Z12 Available on SonyStyle (US)

It was only available when I used the search tool, but here is the actual link:

VPCZ1290X | VAIO® Z1290X Configure-to-Order | Sony | Sony Style USA

Note that many of the options are grayed out as "Backordered."

 

It looks like they removed the 384GB HD option, which might have been a nice option given the premium ($1,300) they put on the 512GB HD.

 

FHD is now CTO-possible! But still no HDD option... And there's a new "Granite" color...

 

yup, only $100 to upgrade to FHD... .damnit! should have waited, the one option i wanted

 

I find it funny how "fresh start" and "no (package)" are Backorder.

Oh, and TPM still seems to be missing in the US.
Perhaps it's a DHS Big Brother thing? Have other OEMs started dropping TPM in the US too?

 

Doubt it. VGN-Z series had TPM in all its incarnations AFAIK. Why would DHS suddenly interfere now? And even lowly ASUS EEE netbooks have TPM.

Perhaps, it's easier and faster to get device through FCC when it does not have TPM.

 

What is:

Granite [add $100.00]

???

 

It even includes a free Adobe Creative Bundle:
-Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0

-Adobe Premiere Elements 8.0

-Adobe Acrobat Standard 9.0

Nice bonus!

Btw noticed that they are selling the Office 2010 Home & Business for $119 extra, thats like $279 on amazon: Amazon.com: Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Business (Disc Version): Software

 

Yes, one of the first things I saw.
I can already see it with a black granite finish

I would buy another Z immediately

 

Judging by previous use of "Granite" for Vaio laptops, it simply means non-glossy or textured grey.

 

Case made of granite?

No more complaints about cheap plastic, worn out spots, etc. You can chop vegetables on the palmrest

 

The question is whether they interfere with installation of the full product, like, for instance, WinDVD SE does. If it's a "nice" install that doesn't leave any traces in the registry after being uninstalled, it's a nice plus.

 

im pretty sure that website is a whoopsie on the part of Sonystyle, so somebody screenshot it quick! (I would but im on a crappy 13566x768 screen, so it would take like 5x screenies...hence why i -need- a z :-D).

at least, if the wife is asking.

 

FHD Option yes!

 

premier elements and photshop elements ARE full products. Thats $100 in software right there.
There is the option to not get them. I was going to pay to get these, im sure I would click the option to get them.

 

No more quad raid? seems odd

 

The next thing we know, Geico cavemen will be seen with the granite Zs.

"Vaio Z Granite: so tough even the cavemen can't break them"

 

Um, they are also "lite" versions of Premier and Photoshop. If you want to install the full programs, you have to uninstall the light versions fully.
And if they don't uninstall cleanly, they may prevent upgrading or updating from working, something I've seen with more than one OEM install.
Similar with upgrading to the next version of the software once it comes out.

Again, if they do uninstall completely and cleanly, great -- it's an added value.
But that's not certain, where Sony is concerned (they certainly screwed up WinDVD Sony Edition; if you buy the full WinDVD 9 or 10, it won't update because it detects the old OEM install even if you uninstall it)

 

Oops wrong quote.

 

i think there is a post somewhere showing the differences on how countries label the RAID options.. basically in the US 128x2 is 64x4 in Asian countries.. correct me if i'm wrong..

 

I fell for something like that when I bought my F series. Vegas Pro - $399!!! (Amazon - $599) Great deal right? But they only loaded a partial version. Might be different here but ssk before you assume and buy.

 

The z12 link no longer works, it redirects you to all the other laptops

 

false alarm?

 

Wow! 13,566 pixels by 768. That IS some serious resolution! I am picturing a laptop about 10ft wide and 1 ft tall

 

Not really a false alarm, but it's not a page that's supposed to be live. They are making changes to it, but you can still find the link by searching vpcz12 in the search box. You can also see the "quick view" but you can no longer get in to the CTO page as you are redirected back to the main laptop page.

 

Hmm... I just received my VPCz11 in the mail... should i send it back and get the z12? I got 15% off this and free shipping so I might just hang on to it if nothing is really THAT different.... any advice? I probably will keep this laptop for quite a few years at least.

 

Partial in what way?

also when you do a restore, how do you get your software back?
Is there a disk or something? (software bought from sony)

 

The 512Gb in the Z12 is marked as 2x256. each 256 consists of 2x128. So essentially its 4x128= quad
the triple seems to be gone....but untill they make official, some things might change.

we still might see the triple ssd and glossy carbon fiber.

 

Keep it, enjoy it. Otherwise you will find you go through this every 3 months when the refresh comes out.
The new one is not really any different in any substantial way (except that it appears to cost a little more).

