Speculation time: with Sandy Bridge coming at CES, what are your hopes and dreams for the VPC-Z successor?

[Drvec]

Since the VGN-Z only lasted 18ish months before being replaced by the VPC-Z, and with CES and the new Sandy Bridge architecture just around the corner, it seems reasonable to think that there might be a new Z successor announced at CES.

What are people hoping for?

1) Perhaps a quad core processor?
List of future Intel microprocessors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2) Personally, I'm just dreaming of Sony ditching the optical drive to make it thinner and lighter (Y series is heavy!), but I don't think this is going to happen since the Z is a flagship model that's used to bolster their Blu-ray ecosystem.

3) Maybe NVIDIA Optimus?

4) USB 3 of course.

5) Maybe soldering more stuff to the board, a-la the new MBA, for further miniaturization. I don't think upgradeability is as much of a necessity as it once was.

6) I'd also love to see a better trackpad, something to compete with the MBP's wonderfully-massive trackpad.

7) Perhaps use of Sony's TransferJet for a wireless docking system?

8) 4G?

9) A smattering of fairy dust and unicorn tears?

Really, since the all-SSD VPC-Z came around, the Z left little to desire IMO.

Thoughts?

[H.A.L. 9000]

A 32NM true quad, and GT425/435m graphics, along with _maybe_ some new SSD choices. There won't be much of a design change on the outside though, and the optical drive is here to stay for at least a little while longer.

[Andrew08]

1. Intel wireless 6300 instead of 6200(for all region, not only for japan.)

2. still with hybrid graphic (high hope, i hate optimus)

3. Core i7-2620M

4. Bluetooth 3.0 + HS

5. better mic.

6. usb 3.0

7. 3g for all model(for all region, not only for japan.)

8. 2x intel ssd raid 0 / samsung quad ssd raid 0 with TRIM / 2x curcial ssd raid 0

9. 100% Adobe RGB

10. trackpad with some lighting?

11. better speaker

12. fully programmable lighting including the power button, gpu switch, battery charging indicator and wireless indicator...(stealth mode?)

if you asked why i never choose quad core the reason is TDP too high...

420m underclocked is more to it because it will consume around 5-18 watts... (means more power saved? no! the range will be bigger but... i can't tell...)
since gt 330m underclocked only consume 18watts including cpu? instead of 23watts(gt330m standard)
Comparison of Nvidia graphics processing units - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[DanyM]

Well - here's what I'd like my Z to have (no priority):



Better speakers

Phone out/mic in moved to the side (current placement sucks)

Phone out/mic in on the dock

USB 3.0 (of course!)

Aluminium palmrest, (ideally an apple-like aluminium casing all around)

On the same note, sturdier casing like Vaio X

Fully programmable S-buttons (All of them)

LTE/4G (of course)

Built-in smartcard reader

Hinge should go back further (so body and screen has 0 or negative angle at max)

Air vent at rear of body (but that would probably heat up the screen)

Controllable ASCP (I'd like to be able to control/turn off the fan

Option in europe to ditch the optical unit

Touch-sensitive screen (why not?)

Keyboard feel from the VGN-Z



Regards,

/Dany

[emev]

Here are the changes to the current Z that I'd like to see and that came to my mind right now:

1) Palmrest (aluminum) should be part of the chassis, not a separate piece of plastic.

2) Standard-sized, good quality SSD with choice for single SSD drive without RAID and with TRIM.

3) Keyboard should not be so colorful. Two colors (e.g. white/grey and darker blue) are enough. On the current VPC-Z1 there is white, blue, orange, pink (assist button) and the VAIO function button is shiny metal. This spoils the looks in my opinion.

4) Audio jacks on the side.

5) Choice for lower-res screen (1366x768).

6) Sandy Bridge CPU (dual-core is ok, quad would be probably too hot).

7) No Optimus. Manual switching is better in my opinion. (That's not a change, but was mentioned in the previous posts.)

