Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 (VPCZ1) Official Owners Thread Part 2

[Oscar2]

Why do you use the Z as your main computer? ...

I'm not 100% sure I understand the question. For me I see no reason not to use a laptop as your main computer.

My particular preference for a light powerful machine, like the Z, is that when I am at my desk I use a 1920x1200 monitor and usb keyboard. So in that case there is no awareness that it's a laptop (because fast processor, fast hard drive...).

But when I am on the road, I want the smallest lightest most portable thing I can have, that's where the 13", 2.5 pound, form factor becomes a big advantage.

Given that, I see no disadvantages. I just have 900 line screen by the way. I find it to be just fine for me (especially considering most alternatives are 768 lines anyway).

[jeremyshaw]

I'm not 100% sure I understand the question. For me I see no reason not to use a laptop as your main computer.

My particular preference for a light powerful machine, like the Z, is that when I am at my desk I use a 1920x1200 monitor and usb keyboard. So in that case there is no awareness that it's a laptop (because fast processor, fast hard drive...).

But when I am on the road, I want the smallest lightest most portable thing I can have, that's where the 13", 2.5 pound, form factor becomes a big advantage.

Given that, I see no disadvantages. I just have 900 line screen by the way. I find it to be just fine for me (especially considering most alternatives are 768 lines anyway).

Thank you! I was more curious as to why use the Z as a main computer, and not any other setup (like, can it replace a decent desktop for multitasking?)




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I had a large post typed here, but I decided to look for the info instead of pestering Z owners

Thank you!

[Oscar2]

Thank you! I was more curious as to why use the Z as a main computer, and not any other setup (like, can it replace a decent desktop for multitasking?)

I do use it for multi-tasking. With 8GB of memory, 256GB HD, and core i5. It is able to keep up with whatever 200 things I happen to be doing at any one time. I imagine most computers nowadays can handle multiple tasks well enough though.

[jeremyshaw]

I do use it for multi-tasking. With 8GB of memory, 256GB HD, and core i5. It is able to keep up with whatever 200 things I happen to be doing at any one time. I imagine most computers nowadays can handle multiple tasks well enough though.

Well, I was more curious on the screen size, but a few searches already answered that for me

Thank you!

[paloema]

Is there any way to recalibrate the battery? HardwareMonitor shows a wear level of only 4% on my roughly 1 year old Z12. But I have the problem that there seems to be a huge battery drop at the last 15% remaining. It somewhere between 12 and 15% simply shuts completely down. No controlled shutdown or anything else. Seems that it is completely empty then.

So is there any tool I could recalibrate so I get the actual remaining percentage?

[tanalasta]

I use the 'Z128GG' as my daily computer as I do not have a desktop. It's fast, reliable (so far) and powerful enough to do everything from Lightroom3 + adobe elements, play Dragon age 2 at reduced resolution although it's a little bit slow on framerate, but still playable.

The only problem I've had apart from a new screen (dead pixels) and requesting locktite on the hinges at the same time is that with one of the updates (either Sony or Windows), I have the dreaded nVidia Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding, but has succesfully recovered error, particularly when using internet explorer. Mostly use stamina mode now which avoids the problem

[namaiki]

The only problem I've had apart from a new screen (dead pixels) and requesting locktite on the hinges at the same time is that with one of the updates (either Sony or Windows), I have the dreaded nVidia Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding, but has succesfully recovered error, particularly when using internet explorer. Mostly use stamina mode now which avoids the problem

Which nVidia driver version are you using?

[SurferJon]

I don't seem to have the Intel Rapid Storage software installed anymore - must have forgotten to do it when I reinstalled Windows. Is it too late to install it? And if not, is this what I get: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...ology&lang=eng

[namaiki]

I don't seem to have the Intel Rapid Storage software installed anymore - must have forgotten to do it when I reinstalled Windows. Is it too late to install it? And if not, is this what I get: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...ology&lang=eng

In Device Manager, what items are listed under "Storage controllers" and "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"? Also, what hard drive configuration does your VPCZ1 have?

[tanalasta]

Which nVidia driver version are you using?

I'm running the latest 'Sony' official version that supports dynamic switching.
nVidia 188.80