tempted to buy z--should i?

Ok so i am coming from a sz end 2006 premium core 2 duo (Sz450n or something) which is starting to show its age. want a solid laptop that will last atleast 3 years. I travel atleast 1 once a month.

looked a lenovo t410s but it appears you cannot order with discrete graphics and 4+ weeks of wait time which is not going down.

looked at hp 8440p, but the last hp laptop i bought made me swear never to go for an HP

tired of wating for dell e6410 or precision m2500 (or whatever its called). it also looks like the dells when they do come out will have very limited options at first (going by they vostro 3000 series options list)

I want core i5/i7 windows 64 bit, 4gb ram, slim sturdy case, SSD hard drive.

i live in HK but travel to US and the sony style shop here have the z117 model:
english windows 7 pro 64bit
core i7
8gb ram
256gb ssd
carbon premium black
1920x1080 display
1.41kg weight

all in cost of 2580 USD which seems like a fair price. currently on a waiting list and expecting to get it in a week or 2.

 

This is the model:

http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/ss/product/vaio/vpcz117gg_e.jsp

 

That isn't a bad price at all and I am in the same boat as you. I just came off a Dell, which was an overheating piece of crap, which lost value faster then a toyota. I brought a Vaio NW for my partner and she loves it. Matter of fact it is the last consumer vaio that still feels like a vaio (the E and CW just feel so plastic compared). I have looked at the S and Z seriously, and think the Z is a superior unit. The prices are to terrible different for what you get, and if you expected the S to be cooler running the Z you would be wrong. I went into a store where they had both models running all day, and the S had a hot spot right in the middle, while the Z was dead cool. It was so light and so cool, it was hard to believe it was a computer and not a plastic model! All I need now is $2100......

 

I am..was... on the same situation as you. I have a premium SZ, i am waiting rhe new "Z" next week. The reasons for me where:

- bigger resolution ( i can see all the e-mail accounts without scrolling) / best for photoshop
- backlit keyboard
- instant SPEED/ STAMINA mode (great!)
- SSD
- better battery

 

Funny it appears I am in the same situation as well. I thought I was the only one. My needs:

i5 520 or higher
1920x1080
Dedicated (good) graphics
15" maximum

I too was waiting for the e6510 but more and more looking at the Z. So far the 1920x1080 options isn't in the US

 

I agree with everything (except revolution, because i think my eyes will explode). I think my biggest issue is the strength of the thing. Like you I think the SZ was a great unit (i was inches off buying it, but went for the stupid dell instead). It was heavy enough to feel strong, yet light enough to carry around. I was powerful enough to be premium, but not to powerful to overheat or eat battery.
To me it seems Sony said "screw this" and have broken the rules a lot. I worry that the voodoo magic Sony have used in the Z may not have the long lasting ability of its predecessor. I worry that in the next few months people will complain from dead fans and overheating internals, because I can't work out why no one but Sony has been cable of this in the Z. Even there own S isn't anywhere near as complete as this unit. To make things worse, you can pick one up from bestbuy for 1699, making it pretty damn cheap for probably the best notebook on the market (by a long shot I think).
I am personally waiting at least another month till everyone gets their units (and have time to use them) before I spend any money. As much as I love Vaio, I can't believe what they have achieved.

 

Have you looked at the HP Envy 15?

 

the dell I had was the E4300 and it is an expensive piece of crap. How can dell charge 3500AUD for a laptop that has a horrible battery life, but a Intel SU processor. Is made for travelling, but can't sit on your lap for more then 15 minutes without destroying any chance of having children. To make things worse, while they sell for over 3500AUD, I can pick one up on ebay for around $500! What a waste of money that experience was....

 

The HP Envy is a great unit on paper, but if you go look at it in real life you will see the flaw in the system. Is gets very hot, uncomfortably. It doesn't look anywhere near as premium as the macbook it so obviously mimics. I don't like Apples business practices and refuse to buy their products, but I have to admit that the wow factor of a Macbook is incredible. To me the only other notebooks that match that same wow factor are the Vaio S and the Vaio Z.

 

Well, in Australia it's overpriced and you don't get the newer model, which is significantly better with respect to heat.

 

Yeah, I actually just returned a HP tm2t (tablet PC) because the motherboard died inside the 20 day return period. The tm2t mimicked th envy quality and it was anything but....

Envy 15 $1324
Sony Z $2000 ~ price of stuffing a 1920x1080 replacement part into the $1699 bestbuy model.

Envy Wins:
Better Video
More battery (with 9 cell slim bat included in price above)
Available immediately in 1920x1080
cheaper

Sony Wins:
Smaller
40% less weight
Not HP Brand

 

Im waitingin for the refresh as there will be bigger processors on the way.....Im hoping usb 3 will come too.

The refresh wont be too far away either - sony alwaysfollow up pretty quickly.

 

IMO two sony vaio s models are worth more than 1 sony vaio z, and the cost is almost the same. By the time one vaio s has outdated hardware or is just broken, you can buy a second vaio s which by that time might be stronger than the vaio Z you want to buy now.

edit: from the same perspective: why not buy 4 13 inch dell vostro's for the same price as 1 sony vaio z or 2 sony vaio s models? 4 laptops last longer than 1 or 2, don't they?

