You don't NEED a damn computer.Eidorian, I don't even know what Light Peak is?. I just don't NEED the latest and greatest technology and most people here don't either, they just WANT it.
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***Sony Vaio Z*** Stone-cold killer! It's going to be Apple Vs Sony for Arrandale imo
- Thread starter Jobsian
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All the apps that have been denied? (*cough Google voice *cough*) Blocking out alt browsers, disallowing anything that might be 'interpreted', denying boobies, etc.
The iPhone also definitely locks data away in a vault on the iPhone. Pulling the data from an individual app or having apps talk to each other seems to be non-happening.
The disallowing of Palm Pre to sync with iTunes?
Not as bad as Microsoft though...
Just a bit of a side note... I checked out the base config... It's certainly not bad at 1899.... the 4500$ is the limited edition one... Sorta in the same realm as the overpriced 6000$ stealth macbook pro
Intel® Core i5-540M processor (2.53GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Silver
13.1" display with scratch-resistant technology and 1600x900 resolution
128GB (128GBx1) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M GPU (1GB VRAM) with Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD
4GB (4GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
CD/DVD Burner
for 1899... which I admit is far more than the 1499 for the 13 inch high end macbook pro, but it's less than the lowest end 15 inch one with a seperate graphics card. Downright affordable in that light. Granted it doesn't run mac os....
Intel® Core i5-540M processor (2.53GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Silver
13.1" display with scratch-resistant technology and 1600x900 resolution
128GB (128GBx1) Solid State Drive with RAID 0 Technology
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M GPU (1GB VRAM) with Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD
4GB (4GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
CD/DVD Burner
for 1899... which I admit is far more than the 1499 for the 13 inch high end macbook pro, but it's less than the lowest end 15 inch one with a seperate graphics card. Downright affordable in that light. Granted it doesn't run mac os....
How is it lower? The 330M beats the 9600M easily. The Core i5 processor is also more powerful than the C2D processor found in the MBP.
Or, using the same logic, you might opt to buy Dell Inspiron: much better value pound for pound, quarter that price and still save money for two more DELL laptops each with better specs than MacBook pro
Still doesn't look like the Vaio S (also 13") is available in the US, but it's my alternative in Japan. There is an i5-540M version with discrete graphics and 4GB of RAM for 139,800 yen (about $1275 US). There's also an i7-620M version for 154,800 yen (about $1400 US).
There hardly, if any, portables/laptops out there that are the size of the MacBook Air. Comparisons are still valid based on size as well as weight - it all falls into one category. Also consider the question "how portable is it relative to..." depending on person.
For me, thickness is more important than weight as far as portability goes. A pillow may be light but it's sure as hell not that portable. Something like the Adamo XPS is a better competitor to the MBA than the Vaio Z
Because both fall into ultra-portable category. Portability mostly depends on screen size and weight (nobody really uses manila envelopes for carrying the laptops
) and these two are very comparable (except for specs)Didn't say it wasn't important, but thickness is more important (to me, anyway). If I'm traveling with a laptop and taking it out several times a day, it's easier to take out something thin than something thick/clunky. I would guess that 95% of MBA or Dell Adamo users wouldn't be happy with a VAIO Z.
Also, Sony is known for wildly exaggerating battery life. I'll be surprised if this thing is able to get 2-3 hours with regular use. The easiest way to reduce weight is to just make the battery smaller. The battery is the heaviest component inside a laptop.
Apple had better step up; the Z is new benchmark for all other ultralights. If Apple fails on their new versions, 13" MBP or MBA, it will be easy for me to choose the Z; I have a 15" MBP that will serve well as a desktop replacement; but the Z will be with me at all times.
Apple had better step up; the Z is new benchmark for all other ultralights. If Apple fails on their new versions, 13" MBP or MBA, it will be easy for me to choose the Z; I have a 15" MBP that will serve well as a desktop replacement; but the Z will be with me at all times.
And I am ready to buy.
Am I the only one bothered that this thing is up to 1.3" thick?
You really don't see anything wrong with locking a computing platform to arbitrary and inconsistent "app approval process"? Pulling previously approved apps for no apparent reason (GV mobile)? Imposing weird and arbitrary SDK policies, essentially eliminating competition? Locking out developers from direct distribution of their apps to consumers? Or how about promoting Gestapo like secrecy and paranoia, leading its supplier employees to suicide?
You don't see a problem with any of these, but all you can think of is a 10 year old court case? Just wow.
Looks good, BUT...
Looks good and has an impressive list of hardware goodies. My problem is NOT the price, though. The weak link in this chain is that it obviously runs Windows. To me, this is like having a Ferrari body, with a Yugo engine.
Looks good and has an impressive list of hardware goodies. My problem is NOT the price, though. The weak link in this chain is that it obviously runs Windows. To me, this is like having a Ferrari body, with a Yugo engine.
