Z3 "coming soon" says sony rep??

There is no better GPU, just a new sticker.

 

it is the premium black its available now on the uk sony cto page,same price as the premium carbon says 4-5 weeks delivery

 

I wonder why Sony didn't redesign the Z?

 

^^^ cost I guess

 

^ ^ I'm not sure if this matters, but the Z1 chassis was used first for the VGN-Z and then for the VPC-Z1. So if they try to get two years out of a design change, it follow that they keep it for the next, now current Z product. Even if my reasoning is correct, it would be unfounded to argue that most of the decisions we see coming out of Sony coming from advance planning.

 

The VGN Z chassis is not exactly the same than the VPC Z1! On the VPC there is a new Palmrest and Keyboard area and I think the supported docking and the battery are not changeable between the two series!

 

When will we see this in the US? Sony better get some preorders in now before Apples WWDC event in early June.

 

I'm waiting to see what Apple conjures up, before taking the plunge

 

So the HD7670 is the same GPU?

 

I've been asking around for the US release date but Sony isn't saying. The most specific info I've heard is "Summer 2012". I'm hoping that we'll see something soon... I've been ready to buy since the first press release.

 

Yes, HD 7670 is HD 6650, just a new name, nothing else.

 

And it seems with better drivers, 3DMark scores (06 and Vantage) have increased quite a bit.

 

No need.

I think your reasoning's pretty much correct, particularly since it sync's with Intel's tick tock cycle. No need to redesign for IB, there's not much change in the chip's capabilities. With Haswell, the tock of town, it's different. It's going to leverage IB's manufacturing advances with a new microarchitecture. New capabilites call for a new Z design. As long as there continue to be new Zs.

 

I was idiot, didn't do research before placing the order for CA-VPCZ2390S-LBOM at sonystyle.ca, and it says all customized z laptop is final no refund...

 

Looks like the new Z3 is in the store. The thing I can't figure out is that the PMD is still showing the AMD Radeon HD 6650M... the Engadget review suggested that it would be upgraded to the 7670M.

Just ordered my Z3 without the PMD... I'll get the new one if it's ever updated.

 

Looking at the US site, I just noticed that now both USB ports are 3.0.
(Maybe it was already mentioned here, but I was not aware of this change.)

 

Also, no 1600x900 screen option and no PMD required. Very interesting.

 

The Z2 has been discontinued in HK.

 

Am I the only one who's not so happy about loss of 1600x900 option? It seems like 1920x1080 on a 13" screen is insanity. I can't imagine how tiny the text must be. And I know you can upscale, but upscaling causes distorted icons, and it doesn't work with a lot of programs. :\

 

Just got off the phone with a sales rep... Was about to order fully loaded version but there is no Mobile broad band.... she said that "sony has decided not to include broad band wireless in any of the new z series (IB) ."
Anyone know how true this is? That actually does not make any sense.... Seems like she was trying to make a quick sale bc engadget says "certain configurations will offer 3G/LTE connectivity"
Interesting bc i Just brought a fully loaded Z2 with SB a few days ago... and noticed that the IB model is about 200-300$ cheaper... so I was going to cancel the order and get the IB version but not if it does not have broad band built in.

 

For everyone wondering about the 7670M PMD, I just called Sony phone sales support (they are awesome btw) and she found out that they are selling the dock in Asia right now as part of new Vaio Z bundles, but at this point its more of a trial run before they roll it out in other parts of the world. Unfortunately she couldn't say when it would be coming to the US. Just so everyone knows, if you order a Z3 now you may want to wait on the PMD until we get the updated GPU.

 

that's odd :\

 

That's strange. Fortunately in other parts of the world the 900p screen is still available, so it's just Sony USA fooling around.
E.g. in Germany, you also have the option to get WWAN (with or without LTE).

 

Should I pull the trigger on the IB Vaio Z or should I wait to see if Sony will be releasing something when Windows 8 releases? When is Haswell's release date anyway?

