Which Z model is the last with non-ssd + optical drive?

First of all, I'm sorry if this has been covered before. I've been searching both the UK/US Sony site and this forum the previous days and the only thing I get is more confused with all these different models. So figured I'm better off just asking straight out.

I love the Z-series model. However I'm very sceptical to the in-built SSD disks. Therefore I wanna get a Z-series with 500GB 7200rpm drive and a standard DVD drive which I can exchange for an SSD of my own choice. On the UK site you can get a CTO build with the Z13(V) ( https://shop.sony.co.uk/shop/b2c/add2Basket.do?shop=SST_GB_EN&guid=4C745B33CC9D0085E10080022BC29B73&csint=14000017 where you can choose non-ssd hard drives, however you can't choose any optical drive. So I take it they put the hard drive in the same space, so my solution won't work. Therefore I now ask for your help in finding the latest model that had this possibility.

The specs I'm interested in:

Series: Z
CPU: i7-640M
HDD: 500GB (7200rpm)
RAM: 2 x 4gb
Optical drive: standard dvd
Display: 1600x900 or 1080p


Which of the previous Z models is the "closest"? And is it possible to still get a hold of? I'm not really interested in the SA/SB series. And from what I understand the new Z series will only be SSD. So I won't want them either.


It would be optimal being able to have a larger storage drive along with my own SSD drive. I have no usage for the optical drive anyways. Plus this should be a cheaper solution than buying the models with SSDs preinstalled.

Very thankful if anyone can help out

 

No such thing. Either you have SSDs + an optical drive or an HD and no optical drive. The HD only fits where the optical drive is so you can't have both.

 

You would have to get an older z (vgn-z)

 

Argh.. that was very disappointing to hear. Is it really that unusual to want both large storage and a fast SSD?

One more question then. Is it in any of the Z-models possible to remove the SSDs and insert a HD in there place? Is there room for it? Or are we still talking VGN-Z models?

 

Still talking VGN-Z. Only way to get hdd in VPC-Z is removing ODD.

 

Thx for the quick replies...

Well then I figure I'll have to settle with the default SSDs and replace the ODD with HD instead. How are the possibilities to replace the SSDs in z13 to non-sony SSDs? I've read this is possible with z11 and z12 atleast. And from what I understand the next generation Z-series will have it integrated with the mobo so it won't be possible?

Maybe my scepticm against the default SSDs are uncalled for. I gotta admit I haven't read up on performance over time for them. I just would have liked the possibility of my own preferred drive.

 

Personally, I find the RAID SSDs on the Z one of it's big selling points.

 

Z11/Z12 are pretty much identical (at least in build) to the Z13. If you want, you can follow the thread i think you've seen (the one by Enny?) for replacing the Sony SSD's with non-Sony ones.

 

Well... buying a SSD model.. would be to expensive switching SSDs so I dropped that idea fairly quickly

But thanks for all the suggestions guys.

While I got your attention. Does anybody know how easy it is to get ahold of a nordic keyboard from SONY USA replacement parts? And what price would be?

I just figure since I'm gonna lose the warranty when swapping out the ODD for HD. I might as well try ordering from the states where the corresponding model is priced at $1200 cheaper.. that's just insane what a price difference it is. Too bad though that the CTO for the z13 got taken down from the sony site this weekend. Woulda loved making it customized!

I'm not sure if I'm gonna be so much for the next z-model coming up. Isn't it you beaups who mentioned it will have dedicated ghx seperate? Seems to become more and more unmobile. Even though SF sounds nice...

 

Maybe wait for the upcoming VAIO S A series?

 

Unfortunately I prefer the Z13 design way more over the pictures I've seen of the SA design.

The way I see it, the big drawback of buying the Z13 now is that battery time will (or atleast should) increase drastically with the SF cpus.

The upcoming Z-series feels way wrong for me personally. I am not at all for the external unit thing. And it will make it not possible swapping out the ODD for a HD. Wish this "new" Z woulda been named something totally new and the Z-series would live on with the same design but with the cpu upgrade.

So its Z13 or SA I guess. I guess I should wait until the SA gets released so all specs become available. But I'm afraid the Z13 will be out of stock if I wait too long.

Tough decision.

I've had a SZ1 for almost exactly 5 yrs now. However the fan died this week and disassembling it doesn't feel like an option. Quiet hard with that model compared to today's z-models. It's time for an upgrade