Sony

Product Description

Built tough for business, the VAIO Z notebook offers the portability of a 3 lbs (with standard capacity battery) form factor with the functionality and performance of a larger computer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #611 in Personal Computers
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VPC-Z116GX/S
• Dimensions: 1.30" h x 12.40" w x 8.30" l, 3.04 pounds
• CPU: Intel Core i5 2.53 GHz
• Memory: 4MB SODIMM
• Hard Disk: 0.256GB
• Processors: 2
• Display size: 13.1

Features

• 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 - 520M Processor
• 4GB RAM (2GB x 2); DDR3-1066
• 256GB Solid State Drive; DVD/CD RW Optical Drive
• 13.1" (1600x900) LCD/ (16:9 aspect ratio)
• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Customer Reviews

amazing hardware
I am more of a Mac user usually, but I need a windows machine occasionally, and this is far and away the best piece of hardware I have ever had (in case you wonder, I also have a thinkpad X200 and macbook pros of all sizes). The hardware spec is very similar to the last generation of macbook pro (same graphics card, similar CPU), but this is a 3lb machine, vs a 6lb mbp). The SSD is blazingly fast, the machine never gets even slightly warm (despite the fact that I usually run a number of CPU hogs on it), the keyboard is amazingly comfortable (It has a similar chicklet layout to the MBP keyboard), the screen is phenomenal (by contrast, the Thinkpad screen is much too dim). I am sure there is a bit of bloatware, but I don't notice it (256GB is a lot of bits), and the default browser is Chrome. Windows 7 is the most usable Windows release yet, which may or may not be saying much.

To comment on another review: I am very much a unix person, but if you want to run unix on a laptop, just get a mac, and certainly DO NOT get a sony. Sony has always made slightly incompatible hardware (I got my first Sony ultraportable in the late 1990s -- same problems). That said, I have NEVER had a linux laptop which ran properly (Thinkpads, Dells, Acer, you name it). Power management is always goofy, the display drivers are always a little off, etc, etc. Run linux at home/work, and use a vnc client to connect, if linux is that important to you. Every single old unix hack I know carries a mac (that includes some of the fathers of the open source movement) -- essentially every useful piece of linux software runs (sometimes better) under OSX.

Anyway, giving two stars to the Vaio because it is not a unix box is like giving two stars to your ferrari because it won't go offroad (or conversely, to your landrover because it can't keep up with a mustang GT from a light). Use the right tool for the job.

Excellent!
I was the first guy to buy this laptop at the Sony store in Beverly Hills-- I bought it hours after it arrived. I've had it for about six weeks now. It is an excellent, very high quality and well built machine. It is visually beautiful and the user experience is the best I have ever experienced with a laptop. It is incredibly fast-- in fact with sophisticated benchmark programs it runs almost as fast as my custom built desktop i5 machine. Even though it is expensive, it is worth the money. In an odd way, at $1899, it is a good buy.

My only gripe is that there seems to be an issue from time to time with the video card or Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System. This system isn't working out as well as I'd hope. If it was omitted from this machine, it would be a solid 5 star review.

When I first bought the computer it stalled and the video went black almost every time I used it t play video. After I did the software update the problem went away for the most part. Now the video only crashes about once a week. This is why I am only giving it 4 stars. Overall though, I would by this laptop again in a second. It is light years ahead of everything else I checked out and I am not a Mac guy. They are less prone to software and software based hardware complications but they don't advance as quickly and you pay a high premium for lesser hardware.

Love this little machine!!! Only 3 pounds.
Well I have to say this is one of the most gorgeous machines that I have ever used. It is so light at only 3 lbs. It has a fast i5 processor, DVD Rom and a 1GB video card to boot. It has all the things that I am looking for in such a small package. It was this or and Apple macbook. I'm glad I choose this instead. You can not compare this fast machine with Apple until they incorporate an i5 or i7 in their macbook pros.

I downgraded the OS from the factory installed WIN 7 to WIN XP for software compatibility issues, but the biggest down size to this is losing 1.5GB of ram. I can only utilize 2.5GB of ram as appose to the 4GB installed. Not sure if this will become a problem in the future, but only time will tell. I am typing on this right now and the keyboard is so comfortable. I would highly commend it just for the comfort of the keyboard and the nice back lit keyboard. I am able to see all the keys as they are illuminated.

Also just one more note, the biggest mistake I made was not to make a backup copy of the WIN 7 CD before I stuck in the Win XP disc. There is no way to reorder the WIN 7 currently, so I will have to wait Sony or someone who buys the same computer to burn me a copy. So I highly recommend that you do that first before anything.