What's coming from Sony?

I am thinking about replace my Asus v1jp, and I have been looking pretty hard at the Dell Studio XPS 16. The other day I was at Best Buy and checking it out next to the Sony FW, which I was really impressed with. The Sony had the best feeling keyboard I've ever used on a laptop, and I was very pleased with the overall design.

One thing that I feel the sony is missing though, is the backlit keyboard.

I know the current FW series has been around for a while. Is there any information about what might be coming up in the line that should make me rethink purchasing right now?

 

The FW4xx refresh was just released so it's going to be a while until the next refresh or redesign. Usually, Sony refreshes the laptops every 4 months or so.

 

I don't think Sony has much it can do besides upgrade GPUs, no new Core 2 CPUs are likely to come out. I'm guessing the next big refresh will be when Arrandale and USB 3.0 hit the market, I somehow don't see Sony releasing any Clarksfield based laptops.

 

There will be new sony models, but nothing you'd like...

new CS will come, with wide screen and something to beat the apple Air.

 

I posted in the SR owners thread new SR5 models with P series processors that will be sold in the EU market.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5299092&postcount=3270

Also, laptopdirect has new CW models listed. This is a 14" notebook.
Stock due week commencing 2nd November 2009
VGNCW1S1EW
Processor: Intel Pentium P7450 (2.13GHz)
RAM: 4GB (2GB x 2)
Hard Drive: 320GB SATA
Operating System: Microsoft Window 7 Home Premium
Screen: 14" HD Screen
Optical Drive: DVD Super-Multi
Graphics: NVIDIA/N10P-GS - 512MB
Bluetooth: Yes
Notebook Camera: Yes
Warranty: 1 Year Warranty

I wonder what that graphics card will be?

Two Z5 models are listed as well. The graphics card appears to be the same.
VGNZ51XGB
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_VAIO_Z51XG-B_Laptop_VGNZ51XGB/version.asp?PID=164
VGNZ51WGB
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_VAIO_Z51WG-B_Laptop_VGNZ51WGB/version.asp?PID=1040

 

As far as FW concerns, there is nothing new, really. At least that is the case with the US version. The only things different with FW5 will be Windows 7 and 500GB, 7200 RPM HD. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=415232

 

...and perhaps a new LCD.

 

Hmmm. The UK Sony site is announcing a "thin to the limit" X series coming in October: http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/View.action?site=voe_en_GB_cons

And the Canadian FW590 prototype site now lists a 128GB Solid State drive with RAID technology.

 

Rachel,

Do you think an equivalent 5XX series will be released in the US along side Windows 7 like in the EU market?

 

The Canadian FW490 has been offering the SSD in RAID for months now.

 

Sony has now updated the EU websites with updated SR/FW and Z models. They added a HDMI port to the SR model with integrated graphics. It was about time. Also, still no blu-ray drive for the Sony SR which is not great.

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vn-z-series/tab/models

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vn-sr-series

No mention of the CW yet but that is expected a little later on.

Edited to add:

The Vaio P series has also been updated. One of the models has a 2ghz atom processor and another has a 1.86. May be Sony might use the 2ghz processor in the Sony X series.
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vn-p-series/tab/models

The W series has also been updated.
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vn-w-series

The AW series has also been updated but it has still got the 9600GT. Sony could really do more with this line.

The NW series has also been updated. Bascially as expected new models were released with W7.

 

Also, all FW models have full HD screens, even the chepest models.

Strange about AW, but are there already new GPUs from Nvidia for laptops? Maybe sony sticks to nvidia for AW and thats the reason?

 

Yea, besides the release of Win7 there is not much exciting happening with the Fall 09 Sony releases. Sure we get one new model (2 if you count the X) and everything else is just a refresh/update. Looking forward to the new Intel platform. Please!!!

 

Well..windows7 will be a huge spet ahead, so i dont think people are not excited.

