Z3 "coming soon" says sony rep??

Thats a matter of taste and need I guess. I have been working on my z2 laptop for a couple of years and now I will not settle for less resolution - having a large workspace simply maximizes my work flow. Actually, in comparison, the normal HD display of my newly bought Thinkpad x220 feels quite inadequate despite it's otherwise nice package - so I keep it in my docking station

 

No doubt. On my 1366x768 laptop, I kept getting really annoyed after I set up the pinned programs in my start menu (all the ones I frequently use, when I was trying to keep my taskbar uncluttered) while connected to a 1080p 24" external monitor. Unplugged, took the laptop over to the couch to watch some TV while I worked, like over a third of the "pinned" programs in my start menu had disappeared due to the change in resolution (height of the start menu). Definitely slowed down my workflow since I'd sorted them into groups, and the ones at the bottom (that got cut off) were grouped there because they were the ones I use the most XD

Logic is, if I have to click the Start button to get the Start menu to open, the mouse cursor is going to be on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen, so the most used programs are the ones immediately above the cursor (less travel / movement / accuracy needed to click the program).

I don't recall setting any scaling options except I think increasing the size of the desktop icons. The added resolution is mainly for things that the scaling doesn't have any negative impact on (or any impact whatsoever), like program windows, your browser, Adobe programs, etc.

If you're working even in 720p resolution HD video editing, you ideally want to preview the clip at 720p (native resolution). That means you need (at very minimum) a larger workspace than the resolution of the clip you're editing.

Going from a 24" 1080p monitor to any 1366x768 display makes me feel like I'm digitally trapped in a small box.

Reminds me of how it used to feel going from driving the 7-ton trucks in the military, to driving the Humvees. The 7-tons were basically dump-truck sized, so "downsizing" even to something as large as a Humvee...gave the feeling that the Humvee was like a go-kart by comparison.

 

according to sony usa there is no WWAN which is a deal-breaker for me

 

Me as well...I do think they will come out with WWAN on this model eventually... Does anybody remember if the initial Z2 SB models had a delay in WWAN release?

 

It looks like WWAN is an option on the Z3 in Japan, so my guess is that it will be here eventually.

 

Again, in France too
It will certainly come back in the Us store soon enough


About the screen, I'm just thinking... Win8 will be here in a short period of time (6 months max). I'm pretty sure to upgrade to Win8 for 15$ anyway.
So the desktop wont be a problem anymore..

I'm more concerned with the size of texts (e.g. working with word, reading you guys new post's on notebookreview etc..)

 

I may have to opt for SVS instead of the SVZ strictly due to the 1600x900 res. I don't mind the S and the intact Slot-Loading DVD (what a surprise, this was rumored back with the Z1). I just don't like the hinge on the S and wished it was similar to the Z. I want that hinge flushed with the case and not protruding when the lid is closed.

Even if the SVZ (Z3) is capable of 1600x900, it just doesn't scale completely well.

I'm going to wait when W8 is implemented into these notebooks and decide. Or maybe, wait for a redesign of the S now that the Z is strictly FHD.

 

Or you can just do what lovelaptops does and just hunt down a VPC-Z2 with 1600x900 screen. They are all heavily discounted now that SVZ13 is here.

 

This may be a little extreme, but have you considered trading your 1080p screen for someone that wants to upgrade from a 1600x900, or just buying one from a parts vendor? Obviously we know that it will work because other markets are getting the 1600x900 on a Z3.

 

^^ Thanks for the suggestions ^^

Does anyone know, based on the model numbers shown at SonyStyle.com, which part of the model no# represents "Premium Carbon Fiber"? Is it the X or XI ? Thanks.

 

In US, X is non-glossy brushed carbon, known as carbon for SVZ13 and premium carbon black for VPC-Z2. This comes with a silver trim plate.

XI is glossy brushed carbon, known as premium carbon black for SVZ13 and not offered in VPC-Z2. This has a black trim plate.

 

Looking at the images on the US Sony web site, I just noticed that the Wireless switch is gone. Has it moved or is there no physical switch any more?

 

Thanks Re: X vs XI. Thanks for pointing this out too - I just noticed the black plate on the SVZ. So the silver plate is available it seems on the i5 base model. This was actually a nice contrast. I wonder how the black plate will look?

