Z12 Available on SonyStyle (US)

Didn't you mention that you got an i5-520m? I don't think that was a CTO option for the Z11 (at least in all the times I was looking). That could have contributed to your lower price on the Z12 maybe? I thought the Z12s were more expensive too.

 

Yeah when I built my Z11 and compared it to when the leaked US Z12 CTO was live on the site, the Z12 didn't seem good enough to have me wait, plus it seemed I was getting less for more $$$. The base price on the Z12 CTO was something like $1929 compared to $1899 and with the i5-520m compared to the 540m the Z11 had. Additionally there was no option for 192GB, only 256GB and it came stock with 128GB not 256GB. All in all it was $200-$300 more to get it to the Z11 I ordered. Hence I went with the 11 instead of waiting. To each their own though...

 

Thank you both for your feedback. That's completely different from what is said here, and I'm sure I read the same thing in at least one other review. Defective first run?

 

I don't think so. It appears to be a difference in perception among different users. (I am one who doesn't notice the fan).

I recommend you listen to one for yourself.

 

What are the differences between Z11 and Z12 again? only FHD? Did Z11 have FHD to begin with?

 

I agree totally. I just ran 3DMark06 on my new Z. First stress the GPU has experienced. I heard the fan kick in (barely) and burst out laughing. I was prepared for the most annoying whirring ever based on some people's comments, but the thing is super quiet. My home's AC unit drowns it out completely. My seven-year-old Sony PCG-GRT150 (which I just retired today) had a fan that sounded like an earth quake. The Z is a welcome change.

 

^ thats a good news. thanks for the info . I am looking forward to place my sony z order in next week or so. You got it from TigerDirect?

I will have to configure @ sonystyle since I need FHD screen, tax gonna kill it though

 

No, it isn't subjective; they used instruments to measure the noise and, under heavy load, they recorded a whooping 50+ decibels.

 

Read the whole article. 50db at 15 centimeters? What would you expect? Do you really spend a lot of time with your head 15 centimeters away from the fan outlet? Lets be real here. That's less than 6 inches. Realistically your head is going to be about 4 times that far away from the laptop at its closest point. I severely doubt that it would get over 50 db if measured at that distance, probably less than 40. Which, at it's loudest, would make it just louder than the background noise of a quiet library.

Again, that is at it's loudest. Yes yes, I know db isn't linear, but the point remains. Even at 50, its still not very loud.

 

Nice Compare ..
I think nothing new I can upgrade cpu and mem etc by my self for much much lower price !!

 

RAM, sure. CPU, no. Unlike the old Z, with the new Z, the CPU is surface mounted.

 

CPU is surface mounted
Really ???
f***g b***s sony how cheeky are they !!really
they will soon solder on board even that ram to not able to upgrade bycustomer
those cheeky b***s

 

Well actually... On the TX I bought 4 years ago. The first memory chip (512MB) was in fact soldered down! (so there was only 1 memory socket available).

 

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

They took out the 384GB SSD option 512GB is too expensive... .

how much of a difference is there between i5-540m and i7-620m? should I just stick with i5 ?

 

i5 540 is the move. I'd ignore that i7-620m. Little value added and eats up battery.

To put this in perspective, I have a projector rated at 32 db in quiet mode and 38 in high power mode. Even at a distance of 4-5 feet over my head its noticeable/tolerale in low power at at full blast its actually too loud.

So if this thing is 50bd at full blast and its sitting in your lap or 2 feet away on a desk, thats probably quite disturbing.

Also notebook check is pretty thorough and consistent. They are probably the best reviewers around when it comes to screens, noise and heat. Other reviews gloss over a lot of stuff - but those guys give it a thorough going over and tell it like it is.

 

Thanks. Will go with i5 since I am after battery life

 

I think I will order the Z12 over the phone today. If anyone does so please let me know what kind of deal you where able to get. I am after the blu-ray with 256 and vw card. I cant afford to pay full price

 

I am gonna order over the phone today also (just after I finish watching Italy vs New Zealand match ). Here is what I am looking for:

* Large Capacity Battery
* Fresh Start
* No Adobe software
* 6GB (4GBx1 + 2GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
* No additional Office software
* No Mobile Broadband Built-In
* No additional AntiVirus Software
* CD/DVD Player/Burner
* No Engraving
* Intel® Core™ i5-540M processor (2.53GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz
* 13.1" VAIO Full HD Premium Display (1920x1080) (Reg. price $100.00)
* Premium Carbon Fiber
* Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
* 256GB (128GBx2) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology

 

core i5 or i7 help (

 

Ok let us know... Here is mines may order later today as well

$3219.98

Intel® Core™ i5-540M processor (2.53GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Silver
256GB (128GBx2) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
4GB (2GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
13.1" VAIO Full HD Premium Display (1920x1080) (Reg. price $100.00)
Blu-ray Disc™ Player/Burner
No Fresh Start
Adobe Creative Bundle
Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter
Norton Internet Security™ 2010 (30 Day Trial)
No Engraving
Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In
Standard Capacity Battery

3 Year Express Ship Service Plan with Accidental Damage from Handling Protection
[Sony recommends]

 

Since battery life is important to me... I am going with i5, which I am sure it will be fast enough for my needs.

 

Are you getting this service plan thing too anyone else?

 

I just picked up a Z12 by phone. Sony gave me 15% off the computer with purchase of a 2 year service agreement. The savings was over $600, and the service agreement was only $299, so it worked out well. I always get the service agreement on laptops anyways, so I am quite happy. The laptop will ship on or around June 28th.

