is it worth to own a Z

I used to buy a sony note book from SZ to VGN-Z, and thinking to upgrade now, but for new Z, I fell it is not worth to buy it compare with my previous purchase.
a lot of stuff is useless like Blue-ray, SSD etc. reagding the r/w speed, i think only system and application disk need fast speed, for normal disk space for data, what we need is more space in stead of speed.
any comments from ur guys?

 

Speed is all the Z2 is about I haven't find any computer as fast. I used to live with 250GB HDD in my previous laptop, and bought 500GB 2.5 external disk for carrying and 2TB disk for home storage, and it's fine really.

It could be nice, but I like to have a big sidk at home with backups, and not carrying too much with me, as I don't have to have amount like 1 day of anime and 1 day of TV series with me for all time. just few hours is all I need and that needs just few GB

 

^
I agree!
The Z2 is super fast and I like it's portability.
I have the 256GB and while I do find it small so I bought the biggest cards to fill the memory card slots for more space.

 

Then the Z2 isn't for you.

 

Agreed, he needs an Alienware M18x which accepts like 2 hard drives + SSD

 

^Good point.

 

And once again we see how the Z1 had the winning formula for all comers: in addition to what you have in the "native" RAID0 array (I have 384GB ), you can add a 1TB (or more) HDD + Newmodeus caddy for about $150 total and install it with ease in the DVD drive bay. I think I could get by with a couple hundred GB SSD (maybe even just 128GB), plus a 1TB HDD for my 300,000 song library .

Now, if I could just transplant a Sandy Bridge cpu and a SATA III bus...or get a Z screen onto an SA...or a sheet battery for the Z2 that also had a Thinkpad-style "ultrabay" to hold another disk drive....(saunters away, saying to himself "there'll never be a better computer than a Sony Z1, there'll never be...." ) Curtain.

 

frankly speaking, i do prefer to have a 128G for system disk and 500G or more for data. I am doing consulting job，one project may need 100G around， if possible I like to put all ref projects in HD instead of using external HD。I need some space for my photo too， 5DII raw is 20M+ one pic。if using Z2 ,i may need to swape data between Z2 and external hd, or I have to down grade to SA or SB. so sad.

 

Speeds matters on the go to an extent, it's the mobility and portability of the Z2 that won me over in the overall package, not just a particular attribute.

If I really need CPU/intensive tasks completed, I'd rely on my desktop for sheer speed. Aside from that, I also don't find much problem with the space. I went a pre-configured model in Canada that only has 128GB but 107GB usable. After installing my necessary apps and backups, I have 72GB leftover. I added on a 32GB SDHC card and a 8GB MS Duo card as scratch disks for extra space just in case but they're primarily the scratch drives where downloads and temporary files are. But to be on the safe side, I carry a 250GB external with me. When I come home, my Z connects to my network which gives it access to 6TB of space alone from my desktop and 3.5TB of space from miscellaneous external hard drives also connected to the network.

EDIT:
^
Ah. I see what you're saying. It's just that the Z and other notebooks at this size aren't really capable of carrying/installing an extra drive nor do would a standard 2.5" be feasible to achieve the goal of being thin and light.

 

may i know which cards did u bought? SD cards?

 

I have a 32GB Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX card and a Lexar 128GB SDXC class 10 133x card.

I leave them in the slots.

 

That's really smart. Finally, a true benefit to Sony's "magic stick - 2 slots for added storage! Mind my asking:
1) What are the approx transfer speeds of each card?
2) Approx how much did each cost?

 

I think my Z2 with i7 2620M/512GB SSD/WWAN/FHD/8GB/BDRE PMD on its way will keep me happy until the Z3 is out, I can't wait to join the Z2 party

 

Sounds like you've already joined, even though you have the old, obsolete i7-2620 chip.

 

^The 2620 is hardly old and obsolete...I assume you are joking.

 

$100 for MS and ~$200 for the 128GB Lexar.

 

^ what's really bugging me is that i have a High-Speed Memory Stick PRO card that does NOT fit into the MS slot on my VAIO SA (i understand this is a thread about Z, but allow me to complain anyway!), so i cannot use that slot at all, totally wasted space. SONY should have designed backward-compatible form factors...

