screen.
I think a bigger screen means better performance, which you can read much more information and have wider sight to see movies.
And now definitely a lot of companies use narrow frame; i think SONY will, too. 13.1'' must be extended to larger size.

 

I have had my share of 13.1 Vaios, but given that they were the same. I would choose 14". I don't mind added weight to compensate for the increase screen size as long as it's still as powerful, thin, lightweight and looks the same - referring to the SVZ of course.

 

Right I'd rather have the max screen size for the given chassis. In this case the SVZ can accommodate a larger screen. However the older VPC Z had a pretty thin bezel already so it'd be much more fragile if they squeezed a 14" screen there.

 

If they both use the same material (e.g CFRP used in Z) and the same design,I believe the one with narrower frame will be less durable....The LCD of the old Z (with GPU) breaks easily.

 

OK, our laptops are not weapons used for fighting.
And better performance must sacrifice something such as durability you said. Actually Macbook does great on durability, but its weight troubles me a lot, so it's up to which one is more important to you, durability or mobility.

 

Sony's iconic, limit-pushing, and expensive VAIO Z on the way out, 'very limited' numbers left | The Verge

 

Sony really doesn't make a good decision.
At least, personally, i think Duo 11 even is not a good model, because it has too many problems.
I don't like the design of Duo 11, which is meaningless.
VAIO Z even now still have a lot of advantages such as 1080p, I7QM, and excellent design. If SONY will upgrade it with a bigger high-resolution touchscreen, VAIO Z can catch up and lead the trend of WIN8 ultrabooks.
WHY SONY CEASES VAIO Z?!!!

 

The Duo 11 starts at $1100 (pricing announced today). Even if there's not a new Z out yet, I think it's safe to say that some sort of new Z is on the way, because the Duo 11 is not priced like a Sony halo device. The Duo 11 is priced like a Vaio S, not a Vaio Z.

Sony's VAIO Duo 11 Windows 8 slider goes on sale this month, starts at $1,100 -- Engadget

 

I get your idea, but Duo 11 isn't a good start for occupying WIN8 market.
And also Duo 11 is pricey, even though SONY wants to make it look like VAIO S or T.

 

Actually I think it's the best Ivy Bridge Windows 8 tablet PC out there yet. Attractive and great feature set, with a totally unique design and aesthetic.

And pricey? Since when is $1100 pricey for a 1080p screen, Gorilla Glass, Ivy Bridge, a 128 gb SSD, touchscreen, and an active digitizer stylus? That's a fantastic price...it's $100 less than a MacBook Air 13.

 

Hey, $1100 is only for I3, and how about I5 and I7? I think if you want a I7 DUO11 with 256 GB SSD, it might cost you more than $1600. And 128 GB SSD is really nothing. 11'' screen for 1080p is also excessive.
Did you see the keyboard? The keyboard is not only shallow but also too crowded.

 

Are you saying the Z is getting phased out completely?

 

The Z in its current format with the PMD will be phased out completely because Win8 doesn't play well with the PMD. That does NOT mean that the Z family is gone forever...it just means the Z3 will be a new-from-the-ground-up concept (like when we went from the Z1 to the Z2) instead of a refinement of the Z2 design.

 

Thanks Mitlov. Makes more sense to me now. Believe it or not, I was about to head out to buy an SVZ after I read a few posts up. Thanks for clarifying the PMD issue with Win8. I have a MBA and a Z1, so I need to replace my Z1 eventually. My MBA can hold me over - under one year. And my Z1 is going strong. I just didn't want to miss out in case this was the very last Z as I can rely on it for the next 5 years. Thanks.

 

I will wait for a new Z.
Hope SONY will not be dumb to eliminate their most impressive work.

 

I was at a Microsoft Store last week and they did not have a Sony Z on display. That might be a sign of what is to come.

 

There might be NEW VAIO Z, but SONY just has announcement to introduce new DUO11, T and E series, so...

 

Can I have a source for this?