Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

[SurferJon]

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Sony Z frequently asked questions

Sony VPC-Z11 - Frequently Asked Questions

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Someone in the Z discussion thread suggested we start this now since we'll all have our hands on the new Z in a bit, so here we are! I've been waiting since last August for this new Z so I'm excited to start it!

Currently, the Z is offered with either an i5 or i7 processor, is in silver or black carbon fiber, and comes with a SSD. Now when you look back at this thread in a year, you'll be laughing at how much more powerful / customizable the Z is.

You can order the basic CTO here: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921666065650

[roweraay]

I agree that within a few months, the Z-series will come out with a refresh with even more higher-end componentry. Just the nature of how tech products work.

[Solinx]

Dutch folks will be pleased to know they can get a cheaper built with a HDD instead of SSD. Although perhaps the Z series is the wrong series to look at if you're looking for cheap. There are of course other benefits to the HDD, like being able to upgrade to a better SSD in the future.

The downside is that it won't be put in the same position as the SSD would have been, but rather on the place where normally the DVD or Blu-ray drive would be. Strangely enough the optical drive doesn't fit in the place of the SSD, so that means you'll have to do without.

On a sidenote, I don't see any mention of the keyboard being backlit. Not with any of the color options, nor anywhere else.

Link to Dutch site:
https://www.sonystyle.nl/SonyStyle/V.../Z-Serie-13-1/

[Sunfox]

ATTENTION CANADIAN Z SHOPPERS!

Z12 Series CTO pricing guide:

                                 Canada        USA
Base Price                     $2019.50   $1919.99

i5-450M                       -$  60.00        N/A
i5-520M                       -$  30.00        N/A
i5-540M                        $   0.00   $   0.00
i7-620M                       +$  60.00  +$ 150.00

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit  $   0.00   $   0.00
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit +$  50.00  +$  50.00
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit     +$ 100.00  +$ 150.00

Black                          $   0.00   $   0.00
Silver                         $   0.00   $   0.00
Premium Carbon                +$  30.00  +$  50.00
Metal Shield                  +$  60.00  +$ 100.00
Metal Mosaic                  +$  60.00        N/A

2gb DDR3 1066MHz              -$  60.00        N/A
4gb DDR3 1066MHz               $   0.00   $   0.00
6gb DDR3 1066MHz              +$  60.00  +$ 150.00
8gb DDR3 1066MHz              +$ 130.00  +$ 300.00

128gb SSD (64gb x 2)           $   0.00   $   0.00
256gb SSD (128gb x 2)*        +$ 350.00  +$ 300.00
512gb SSD (128gb x 4)         +$ 950.00  +$1300.00

DVD+-RW Drive                  $   0.00   $   0.00
Blu-ray Disc Burner           +$ 545.00  +$ 500.00

13.1" 1600x900 LED             $   0.00   $   0.00
13.1" 1920x1080 LED           +$ 100.00  +$ 100.00 

Standard Battery               $   0.00   $   0.00
Large Battery                 +$  50.00  +$ 100.00

Mobile Broadband                    N/A  +$ 100.00

Fully Configured**             $3964.50   $4019.99

* SSD configurations are shown with LOGICAL drives, or the total number of hard drives that the system will see. For the 256gb SSD option, International versions of the Z use 64gb x 4 LOGICAL drives, which is a quad RAID comprised of two PHYSICAL 128gb "dual" drives. However, North American models differ in that they use 256gb x 1 PHYSICAL "dual" drive, which results in dual RAID with 128gb x 2 LOGICAL drives. This has been confirmed by multiple forum members who have received the 256gb option. So, the only way to get quad RAID in North America is with the 512gb option.

** Not including WWAN or large battery.


For history's sake, here's what the Z11 lineup looked like:

Canadian prebuilt models:

VPC-Z112GDS ($1999.99)
i5-520M, 4gb, 128gb SSD, DVDRW, 1600x900, W7 Pro 64-bit, Bilingual Backlit Keyboard, Silver

                                 Canada        USA
Base Price                     $2024.99   $1899.00

i5-540M                        $   0.00   $   0.00
i7-620M                       +$  54.00  +$ 150.00

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit  $   0.00   $   0.00
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit +$  54.00  +$  50.00
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit     +$ 162.00  +$ 150.00

Silver                         $   0.00   $   0.00
Premium Carbon                +$  54.00  +$  50.00

2gb DDR3 1066MHz              -$  21.60        N/A
3gb DDR3 1066MHz              -$  10.80        N/A
4gb DDR3 1066MHz               $   0.00   $   0.00
6gb DDR3 1066MHz              +$ 162.00  +$ 150.00
8gb DDR3 1066MHz              +$ 378.00  +$ 300.00

128gb SSD (64gb x 2)           $   0.00   $   0.00
192gb SSD (64gb x 3)          +$ 175.00  +$ 200.00
256gb SSD (128gb x 2)*        +$ 351.00  +$ 400.00
384gb SSD (128gb x 3)         +$ 702.00  +$ 600.00
512gb SSD (128gb x 4)         +$1215.00  +$1000.00

DVD+-RW Drive                  $   0.00   $   0.00
Blu-ray Disc Burner           +$ 432.00  +$ 500.00

13.1" 1600x900 LED             $   0.00   $   0.00
13.1" 1920x1080 LED                 N/A        N/A

Standard Battery               $   0.00   $   0.00
Large Battery                 +$ 108.00  +$ 100.00

Mobile Broadband                    N/A  +$ 100.00

Fully Configured**             $4319.00   $4049.99

[roweraay]

The downside is that it won't be put in the same position as the SSD would have been, but rather on the place where normally the DVD or Blu-ray drive would be. Strangely enough the optical drive doesn't fit in the place of the SSD, so that means you'll have to do without.

For me, a hard-disk option, which takes away the optical drive is not an option at all, since I definitely need the optical drive.

However, I believe there was a version of the new Z-series displayed in the Chinese market or so (as per one of the posted links), where the SSD could be replaced with an HDD, without touching the optical drive at all. Don't know if someone can check it out, since if that is true, then there is definitely hope for people who want the larger capacities and cheaper costs from having a hard-drive.

[Sunfox]

All of the HDD-versions I've seen posted of the new Z lack an optical drive.

[darklich]

When will the new Z models be in the Sony Style stores? Will they wait to display the model until it's in stock?

[Solinx]

All of the HDD-versions I've seen posted of the new Z lack an optical drive.

Same here.

[speeed]

When will the new Z models be in the Sony Style stores? Will they wait to display the model until it's in stock?

It is already, just search Z11 in the search bar. (US site)

How much of you are waiting for the 1080 resolution screen to come to CTO or are you guys satisfied with the 900 pixel one? I ask because I'm looking for a laptop with a high res screen because I don't like the resolution on the macbooks or most of the laptops that I can see at best buy. This will be my first laptop so I don't have anything else to gauge with.

[roweraay]

How much of you are waiting for the 1080 resolution screen to come to CTO or are you guys satisfied with the 900 pixel one? I ask because I'm looking for a laptop with a high res screen because I don't like the resolution on the macbooks or most of the laptops that I can see at best buy. This will be my first laptop so I don't have anything else to gauge with.

I am waiting for the 1080P resolution. Ever since it was announced as available, I have no more interest in going with the 1600x900 screen.

I believe this 1080P resolution option is available in both the EU and Asia. Why would they deny this to the US, other than in that over-priced $4500 )Signature series model ?