Vaio Z, blu-ray + SSD

Is it possible to get the blu-ray drive with the cheapest hard drive and set up my own SSD?

Why doesn't sony offer the blu-ray with SSD? Is it because of some kind of physical limitation?

Are SSDs directly interchangeable with the SATA hard drives?

If 2 SSDs can be put in the Vaio Z does that mean 2 SATA drives can be put in as well? or a SSD + a SATA hdd

 

I would assume it's physical differences in the SSD drives Sony is sourcing. For all we know they are 1.8", thus a slightly different motherboard design.

 

You choose a Customizable model (590) then option for SSD on page one, and BlueRay drive on page two, the price will go up to 3499.00 ( 500$ for blueray drive)

 

Incorrect. Sony does not allow the SSD + BR combo. If you select BR, it removes SSD and reverts back to a normal HDD.

 

So what you're saying is that if I get a regular drive it would be impossible to switch over to an SSD at a later time?

 

I have a question about the blu-ray drive. I understand that it can't write blu-ray media, only read. However, can it burn dvds and music/data discs like the standard DVD±R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive?

 

Read Sony's spec sheets. Some of the drives can write.

 

Maybe, maybe not. If you can get an exact SATA drop in for the HDD (same size, connector, etc.), you'd be good to go. Anything else, no. As I said, I don't know Sony's limitation for not being able to combine SSD + BR.

 

this is interesting since I was planning on seeing if I saved enough to go for a SSD in the Z series, but it looks like I'll have to stick with a normal hdd.

 

Well for one thing, if you wanna do the SSD yourself, just get the cheapest hard drive there and replace it with a standard 2.5" SSD yourself; if you're concerned about cost, get the new cheaper ones by SuperTalent or OCZ/Samsung (totally forgot which one just announced their new cheaper line for SSD's)

 

I'd also like to know why Sony won't let us get SSD and Blu-Ray. Maybe FenderP is right about the SSD being 1.8", the regular HDD is 2.5" and so a different internal design is used? So far Sony has only used 1.8" SSDs...

I guess we'll have to wait until a Z is in someone's hands here to find out. I'm sure if you get the Z with HDD, you could always upgrade to a 2.5" SSD later on especially as prices keep going down. Maybe thats better than buying a Z with SSD now.

 

but with the Z590UAB its possible to have a RAID setup with 2x 1.8" instead of 1x 2.5".

 

The point here is that you can get HDD + BR or SSD + DVD. We all know that you can get SSD in the Z, just not in the combo everyone desires (SSD + BR).

 

This thread should be called: Vaio Z, blu-ray or SSD.
I wouldn't think it twice pulling the trigger if this combo was available. Having to choose betwen SSD and blu-ray is really tough for someone that already used SSD (and going back is hard) and watch movies too.

 

It's available in Japan though.. right?

 

Nope. Not possible there, either. So it's definitely something internal that Sony did slightly different (not unlike the TZ with the extra HDD or DVD drive).

 

Welcome to my world.

 

Well then we'll have to wait for Portableone. They should be able to offer it. SSD instead of HDD.

 

I cannot read Japanese but when I go the the Z's page on SonyStyle Japan

http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Style-a/Product/Z/index.html

And go to the configurator at the bottom of the page, I can make out the DVD burner option and the option next to it is grayed out, which is the Blu-Ray burner.

It can only be selected if I choose the HDD option AND 1600x900 screen.

So the limitation is in Japan as well.

I still hope if you get the Z with the 2.5" HDD, you can replace it with a 2.5" SSD, why not?

 

It should be easier to swap the normal HDD to a SSD later on, than replace the dvd drive with a blu-ray one.

 

LOL I've figured out a way how to get the 64x2 SSD and the bluray.

 

It won't work. If you selectr it, then you go to the third screen, it'll remove it. Sony won't sell the config - it's invalid.

 

it can be done, I'm at the checkout page, but I don't plan on getting that configuration.

 

Well, I can tell you 100% it's an invalid config. You'd never get it. Every time I select a BR after I've done the 128GB, it knocks the SSD out. Not sure why you're getting it as a valid config.

 

try it again, I just did and it took it away to the order confirmation page.

 

I did, and have been consistently doing it since Monday. You'll never get that computer even if you were able to order it.

 

Well there is a trick to getting it to work.
First select the 64gb SSD then on the next page select the blu-ray.
It will automatically bump ithe 64gb into the 128gb raid .
Have fun lol

 

Again, you can order it all you want. It's not a valid config. I'm not sure why you're wasting your time.

 

To me....the SSD+bluray drive config limitation doesn't make sense if the reasoning is due to differences in drive size (2.5" vs 1.8"). If the standard HDD config is a 2.5" then I'm pretty sure a 1.8" SSD would fit because the pin-outs are the same (40). So I don't think it's physical size differences.

My next guess would be power....but honestly that wouldn't make much sense either...

 

The SSD options uses 2 SDDs.

Still that does not make much sense to me because I believe a DVD player is the same size as a Bluray player.

 

ask sony

send email to the company

 

I still don't know why they can't put SSD and blu-Ray in the same machine.



But from the picture, I don't think it'll be easy to replace a harddrive by yourself like some people's thought.

 

Do we have any chance for blu-ray + SSD config for Z?

 

Maybe in future updates, but not in this one. I also wouldn't hold my breath, either.

 

So now that the Vaio TT can be configured both ways, do you all think this will change anything for the Z series?

 

It's not that they can't or because there isn't enough space. They just didn't want to when the max (at the time) HDD space was 128GB. To master a 50GB Blu-ray disc you'd need a 50GB temp file (not including the original source files). That's why you see 320GB typically paired up with the drive. Now that the TT has 256GB, that's a lot more wiggle room to master a single project. Expect to see the option in the next Z refresh that has 256GB+ SSD options.

 

gr00vy0ne is right. The reason is not the physical placement of the SSDs and the blu-ray drive, it's storage space issue.

 

Japan has added the 256GB (128GBx2) SSD with Blueray option in the Z refresh, available in Oct. 4...
http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Products/Z1/spec_vom1.html

They didn't change the name to Z91. Instead, now you can put 320GB 7200RPM HDD and the 256GB SSD in your Z. Blue-ray still does not support DVD DL burning and there is no BD-ROM only option either.