Sony VAIO Y and Z Series morph into MiFis with Share My Connection
By Joanna Stern 
posted June 17th 2010 10:42AM
posted June 17th 2010 10:42AM
MEDIA ALERT: NEW SONY VAIO PCS DOUBLE AS WORLD'S FIRST MOBILE MULTIPLE HOTSPOTS
Subject: Media Alert: VAIO Z and Y Series Laptops Act as Hotspots for Up to Five Devices
WHAT: The VAIO Z and Y Series PCs are the world's first out-of-the box laptops that act as a personal hotspot. Select models of these series feature the exclusive new Sony embedded wireless technology called Share My Connection™ (SMC). With SMC you can turn your laptop into a mobile wireless access point that can connect up to five other PCs or networked devices, such as smartphones, mp3 players, and cameras. A subscription is required.
WHO: A perfect built-in network solution for business travelers, those on-the-go or anyone looking to save some money by sharing a single network connection, Share My Connection is secure and lets you extend your connectivity with coworkers, friends, and family members.
The Z model offers premium portability and serious power. A breeze to carry at about 3.0 lbs, this PC features a durable carbon fiber and aluminum casing and delivers up to seven hours of battery life for true mobile freedom. It incorporates a 13.1-inch high-resolution LED backlit widescreen display, delivering a bright picture with 100 percent color saturation. The extremely thin unit also comes with an optical drive (Blu-ray optical drive optional).
Just in time for back-to-school season, the Y Series laptops comes in five new exciting colors including purple violet, fuchsia pink, pear green, teal blue and black. With a thin 1.2-inch profile and 13.3-inch LED backlit widescreen display, the sleek Y model offers lower power consumption for improved battery life for that active student lifestyle.
WHEN: Available now for pre-sale at www.sony.com/pr/smc and at select retailers around the country for about $770 for the VAIO Y Series and $1950 for the VAIO Z Series. To find the closest Sony Style store, please visit www.sonystyle.com.
Lol...extra money for something that's built into windows?
How hard is it to click on the connection icon in networking and select "share" -- seriously?
@DoctarPeppar
'Cause it's all about money and we are supposed to buy all those things that we don't need or we can't find out how to do them on our own. And that's Sony we're talking about. It's equal to money. And, after all, if you are dumb enough not to read and find how to do it, then you'll pay for such a thing.
@DoctarPeppar
Exactly, this feature is builded in Windows and I have used it 4 years ago (it is called Internet Conection Sharing with Windows XP).
There is no restriction up to 5 devices as well.
BTW - at the Sony web sites there is no information regarding the Sony Vaio Y series anymore, they are still available at the distributors websites. That may mean a new Y series version coming with different processors in very near future.
@DoctarPeppar Yup, and it's equally easy in Linux, even, with NetworkManager. Left click, 'Create New Wireless Network...' . Done.
Y?
I use connectify (turns any win7 machine with WiFi into a router/hotspot) on my UL30VT... i got it to work with comcast 4G (clear) but with a driver update and me not really caring much i dont work right now ;)
@summerboy18
So?
I would rather share the connection from my smartphone. If my laptop is on and connected to the internet then I won't need WiFi on my smartphone, which already has a data connection anyway. Then I'm paying two bills to Verizon for mobile broadband. I'm not going to turn my laptop on just to use its WiFi. But my smartphone will always be on (and it's easier to charge it up, etc), so I'd prefer to just use the phone's data for the laptop, rather than the other way around.
I realize that for small business users, etc, this might be useful...but I have no need.
I can't wait for the kirfs, they'll have fakeSMC!
Oh wait.
Wat kind of speeds to the device get off the mobile hotspots.! Is like 5mbit download and 2mbit up???
Has anyone heard any rumors about the other Sony model laptops, like the F model, getting an update soon? Notebookreview.com has a few rumor threads about an upcoming refresh to the F model, the F12, but wasn't sure if anything official was available.
@ddmeightball
As I expected the Y model and also F model got processor upgrade at the SonyStyle websites.
Y model is coming with Intel Core i3 and i5 processor (down from 9 to 6 hours battery life). From Y11 now to Y21 model (one VPCY21EFX/V ready Intel Core i3 model) however available for customising from the web site.
F model is coming now from F11 to F12 (example Intel Core i7 740QM VPCF12S1E/B model) and it is available for customising via the web site.
i just got this computer 4 days ago (the one without shared wifi)
and it is THE SHIT
it plays COD MW 2 at 1300x900 on next to highest settings perfectly with 0 lag what so ever in a multiplayer game with 20 people.
I LOVE IT
everyone whos used it so far, loves it too.
@brothaa Hows the battery life? You talking about the Y correct? does it look better then the E series??
It's hard getting any info on this device.
@brothaa The Z? Jealous!
@Joanna Stern
no its the z
it gets about the same as the old one, i got the old one rightnow too :)
gona send it over to my girl in china. It gets around 4-5 hrs. Look at the vaio y in store before you buy it, i always thought it was a Z with no GPU, but once you see it in a store... .. it really feels and looks ALOT crappier.
the new z is just amazing, i just need to put in a 2nd HDD, and il be all set.
got it on ebay for 1500
sooo??? can we have wifi anywhere we go then???
FYI yall
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666211663
@summerboy18 It's ok. Apple has been copying Sony notebook designs for a long time now.
Connectify. That is all.
Connectify. That is all.
C'MON SON! WIFI? When will these companies catch up with us? It's all about Clear 4G Wimax!! Who cares for turtle wifi speed. Step your game up sony!!!! Nobody wants a slow wifi signal.. Well, Not me. If I was in a Starbucks with my Clear 4G+ spot and the guy next to me had tht nice Sony Vaio with wifi speed, who will want to get on that slow speed if both of our connections were avail and open? CASE CLOSED!!!
I love my VAIO, and I'm happy they're coming out with more nice looking computers.
Where's the 1080p screen in the US model? This is just silly. It's the only reason I haven't bought a Z yet, I'm waiting on the 1080p display that they get in Europe and Asia. Once they release that, they can have $2500 of my money. Until then, they get nothing but spite from me.
@Twile
why would you even want a 1080p display on a 13.1 inch laptop.
i got the lower one, and even now i always have to make pages larger so i can read them on the screen.
@brothaa
pixel density is win, havent you heard?
@fel Exactly. If, as Apple claims, 300-330 dpi is at the limit of visual acuity at 10 inches, then 165 (1080p Z series) should be at the limit at 20 inches, which is not unreasonably close for a laptop screen. I don't want to see pixels. Pixels are a hack, I'm trying to look at an image and text, not a grid of colored squares.
As for particular reasons, if not seeing pixels isn't a good enough one, I want to be able to see 1080p video natively with no resizing. It's also partially an artificial milestone I set for myself: my current laptop does 720p, my new one should do the next major step up.
Clearly Sony and others see value in that resolution and screen size, or nobody would make the panel, incorporate it into the laptop, or buy the laptop. I just want them to bring it to the US already.
I've been sharing my internet connection with my Mac for ages...
Nothing special. But anyway, way to go Sony and call it a day!
Man I really want to try out a Sony Laptop, they look so nice and sexy. I prefer Mac to Windows but I was raised on PC, its like riding a bike, ya know. I really would like to see how Sony's Hardware is.
@summerboy18
You know, even the chicklet keyboards that are often associated with Apple were first introduced and used by Sony on Sony products...
I guess Engadget hasn't heard of Connectify. You should know better, guys...