Sony VAIO TZ first impressions

Sony's SSD-riffic VAIO TZ laptop still hasn't officially made it to North America, but that hasn't stopped some folks from doing the importing thing to get their ultraportable fix, one of which has kindly put together a few first impressions for NotebookReview. On the whole, the individual (known only as "Outrigger") seems to be quite pleased with the purchase (despite the premium price), especially digging the laptop's good looks and LED-backlit screen, as well as its "extremely long" battery life. On the downside, as nice as that SDD drive is, Outrigger would have liked to see more than 32GB of it, as well as more than one RAM slot. Not surprisingly, he also found that the laptop is "not made for gaming," with none of Santa Rosa's benefits to be found either. Still, if portability is your top concern, it looks like a solid enough choice, assuming that the near $3,000 price tag doesn't turn you off, that is.

[Rick @ Jun 28th 2007 5:07PM]

Gee, that keyboard looks original. Must have come out of Sony's R&D shop: The Apple Store.

No wonder they're declining so badly.

[cduran01 @ Jun 28th 2007 5:15PM]

Do a little more research....Sony had that type of keyboard on the VAIOs months before Apple had it on the Macbooks.

[ccutlip @ Jun 28th 2007 5:21PM]

"Many people that see the keyboard will no doubt think that it resembles Apple’s Macbook. However, if you read up a bit on history, it was actually Sony that came out with the style on its X505 about 3 years before the Macbook came out. I also read that it was Apple that hired some of Sony’s engineers to help design their upcoming Macbook."

That is FROM THE READ LINK! Do a little reading before blindly praising Apple--almost all of their "innovations" are just adapted from other companies, even if they're the first to combine them.

[cduran01 @ Jun 28th 2007 5:23PM]

Here's a link to a cnet review of the Vaio X505, notice the keyboard and notice the date that the laptop was reviewed.

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/sony-vaio-x505-series/4505-3121_7-30886049.html

[Rick @ Jun 28th 2007 6:19PM]

Sony uses black plastic. Geez, how Apple-like.

[Argot @ Jun 28th 2007 5:46PM]

No, as usual it was Apple that stole the design from someone else, in this case they stole it from Sony.
But hey, don't let that get in the way of your RDF!

[Mak @ Jun 28th 2007 6:32PM]

Typical Sony hater. Still you easilly made yourself look a total fool...

[HeyJeeB @ Jun 28th 2007 5:14PM]

I would love one of these. However, that keybourd looks like some 80's Atari thingy. I'm sure someone will post a model name or pic link ;) lol

[Jamar @ Jun 28th 2007 5:20PM]

Ooh, hey- FeliCa. Wave your cellphone over that white rectangle on he right and it's supposed to log you in. No more remembering passwords (if you use a Japanese phone and this laptop, that is).

[Zadillo @ Jun 28th 2007 5:40PM]

Two things.

First, I agree, the post you're replying to (and others like it) are stupid; it's been well established that Sony introduced this type of keyboard years before the MacBook. Anyone claiming that it's original to the MacBook is clearly misinformed.

Secondly though, I don't think it's fair to say that "almost all of their innovations are just adapted from other companies". Frankly, especially on the laptop realm, Apple has often been at the forefront of laptop innovations (i.e. the PowerBook 500 in 1994 as the first laptop with a trackpad.... the original PowerBook as the first laptop to actually shift the keyboard to the back for more comfortable typing..... first widescreen laptops, the magsafe power connectors on their current machines, etc.). I understand what you mean I think when you say adapted from other companies (i.e. say, they were one of the first to actually widely adopt Intel's USB, etc.), but I think there's plenty of things that Apple can get credit for as actual innovations as well.

And that's also why I'd say to the poster above that it's stupid to try and claim Apple invented something when it didn't, since there's plenty of other things that Apple can take actual credit for.

[spam_from_engadget @ Jun 28th 2007 5:55PM]

$3000?!!! For that, I can get _SIX_ Palm Foleos!

[Ellianth @ Jun 28th 2007 6:11PM]

@ a couple of the above comments:

Does it matter who copied who? I think that keyboard is very ugly. The screen and the hinge look so nice. Then your eye comes across the keyboard. It's like walking on the beach and you're looking at someone from toe to head. They have the nicest body you've ever seen, then you get to their face and they look like iLoser (

[Zadillo @ Jun 28th 2007 7:20PM]

I'd have to use one in person, but I normally care less about how a keyboard looks and more about how it feels. I didn't really care for the TX keyboard, and I think it at least sounds like the TZ keyboard will be more comfortable to type on, and that's what really matters.

[Simon @ Jun 28th 2007 7:35PM]

I think you must mean SSD?

[bobeotm @ Jun 28th 2007 10:33PM]

I have always lusted after Sony's ultraportable lines. However given the price and that there are other sony ultraportable models that have better specs for less, I would opt for some of the ones available for the US.

I prefer the model that has media buttons on the hinge, so that they are acessable when the notebook is closed. That model was 1000 less than this one, so maybe im missing something about why this particular version costs so much.

[Jayayess1190 @ Jun 29th 2007 2:05AM]

It has an LED screen, Core 2 Duo processor, SSD drive, and 2gb of ram. A lot of expensive tech in a small package.

[bobeotm @ Jun 29th 2007 8:01AM]

I see now, The cosmetic changes are subtle but the version before this didnt have those things. It had 1gb or ram, no ssd drive to my knowledge, and a lcd screen. But gosh, 3000 is a big pill to swallow.

[rb @ Jun 29th 2007 10:21AM]

Anybody know when the TZ will be availabile in the States?

Is Sony discontinuing the TX line?

[Outrigger @ Jul 12th 2007 12:59AM]

Thanks for all your comments. Lets not turn this into a Sony vs. Apple war. Ultraportable laptops have always had a premium price tag for their portability. This laptop isn't meant to play the latest games or do graphic design work. I have been using this for almost a month and I still find it surprising how silent it is due to zero sound from the hard drive. The screen has been fantastic as well and the keyboard is a bit cramped but not hard to use at all as I am using it to type this.
This is my first Vaio and I must say, Sony has did a great job in the design department as well as cramming all the performance into this little guy.

[thenoodleator @ Jul 18th 2007 11:28PM]

Our bud at work got one in the post today, plus the dvd player that goes with it. I don't care about apple/sony wars either. It looks nice, and more importantly, feels nice. Tangible technology. And it's not even mine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/noodle/845247425/

[harpreet @ Jul 18th 2007 4:48AM]

it a fine notebook but still..for 2.2k i'd rather to go for a macbook and an iphone and save the rest of the money in my piggie bank!!!