Vaio Z production has ceased with no successor.

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

Basically, production of the Z line has stopped and without a true successor.

Although I've never owned one, it's still sad to see beautiful machines like the Z models go.

 

This saddens me deeply. The Z was the perfect machine in every way.

 

it's the first thing i read this morning and God, what a way to start my day. I'm really sad about it but secretly i'm still hoping they will bring something similar but with a name change. a ZX or something like that.

 

Wow, that's unfortunate. It hasn't even been out for a year! Is the Duo really its replacement? I hope not.

 

Thanks guys. I'm convinced. I think it will be phased out. I'm going to get me an SVZ this weekend.

 

That sucks...and I was planning to buy a new Z successor soon....

 

I was too. I was hoping for a new design announcement January next year, but it doesn't seem like that is going to happen.

 

RIP, Vaio Z. I went Sager for school and gaming performance after getting the VPC-Z in 2010, but since I'm graduating, I'll be looking for an ultraportable the next time around... and if this review is to be believed, the Duo needs some work:

Sony Vaio Duo 11 hands on: A hybrid that's all gimmick, no game | Digital Trends

 

So we should get the SVZ before it's all gone?

 

Haha. That is exactly what I'm doing. I'm just hoping since it's going to be discontinued, and the model doesn't sell that well anyways that prices will drop a bit in the next month or 2. I may be wrong though

 

Do we think Sony may be doing this [saying they'll cease production] just to boost Z sales? This may be a conspiracy theory but it's not like it's unimaginable for this to happen.

 

Does everyone realize that we are mourning and burying the Z - both the current model and the brand - over an unattributed short article in one less-than-authoritative source, "The Verge?" In the three days since, there has been not one corroborating story and if you Google it the only citations you'll find are to the Verge article or others that used it as a source. This is not the way a company like Sony announces to the world that their most iconic brand it being excised forever.

It all may be true, but certainly not because the Verge said so and said "a person from Sony said..."

Finally, even if the Z as a clamshell ultraportable is going to end production, that doesn't mean the Z brand will not be re-ignited in whatever form factor becomes Sony's new top-line executive computing toy. IMO there is no way in hull that Sony would risk the Z moniker on the apparently heavily flawed first effort at the Duo form factor

Let's all take a deep breath and wait for "real" news. Beaups already confirmed the current Z was going out, as he did in each of the past 2 years when old models went out and new ones came in. He is a far more reliable source than the verge.

 

I don't think so. This is such a revered model - perhaps beyond its true (and many) virtues, and there would be no reason to cut prices since buyers will be thinking this is their "last chance" to own the iconic Z. Just MO.

Not impossible, but doesn't strike me as sony's style. I do think in the short run this may increase prices, particularly on the resale market, as the z becomes something of a rare "classic," and still more powerful than most anything out there.

Or maybe not

 

I don't think he confirmed it. He just said we should wait for a newer one. That is good enough for me, even though he did say Duo was dead when Duo was still called Freestyle Hybrid PC.

 

See that's my issue too, lovelaptops. I don't trust The Verge's source.

 

Then why didn't they retire the S instead? There must be a reason why the hone in on the Z. I suspect, the S will be Sony flagship model. I guess Sony can always improve that model.

 

I read BEAUPS post on that. He did say there would be something new as the current Z has run its course, however, nothing was confirmed. I just need confirmation so i don't waste 2 grand. I don't need speculation on specs for the new model. I just need to know if there's a Z "EQUIVALENT" - whether it be called a Z4, a ZS, or X.

 

I'm on the same boat as you. Now or later? I guess if we had unlimited resources it'd be buy now and then we'll see if a new one comes out later to play it safe.

 

if you need the laptop, better buy it now and enjoy it while it lasts.. these laptop technology will be obsolete every 6 months / 12 months time.. even if you wait and buy the newer z.. lets assume it would launch in a year or 2 or so on and expensive.. even that would get outdated in following year by a newer model... ofc you can wait forever.. if you can wait its all about the usage and your requirement.. if you dont need one.. you dont need to buy.

Reference:

Models

Z5xx (US), Z1x (Europe, Asia) - launch models ~ July/August 2008
Z6xx (US), Z2x (Europe, Asia) - October/November 2008 - minor hardware (CPU, hard disk, RAM) improvements
no new model (US), Z3x (Europe, Asia) - minor hardware upgrades, as above
Z7xx (US), Z4x (Europe, Asia) - different colour palm rest, minor hardware improvements
Z8xx (US), Z5x (Europe, Asia) - new model for Windows 7, minor hardware improvements, enabled VT support in BIOS
Z11 - 2010 post-CES model. Core i5 and i7 CPU options. SSD-only. Nvidia GT330m GPU.
Z12 - September 2010, updated iXXX series CPUs, sim card holder added to North American models
Z13 - October 2010, added i7-640M CPU, TPM options, keyboard updated.
Z14 - January 2011, added CTO 1TB SSD option
Z21 - July 2011 - Ivy Bridge (i7 2ndGen), 0.66" thickness, slate battery, external AMD graphics/power dock, lightpeak, USB 3.0, 1.3mpx webcam, new Flash SSD

Source: wikipedia.