 

Indeed!
.

 

Lexar 128GB SDXC class 10 133x card: 24 MB/s read 18 MB/s write 220$ US
32GB Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX card: 50 MB/s read 24 MB/s write 120$ US

 

I believe they cal that sarcasm

 

Before I purchased my first VAIO couple of weeks ago, I was very much interested in Z series because of its portability.
However due to:
- hardwired irreplaceable internal SSD (limited capacity)
- external BD-ROM drive (completely ridiculous concept)
I have decided to buy SA laptop.

SA is not much larger that Z, it is as fast as Z (my model is VPCSA3BGX), it allows me to replace internal HDD to SDD or extend my existing SDD to a larger size when I need it. And it costs much less that Z.

And if you need a CD-ROM readibility, with Z you still need to carry this external brick in your bag and ridiculous thick conneciton cable. With that the overall space it is going to take is larger comparing to SA.

Sa is a winner for me, Z looses this battle in many aspects.

 

The Z2 is not for everyone, it's not even for most people. Given the 512GB SSD option, I don't see the SSD size to be an issue. As for a blu-ray burner, it's just where I think it should be, separate. I don't see the advantage of lugging around something I need only rarely (but want access to on an ocassional basis). If you want/need to use a laptop ODD on a regular basis, the Z2 is not for you, at least not as your primary machine.

 

The Z has always been (and will always be) Sony's most extreme laptop with the smallest target market. The S has always been the cheaper but not as phenomenal Z alternative. They even share their design.

What the Z has always had over the S:
- Better battery life
- Extreme speed (dual/quad SSD raid, you have to feel what it's like to understand)
- One of the best ever notebook displays (the S series always sucked and still do when it comes to display quality - no contrast, no viewing angles, no color spectrum)
- Better portability (extremely thin and light)

All of those (aside the battery life) are simply unique in the 13" ultraportable world. The Z (and especially the Z1) is the only 13" laptop with a proper high-res display, proper performance, battery life, portability and a graphics card when needed. If you're willing to spend more to get the ultimate notebook, you'll never find anything better. I personally love my Z1, and already fear the day I'll have to replace it... Right now it looks like nothing is able to take it's place.

Of course you have to compare them within their own generation. Z2 <-> SA/SB or Z13 <-> S13 that is...

 

Oh yeah! Second day I got my SA, I replaced internal HDD with 512GB SSD 6GB/s SATA for $794. And how much premium did you pay for your internal 512GB inside your Z? $1500???

Put your external brick on a scale weight it and compare to SA internal drive. Oh, and dfo not forget about a cable. Get a picture?


________________________
quick update:
Sorry, the 512MB SSD premium for your VAIO costs $2499. Congrats, this is true reasonable thinking... not.

 

^
Actually, it's your thinking that is incoherent and irrational. Money is not an issue to some people as it's relative. A 512GB config costs $1000 more which only $200 of a difference. You may value $200 more but others may find that insignificant for there is value in a trade-off in weight and thinness of the laptop in addition to aesthetics. I've seen, held, and spent 30 minutes with the S in-person and its build quality as well as the screen is not up to par. Heck, I even made an order for the S but cancelled it after much deliberation.

Furthermore, you assume people who choose the Z series will need to use an external optical drive and carry the PMD everywhere which is absurd as that's not the goal of the new Z2 nor necessary for everyone. I personally haven't bothered touching discs for a year or so for myself and do everything with thumb and external hard drives. I do have a separate external DVD burner that cost me $30 for the rare occasion I'll ever need an optical drive.

I get the picture quite well, especially with my screen's display. Money is relative, people find value in certain attributes and are willing to pay a premium, so stop with the hostilities.

 

Thank you.

And thank you too!

Seriously, I know it was ota-con who posted the method and Dev1ant was kind enough to supply the info in advance. (Nice, nice people in Z threads )

Coupla quick follow-up questions, if you don't mind, in bold italics:

Looks like the SXDC is by far more economical but the Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX (try saying that with a mouthful!) is twice as fast. I know what SXDC class 10 means, but is the "133x" part of a speed designation - 133x what?

