Z model difference (Performance)

Any personal experience on performance differences in these two models? Build quality and reliability? Didnt find much online besides the graphics card difference.


Model one: Z890

Model two: z1190x


Trying to get a outlet Z for my portable computer.

 

z890:
- Core 2 Duo (no hyper-threading)
- 1600x900 screen res
- 9300m
- HDD
- slightly thicker

Z1190x (<-- we're actually on the Z1390x)
- latest i5/i7 processors (w/ Turboboost & Hyper-threading)
- either 1600x900 or 1920x1080(full 1080p) resolution
- Nvidia 330m
- SSD

To sum it up:
- The i5/i7's perform better than the core 2 duo and with hyper-threading, it should perform much better with programs that can utilize the 4 virtual cores.
- The screen res on the z1190x can be better (however the z1190x, which is a US CTO model doesn't come with 1080p as an option, but the current z1390x does)
- The 330m will outperform the 9300m by miles... almsot no comparison.
- If you get a VGN-Z890 w/ a HDD... that performs MUCH slower than an SSD in a VPCZ1190x... That's the major thing you will notice as your computer will boot faster, load applications faster, copy files faster, and shut down much faster than any HDD computer will.

Conclusion: Why buy old tech, when you can get new tech? (unless the old tech is MUCH cheaper) But keep in mind the Z890 is still a contender in the 13" ultraportable category... the sad thing is there is not really a good contender for the Z series anywhere... so, if you want the old Z, it's still a good choice

 

I beg to differ. The Toshiba R700 is a very good contender (Especially when price is factored in. ).

Screen size (13.3"), weight (3.0#), cpu (i3/i5/i7) and can order w/ssd.

 

There are a couple of plusses for the Z890, though:

- TPM module.
- iLink (1394, firewire) port
- Takes standard 2.5" HDs/SSDs.
- Headphone socket on the side, meaning you can use headphones when it's on your lap, or an adapter for 1/4" plugs for high quality headphones.
- Slightly better speakers than the VPC-Z (they're still crappy, though)
- Slightly longer battery life (due to lower power consumption).
- Metal palmrest
- Possible to boot EFI (with older BIOS versions).

But overall, the VPC-Z is a faster/better machine, which isn't surprising considering that it's a 2 years newer design than the VGN-Z.

 

I'm pretty sure if you have the money for a Z you'd get the Z over a R700... the resolution, the keyboard, the gpu is better... you would get a R700 only because you couldnt afford a Z... actually for the price, i'd probably skip over that and go for a Thinkpad x201 also with i7 in a 12"... they've had a few deals on them lately.

- TPM is in the current VPCZ13 in the US and has been in all VPCZ11's internationally.
- iLink(Firewire) - is an option in Japan as well as Europe apparantly

 

Looking at the OP, he's asking about the VPC-Z1190X, which I believe is a first generation US model, which will have neither TPM nor 1394.

 

Too bad its made by Toshiba .

 

Yea well, a little diversity is a wonderful thing.

I use both Vaio Z and Toshiba R700 and I find they both do a pretty good job of gittin' 'er done.

Nah, that's not true. For a lot of us the price isn't that big of a deal. I buy whatever laptop I want, it's just whatever works.

The Sony has the advantage of the GT330. On the other hand, I can count on one hand (with fingers left over) how many times I've switched it out of stamina mode. Let's face it, with an i5 or an i7 you don't need it for watching youtube videos or even dvd's. That leaves gaming, hardly everybody's cup of tea.

So if you don't game, you are left with the difference in resolution (and price) as the primary difference.

Recall your original comment that I was addressing: "the sad thing is there is not really a good contender for the Z series anywhere". I would say that doesn't apply to the majority of us. I would also argue that for gaming, you could do better...

 

As an all around machine though the Vaio Z is truly unbeatable in the price-point. That is why I decided I had to up my budget (quite significantly to get one). I have no idea what my usage is going to be when I move in January, so why not get something that literally can do it all. Sure, it is not a netbook, sure it is not a high-definition entertainment machine, sure it is not a gaming powerhouse, but you know what... it can do a little of everything!

I can pull it out on an airplane easily, I can watch videos (at great resolution btw), and I can play games on ok settings. (Well anticipate all of the above at least )

EDIT: By the way, I am not a Sony fanboy. Until I got my hands on a Vaio Z at Best Buy recently, I was convinced all Sony products were overprice "meh" at best! I do not hate Toshiba, I just will not buy any Toshiba products again if I have a choice (not because they suck, but after the thousands of dollars worth of Toshiba products I have owned, not one was "above average".)

 

Not entirely true. Modeling, for example, is noticeably faster[*] in speed mode.
And then there are apps taking advantage of CUDA, like many video encoders.
And people who use HDMI out.