 

The idea of a quad-core Z got me thinking about upgrading but the IB just isn't enough of a tick to justify it. I may eventually get the IB Z but only if it looks like Sony will discontinue the Z line before Haswell.

 

Why is that?

 

Just watched a video of the new Z on YouTube. (Glossy Carbon) Unlike the Z1 glossy, this one appears to be glossy on top and bottom. The PMD is also glossy.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tqaTPWwKykY

Here's a question. Anyone here order a gold or silver with the sheet battery? Does Sony match the sheet to the laptop too if you order it CTO? Or are they all flat black in color?

Like Batman!

 

Why does Sony seem to be referring to the new Z as "limited edition"? I just got that in my email...

Does this mean the 1600x900 may return when the "normal edition" returns?!

 

15yr Anniversary Edition

 

Is Haswell going to have major improvements over Ivy Bridge? Trying to figure out whether I should pull the trigger on the Z now or wait another year.

Also, I'm totally confused with the processor speeds on the Z3 now. My Z1 has an "Intel® Core™ i7-620M processor (2.66GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.33GHz," but the new Z is "3rd gen Intel® Core™ i5-3210M processor (2.50GHz / 3.10GHz with Turbo Boost)" or "3rd gen Intel® Core™ i7-3612QM quad-core processor (2.10GHz / 3.10GHz with Turbo Boost)." Why is the i7 on the new Z slower than the i5, and why is it also slower than my Z1's processor? I'm sure I'm just misunderstanding something here since I doubt they'd put a slower processor into the Z than what they've offered before, so if that is the case, does anyone know roughly how much faster the new Z is compared to the Z1?

Should I just wait till next year to get a new Z actually? So hard to figure out when to pull the trigger, grr.

 

I7 is quadcore

The real speeds do not say much about the general Performance. The Core2 Duo in the VGN Z are clocked about 3 GHZ and perfom less godd than the I5 SB!

 

So the Z1 has two cores and this new one has four? So is that double the power? I've got to read up on all this...

 

It might be a little slower on "1 single thread", if you compare.

But today's applications almost all take advantage on "multi-threading". That means they can launch different thread at the same time in paralell. Therefore you task wil end much faster..

You can also run much more application "at the same time" w/o any struggle from the Cpu

(someone correct me if I'm wrong)

To illustrate, I had a tyan thunder K7 bi-proc (really 2 diferents processors with 2 different fans on the board, not onr beeing 2 cores)

If I compared the launch of a heavy application with my friends (or a game.. etc..), there wasn't such a difference : Most applications were single threaded at that time, and we could clearly see CPU#1 full load while the second was 0% !!

But then, we were running a couple of applications "at the same time" : my server was running with both cpu's at 80% and was all responsive. My friends pc were struggeling like crazy, they couldnt take the heavy load.

The same apply today with processors with multiple cores beeing build inside

 

In the Z2 they did not match the color; all the sheet batteries were black.

 

SVZ announced in Asia. Just a single model, and asian models do get WWAN. PMD is included as well.

Specs for the Asian model

13.1" 1080p 100% ntsc
i7 3612QM
8 GB RAM
3rd Gen 256 GB SSD
11`hours battery life with sheet battery
PMD with AMD 7670M and Bluray writer.
Glossy Premium Carbon Fibre

~3200$

Quite interested in getting this new Z. But I'm not really sure if I should wait and see if there will be a 2012 F series.

 

I'm new to Sony laptops, so a bit confused with product ID on the Vaio Z.

So the Z1 is the older machine with 1st generation core-i processor, optical drive and discrete GPU.

Z2 is last year's Sandy Bridge processor with optical and GPU move to external dock.

This year's machine is still Z2 with same body and Ivy Bridge upgrade. I'm asking as I ordered a Ivy Bridge Vaio Z with the product id of SVZ1311C5E.

So is the Z3 you guys talking about is a complete new machine with different design from current Z2?

 

Thanks!

Hurry up and ship my Z already Sony! Argh, the 15th then shipping time.

I just got my Galaxy S III in Blue/Black. Should be a real nice match with the glossy Z. That is until Sony drops its monster Android handset later this year.

Update: Just checked Sonys site and my ship date has slipped to 6/21!