I'm know even the 24 MB/s read is more than fast enough to stream music or 480p video; is it fast enough to stream hi def video?

This really is a creative solution for anyone who has a 128GB Z and wants to have media libraries and other data files on board.

Thanks so much for the enlightenment. Cheers!

 

133 x original CD transfer rate of 150 KB/s.

Definitely 720p. Very high bitrate 1080p in MKV or AVI format shouldn't have any problems. That transfer speed is close to a USB 2.0 HDD's transfer speed. I haven't had any issues playing back 1080P MKVs from a USB 2.0 HDD. But then again, a HDD also has a cache. If you run into problems, you might want to go into Device Manager under drives, policies, and enable write caching for the card. But you will also have to remember to stop the card before ejecting it with this on.

 

Couldn't have said it better - sure have tried to lately but kinda got slapped down . I'm glad my Z is in such good shape and new or nearly new ones are still available should it develop terminal problems.

I just wish this hadn't turned into something of a grudge fest between people who advocate different products. I thought the thread "Z1 owners, what is your next computer?" (in which well over 50% said they were sticking with the Z1 indefinitely) meant what it said, not "Z owners: post your putdowns of what other people are buying, or not buying!"

 

First of all: YAY, he's back!! Welcome home, hero.

Second: thanks. Amazing the capacity and utility of these suckers, that are mostly marketed at photographers to transfer pics from their cameras.

 

Thanks bro.

I know, right? I bought a 16GB Sandisk Extreme HD Video Class 10 card. Says 30 MB/s on it. But it gets 45MB/s read and 35MB/s writes (according to ATTO). So I leave it in full time and use it like a HDD. When the price comes down a bit, going to get the 32GB version.

 

To go another way, I'm an advocate of the hard drive caddy option. Do you guys really use your ODDs?

I currently run 128gb SSD for my OS, and 500Gb for my files. Then I back it all up on my home server (8TB) periodically. If I need to use a Disk (ewww...) I just pop my drive in my SATA/USB interface and voila!

 

Wonder why the guy's 128GB SXDC class 10 gets 24MB/s read, 18MB/s write. Larger capacity/density? Wonder if he just quoted stats or actually measured.

ota-con??

 

I used crystaldisk to measure.
Should I be using something else?

 

Might want to try ATTO since that gave 2.0 higher numbers - and I've heard it described as more consistent and accurate - plus it gives you the whole "power curve", from 0.5kb to 8mb

 

got it with 38% off normal price

 

Just got one of these bad boys off the NBR marketplace, It was the base model, and I am so impressed I want to upgrade already

 

Congratulations! At the price you paid (there was only one Z2 for sale!), you could easily re-sell it and upgrade if you want to. My advice (I know, you didn't ask ): keep it and use it. The cpu and SSD you have are as fast as anyone could need for some time to come. The only meaningful upgrades would be to a larger SSD or more RAM. 128GB is more than enough to hold the OS, all your programs, and your text files. You can always do what ota-con did, and get hi-capacity SXDC and MS cards to store audio and video files, if you want them on board all the time. As far as RAM goes, 4GB should be plenty, especially with that blazing fast SSD, which will pagefile if it needs more RAM and you won't notice any difference in speed.

You did good. Pat yourself on the back!

 

Thanks, saved me making the same point.

 

Thanks, but it is very hard for me to get over the more is better thinking

 

Well, then sell it and get a better one

 

Has there been any word if Sony will update the PMD with better video card in future and work with existing Z2's?

 

Don't quote me on that, but as we know Sony, probably not.

 

LOL

ten char

 

The main benefit of IB chips will be improved graphics. Although the rest of the architecture will be pretty much the same other than refinements, the graphics core is getting an overhaul that should improve power by perhaps 50% or so according to some reports. Thus, the PMD will simply become less relevant no matter what card is used. No, the IB processor won't change the Z into a heavy duty gaming machine, but if that's what you want, you're probably better off with Alienware or similar.