[*]: Then again, your average Dell or Lenovo business laptop will run circles around the Z for modeling, simply because Sony chose to use the consumer branded (Geforge) cards instead of the workstation branded (Quadra) version of the same card, which can run drivers optimized for workstation apps.

 

Forgive me for being blunt, but in my opinion, that pretty much fits the definition of a fanboi; a strong bias for the latest item one has obtained, which is at odds with critical and objective thinking.

 

It was very objective, nothing fits that power in that size with such a well built machine. A fanboi is someone who will love something or some brand regardless of what they do. I can tell you I did not even keep the DV6 but HP so far has been way more impressive to deal with than Sony!

 

How can you claim it's well-built when you just got it?

Having used a Z for two years now, I can tell you that it's far from well-built; I'd rank it below Dell in build quality, and way below Lenovo and Panasonic.
The lacquer peels, the paint wears off, the glue unsticks, the HDMI and USB ports rust, the plastic in the touchpad buttons break with fatigue, the display bezel loosens, the CD tray spring pops off, WiFi antennas disconnect themselves, and a lot of other quality issues.

With a non-inflated scale from 0 to 10, where most machines would be around 5, I'd give my Z a 3 for build quality, but a 7 for design and 7 for features.

Granted, the VPC-Z may have a better build quality than the VGN-Z, but I wouldn't count on it. From the reports seen here, that doesn't seem to be the case. At the very least, wait a year before voicing your opinions about the quality as if they were facts.

 

Well built meaning features and design. All part of the build.

BTW if you are having problems with things like rust, that is user error .

 

No, oxidation doesn't require user error. In the case of (no pun intended) the Z, the metal jackets of the HDMI and USB ports are made from a metal that oxidises, and are not coated, and will oxidise, unless you live in outer space. In fact, oxidation started before the machines left the factory. Plated jackets are expensive, and Sony chose to save some money.
If you don't use the port much, it doesn't matter -- they will get coated with a layer of white rust, and stay that way. But if you use the ports, it's more of a problem, as the oxidation drops off as a fine powder that gets into electronics.

 

As the owner of a 2 year old VGN-Z myself, I can relate to arth1 in saying the Z is NOT the best built machine out there.

One year, as soon as the warranty expires. That's when you're 'eligible' to judge the build quality of anything. For me, the user can determine the 'true' build quality for every consequetive day (or week or month) a particular machine survives while being too old for warranty, while at the same time being used as an every day machine (not excessively cared for, but then not excessively used).

The fact is, today's consumer mentality equals short-lived products. Sony doesn't make the Z to last 10 years; more like 2 or 3, 5 years tops. Yet back in the day you used to see electronics being designed with long-term reliability in mind (and rarely, today too with some brands like the Panasonic ToughBook).

And the people fueling this trend for short-lived products? The consumer. Most notably individuals who have deep-pockets buying the latest and the greatest (that 'How many Zs do you have' thread being notable...). Nuts into buying expensive machines every few months (ie, every time the Z refreshes) really ain't helping for us shallow-pocketed users or themselves in the long-run... More like, it encourages corps that since people are buying high-end, expensive machines every few months, they can save some coin and use inferior build designs and methodologies. And if a corporation doesn't build their high-end machines for long-term reliability, what on sweet earth do you expect for their lower-end models?

Before we go on a verbal spanking trip, I know some individuals here won't be in the above category, but I'm DARN WELL sure some indeed are; see the VPC-Z successor speculation thread; you'll get an idea...
I guess I too as a consumer wouldn't mind having the latest and greatest, but at the end of the day I ain't a well-off individual; can't afford it even if I wanted to. Hence, instead of buying a new lappie, I modded my VGN-Z as my requirements changed over the past few months as long-term-wise it's a cheaper option for me. And I sure hope like hell my needs don't change again anytime soon, cause I can see my Z going downhill right in front of me; might not be worth modding anymore...

To stay on topic though.
For the OP, I'd suggest going for the VGN-Z. VPC-Z has more serious issues than the VGN-Z variant. The LCD hinge becoming loose consistantly is not something the VGN-Z suffers, as with boot lags and the plastic palm rest wearing and becoming shiny. Considering the VGN-Z has been out for over 2 years now, and there being little complaint about it, it is a time-proven, reliable lappie. Unless of course you get a 2nd hand or refurb.

With that all said, the VPC-Z is more solid-feeling than the VGN-Z. Less flex on the display panel, for one. And the keyboard and hinge is now one piece, where as the VGN-Z was metal for the keyboard and a seperate silver painted plastic for the hinge.

Regardless, you MUST be prepared to be extra careful with VAIOs if you're coming up from other brands. These have the potential to snap on you like twigs...