 

I'm in the same situation... been waiting for the E6410 for too long, but I've just decided: this monday I'm ordering the VPCZ11Z9E/B!

 

"4 crappy cars are not the same as a single nice car."
"can't make a baby in 1 month with nine women"
"pick your favorite politically incorrect statement and it applies here"

I would look at cheaper options but there are none. The $669 Vostro 13 might be nice for your needs but not mine.

The resolution on the laptops you mention are crap
The 13" dell lacks dedicated graphics
No ssd,
2GB vs 4GB
Only a 4 cell battery
i3 is standard for $669

If you configure the Vostro to the i5-520 and other features you get up to $1100 but it still lacks the features and quality of the Sony Z.

I'm typing on a vostro 1700 now, so I'm not a brand snob, just someone that is looking for specific features and unfortunately the Sony Z has a very unique set of features that no body else does. Sony knowns it and that is exactly why the laptop is $1699

 

before buying a laptop i need to go to a shop and check out the model to see how it holds up to abuse from the unforgiving masses and usually the HP demo units even the envy ones show the most damage.

one thing i hated with my old vaio sz was all the little flimsy plastic parts like the hinge covers and the ethernet jack covers that started falling off which i am worried about. the new s series is actually a bit thicker and heavier than the z and actually didn't feel as well built (the s is much more plasticy). the demo z series unit that i saw help up quite well actually even though it didn't feel as sturdy as the lenovos.

 

envy models have NO backlit keyboard

i'm still waiting for the 1920x1080 option to come to US...hurry up sony, i want to give you my $2k!!

if envy did have backlit keyboard, i probably would get it, getting tired of waiting for sony to bring 1920x1080 CTO option to the US.

 

Um, the Envy with the 9 cell battery weighs almost 9-10lbs and makes it almost 2" thick! Welcome to a 1995 era laptop!

 

Personally, I don't need to have the latest cpu every year. The % improvement is so marginal year over year, it's not worth the hassle or cost. I usually wait until Intel shrinks 2 die sizes before I upgrade.

What I'm paying for in this Z is:

• small size
• light weight
• hybrid graphics (6hr battery life when i want it)
• 1080p screen

Don't care about USB3 cuz nothing I own does USB3 speeds. I don't see myself replacing this Z for 3-4yrs.

 

Agree! Who would want 4 Chevy Malibu's over 1 BMW m5?

 

Well if you are really looking for a lot of performance in a small package, ofcourse the Z is the best choice. But the reason why I mentioned buying 2 vaio s series, or 4 dell vostro series instead of the z was to point out that by the time you buy your second vaio s, or your third or fourth vostro, the specs might be the same as the vaio z which they sell now, and you will have a new laptop in your hands, instead of one old lappy (though I must admit sony vaio's never get old thx to their timeless design).

You compare 4 crappy cars to 4 vostro's, which I understand in a way. But if you really look at simple durability, won't 4 laptops last longer than 1?
As I just said the Z has a lot of power for its dimensions, but is it really worth the high price?
Since you brought up the cars example let me explain myself like this:
I myself would also like to buy a nice BMW, because my current SKODA hurts my back, has very bad cooling and heating, a slow engine, and so on. Sure, my rides would be much more pleasent, but if you have a certain budget and have also other things to pay, somethimes you have to chose cheaper alternatives, which will benefit you in the long run (for example: keep the saved money aside for a second laptop/car in the future).

I hope you realise that I do understand your point, and that my comparison is just to put things in another perspective.

edit: If I would live in the USA I would prefer the Z, 1699dollars is nothing, here in Belgium the lowest model cost 1899€.
While a sony viao S costs 999€, and a 13 inch vostro with the cheapest configuration costs 599€ taxes included.

 

I think your point hold true even if someone upgrades more often.

I upgrade much more often (every 18 months) but like an Apple Laptop, the used market on Sony products at auction and locally is typically very good.

Pay more now but sell it later for barely under the new Model.

Case in point this laptop has 2 days left and is already at $1450

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Viewitem&item=320501157910

He could turn around and get a faster better new Z series for $200 more..

I've done the same with Apple's and it's a great way to get high end machines for (over the long term) a very small amount of money.

 

I appreciate your perspective but it's flawed based on the purpose of this thread. By your suggestion, I would need to live with under powered laptop (by my standards) then 3 years later be happy because the $700 vostro I purchase in 2013 meets the specs of the $1700 sony of 2010.

So first, we are talking 2.5 Vostro's not 4, 4 years later I'm "break even" in cost but it took me 4 years to get what I want. I won't even begin to discuss bestbuy.com or other 2 year no interest financing. With the inflation we are about the see in the US, it's free money that gains 10% value over the course of the interest free period.

 

The Sony Vaio Z screen is far more superior

 

Do we know that it will come to the US? Or is that an assumption based on how Sony usually operates? Thanks.

 

its already in the US, as part of the super expensive signature series

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...&productId=8198552921666073686#specifications

 

Sorry, I should have said without having to get that $4k+ plus option.

 

Should I buy 4 suits from Wal Mart instead of one from Neiman Marcus?

 

Thats the exact model that I want! If you happen to travel to the SF area, want to buy one for me? I'll totally pay you back!!

 

lol judging by the interest in the 1080p model, i should start a small business buying these and shipping to US since they all come with international warranty

 

How much would you want...