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    Vaio Z new refresh ("Z600 series") coming to the US!

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by SPEEDwithJJ, Nov 27, 2008.

  1. dampfnudel

    dampfnudel Notebook Evangelist

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    Maybe one of the posters was wrong and the current Z5xx models have 2.1?
     
    dampfnudel, Dec 1, 2008
    #51
  2. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    Or maybe the Z500 series do come with Bluetooth 2.1 support but Sony "lock" that feature? :confused: I guess someone will have to ask Sony to clarify as the specifications of the Z laptops don't say too much with regards to the Z500 series having that feature...
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Dec 1, 2008
    #52
  3. HDTV4me

    HDTV4me Notebook Consultant

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    So portableone gives $50 off suggested price on a preorder. I am considering preordering it. Any guesses as to how low the price will be in other places and on sonystyle.com when z620 is actually in stock?
     
    HDTV4me, Dec 1, 2008
    #53
  4. dampfnudel

    dampfnudel Notebook Evangelist

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    That would be pity on Sony's part to lock the functionality of the Bluetooth device. If other notebooks had it when the Z was introduced, you would expect the Z to have it as well. Maybe it does, who knows?
     
    dampfnudel, Dec 1, 2008
    #54
  5. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    It's likely just an update to the BT stack. I had similar experience with my S170P. The card is actually 1.1 (or 1.2, whatever) ready, but the stack is not. So people were using different stacks to get it to work.
     
    Skyshade, Dec 1, 2008
    #55
  6. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    Hard to say. It could be similar to the way Sony "lock" the VT function of the Intel CPUs on their Vaio laptops. :(
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Dec 2, 2008
    #56
  7. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    When it is finally released, I'll bet that PCNation is going to be offering it at the lowest price among the authorized Sony resellers.
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Dec 2, 2008
    #57
  8. dampfnudel

    dampfnudel Notebook Evangelist

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    The question is will they release it this month or wait for CES 2009? I don't think a minor update to an existing model would warrant an "official re-introduction" at CES but I've seen companies do just that when they add a minor update or two to an existing model. I'm hoping I can order the Z640 CTO soon, maybe with the premium carbon lid.
     
    dampfnudel, Dec 2, 2008
    #58
  9. SSDVaio

    SSDVaio Notebook Guru

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    SSDVaio, Dec 30, 2008
    #59
  10. SSDVaio

    SSDVaio Notebook Guru

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    Interestingly, the Sony rep told me my ordered Vaio Z CTO will be configured in the Netherlands.....my first non made in Japan Vaio and my first non US spec model.


    Current Notebooks:
    Sony Vaio SZ670N, 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 160GB, Vista Bad Business.
    Sony Vaio T270P, 1.2, 1GB RAM, 60GB, XP Pro SP3 :)

    Waiting...Vaio VGN-Z25X - Configurable

    Intel® Core(TM)2 Duo P9600 2.66 GHz
    128 GB Ultra ATA Flash SSD
    4 GB 800 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
    Blu-ray Disc(TM) drive
    Windows Vista® Ultimate

    www.sonystyle.co.uk

    If its crap I'm sending it back for a pre-assembled model :D
     
    SSDVaio, Dec 30, 2008
    #60
  11. araharja

    araharja Notebook Consultant

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    agreed :D :D
     
    araharja, Dec 30, 2008
    #61
  12. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    both z620 and z670 show up on amazon for preorder, I don't think there are any major changes (like the addition of back lit keyboard etc) on this refresh.
     
    pardes3, Jan 4, 2009
    #62
  13. williamd

    williamd Notebook Geek

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    hey trying to get drivers for VGN-z610Y/B so as to be able to install 64 bit on my 520 but sony dosent have put up the drivers for this model yet but there selling it at best buy for 1899.00 . anyone seen the drivers yet . if we get the drivers for this then we get win 7 64 bit on our old z's in 64 bit and i bet they have the video drivers fixed all ready for win 7 for this model to upgrade to 7. any help?
     
    williamd, Jan 17, 2009
    #63
  14. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    As of now, your best bet is to hope for someone who have purchased the Z610, been visiting this forum regularly & is kind enough to extract & post up the drivers for you... Good luck. :)
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Jan 18, 2009
    #64
  15. sfiorito

    sfiorito Notebook Geek

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    sfiorito, Jan 20, 2009
    #65
  16. antinul

    antinul Newbie

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    I hadn't been able to see it on the US site before, thanks for that link sfiorito. I'm also waiting for the Z690 for my new laptop. On both the US and Canadian site now one of the OS options is Microsoft® Windows Vista® Ultimate 62-bit. I know that's a typo, but do they mean 64 or 32? At least 64-bit is an option on one of the other choices so the drivers should be available at some point.
     
    antinul, Jan 21, 2009
    #66
  17. bob loblaw

    bob loblaw Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm pretty sure it's 64.
     
    bob loblaw, Jan 21, 2009
    #67
  18. sfiorito

    sfiorito Notebook Geek

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    I wonder why they're not offering business 64-bit though??