8) Updated dedicated GPU.

9) Nicer touchpad.

10) Updated chassis design.

11) Better speakers.

[jbpeter]

Choice of 2560x1440 screen?

[Andrew08]

Originally Posted by jbpeter

Choice of 2560x1440 screen?

that is a bit too much XD
remember that the graphic power is not better than 330 it is equal

[TheBugMan]

This is what I want...

~ Get rid of the BIOS!!! Your PC will start almost instantly.

~ "Light Peak" tech to be integrated into the whole system.

~ One piece chassis made of carbon fiber. Even though my VPCZ12 is so much more durable than my previous VGN-SZ160, I would still like to see more durability on the Mil-Spec level. I want to be able to spill a bucket of water and drive over it.

~ Better camera.

~ 1920x1080 standard keeping the 13" form factor (You can always change rez lower if you don't like).

~ Thinner and lighter (Duh).

~ Getting rid of the side load optical drive form for something more like Panasonic Toughbook style.


~ Keeping RAM/CPU/GPU/SSD easily accessible and standard non proprietary.

~ Having a much more powerful GPU keeping the ability to control "Seed, Stamina, Auto". I don't like the fact that my NVIDIA GPU cannot play 1080p movies from my Z to the TV without sight loss in fps unless I remove the Vaio LCD and set to "Single" display with TV only. (>_<)BOOO!
I'm am also not concerned with power consumption while in "Speed" mode so stuff the most powerful mobile GPU in there!!

~ These custom fonts as a free option would be nice...


~ The ability to have a system with NO bloatware as a free option to everyone, not just Win 7 Pro OS.

~ I would LOVE if most of the Video/USB ports to be in the back. Maybe move the battery?

[Drvec]

Originally Posted by DanyM

Well - here's what I'd like my Z to have (no priority):Phone out/mic in on the dock/Dany

Yeah that's been driving me crazy for years, of course you're going to have speakers if you use a docking station. Don't know why they didn't add it years ago.

Originally Posted by DanyM

Aluminium palmrest, (ideally an apple-like aluminium casing all around)/Dany

this one is a no-brainer for Sony. So many complaints about the plastic palmrest. And there's no clear manufacturing reason why it was necessary.

Originally Posted by TheBugMan

TI would LOVE if most of the Video/USB ports to be in the back. Maybe move the battery?

They moved the ports from the back to the sides when they went from SZ to Z. I think the main reason was that it's inline with the wrapped barrel design and also accommodates the book-cover type leather case that would otherwise block the air vents. Also, reaching to fiddly ports at the back is a nightmare.

[sturmnacht]

Originally Posted by Drvec

Since the VGN-Z only last 18ish months before being replaced by the VPC-Z, and with CES and the new Sandy Bridge architecture just around the corner, it seems reasonable to think that there might be a new Z successor announced at CES.

What are people hoping for?

1) Perhaps a quad core processor?
List of future Intel microprocessors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2) Personally, I'm just dreaming of Sony ditching the optical drive to make it thinner and lighter (Y series is heavy!), but I don't think this is going to happen since the Z is a flagship model that's used to bolster their Blu-ray ecosystem.

3) Maybe NVIDIA Optimus?

4) USB 3 of course.

5) Maybe soldering more stuff to the board, a-la the new MBA, for further miniaturization. I don't thing upgradeability is as much of a necessity as it once was.

6) I'd also love to see a better trackpad, something to compete with the MBP's wonderfully-massive trackpad.

7) Perhaps use of Sony's TransferJet for a wireless docking system?

8) 4G?

9) A smattering of fairy dust and unicorn tears?

Really, since the all-SSD VPC-Z came around, the Z left little to desire IMO.

Thoughts?

If that were to happen, perhaps Sony would get rid of the battery bulge to make an overall thinner laptop. Unless the fan can be redesigned, there isn't much room for further slimming.