Z series -- buy now or wait?

I'm about to take the plunge on a Z, but I'm a little nervous because I am guessing as soon as I get it, they will announce a slew of new Win7 machines. Are there any rumors about what might be coming down the pipeline?

 

Best thing to do is just wait a bit till 7 is officially out.

 

I agree, at least wait until Windows 7 is released!~

 

If i remember correctly, Vista didn't force Sony to release a new set within a series.

From the currently technology around (eg. processors), Most likely won't see a new Z Series as of yet. Only difference would be ..... they simply ship it with Windows 7.

Haha, what can they put into a laptop? They already pretty much put one of the top line processors into it, Faster graphics maybe, but they'd have to revamp their cooling system to accommodate for it so I doubt that.

SSD's are still a "Luxury" item, so i doubt they will make that standard in a new set within the series.

If they were to announce a new laptop series, the release date will be like another half a year or so.

I don't think its really worth the wait.

 

Some shops are listing Z5's in the UK already.
Sony might offer different hard drive options for ready to order models and different speeds of processors.
Really, if you're paying £1,500 plus for a laptop who would really want a Z4 when you could have got a Z5 for the same price a few weeks later. New model, old model and all that and having the latest thing.

 

I am contemplating the same question...

 

My Verdict: Wait for the Z5 series... It is just so much better NOT having to install the whole thing from the scratch once you get your upgrade windows 7 disc. (If you are one of those who already plan to wipe the default setup, you would not mind though...)

 

link please

 

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony...GNZ51XGB/version.asp?PID=164&refsource=ldawin

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony...NZ51WGB/version.asp?PID=1040&refsource=ldawin
It looks like the hard drive offered may be different than what is offered now on ready to order models in the UK.

This bit has nothing to do with what you posted. There are several threads about upcoming Sony models. There is not one about the Sony Z so if anymore are created they will be merged.

 

I think it depends on how long you are willing to wait. I'd say that soon enough we'll see a Z replacement with 64bit Win7 Pro, Core i7, 256SSD and triple channel 6GB RAM.

Though could be quite a few months yet...

 

Well, my local store has the 6GB/320/2.8 version in stock, which is why I was curious...I get a decent discount through my employer, but if Win7 doesn't work well on it now, might be better to wait.

 

I got the same question and ..... i will buy it now.
i live in exUSSR and i don't see any probln in windows upgrade.... even win 7 ultimate. that is no difference here. i will put a new OS after i get lap, and wher win7 is released. so software doesn't make sense

the only is hardware. i can get with an off for now. anyway when i7(or i5) will be realesed it will cost lots of money.... much more then $2k...
i think i'll wait till next realease, something like Z10 in usa or z7 in europe, then Z5 or Z8 in EU and USA...

so i'm going for z7xx usa model.

 

I'm also at the same position and decided to wait. I think it worth it to wait one month for somethink better, but more expensieve for sure. Maybe new z will have touchscreen or somethink else with w7.vSony's manager announced new series with touch screens and w7 at 22october.

 

I mentioned this in another post but if you can get a good deal on a older Z then well it might make sense to buy now.

If you buy through Sony prices probably will be exactly the same though at least in the UK. Also, the prices of the older Z3 models haven't really dipped yet that much at least in the UK.
Sony tends to hold a pretty tight reign of the pricing but retailers sometimes do sell things a couple of hundred pounds cheaper than Sony.

These models here are still going for a premium price.
http://www.technoworld.com/sony_VAIO_Z-Series/series.aspx
http://uk.insight.com/apps/productp...NB&nbs_search=C=102&S=1015&lang=en-gb&K=&M=SO
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_Vaio_Z_Laptops/prod.asp

May be closer to time retailers will discount a bit more and will probably do that also when Z5's are actually released. Still, though saying that the Z1's are still by no means cheap now either.

I remember with the SZ series sometimes older models were just as expensive as newer models in the UK. It made no sense really but it is a bit better in that respect now.

Edited to add:
Other Sony lines like the SR series seem to be discounted now but the Z really isn't at least not yet in the UK.

 

You are right. These is market rules, older models will have discounts when new models arrive.
I'm a kind of user that buy a laptop every 5 years. So i want to buy the best i can.

 

Well... there's some info on upcoming Z:
https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wc...Id=20153&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665995150

As you can there's no graphics upgrade neithe touch screen info.

 

Don't see sony adding Core i7 to their Z Series range, considering the persona of a Z Series is compact without killing the performance.

Unless they come up with an INGENIOUS method to dissipate the heat, then i doubt they will add it in. Sony have kept their hands off Quad cores before due to heat issue which they don't want to be increasing the thickness of their laptops.

 

The link you added is the same model with w7?
I don't see any other diffrences

 

Seems to be so...
Do you really loking foward tosee i7 in a 13 inchesultra portable class?
may be next generation, somewhere in late 2010...

So i see no difference in a model and reason to wait for a new one. Moreover you can get the same specs cheaper with Vista now then later with win7

 

You are not living in the ex USSR.
Being located in Kazhastan means you are living in an ex colony of Russia under the disguise of USSR.

 

If you're not used to doing a clean install, I would wait for Z series that comes preinstalled with Windows 7, so that when you make the recovery disks, you can attempt a semi-clean install of it.

 

Guess you don't know that that there will be dual core versions of Arrandale branded Core i7, and some could end up in a next gen Z.

 

It's been stated by Sony that Hardware Virtualization will not be supported on the Z series. This means no Virtual PC or XP mode on Windows 7. If this does not bother you, then go for it. It's possible to unlock this functionality with a BIOS workaround, but I'm going to wait for the Z series' successor that can take advantage of all of Windows 7's features before buying.

 

i was under the impression that i7 were all quad cores in the beginning, with dual core versions coming awhile later...meaning...

it'll still be montevina/penryn in october when Win7 launches and VERY VERY doubtful it will be Arrandale refreshes in October in which I believe the OP is waiting for (which is an indication a refresh might happen then in October)

 

Core i7 Quad Cores are set to be available oct(right?) but as far as i know dual core i7 processors will be available mid-late 2010 so i guess you can wait for a newer vaio series, but i think its highly impossible to have the i7 dual core running in a tightly spaced laptop such as the Z series
plus, im not sure about this but i dont think ive ever seen a sony series go over the VGNXX-9X--mark or maybe im not well informed
SONY VGN-SZ series went up to the VGN-SZ7XX mark

 

well, like i said, most likely the refreshes if it happens near the Win7 launch, will not be i7 Quad cores, but I have no reason to say it won't happen it all (probably will later on, in other refreshes)

EDIT: But didn't the SZ series start at SZ1xx, and end at SZ7xx...thats like 6 refreshes...the Z series started at Z5xx, and its already at Z7xx...there could possibly be 4 more refreshes if we follow the same logic

 

Arrandale (Core i7/Core i5 mobile) will be out in the first months of 2010, Intel is planning to announce them at CES in January.

 

MegaManX: oh i didnt know it started with the Z5xx series, sorry about that but i guess it will only go to Z9xx(im assuming) it would really wierd if it came out as VGN-Z1090
Edit: i just searched google and Z1-5 came up but i think it was on UK sites, so that means that SSUS started from Z5xx and SSUK and other places started with Z1?
Jayayess1190: sorry for the misconception, thanks for clearing that up, i knew someting didnt look right after i posted my comment

 

hahah =)))) Seems you know more then me about the place i live in.
No matter how do you name this, but i still got all the software for nothing, and lots of noobs around me, which means i would have been payed for a long time.