New Sony Vaio Z speculation/news thread

[xxGenericSNxx]

Like someone else stated, just because it's a universal port, it doesn't mean Sony won't find some way to make it proprietary. (this is just my personal opinion)

But let's look at their docks. Most of their docks have the same rectangle connector. They just made the plastic/metal housing on the dock fit certain computers and they put the dock connector placement in different locations so it's more difficult/impossible to seat different computers on different docks. I'm not saying this is what they will do with this Thunderbolt connection, but they may think of something.

[Markio]

non user-replacable/expandable SSD and RAM is pretty sh*tty for a business oriented notebook.

[TofuTurkey]

Verizon's already selling USB LTE modems so it shouldn't be that big of a deal although integrated LTE support would be nice.

There are cellphones having LTE chips in them too, but the chips don't reside on a mini-pci card, more like they're built onto some mother/daughter board and are more tightly integrated with the modem / phone.

I don't think this is a big deal however, since it's definite the LTE mini-pci will become common quite soon. The question should be how soon that will be, and whether it's in time for the new Z's launch.

[Louche]

^True.

non user-replacable/expandable SSD and RAM is pretty sh*tty for a business oriented notebook.

My understanding is that the Z is an executive notebook. Most corporate executives don't do their own memory and ssd changes. That's what tech support departments are for.

[Markio]

ok, but tech support departements can't do anything with soldered-on RAM and SSD. Even Sony won't be able to do that, unless they change the motherboard.

Executives won't care anyway, they just buy another one.

[TofuTurkey]

non user-replacable/expandable SSD and RAM is pretty sh*tty for a business oriented notebook.

That seems to be the common sacrifice to get the device as thin as possible. Like tablets.

[Markio]

Thinness is not my main concern, I want a lightweight computer like the current Z.

[TofuTurkey]

Thinness is not my main concern, I want a lightweight computer like the current Z.

Me too, but hey, we're not Sony...

[beaups]

Thinness is not my main concern, I want a lightweight computer like the current Z.

So go buy one

[Drvec]

I'm interested in the cable that connects the add-on to the laptop.

^I thought it was already stated that it's thunderbolt

I'm missing something?

Rumour indicates that it will be Thunderbolt but seated next to a DC-in for the computer and that the cable will be a side-by-side composite of both plugs. Sony did this before with i.Link + power (which is Firewire400 + DC):


So it should accept normal Thunderbolt plugs as well. From what Beaups has said, we know that the power can be daisy chained as follows:
AC outlet -> power adapter -> DC-in on external dock -> DC-in on Notebook
-OR-
AC outlet -> power adapter -> DC-in on Notebook

we don't know if it can do power the other way:
Notebook -> external dock or other accessories

If the latter is true, then the possibilities for other accessories using the side-by-side ports are immense, since the power must be capable of delivering 50-100 Watts (what the Notebook requires) which is far more than, say, USB 2.0 (2.5 Watts) or USB 3.0 (9 Watts). However, I wouldn't expect anyone to actually make use of the possibility unless the side-by-side port became standard among other manufacturers. It certainly didn't in the case of the i.Link+power. Let's hope at least that Sony make the side-by-side port an open standard and give it a chance to catch on. Don't get your hopes up though.