 

A Mod should actually change the topic's title.

There's no Z3 but the correct product's name is SVZ13

(i guess the exact name was not known yet at the time the person posted this thread so he called it 'Z3')

 

flat black

 

Woot, mine shipped today

Not a CTO however, just a SVZ1311BGXXI with no dock.

 

Does anyone think WWAN will be available as a built in option in the US on the new model? I am starting to doubt it...

 

I'm sure that it will be eventually. We know the new Z mobo already supports it.

 

The Z3 is the same design as the Z2, but completely different CPU.

Z2- Sandy Bridge 2 Cores
Z3 - Ivy Bridge 4 Cores

 

Other than for graphics, there won't be much of a power boost from the IB, it's the same basic architecture as SB, just with a few tweaks. The biggest difference is in the manufacturing process and Haswell will be the chip which takes advantage of the SB experience with the 22nm tri-gate transistors. If you have a power-hungry app that's maxing out your IB i-7 and is optimized for quad-core, the IB may give you a worthwhile upward tick.

Haswell, by contrast, should provide a more significant power boost. It's a "tock" in Intel parlance which means that the chip design has been upgraded. What I don't know is if Sony will spend the money it takes to redesign the Z for the advances in technology -- not just in the c/gpu, that will be coming on the laptop market.

It's slower because it's a quad-core instead of a dual core and they needed to keep to a 35w TDP. Unless you use programs optimized for quad-core, the change should be pretty much a wash which is one reason I'm waiting for Haswell.

 

And that's pathetic. One size does NOT fit all. Why can't we get the 2x256GB SSD version? Why no Azumino Collector's Edition? We're willing to pay for it and instead they put in WWAN? No thanks, I'll be shipping mine in from the States. Atrocious.

 

^
Sorry I don't know where you got that from, but ALL SVZ models are Azumino Collector's Edition including the Asian models. We get the new PMD with 7670M though, which the US doesn't have yet.

 

Found this write up on the new Z. It even gives benchmarks for the new PMD. Interesting results as Engaget showed a score of 11855 on the 6650 PMD and this new one shows 20602! (Same Test)

http://www.technologysonline.com/te...on-to-the-Sony-VAIO-Z13-re-challenge-peak.htm

I have to think that the new PMDs will be shipped with a CTO Z. Especially since the casing is different and it seems to be the delay with the build out times. Perhaps the gold and regular carbon will come with the 6650 ans their casing is the same.

I would not put it past SOA to not have a clue as to what the hell they are selling.

At the end of the day, as others have stated, it looks like the cards are basically the same.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-7670M.69483.0.html

Let's hope it just runs smoother.

After digging and translating the net, it has been reported that there is aa new driver that boosts the performance of the PMD 25%.

Has anyone tried this driver yet? LOL @ Sony USA, the driver even says ATI 7670!

http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=SVZ1311EGXX&upd_id=7678&os_group_id=6

We will see in a few weeks.

 

Yes it will although nothing too drastic. Just performance that most users will never ever notice & new tech.

Do you actually need a new notebook now or are you buying for the sake of it and wasting money? It sounds like you don't need one now if you are prepared to wait a year, so wait! Never ever understood why people are prepared to spend 1000's when they don't really need to.

 

Do you believe Haswell will be a major improvement over IB because I'll wait for Haswell too if the power boost is worth it. Someone on this thread also mentioned it's not worth it so I'm not sure what to believe.

 

There is always something better around the corner. Even if it's 20% faster, do you think the time wasted waiting is worth it? Just upgrade again then if its significantly better. I would only be interested in the integrated graphics bump as the CPU/SSD combo in the current Z is PLENTY fast enough.

 

That's true but I really can't upgrade that often as I'm still a college student. I just don't want to buy something now and be jealous of something I could've waited for.

 

Then there's no need to wait. Technology moves way too fast. Once Haswell is released, everyone will be asking the same question. Just like they were last year when SB was released. Should I buy now or wait for IB.

I bet most users don't even take advantage of the power they have now. The IB Z will serve you well for a good amount of time.

 

Well, I'm referring to my wait time as in how long I can put up with my current laptop since its throttling and freezes up constantly so it's not like I'll ask if I should wait for the next CPU after Haswell. It's just the time frame I'm giving it.

