sony SZ780 now availible

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=10151&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665311582

 

Wait a sec, are all the SZ models equipped with LED display?

Also what is the graphic card on this computer??

 

No, only the premium models have the carbon fiber lid and LED backlight screen (750 and above.)

The SZ's come with two graphic cards - Intel x3100, and nVidia 8400GS.

 

Finally I will be able to get my SZ!
Now, what are the benefits of having Vista Ultimate vs Vista Business?

Also, I plan on getting the 200 GB 7200 hard drive. This is a $300 option. It makes sense getting the computer equiped with this HD from factory, right? The DIY option is $100 less but you run the risk of losing your warranty.

2 additional gigs of ram is also $300 extra. What are your opinions on DIY?

 

You can compare the different Vista editions for yourself here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

I do believe upgrading your HD does void your warranty, however you might consider just keeping the old HD so you can switch before getting your computer serviced.

Do not buy the RAM directly from Sony. You can get a 2GB stick for only $20 from a website such as Buy.com. Also do not worry, upgrading your memory does not void your warranty as long as you don't damage any other component in the process.

 

Let me get this straight:

The new SZ780 has the black carbon fiber case with the black keyboard (so it's entirely black) and starts at $1541? Why did the old 680 start at 1899? Will it stay this price? Or will it rise? Because this is my dream notebook, but I never liked the silver case but it was all I could afford, but if this carbon fiber, with Penryn (is the 8100 penryn?) is only 1541, I will get it!

 

thats what it is. 2gig ram, 160 hybrid hd, std battery, vista home prem...

i'm pretty pumped too

 

Yes, the Premium customizable SZ is cheaper! And yes, the T8100 is penryn (as are all T8000 and T9000). This price though, goes way up if you add warranties.

 

Awesome price, I suggest ordering before it changes. It could actually be a pricing error, they had the 400 series FZ's cheaper with a Blueray burner/reader compared to just a reader. They also have the 120GB HD for $90.00 more and the 160GB non hybrid for $120. Either they've made a big mistake, or they have an abudent amount of hybrid hard drives left.

 

What exactly is a Hyrbrid Harddrive?

 

A regular HDD + some amount of flash built in.

 

And the flash I take it makes it faster?

 

This pricing is too good to be true. I just configured a SZ with the T9300 for $1800 with shipping and tax. That's unbelievable! No shipping date though.

 

The more I look at this, the more it appears to be a pricing error.

Here is what I recommend. If you want to upgrade your HDD or RAM, go to newegg and get the 7K200 from there or even 4GB of RAM for like $60. For the warranty, get the accidental warranty that one of the NBR members have been selling for $189 over in the B/S/T section. I think that's a 3 year accidental warranty. In two grand, you can be golden with a best in class laptop that looks hot. I may actually pull the trigger on this while I wait for the Lenovo x300 with SSD!

 

In compliance with the picture, it should have the black carbon fiber case.

 

runs on gas and electricity, like a honda!

 

Well, I don't know about the pic, but I did order it. It says that ETA is February 3rd. Here's keeping my fingers crossed

 

I Hope I can get my hands on that...

 

damn.. too bad its not in Canada.. would have been a wonderful deal..

The LED backlight dispaly is supposed to increase picture quality and promote longer battery life right?
What about the option for the extended battery, im assuming these are the much "chunkier" ones?

 

Monakh,

i just read what you wrote about the accidental warranty and purchasing it off someone in the B/S/T section... im just curious as to how this would work, considering wouldn't the warranty be under that persons name as well as his/her specific laptop?

 

The extended battery's are indeed bigger, they stick out the back a bit. Some people don't mind, because it lifts the laptop and supposedly has better air flow this way.

The warranty's flipp is selling are unregistered. You get to fill in all details - name, serial # etc. Here is his for sale thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=195737

 

What is the difference between these two models?
YES, I do realize that the first one is a CTO.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=10151&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665311582
This is the VGN-SZ780 that the thread is about.

and:
VGN-SZ791N/X
VAIO® SZ Series Notebook - Premium Model
Which is preconfigured at $2,699 ???

Just wondering.

Andrew

 

The 791 has the premium carbon fiber lid. Even though both are premium models the 791 actually shows a carbon fiber weave. Here is a photo of it: http://flickr.com/photos/palmbox/532191319/

 

So, the 780 is premium, but again, it is NOT?
I don't get it, since I thought the 780 DID come with the carbon fibre case?
Please explain.

Also, if this 780CTO is really a "discounted price", how much are you really saving by configuring one?

Thanks,
Andrew

 

They both come with a LED backlight screen and carbon fiber lid. However, the 791 comes with a premium lid, as you can see in the picture I provided it's a bit different then the other premium models.

As for the discount, look at it this way if you buy the 750 it is $1,999.00 if you configure the 780 to be equivalent to the 75 it is $1,900.00. Also the previous series(600) CTO model started at a higher base price.