 

amazing.... Thanks. Are you based in the US.

 

Hi, I'm trying to make the same decision. See this page:

Notebookcheck: Review Intel Core i3/i5/i7 Processors ?Arrandale?

Pay attention to the power consumption graph, at the bottom of the page.

That made my decision much easier. Even though I intend to do video editing and encoding with the machine, I will be sticking with the i5-540m.

-Adam

 

Intel® Core™ i5-540M processor (2.53GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
Premium Carbon Fiber
256GB (128GBx2) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
4GB (2GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
13.1" VAIO Full HD Premium Display (1920x1080) (Reg. price $100.00)
2 Year Express Ship Service Plan

and -15% off for $2314 total

 

Yes. (this text is here only because 'Yes' is too short)

 

had to reorder with american express to get extra year extended warranty almost forgot

 

Did you had to push the sony rep for 15% discount? I called in at the educational section and the lady was offering me the usual 10% off (which you can get online too).

 

not really "push". she said it's usally only 10% off but i said this other guy on forums got 15% off and she had to check with her manager or whatever and then said it's ok. you have to get a service plan though

 

lolz, I said the same thing and she put me on hold to check with her manager/supervisor, but then she said if you can get your friends e-mail or order number we can do 15% lolx

 

I hope it comes up online in Canada by tomorrow, I'm itching to buy it for weeks now

 

well it looks like my local sonystyle store has them in stock. They're 1,999 cad. not sure what options it comes with but i know it doesn't have full hd. i'll wait for it to come online for the cto.

 

PM me if you still need an order number ahsan.mughal

 

I picked the i5 over i7 also. Looks like some good power saving and the cpu isn't that much slower than the i7. The z12 512gb ssd is so much more expensive than the z11. The only thing was thinking of getting was the i7 and the 1080 screen of the z12. But i went with the z11 instead cause i got the 384gb ssd.

 

Sent you a PM

Thanks!

 

is the extra 2 yrs of coverage worth getting? probably a good way to haggle more discounts?

 

the only people I see getting the discounts are who select the 2 year warranty coverage. So, if you need discount %% you need it..

 

I wonder if the 256 is a 4x64 or a 2x128. I'm thinking if we order a 128, Do you guys know if we can order a second 2x64 and cable from a service center then make the 64x4 that way, Because the quaid raid is cool but the price is not

 

Right...very little margin in the notebook for them to play with. The warranties are nearly all profit.

 

all of them is 2x whatever side you pick, it say so on the cto page.

 

Not the case with the 512 its a 4x128, for the z11 the 256 was 2x128, while japans was 64x4

 

I also just picked up Z12 by phone, if you get service agreement and two accessories they will go to 15% without any argument. I needed a slip case and docking station so no big problem and I wanted a service agreement. Also ships on June 28.

$3219 - $483 = $2736 plus tax

Intel® Core™ i7-620M processor (2.66GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.33GHz
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
Black
256GB (128GBx2) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
8GB (4GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
13.1" VAIO Full HD Premium Display (1920x1080) (Reg. price $100.00)
Blu-ray Disc™ Player/Burner
Fresh Start
no Adobe Creative Bundle
no Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter
no Norton Internet Security™ 2010 (30 Day Trial)
No Engraving
no Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In
Standard Capacity Battery

 

for the US z12 its all 2x size.

 

how did you make it all at $3219? tried configuring your specs and it was priced at $3819?

 

I just ordered.... But did I just get ripped off I paid 3080k(reg price $3219.98)

Intel® Core™ i5-540M processor (2.53GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz
Genuine Windows® 7 PRO 64-bit
Silver
256GB (128GBx2) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
4GB (2GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
13.1" VAIO Full HD Premium Display (1920x1080) (Reg. price $100.00)
Blu-ray Disc™ Player/Burner
No Fresh Start
Adobe Creative Bundle
Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter
Norton Internet Security™ 2010 (30 Day Trial)
No Engraving
Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In
Standard Capacity Battery

3 Year Express Ship Service Plan with Accidental Damage from Handling Protection

To get the 15% off I needed to buy two accessories
leather case 150
slim adapter 100

I was told that the 15% off is only on the computer and NOT the two accesseries.

How did you get your price so low?

I wounder if you can just return the two acessories (the slim adapter has bad reviews).

 

What are the thoughts on the i520 vs. the i540?

 

lol... I was just thinking the same thing.... There has to be a mistake somewhere. Maybe the sales rep mistakenly gave him a 51% discount...

 

damn lucky guy if that's the case

 

Well here is the Order Confirmation Direct from Sony
Product: US-VPCZ1290X-LBOM
Component: Standard Capacity Battery
Component: Fresh Start
Component: No Adobe software
Component: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
Component: No additional Office software
Component: No Mobile Broadband Built-In
Component: No additional AntiVirus Software
Component: No Engraving
Component: Intel® Core™ i7-620M processor (2.66GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.33GHz
Component: 13.1" VAIO Full HD Premium Display (1920x1080) (Reg. price $100.00)
Component: Black
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
Component: 256GB (128GBx2) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
Component: Blu-ray Disc™ Player/Burner
Per Unit Price: $2,736.99
Quantity: 1
Total Price: $2,736.99
Description: VPCZ1290X Configure-to-Order

I didn't order any software or extras (mobile broadband) and I think that is the difference for you. Think that you can cancel the service agreement or return the accessories but I don't know that yet.