New Sony VAIO Z Available Soon? Discussion

[Charles P. Jefferies]

Sony has yet to refresh its Z-series high-end ultraportable notebooks, but references to a new model have been popping up at various shopping sites.

Read the full content of this Article: New Sony VAIO Z Available Soon?

Related Articles:

• Sony VAIO Y (YB) Review
• Sony VAIO F Review
• Sony VAIO EC Review
• Sony VAIO EA Review

[Thecla]

I certainly hope it's available soon --- I've been holding off updating my ultraportable until I see what the new Sony Z looks like...

[Rahul]

Sadly, I'm not in the market for a laptop (haven't been for a few years now since building my custom desktop), but I'm still excited. The Vaio Z is a thing of beauty and technical marvel!

[Brianho1337]

Graphics card? Otherwise it's hardly an upgrade of any sort. The 1600x900 screen is a downgrade (though 1080p isn't *too* practical on a 13 incher). Keeping it at that price is just absurd IMO, considering the measly upgrades, and the loss of the 1080p screen (so there will be competitors other than Toshiba producing the panels). Then again, the VPC-Z11-13 was generations ahead of its competition.

[IntenseIGFX]

From what I've heard they're going to go with an external graphics card option that will probably be miles ahead of anything else in the 13 inch class.

[Phinagle]

From what I've heard they're going to go with an external graphics card option that will probably be miles ahead of anything else in the 13 inch class.

Fujitsu already paved that road with the Amilo SA3650.

[IntenseIGFX]

Fujitsu already paved that road with the Amilo SA3650.

I know that Fujitsu "paved the road" with external graphics, but the Z's GPU will be miles ahead of any 13 inch laptop's GPU.

[Phinagle]

I know that Fujitsu "paved the road" with external graphics, but the Z's GPU will be miles ahead of any 13 inch laptop's GPU.

That would depend on the external GPU and the bandwidth of the connection Sony uses.


Llano with a discrete could potentially pack as much GPU power in a 13"...and Llano will also support AMD's XGP connection that was used in the Fujitsu.

[Rachel]

The prices listed here are lower than more recent EU sightings.
It's been rumored that the Z will use an external 6630 graphics card.
The biggest selling point of the Z was that it was a full powered powerhouse in a 13.1 3lbs chassis.
Sandybridge changed that, the IGP is at a level that's good enough for the large majority of users. If more power is demanded then the external gp can be used.
Also, as i've mentioned before it's as almost if the next gen Z is also filling the X series void. Sony has made the Z lighter and thinner than before by off loading the gpu to an external adapter/dock via the thunderbolt port.
The new Z plus dock will weigh about 4lb. The dock will house the odd, gpu and other ports. The Z as is will weigh about 2.5lbs. The dock will be not much bigger than an external optical drive.


The Z as we're used to also features a high res display.
I prefer the last gen Z, i.e i don't like two part laptops but each to their own.
12.5-13.3 laptops are coming now with IPS displays albeit they're not high res. Sony's premium displays though don't have the wow factor that they used to with more IPS 12.5-13.3 laptops coming on the market.
I think may be with Ivy bridge it will only be a matter of time before other notebooks start coming equipped with thunderbolt ports. This will enable those notebooks to use external graphics without using a monitor.

I wonder how well this Z will do.

[IntenseIGFX]

Does anything in the 13 inch range use a card nearly as powerful as the 6630?

EDIT: Wait a minute.. the SA already uses a 6630. What's the point of the Z if the SA uses the same card but its internal? Just a better screen? I'm confused.