We've been talking about this new behemoth from Sony in the Macbook Air forums as it's the same weight as an MBA (it's a premium ultraportable!) but the specs on it are so phenomenal that it'll surely take some beating even from an MBP update.
Sony 2010 Vaio Z Series
![sonyvaiozgallery04.jpg]()
Top spec:
Design: Aluminium + Carbon Fiber
Weight: 3.07lbs or 3.3lbs (depending on which Sony website you visit)
Screen: 13.1", 1920 x 1080 Resolution
CPU: Core i7-620M. 2.66GHz, 3.33GHz Turbo. 35W TDP. 4MB L2 Cache
RAM: 8GB DDR3
SDD: 512GB (Raid 0 available)
Graphics: Nvidia 330M GT 1GB GDDR3 and Intel HD integrated - switchable
Battery: Sony: 6 Hours
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Burner
Other: x3 USB2.0, x1 HDMI Out, VGA Out, 802.11 a/b/g/n, GB Ethernet, 2.1 Bluetooth, webcam, mic, SD, Expresscard, Memstick
Not surprisingly the thing's almost insanely expensive at $4500+
With that repertoire, it's going to take quite a lot from Apple for me to go with them in my next update. Remember, and I say this again because of how astonishing it is, the Vaio Z is almost the same weight as the MBA (MBA is 3.0lbs) despite having x2 SSDs, an optical drive and discrete graphics!
I'm not going to pull the trigger yet though. It's a no-brainer to wait to see Apple's hand. They have a few avenues to potentially make me go for them instead for my next notebook:
1) Their multitouch trackpad is king
2) OS. Enhancing their current OS with updates (with Win 7, there's barely much distinction in quality anymore, both have positives over the other)
3) Cooling. It remains to be seen how much of a heat/noise monster the Vaio Z is. If it's unusably hot and loud, it's out. This is one of my main concerns with this as the CPU is 35W TDP.
4) USB3/Light Peak. Sony have only included USB2.0 in the Vaio Z. USB 3.0/light peak would have a huge bearing on my decision.
5) Design. If they produce something out of this earth design-wise (as the MBA almost is), then I'll shamelessly go for Apple. Design means a lot and there's not a better design in existence at the moment than the sensational-looking Air (Sony's new Vaio X is a second imo).
6) Improved IGP/Discrete interface. Eg as recent threads in the main news forum suggest Apple are looking into and may be one of the main factors for the delay.
7) OLED. With latest technology to minimize panel degradation.
8) Some other as yet unknown X-Factor. Remember, this is Apple
I can't imagine any company trumping the processor, RAM nor SSD that Sony have selected at this stage. With Apple's history of not incorporating bleeding-edge tech even in their flagship notebooks (the Macbook Air is a stunning exception), I'm not massively optimistic, nevertheless I can't wait to see how Apple respond especially with Steve Jobs recent quote:
"New Macs for 2010 are going to take Apple to the next level"
Despite the Arrandale Apple notebook delays (I'm religiously following the Arrandale thread with all of you), maybe the delay signifies something. Maybe we're in for a treat
Yes there are. There are a few USB 3.0 external HDD available allready.
And next month the market will be flooded with USB 3.0 external HDD since companies such as Western Digital have already announced their new external HDD to be released in March with added USB 3.0
If Apple doesn't put USB 3.0 on their new MBP it's just horrible for people that like to use an external HDD because firewire and USB 2.0 are very slow.
In what way outspec that MBP a Sony Vaio Z?
First let Apple try to make a notebook that have 6 hours of battery in Windows which they cannot do.
edit: Also the SSD drives are in Raid. That makes it also 2 times faster in comparison to the MBP.
It's hardly valid. You could probably stack two MacBook Airs from opposite ends to equal the thickness of the Sony. Something that is half as thick obviously does not have the room inside for all that stuff not to mention thermal management of more powerful processors so how could you possibly compare them?
I know, let's compare a motorcycle and a compact car since they are both vehicles.
Personally I would never say a 13" screen is superior to a 15", the 2" size difference would also explain the weight, I agree on the graphics, and the MBP does have an option for SSDs. It also has FireWire, an option for a matte screen & a far superior trackpad.
But the SSD's can't be put in raid on a MBP. The performance is far greater than a MBP also in that area.
Trackpad is impossible to say unless you have used both. From experience OS X works better with gestures than Windows. But never tried a Sony Z so I can't comment on that.
I'm not saying the MBP out specs it in every way, but the Sony does seem to have allot missing that a high end laptop should have, although if I was going to buy a PC & money wasn't an issue, I would still definitely buy this or an Alienware m15x, another laptop with similar specs that is far cheaper, although if I ever got the Alienware I wouldn't be able to use it as a laptop... Taking it into public would be to embarrassing.
As for the trackpad, obviously I can't really compare, but just looking at it, it's obviously much smaller, I'm assuming just like any other Sony Vaio trackpad, not as nice to the touch & less gestures. The MBP trackpad seems almost perfect for me, although I do with the physical button had stayed.