 

Well, Vegas Pro 9 is really 2 suites. Vegas Pro 9 and DVD Architect. One needs DVD Architect to burn Blu-Ray. That wasn't included in the $399 version. One can still use Vegas Pro 9 but it won't have full functionality. So Sony wasn't exactly misleading but on the other hand they were because no where did it say that one needs DVD Architect to burn Blu-Ray and that their stripped down version didn't have it. See what I mean?

 

I am so enthused for getting 1080 and want to see what it is like W/O paying 4K.

I currently own Z114GX/s

Should I jump in or wait for their sandy bridge refresh.............................?

 

i just got my z11 like 2 weeks ago and loving it SOOO MUCH. its okay that i didn't wait for the z12, i got it in the premium carbon fiber, and without FHD. the standard resolution on this screen is super crisp and beautiful already (the best!!). i don't need it any smaller haha.

vaio z is a freaking BEASTTTT

 

I just received my VPCZ1190X on 5/10, thinking about sending it back (Highly unlikely, even though I got my RMA started today). My CTO is below, the only advantage I could see is getting the 1080 resolution (since I use the privacy screen, 1080 would be useless). The downside is the options that was briefly listed in the Z12 CTO site today (2 x 128GB SSD = I'm assuming its really 4 x 64GB SSD, leaving no option to expand w/o removing all of the SSD and installing 2 x 256 = 4 x 128GB), then there is the memory option (2 x 2GB memory to = the 4GB CTO option).. Unless Sony readjusts the CTO SSD & memory options, I would have to buy the fully loaded Z12 ($4500) in order to save myself the trouble of ditching parts just to upgrade the Z12 to its max capabilities..


• 256GB (256GBx1 = 2 x 128 w/ a SATA port open for expansion) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
• Blu-ray Disc™ Player/Burner
• Intel® Core™ i7-620M processor (2.66GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.33GHz
• 13.1" 1600 x 900
• 4GB (4GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
• Standard Capacity Battery
• Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
• Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In
• Premium Carbon Fiber

 

Great! thats what I want to hear!

Oh great! I am thinking I should have ordered the blu-ray drive though... i just couldn't justify the $500 added cost...

 

Makes sense.
did they put it on the restore parition or just as a separte disc?

 

Heh, cut me some slack, it was 1am here in Afghanistan and I was giddy and tired :-D

As for the price, considering the extra options available I didn't see that it was really any more expensive. I spec'ed out an i7 with 4gb of ram 256gb ssd, (according to the site 128x2, but whatever), and FHD and it came up around 2500 or so, which isn't insane.

 

Hey guys,

I just bought the Z11 for my wife to take with her back and forth to work (she rides her bike to work, so needed Light, powerful SSD laptop). I got 15% off and free shipping. QUESTION - Should I return the laptop and try to get a better price?
I ask because I recently saw on slickdeals.net that the Z11 went for $1250 (including tax and shipping) at the Microsoft store. They were offering a 40% discount! I tried to buy one but had issues with ordering, then they ran oos. Now that the Z12 is coming out, do you think we will see this heavy of discounting on the Z11 again??
Thanks in advance.

 

honestly, in my opinion, you got a pretty good price, one in the hand vs two in the bush and all that. So I'd stick with what you got.

 

Any news about the GFx card that they are gonna use?

 

honestly, in my opinion, you got a pretty good price, one in the hand vs two in the bush and all that. So I'd stick with what you got.

 

Nvidia GT330 like in the Z11

 

Looks like the granite option is gone. Guess it is hard to precision-cut rock

 

The entire page for the Z12 is gone. The info page indicated that Granite would be part of the signature series. It was also listed on CTO, but I'm wondering if that was a mistake.

 

It looks like the UK version has available a SATA hard drive rather than the SSD, if I read correctly.

Do we think the US version will too? My problem is that SSD is $$$, my storage needs are relatively high, and hard drive speed doesn't matter to me that much.

 

The CTO page that was up for most of yesterday did not have a SATA option, but the page was a work in progress.

 

Not that I know of. One can buy it from Sony or Amazon for about a $100 or so. I basically got Sony to send me th full $599 package for another $107. I now have the partial version which came on the laptop and a sealed in the box full version.

 

Maye it's something like this edge finish on their flagship walkman, also described as "Granite" by Sony:

 

So is the page gone now?

 

I was hoping they would put the GT335.

 

The guys at portable one told me that they cant tell the specs/details untill the 20th of June this matches the 15/6 ship date that I got when I tried configuring the z12.
so we might not see a formal release untill second week of june.