 

I haven't been up with Sony's Z since the Z2. I had no idea 1600x900 will be an obsolete option. I'm sad to see it go. Maybe, it's the reason why Sony implemented this option with the S Series.

I was hoping to replace my Z1 with a Z3. I was hoping for a redesign. I guess I'll just hold onto it until they redesign the S with a 1600 x 900 option.

 

is there any driver problems with the new(er) z? I'm coming from vgn-z which sony fks you with drivers. Looking at the newer Z (sb/ib) i get the impression I can use drivers straight from intel etc.

In turn they fk you on the hw - disk/memory tied to the mobo, but other than that, anything to watch out for?

 

This is just Sony US trying to get the units out there. If you look at the main page, where it read "New Sony Z" the silver version shown is different than the one on the Z23. It almost looks either like a premium glossy silver, or a premium carbon silver. The Z23 was flat silver.

We will see the 900p, LTE/3G and other color option pop back up again soon.

Glad to see they are starting to take pricing seriously again. The option of the PMD and the SSD cost drop is a step in the right direction.

Anyone know if the premium carbon fiber (Glossy) comes with a Glossy PMD?

Just ordered mine. (Loaded Glossy) I loved my glossy Z1. The lid just seemed much more solid to the touch. I just wish someone would come out with a official matte palmrest guard. Wiping the deck down on the Z2 sucks. And yes, I know the glossy is a finger print magnet.

Wanted a Gold for some time. However, the glossy is just more my style. If that silver in the picture was available, it would have won me over.

 

The silver one in the main page is the SVT13 ultrabook...

 

With the somewhat disappointing Spectre XT specs now confirmed, looks like I'll be picking up my first Vaio Z shortly. Can't wait.

 

everyone seems to forget the "U" in the cpus used in ultrabooks.

in terms of sony discounts - any coupons/suggestions?

also in terms of build location/quality, any different between the cto and ready to ship?

 

Sony is definitely "right on" in pricing with the upgraded specs. I still feel Sony is a little overpriced, but it's nice to see i7QM, 256SSD and 8GB Ram in a $1999.99 price configuration - FINALLY SONY !!!

 

Well, one of the primary reasons I like the Sony Vaio is actually because of the form factor of the sheet battery. As opposed to those super chunky "wedge" batteries that used to be extremely common on smaller/thinner laptops, which were basically like attaching a giant stand on the back of your laptop.

Unfortunately right now, they don't have the promo running where you get a free sheet battery with the purchase of the laptop. They've had that promo running in the past quite a bit, so I imagine if we wait a little, it'll pop up again.

Also, the military discount price is actually pretty nice. Not sure about the student discount price (if they have one).

I'm probably going to wait for 4th of July sales and see if that doesn't bring some goodness.

Right now the only promotion is a free "$100" laptop sleeve or something silly like that. I doubt I'd ever pay $30 for that, let alone $100 lol.

Yeah, my sadface comes when I tack on the 512GB SSD and 3-year + Accidental Damage Warranty. What's the standard warranty on this, probably just a year? If so, that sucks for a premium product.

 

Any idea when Win8 will come out for the Z? I think I'll take the plunge at that point.

Also looks like Premium carbon fiber black is the matte CF design and they axed the boring matte black "carbon fiber black" from the last model. Kind of confusing naming, TBH for the older ones. And the gold one is still carbon fiber gold but it doesn't appear to have the CF streaks that the black ones do.

 

Heyall, I'm looking to get the Z3. But I was wondering, while the spec says it supports a max of 8 GB ram, to my knowledge the motherboard should now support 8GB ram modules now right? I'm wondering if anyone has it and can verify whether it's easy to swap the ram.

This spec page:
VAIO Z Series Laptops | Sony Store USA

has me worried since it mentioned the word "fixed" ram. I really love the Z but I need a min of 12 GB ram since I do a lot of VM work.

Also:

No need to wait for Win8. Get it now and Microsoft will give you an upgrade offer for $14.99 when it's out: https://windowsupgradeoffer.com/en/Home/ProgramInfo

 

Cheers for that!