    I found this by chance, using the LBomId URL parameter from the link another forum member posted to the Canadian site. The page has changed since I posted this link so they are actively working on it. It used to show a configuration option which simply listed the model number. That's now been removed. I hope they pull the trigger soon!

    Some 64-bit drivers are here: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNZ610YB
     
    sfiorito, Jan 21, 2009
    #68
  19. williamd

    williamd Notebook Geek

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    i have been emailing sony four time complaning that i bought the vgn z610 yb and i cant download origanal drivers . i complain hard and after each email it seems they post one more original driver on that page . we should all email and then maybe they might post all drivers for the model and that would help all z owners put 64 bit on the z . i think this is the reason they dont post the drivers . because if you have 64 bit drivers why buy the new z ?
     
    williamd, Jan 21, 2009
    #69
  20. wolf1907

    wolf1907 Notebook Enthusiast

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    When will buy t?

    I am bored... wait wait wait
     
    wolf1907, Jan 22, 2009
    #70
  21. Buddy17

    Buddy17 Notebook Consultant

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    are you drunk?
     
    Buddy17, Jan 22, 2009
    #71
  22. soupster

    soupster Notebook Enthusiast

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    Has anyone heard about when the laptops would be available? I spoke on the phone with a salesman at a Sony Store a couple weeks ago and he said in 2 or 3 weeks. I'm just wondering if anyone had heard anything.
     
    soupster, Jan 27, 2009
    #72
  23. exi

    exi Notebook Evangelist

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    Couple of interesting tidbits I noticed that may prove to be telling.

    As of the timestamp on this post, SonyStyle Canada is down: "Désolés, mais la page requise ne peut être accédée." Si tu comprends français. :)

    Also, if you try to CTO a z590 on SonyStyle US, the shipping date -- something I've always seen with a production system on Sony's site -- is left as "unknown". It wasn't like that a day or two ago, and that's not to mention the lack of processor options, carbon fiber lid, or any other option that's vanished from the z590 build form (presumably allotted for the refresh?).

    We'll see, I guess.
     
    exi, Jan 27, 2009
    #73
  24. soupster

    soupster Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just saw what you're talking about, but it let's me configure a Z540 with no problem so I'm not sure where that leaves us.

    As a side note, is anyone bothered by the lack of Home/End and Page Up/Page Down keys? I find I use them a lot and am not sure how I feel about a laptop without them.
     
    soupster, Jan 28, 2009
    #74
  25. Sunfox

    Sunfox Notebook Deity

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    Yes... if I end up buying a Z it would be my biggest complaint over my SZ (which has them and is only 1/10th of an inch wider).
     
    Sunfox, Jan 28, 2009
    #75
  26. bob loblaw

    bob loblaw Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't use them but I've got 4 arrow keys that have "Home, End,Pg Up and Pg DN" written on them as a function with the Fn key.

    edit: Hey they even work. I just tried em' for the first time. Thats neat. Thanks.
     
    bob loblaw, Jan 28, 2009
    #76
  27. xand

    xand Notebook Consultant

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    I use the keys quite often, and not having dedicated keys was giving me pause.

    While using them is a little bit of a pain it hasn't really been all that bad.

    Having said that, someone wrote a script such that the keys will "select" whether they are up or pgup reasonably intelligently - search a little to find it.
     
    xand, Jan 28, 2009
    #77
  28. soupster

    soupster Notebook Enthusiast

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    I use them all the time in internet explorer but especially when typing papers or coding. Maybe I can remap other keys like Pause and Insert that I never use, other than by accident, of course.
     
    soupster, Jan 28, 2009
    #78
  29. Nautis

    Nautis Switchable Graphics Guy

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    Something interesting I noticed. The BIOS version for the Z610Y/B (R3052M3) is different than for the other Vaio Zs (R2165M3).
     
    Nautis, Jan 29, 2009
    #79
  30. SirRobin

    SirRobin Notebook Evangelist

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    The question is, why? Is there other hardware?
     