 

I understand the idea of buy it when you need it. I'm in a slight dilemma. My sister needs a computer now/near futurish but her computing needs aren't as demanding as mine. So I can do one of two things. Buy a Z now and give her my old one (Z13). Or buy her a Duo 11 and stick with the Z13. Then when it comes time to replace this computer in two years see what's on the market.

That's why I'm stuck. I just don't want to miss out on the potential last Z but if I know for a fact that there will be a next generation model that runs Windows 8 natively for sure, then I will wait.


BTW thanks for that very useful timeline. Only thing to add is the Z14 was Japan market only.

 

Since they're saying Sony is going to "embrace the touch experience," it's a good thing. I'm glad the vaio Z successor won't be a vaio Z + touchscreen to accommodate Windows 8. It won't work.

Sony is one of the few companies able to build something great. Something that'll both work as a traditional laptop and great touch screen device. And won't look like the prototype-like Windows 8 laptops we're currently seeing. Let's hope they can pull it off..

 

Well, I can speculate a couple reasons why:

1. As mentioned by others, Win8 PMD issues has not been resolved and they need the team to resolve it -- or quietly let it go.

2. S series does have less of the expensive Japanese labor hours in its cost when compared to Z.

3. The current S & Z came from the same line of VGN-S. VGN-SZ replaced VGN-S, and they have high-end SZ with carbon fiber & low-end SZ with magnesium. The next iteration is where the high-end & low-end really broke off into VGN-Z & VGN-SR and eventually became what we have today. So, S series really has a longer history and is the standard bearer.

4. Z is Z because it breaks the mold and push for the limit and this comes from iterations and customer feedback from those iterations, as you see Z really comes of the iterations of VGN-S & VGN-SZ. Since the Win8 era is still too early to form any mold, it will take a little bit time before there can be a truly optimized and inspiring design that is Z. Let Duo test the water, as the sub-11" VAIO line has always been famous for, and let S carry on the more traditional experience as the first attempt, then after the feedback comes the worthy design that will be the next Z.

5. BEAUPS mentioned that Z targets business users and most businesses are staying with Win7/WinXP mixture, so Z will soldier on with Win 7. It's possible that even the next Z will still be Win7 and has limited circulation in the consumer market, similar to G-series.

 

This may be true, but I can't find any authoritative source saying so. While I don't consider Sony an "authoritative source," it did publish the following and it is still live on its web site:

Sony eSupport - VPCZ2190X

No offense to anyone and we all have strong feelings about this, but I've rarely seen such a massive rumor mill and load of speculation with so few facts behind it. Or am I missing something?

With all due respect...

 

Freestyle hybrid PC was a totally different product. I played with them both

 

They can't get WHQL due to driver issues with PMD. With that and the lackluster sales, it sticks around as a Win7 pro machine for a while.

Providing upgrade support to end users is different than shipping a machine with Win8 preload.

 

So next Z will be PMDless? Possibly similar to the first Z but sans disc drive?

 

I didn't say that. Don't know anything about it yet.

 

OK cool. From my inference it seems like it's too early to really know much about the new Z.

 

Thanks for the info beaups!
So the new Z will only come later?

 

If a new model comes, it will be next year. I'm not yet aware of anything.

 

The " IF " is what scares me.

I guess as an alternative, the S will be around, and hope Sony improves on it next year. It's like a huge step back, " IF ", a Z equivalent is released next year.

 

So Geeee what are you going to do? I think I'm going to go ahead an order a configuration Z tomorrow.

 

I may do the same. I have one on hold for me @ SonyStyle - SVZ13114GXX (i7, 256ssd, 8GB Ram). I've been monitoring J&R and they have inventory (tax-free). I don't expect it will be difficult to find a Z if I wait just a few more weeks. I just need to make sure this sales girl @ SonyStyle notifies me to ensure me that when their inventories get low, that she reserves one of the last few for me. I'd rather ensure myself I get the i7 over the base i5 w/ 128ssd.

Are you ordering from Sony? If your in the USA, Microcenter in Denver, Chicago and NYC have both the base i5 and the i7 I want, plus you get 5% rewards off the Z - that's $100.00 off. They won't ship to California or do store transfers. The Southern California Store are all out, just a few open boxes.

 

Thinking about doing the CTO from Sony as I can get 12% off with a friends/family discount. This way I can also configure with PMD (with matching rear stripe in black instead of silver for the off the shelf PMD) along with fresh start (learned from previous experience to have convenience of factory settings like that rather than removing myself). Plan to get the slice off Amazon since it's cheaper there.

Just hope the Intel 4000 can do some light 3D work and Adobe CS6 stuff sufficiently.