 

Come on Nixon, tell us about the new model except the X series. Will it be the replacement of TT? Which is the new platform of Intel?

 

http://sonyelectronicscommunity.com/sony/default.aspx

Looks like you won't have long to find out!

 

There's a big gap between the too power hungry i5/i7 and the too slow Atom, which AMD is just too happy to fill. And Intel realises this, and there WILL be new low powered CPUs coming out.
Real Soon Now, if the rumours are to be believed.

My prediction: a Mobile equivalent of the Yorkfield S series, where power is reduced without also reducing performance like earlier low-voltage models.
(For the S series, Intel cut the power consumption from 95W for the Q9550 to 65W for the Q9550S desktop CPU, without losing performance).
A mid-range quad core with 25-30W TDP? I count on it, else AMD will take over the laptop market. i5/i7 ain't it -- they're WAY too power hungry for laptops.

 

I doubt if they can make a 25-30W quad core just now. The current quad core i7 mobile (non-extreme version) is rated at 55W. However, what is confirmed is that Intel will announce dual core versions of i7 mobile early next year, to replace the now T and P series most likely. We can bet that the voltage ratings will be cut back to around 25- 30 W on the new dual core i7 mobiles.

 

Sony Japan has just pushed out TT4 with Windows 7, so I don't think there will be a "TT replacement" anytime soon here in US...

 

Correct, expect any of these these except for the 620UM and 640UM to replace the T and P series processors. Also note the TDP includes 10W for the 5 series integrated gpu, so subtract 10 from the total TDP to get the TDP for just the processor.

 

Beside Win7 and now support for 8gb of ram, what else does this offer? VT?

 

I'm guessing it's the CW.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...98552921644659494&N=4294954315#specifications

 

We knew the CW was coming, i was hoping for CULV notebook.
It is good to see that Sony updated the TT model in Japan. I would consider importing a white TT with a 1.6 processor from Conics. The only thing that puts me of from doing this is that i want a UK keyboard. It is not like a white model was sold over here so that i can may be swap keyboards at a later date.

 

you can buy UK keyboard and swap it, no big deal

 

Well Nixon said there were only two new models this fall, one of them being the X.

That only leaves the CW imo.

 

The gold one has a silver keyboard but it comes with the palmrests i think.
I don't think that you just buy a silver keyboard on its own or can you?

 

So what else is new then with the new TT besides 8gb of ram support and Win7?

 

Seems so! strange..but if you are looking for US keyboard, i know where to get it.

 

any idea when FW will be replaced?

 

Anyone seen this on gizmodo? The Vaio Zoom notebook takes everything we know about holographic technology and squeezes it inside a thin glass form factor. When off, the screen is completely transparent and the keyboard goes opaque. Turn it on and the touchscreen holographic festivities begin. Even the mouse buttons are holographic!

 

22nd of October.
FW5 series is already on European Sony sites.

 

The FW5xx is coming on October 22 apparently, with the release of Windows 7. I doubt the FW series will be redesigned any time soon. The laptop itself is solid and sturdy, so why fix something that aint broke (not saying the FW doesn't have it's own problems, perhaps Sony can release a "refresh" making the barrels sturdier, changing the touchpad buttons and switching to a material that is more scratch resistant).

But other than that, the structure of the FW doesn't have any disadvantages. I'm kinda hoping by the time I need to change my current FW, it will still be around (just with the latest specs).

 

I'm hoping they improve the screen on the FW - making it brighter and glossy.

 

Will Sony refresh the SR soon? On Sony Style they only have the the CTO and one prebuilt so I wonder if they are emptying stock.

 

So, I guess no one has an idea on what else is new?

 

Yup, it's all just little updates. And Win7 support.

I'd expect that with the new Arrandale chipset coming late this year/early next with the Core i5/i7 processors is when we'll see completely new models. New SR's (on it's 5th update), FW (5th update as well), a new killer Z maybe?! I wish I knew that far out!