    SirRobin, Jan 29, 2009
    #80
  31. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    Most likely I'm wrong.... Maybe they have a different BIOS to "fully" support Vista 64-bit? :confused:
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Jan 29, 2009
    #81
  32. bob loblaw

    bob loblaw Notebook Evangelist

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    FWIW I just talked to a rep and he confirmed that the 5 series has "been retired" and he said the new 6 series will be released this Sunday. We'll see.
     
    bob loblaw, Jan 29, 2009
    #82
  33. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    can the bios update from 6 series be applied to the current 5?
     
    pardes3, Jan 29, 2009
    #83
  34. Sunfox

    Sunfox Notebook Deity

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    Hard to know until someone tries. If there are no hardware changes, I'd guess "yes" (as recommended on this forum, I loaded the SZ3 BIOS onto my SZ1).
     
    Sunfox, Jan 29, 2009
    #84
  35. imtriggerhappy

    imtriggerhappy Notebook Guru

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    don't like 64 bit... most the software i need is 32 bit and not compatible even running in legacy mode in 64 bit vista ~_~
     
    imtriggerhappy, Jan 29, 2009
    #85
  36. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    I understand what you mean.... However, we may probably see a transition to 64-bit OS for the majority in the near future (I could be very wrong here)....
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Jan 29, 2009
    #86
  37. exi

    exi Notebook Evangelist

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    Sunday, eh? Thanks for the post.

    (What are the chances that the z690 will have a backlit keyboard and maybe edge-to-edge glass on the display?)
     
    exi, Jan 29, 2009
    #87
  38. Brawn

    Brawn The Awesome

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    there's no chance, the Z6xx series is already out and there's no backlit keyboard :) (i wish there was one though)

    also, glass is not used because it causes very bad glare and adds weight; i'm guessing you're comparing it to the new macbooks. edge to edge glass is just a design aspect, for example, many HDTVs have a glass panel in front of the screen, but the highest quality HDTVs on the market, pioneer kuros, do not have it.. there's obviously a reason that they don't since adding a piece of glass would be nothing compared to the price of a kuro.. don't be sucked into trends that reduce functionality!
     
    Brawn, Jan 30, 2009
    #88
  39. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    Just got the Z610 on Wednesday & although it is not a killer for me, I thought I would like to point out the fact that the Z610 does not have a WWAN (mobile broadband) built-in. I realized this only when I was trying to search for the "nice" little resource hogging application called SmartWi but couldn't find it on the Recovery CD. :( I hope this information help potential Z610 buyers who do need WWAN on their Vaio Z (& save them some time & hassle from buying & returning the Z610 when they realized it doesn't have built-in WWAN).
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Feb 8, 2009
    #89
  40. puter1

    puter1 Notebook Deity

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    Where are the specs for the Z690?

    Is it still using the wifi 5100?
     
    puter1, Feb 8, 2009
    #90
  41. AlaskaGrown

    AlaskaGrown Notebook Consultant

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    Posted on the Z owners thread, but it's just as relevant here: VGN-Z690YAD, top specs w/ a 128SSD, on sonystyle.com for preorder. Features a limited edition shadow border design.
     
    AlaskaGrown, Feb 8, 2009
    #91
  42. antinul

    antinul Newbie

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    Just got a top end Z690 (Blu Ray, 256GB SSD, etc). Definitely has GOBI
     
    antinul, Feb 18, 2009
    #92
  43. dampfnudel

    dampfnudel Notebook Evangelist

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    When will the 640 CTO be available???
     
    dampfnudel, Feb 18, 2009
    #93
  44. markhedder

    markhedder Notebook Deity

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    Does anyone know the answer to this? No one has answered this yet.
     
    markhedder, Feb 18, 2009
    #94
  45. bob loblaw

    bob loblaw Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't think it does. I'm pretty sure the 620 weighs exactly the same as the 620. :cool:
     
    bob loblaw, Feb 18, 2009
    #95
  46. markhedder

    markhedder Notebook Deity

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    Does that mean there's a mistake on the specs sheet? The specs sheet linked by the OP has them as a .11 weight difference.

    EDIT: i c wut u did thar
     
    markhedder, Feb 18, 2009
    #96
  47. bob loblaw

    bob loblaw Notebook Evangelist

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    Sorry, I coldn't help it. :p
     
    bob loblaw, Feb 18, 2009
    #97
  48. exi

    exi Notebook Evangelist

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    Anyone know anything about this? I'm curious myself.
     
    exi, Feb 19, 2009
    #98
  49. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    I doubt anyone knows what is going on at Sony. :confused: Except the Z610, all the other new pre-config models (Z620, Z650, Z670, Z691, etc) are all on hold for some reason, just like the Z640 CTO... :confused: Maybe their bad financial earnings for the year is making them rethink their strategy?!?! :confused:
     
    SPEEDwithJJ, Feb 19, 2009
    #99
  50. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    SPEEDwithJJ, Mar 8, 2009
    #100
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