 

Well, I can confirm that is totally false. I'm about to buy the new Z online (French sony website), and I DO have the option to add it. Actually that was onr of my top needs..

As someone else stated, an upgrade will be avail. to win8 for $15 (if you get win7 between june 2012 and january 2013)

Just a guess but.. if your screen can do 1920X .. he can then do 1600x ... w/o any problem
Or am I missing something here ??



IMHO, it's a shame they didn't propose 16Go RAM and 1To SSD options
What will happen, we will buy this 'new' Z, and in a couple of weeks another new one will pop up

 

edit: I had bad info, apparently you can upgrade the RAM in the Z

 

I just double checked.. in the Fr sony store, we can also still opt for a 1600 x 900 screen...

 

It looks like Japan is offering it as well. They also have the 7670M PMD...

 

First:

The RAM and SSD on Z2 are NOT soldered!

The Ram is propretary Sony stuff. You can buy Ram modules direct at Sony and replace Ram!
SSD´s are equal sandwiched like in Z1! So theoretically they are replaceable!

Second:

1920* 1080 screen set so 1600* 900 is looking ugly. The 900p screen on my Z2 is damn sharp and I like it more than the 1080p screen on my Z1!

 

I was just about to order one.. then realized there was no mobile broadband.. This was the main reason why I always chose sony over apple!!! Hopefully they will bring back this option.

I also have a Z2 with the 900p and verizon broadband...extremely happy. Just needed a few more for the office. Total fail on sony

 

Oh whoops, I got some bad information. That is good to hear. I'm not sure how the BIOS/northbridge is set up but technically that chip should be able to address up to 32GB of RAM.

 

Ahh... forgot to mention:

I don´t know if Sony is offerin 8GB modules. I only found 4GB modules..

When they are 8GB modules it maybe will work

 

wonder when these will show up on amazon so you can get the tax free discount

 

So what you guys are saying is that you prefer a 1600 x 900 screen ?

I do have a choice between the 2 options (1600x900 -or- 1920x1080)
Do you think the latter is too much for a 13" ???

----

And for the RAM and SSD, nice to hear that they are NOT soldered!
I just wonder now how long it will take to have those available :/

 

^

For me the 1600*900 is small enough. I would like to prefer a 1366*768 in the quality of the Z screen...
I find FHD on a 13 inch to small

 

Back in 2005 I had a Sager NP3880-V which had a 15.4" WUXGA (1920x1200) screen, and to be honest text was pretty small, maybe borderline unreadable for some. That screen worked out to 147 pixels/inch, but the 13.1" 1080p in the Vaio Z works out to 168 PPI. The only plus I see is that Windows 7 actually handles scaling very well compared to XP so I don't think that it's going to be an issue for me. Certainly I don't think it's for everyone however.

 

I had laser eye surgery performed for free before I got out of the military, so I'm okay with the high res screens. Wonder if eyesight (less than perfect) is a reason why some people prefer the lower res ("large text") screens.

 

I'm 15 and I have 20/20 vision. But 168 DPI is outrageous...

1920x1080 on a 15" is perfect. But a 13" is too much, even for me...I know that scaling is improved in Windows 7, but it's still not that great. I've noticed it causing icons to become distorted and it doesn't work with a lot of programs. And the 1600x900 is a pretty good quality display; I'd like to see it as an option. Until Windows can have the scaling capability of say, the iPad 3 and its retina display, I'd rather not have to use upscaling.

Unfortunately if you run a screen at anything but its native resolution, it will look "blurry"; you have to sacrifice quality.

 

Without a doubt. I've had some of my older friends attempt to use my laptop before and they couldn't even click an icon until I switched to a lower resolution. As a developer 1080p is almost essential unless you like hiding and restoring toolbox windows every 10 seconds. Not that I do a lot of developing on the road, but it's nice to have the option.

I'm going to try it at 100% scaling for the first week or so, or until my eyes bleed. I agree that scaling kind of defeats the point, but IMO it looks a whole lot better than running a non-native resolution.