 

Word to the wise: prices on eBay are plummeting and I think the bargain resellers (Blinq.com, Onsale.com, etc) are likely to have some pretty tasty bargains in the not too distant future. Then of course there's the Sony Outlet to consider. You never seem to know when they're going to dump a bunch of Z inventory in there an discount it by 25d% then take an additional 25-30% off for "clearance." (Funny, I would have thought the Outlet was all for "clearance."

 

Interesting, and thanks for that Beaups. Does that mean they will provide support to W8 on Z2/3s even though they have unresolvable driver issues?

 

I don't know.

 

Why are people getting their proverbial knickers in a knot over this? Remember when the SZ was being phased out and the 1st Z hadn't been announced yet? Same thing. Sony also discontinued the classic S (the one before the SZ) before its successor was announced. This isn't anything new. Sony has (well at least in recent memory) had a premium in the 13" or so size, and I'd expect them to again.

 

Obviously, SONY is waiting for something, which might be Haswell, to make a leap. If Z, the flagship, is discontinued, there must be something replace it with higher performance.

 

^This.

Also, Sonys upgrade site clearly states that the Z3 is full compatible with W8. Even checked a model with the PMD bundled.

Would hate to be on the other end of that call if its not the case.

 

Would you mind linking me to the slice battery? I can't find it myself, but I don't think I've looked hard enough.

BTW, the SVZ + HD4000 is more than capable of running CS6. I've encoded several videos in Premiere, and whether you choose to run your fan at airplane jet mode or silent mode, it'll get the job done just fine.

 

are you kidding me?

this is probably due to them going with the ridiculous PMD....

Why cant they make a Slimmer Vaio S and call it a Z?

I would buy that any day but with the Vaio S's terribly designed cooling vents... i just cannot justify the purchase.

 

currently i am seeing Z2's at around $1100-1200 i kinda almost want to get one...

but is it really worth the upgrade over the 2010 vaio z?

 

I didn't think it would be..... but I did it anyway....... and it was Love it so much I bought one for the wife.

 

Amazon.com: Sony Extended Sheet Battery (VGPBPSC27): Electronics

 

anyone know if there is anyway i can get builtin LTE in the z?

i cannot find that option on sony.com

 

guys i am now seeing Vaio Z2's on ebay for as low as $850!!!

with PMD

has anyone ever purchased one of these refurb models?

14 day returns.

 

I went on sonystyle.ca today, and when you click laptops, it shows the DUO, S series, E series, and T series and for all of these it says click here to preorder. They do not list the Z series on this page, which means it must be getting discontinued. Take a look guys!

VAIO Laptops and Desktops | VAIO Computers | Sony Store Canada

Does this mean prices should drop soon? Should I wait 1-2 weeks?

 

I have purchased many and they are usually great deals and the best way to buy a Z by far - but see caveats below.

Depending upon who performs the refurb and provides the 14 day return policy - something you can check on eBay by checking the reputation of the seller - it's the best way to buy a computer like a Z, as long as you don't mind last year's model. I purchased 6-7 Z1s last year and 2 Z2s this year from a variety of sources (including the Sony Outlet, during great sales) and have never had a single problem and have never paid more than $1,200 for even high spec. models. As more and more people realize that the PMD is mostly useless, and an IB i5/HD4000//8GB/1080p SVZ (for the brief 3 months it existed!) could be purchased new from Sony for $1,500, a used or refrubed Z2 with, SB i5 or even i7, 4GB, HD3000 and a 900p screen - even with the who-uses-it PMD, is really only worth 50-65% of the new SVZ. Now, if your $850 model is higher spec than the base specs I used in my example above, the value of the refurb at $850 gets better and better. I have seen i7/256GB/6-8GB/1080p Z2s going for as little as $1,100, arguably a better deal than a base unit for $850 - though for all I know the one you found is a higher spec.

In any case, the answer is this is the most economical way to acquire these "dream machines" and if you buy via eBay you can also get a Square Trade extended wtty even on a used or refurbed model. If the 14 day return is "real" and the supplier reliable - go for it! Note: there is a company called Colorado Computer that sells a lot of these on eBay and I have no reason to believe they are not good people but do note that they rate the condition of the unit with a 5 star system so make sure you check that before you go for the cheapest in the bunch.

 

the one for actually $895 is with a 1600x900 screen
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-VAIO-V...89247593?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item46086fae69


but this one for $945
Sony Vaio VPC Z21CGX B i5 2410M 2 30GHz 128GB SSD AMD HD 6650 1GB 13" 1920x1080 | eBay

seems fairly decent

have you ever used one of these square trade warranties? how do they even go about fixing the laptop if its older?

also, i am a bit worried since i seem to read quite a few problems with the Z2, also noticing the Z3 has an almost 50% larger cooling vent.... i am not sure if this is a good machine exactly.

also the fact that it has a proprietary SSD and if anything goes wrong with it i cannot replace it with my own worries me a bit....