 

I was hopping Sony added like the nvidia ion gpu, or the like..

 

@Nixon,

Could you please clarify the P series issue? Sony announced a Vaio P "mark 2" in July for October. In Europe we had a refresh today (P31, P39), but is just what in Japan was available months ago. Upgrades of the CPU from 1.6 ghZ to 1.86/2.0 ghZ and W7.
Please tell me that these europeans models are not this the rumored P "mark 2".

 

I wonder when Sony will get around to replacing the Z? The laptop is almost perfect, but I'd like to see what they eventually come up with as a successor

 

hey all,

when is sony coming out with core i7 processors based models?

any info?

 

You know, i think that Sony TT's might not be discontinued in some parts of the EU.
I was looking on the notebook.de website and that hinted that they had new models in their store.
I had a look at the Sony.de vaio link page and it indicates that there is a TT3 VGN-TT3WRN/X.
We only had up to a TT2 in the EU.
This one even has a 1.6 processor and 8GB ram support and i don't think we got that before.
VGN-TT3WRN/X


http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/specifications/index.aspx?m=VGN-TT3WRN_X&l=en_GB

VGN-TT36XRN

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/specifications/index.aspx?m=VGN-TT36XRN&l=en_GB

VGN-TT31MR/R

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/specifications/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-TT31MR_R

VGN-TT31MR/N

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/specifications/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-TT31MR_N

 

Interesting, I wonder why it went away in the US store. Maybe they will bring the new TT here with the 1.6ghz, and 8gb of ram, but also add some feature that really makes it a compelling purchase at its price?

 

512GB SSD (256GBx2 in RAID0) is the only thing I noticed.

Speaking of 512GB SSD, SR4 in Japan has option for 512GB SSD, wonder if it's the Toshiba one that FenderP raves about...

 

Is the 256x2 option with, or without the optical drive? Also, I could have sworn I had seen that option on the TT before it was taken down from the US Sony site.

 

It is with optical, similar to what they did on Z. TT did have similar option with 64x2 and maybe 128x2 in US, but not 256GBx2.

 

Sony.de have the TT listed and the prices is very reasonable. https://www.sonystyle.de/SonyStyle/VAIO-Notebook-PC/TT-Serie-11-1

I hope this comes to the UK. I might still buy one and import it anyway from the EU if it does not come to the UK. Swapping keyboards etc would be very easy.
Plus i would have no duties to pay.

Edited to add:
Sony is also offering Intel Celeron processors. Now this is Sony's carbon fibre CULV notebook but with a dvd drive instead.

 

Actually Rachel, sometimes some developmetns seem odd.

Do you remember the SZ?
Germany went up to the SZ7.
The UK had the SZ7 a few months later for a very short time, then went back to the SZ6...

So it may be possible that Sony offers the TT on the continent (which incidentally is't doing to bad in the current economic climate) and discontinue it in the UK where people aren't spending.
But this is speculation.

 

Those models i posted in post #41 i think they could possibly be for the Russian market only. Looking at the model numbers i think the hint is there. Also, i put the part numbers through google and only got hits for Russian stores.

May be if it is sold in other countries in the the EU it will be config models only like in Germany.

My memory might be a little hazy now about what happened with the SZ but i can recall that Sony sold the high end models and when stocks ran out after some time never stocked up. They did though continue i think to sell the low end models.

Anyway, about the TT models. The low end celeron processor that Sony offers does not support intel speed step which is a little bit of a shame.

About the CW, i think that this looks like a very good laptop. Sony should do well with this line. I just hope the problems they had with the CS line is a thing of the past.

Edited to add:
The config models are also available in France.
https://www.sonystyle.fr/SonyStyle/...0092E10080002BC29B85&deencode=&csint=14001788

 

i'm also waiting for new z with w7. I think its a good idea if z will be 13,6" display
touchscreen. It will be perfect!

 

why 13.6" ? its already 16:9 with 13.1...do you want an AOR screne?