 

I think for those that want to see a "general" comparison of old i7 Z2 vs. Ivy Bridge - this is a good link:

Vs. Ivy Bridge ultrabook
AnandTech - Bench - Mobile

or

Vs. Ivy Bridge Quad Core Mobile
AnandTech - Bench - Mobile


Hopefully this adds a bit more perspective.

 

any specs around the raid0 speeds?

 

PassMark(TM) PerformanceTest 7.0 Evaluation Version ( PassMark Software - PC Benchmark and Test Software)
Results generated on: Thursday, June 07, 2012


Benchmark Results

Test Name: This Computer
CPU - Integer Math: 2215.0
CPU - Floating Point Math: 4183.3
CPU - Find Prime Numbers: 981.6
CPU - SSE: 34.0
CPU - Compression: 9617.9
CPU - Encryption: 26.4
CPU - Physics: 418.2
CPU - String Sorting: 5141.1
Graphics 2D - Solid Vectors: 2.0
Graphics 2D - Transparent Vectors: 2.1
Graphics 2D - Complex Vectors: 125.4
Graphics 2D - Fonts and Text: 197.0
Graphics 2D - Windows Interface: 88.0
Graphics 2D - Image Filters: 375.0
Graphics 2D - Image Rendering: 615.0
Graphics 3D - Simple: 556.0
Graphics 3D - Medium: 161.9
Graphics 3D - Complex: 52.5
Graphics 3D - DirectX 10: 7.3
Memory - Allocate Small Block: 5812.9
Memory - Read Cached: 2416.3
Memory - Read Uncached: 2345.2
Memory - Write: 2256.0
Memory - Large RAM: 4020.6
Disk - Sequential Read: 933.0
Disk - Sequential Write: 588.7
Disk - Random Seek + RW: 315.5
CPU Mark: 7892.9
2D Graphics Mark: 420.6
Memory Mark: 1783.1
Disk Mark: 6644.3
3D Graphics Mark: 512.1
PassMark Rating: 2248.7

System information: This Computer
CPU Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
Number of CPU: 1
Cores per CPU: 4
CPU Type: Intel Core i7-3612QM @ 2.10GHz
CPU Speed: 2095.6 MHz
Cache size: 256KB
O/S: Windows 7 (64-bit)
Total RAM: 8089.3 MB.
Available RAM: 4959.6 MB.
Video settings: 1920x1080x32
Video driver:
DESCRIPTION: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
MANUFACTURER: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
BIOS: Intel Video BIOS
DATE: 4-14-2012
Drive Letter: C
Total Disk Space: 209.6 GBytes
Cluster Size: 4.0 KBytes
File system: NTFS

 

nice - thank you.

Is the raid running off the intel controller or the marvel? (I don't get why thats included).

 

No problem. It's using the Intel controller.

Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller

 

uhhh..... POST A PICTURE OF THE NEW GIRL

 

My current Z is falling apart and has been for about a year now. When you start up the laptop, the fan grinds and grinds and grinds like metal rubbing against metal (and yes, I know it's plastic). You either have to smack the laptop a few times to get it to stop or wait anywhere from 3-15 minutes for it to fix itself (and when you're in the middle of class, this can be quite embarrassing). Sometimes the fan won't even start, which means the laptop shuts off to protect itself from overheating. And sometimes, like when I'm rendering videos in Premiere, it'll shut off because I'm assuming it's too hot. It still works perfectly fine when it's working, but I'm worried it's going to die soon. I could probably just replace the fan, but I've already put so much money into fixing this laptop (changing the screen, replacing the keyboard ribbon twice, replacing some internal components) that I think I should just cut my losses and get a new one. But IDK... it doesn't sound like this new Z is going to offer much new over the one I have now. It doesn't even have USB 3.0 from what I understand (I wouldn't be getting the PMD). I'm betting the Z next year is going to have 3.0, Thunderbolt, and Windows 8, which will all be major upgrades.

 

It does have 2 USB3 ports (even the Z2 had 1 USB3 port). One of the ports is USB3+Lightpeak and the other is just USB3.

If I were you, I would replace the fan of your Z1. I assume it is not a very expensive part and the heat can kill other (more expensive) components.