Compare the 780 lid: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=10151&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665311582
to a premium lid: http://flickr.com/photos/palmbox/532191319/

 

Maybe someday they will provide a model with Linux pre-installed.

 

Maybe a day far far away. I don't see Sony including Linux on any of their systems anytime soon.

 

Sponsi, what were you saying about configuring the 780 ot the "750" specs? Did you mean 650? Because that is at Best Buy now for 1649.99 I believe.

 

Sponsi answered it for me, that's right. It's a good deal.

Good catch on the lids--Sponsi! I am well aware of the pattern in the premium carbon fiber lid although obviously it is arguable if it is worth the extra $900 Although the SZ791 does have 4GB of RAM (come on Sony, with a 32bit OS?) and a 250GB HDD. Once again, can't justify those for the extra dough.

 

No I meant, the 780 comes to be cheaper then the 750 with equivalent specifications. It was this way in the previous series as well, the CTO model was cheaper.

@monakh, I agree, if you configure a 780 with the exact same specs as the 791(excluding the extra 2GB of RAM) it comes out to be $2,100.00 when the 791 is $2,699.99. An extra 2GB of RAM is only $20 so you're basically paying $580 to see the actual carbon fiber weave.

 

Just to clarify:
The 650 unit at Best Buy is also a "Premium" model, and it has everything that the 780 has (carbon fibre, LED-lit screen) except that it is the older Merom CPU?

I ask this because sponsi said that "only the premium models have the carbon fiber lid and LED backlight screen (750 and above.)"

Yet, Best Buy clearly lists the 650 as having carbon fibre.

Now I am confused.

Andrew

 

I said the 750 is a premium model, because that's what was being discussed. However every model x50 and above is premium. Doesn't matter what series it is(200, 500, 700 etc) which means the 650 is also a premium model as well as the 450, but the 330 and 740 are not. Just remember the non premium models are made of magnesium alloy (silver and black) while the premium are all black. Hope this clarifies it.

 

Thanks!
Now I understand.

Andrew

 

This is a brilliant deal. If you don't change a thing, you can have an excellent machine with 3 year accidental coverage.

Drives can always be changed later. I kinda like the Premium CF weave, but I think the black is elegant so I don't mind. The same machine would be almost $3000 here in the Middle East so I am getting a bargain as far as I am concerned It's really too bad that Sony doesn't put BlueRay in these? WTH? Even with the Penryn? They could have easily made this change.

 

because blu-ray at 1200x800 is a waste

 

I don't mind not having blue-ray, their disks are too expensive.

The Penryn is a must though, just to keep up with the times .

I don't mind it not having Penryn, so I am having a hard time deciding between the 650 and the 780.

Does the 650 even have Santa Rosa or am I confused again?

 

The 650 does have Santa Rosa platform.

 

not that santa rosa did anything useful lol

 

still no hdmi out

 

Does anyone know if the sz780 will have an xp downgrade disc and will sony support xp drivers on this model like they do on the sz6xx's?

 

You mean like the FZ Last time I checked the standard screen with BlueRay was still WXGA on the FZ. It's not about playing a movie on the screen, it is about the output and using it as an auxiliary player, much the same as a PS3. Plus, if you want traction in the market, this is how you do, they certainly did it right with their PS3.

 

uh... it's still stupid. There is no hdmi port on the sz... why waste your 7.1 audio?

 

i'm sure 90% of the drivers on the sz6xx disk will work for the 780/.

 

I beg to differ. With a properly transferred Blu-Ray disc, playing the movie at 1280x800 with 13.3" screen with my SZ3 makes noticeable difference. Blu-Ray movies are very sharp and they don't have compression artifacts commonly noticed with DVD.

Watching Ice Age Melt Down, you can see every single strain of fur of the mammoth. Watching Lost Season 3, you can see tiny detail of the skin of the actors, including their pimples and body hair.

After watching so many Blu-Ray movies, I can't go back watching DVD anymore. Unless, of course, they don't release the movies in Blu-Ray then I am stuck with lower quality DVD.

 

Is the power supply brick for the SZ series still very large?

Andrew

 

The 600 series got a smaller AC adapter. It's a decent size now.

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4113 scroll to about the middle of the page to see a comparison.

 

Big question for me that I suppose no one can answer yet is:

Has Sony improved the keyboard on the SZ700? It appears to be the same style keyboard as on all the prior SZ models but I'm hoping the keyboard is firmer and has a better overall feel. Also, quieter would very nice too. It's only the keyboard that has prevented me from buying an SZ.

 

Is there any structural difference between the two lids, or is it just the style?
Order a replacement lid from the premium model and replace it if the style is so important.

 

You're correct it's just the style.

 

Structurally? Not sure. I think it's just the material. It looks pretty damn cool. I don't think replacing the lid is really a viable option. I think the entire body has that weave. In any event, I don't mind the black.

Massive, I am not sure about the keyboard. This is an incremental upgrade rather than a major one, so I wouldn't be surprised if the keyboard remains the same, it is how they are able to release them so quickly. Nothing much has changed except the CPU.