I understand the z690 is available for our friendly neighbors to the north, but apparently, the z690 CTO is still unavailable through sonystyle.com.
Just wondering if anyone has heard any rumors or anything on the retail availability of the z540 / z590 refresh. That's one of two things keeping me from settling on a notebook to order.
I haven't been keeping up-to-date on the latest Sony products since I've been happy with my current SZ, but I was taking a look at SonyStyle and noticed the Vaio Z6xx is out.
I configured (for a test) a Z690 with 2.53 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 400 GB HD, and premium carbon fiber weave lid, and it came to about $2050. This seems pretty good (although the last time I checked the Z was really expensive because it had just come out)
I just ordered a Sony vaio z 690 configure to order notebook through their website(USA). When I configure vaio z690, there wasn’t an option to select my Wireless LAN (wifi) card,
so I thought there is a wifi receiver comes with this laptop by default (As it says on their product home page). Few minuets later, I got my order confirmation, and it says:
LCD 13.1" (XBRITE-DuraView™)
Black
Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit
Trusted Platform Module / Biometric Fingerprint Sensor
Microsoft® Works
QuickBooks Simple Start
SuperMulti Drive
Windows® Live OneCare 90-Day Trial
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network .....
how to get this working in XP? I can't find any tutorials online. I installed a IFX-498 in my Sony Vaio motherboard, but when I launch GlobeTrotter Connect it comes up with Device not found.
View 8 Replies View RelatedI've reinstalled my system recently, I've gone from Vista Home Premium 64bit to Vista Business 32bit on my Z690, using all the drivers available on Sony's support & drivers website. Everything was fine here and there until I've realized, the camera isn't working properly after having the Arcsoft webcam companion 2 installed.
The trouble is, I get this message: Bluetooth video waiting for connection...
I can imagine, some of you guys might have entered this issue, which is quite easy to resolve, saying this I found the following tip:
[url]
However, under Arcsoft settings the only video device listed is the bluetooth video listed. This most probably means, the Sony visual communication camera missing equals the missing camera driver on my Z690, right? I mean, having a look at device manager, under Imaging devices I've got only xerox scanner listed (installed myself through control panel/hardware and sound/scanners and cameras).
Anyway, I've even tried to install the XP camera drivers for Z690 instead, they installed smoothly (using administrator rights and XP compatibility mode), but Vaio camera capture utility shows blue screen with no input, and the Sony visual communication camera for XP provided doesn't seem to work (I know, I know it's supposed to be used for XP only, but I'm desperate here
I've tried uninstall and reinstall over & over again, restarting etc.
I have a Sony Vaio VGN-Z690 with windows vista home premium 64-bits. I created the recovery DVD's and delete the recovery partition after that. Today I needed to format my HD and reinstall everything, and find out that my Recovery DVD's are nor working... well, not all them, just the second one (I copy the DVD's do my HD, and there is an error when I try to copy the archive "p27.sny" in the second DVD... it was bad recorded or something, because the DVD are not scratched...). Can anyone have a similar recovery DVD from sony Z series with this archive?
View 5 Replies View RelatedI just received my z690 cto and I'm doing all the tests I can think of to check that everything is working properly.
I have one question about the memory.
I ordered it with 4GB ddr3 working at 1066Mhz and when I run the program cpuz the memory is recognized as DDR3 PC3-8500F but the "DRAM Frequency" is reported as 532 Mhz (instead of 1066).
Can anyone tell me if it is normal or if it should report 1066?
What's the difference among these three?
I configure(CTO) the same spec (color, CPU, Harddrive and so on) for all these three. But the prices are a little bit different. They have same graphic card 256MB too. Does anyone know about the difference?
Another question is... Are Sony SR series good? I configure them as Z series, the only difference is DDR2(SR) and DDR3(Z) and SR even has 512 graphic memory.
My question:
I will be going to mainland China in 2 weeks. I bought a electrical converter. I am confused as to use the "High" or "Low" setting on the converter for my Z690?
Nothing on the Sony charger on wattage! I see a 19.5V Output and Input of 100-240V /1.5A and 50-60Hz
The converter/transformer has a high switch for appliances between 50 and 1650 watts and a low switch for equipment under 50 watts.
So if the Z690 charger is over 50W, I set the switch to High? I am just concerned that I will damage the laptop since the High goes up to 1650 watts?
I am on the verge of buying a Vaio Z690 CTO but have one final questions, if you had to choose between black, or premium carbon fiber, which would you pick? I am nervous that with black, I would feel as if I should have opt'd for Premium and if I get premium, I am nervous the notebook won't look as classy. I have seen black at the Sony style store however and it looked very classy.
View 10 Replies View RelatedIt seems for some reason my Z690 does not work well in the speed setting. This results into videos that seem to refresh a lot, games that are slow and have jagged edges and in general slow video performance.
Whats funny is that on stamina setting, all my graphics actually do quite well. Videos play fine as do the games /w smooth edges
I ran Intels Processor Identification Tool, and it shows VT as enabled. I haven't installed VMWare yet, but I will shortly. Also, I haven't updated my Bios, but the VGN-Z690 bios update might be a possible solution for other(just a wild guess, I have no way of varifying).
View 3 Replies View RelatedMy friend is thinking about pulling the trigger on a new vaio Z. He needs it for the fall school semester so he doesn't need it now, but it would be nice to have. I know no one knows when Sony will do a refresh but do they typically refresh this early? I read others talking about a refresh coming in May or June, but that's only 3-4 months after the Z was actually released. Is this a realistic refresh time frame or should he just buy it? Really don't want to buy and have a refresh two weeks later.
View 10 Replies View RelatedVaio VGN Z690 Function keys stoped working.
Vista Home Pre
Does anyone have recovery disks for VGN-Z690 running Vista Ultimate 64bit?
View 3 Replies View RelatedNot announced officially yet, but take a look here at the German sonystyle:
https://www.sonystyle.de/SonyStyle/V...C/B-Serie-15-4
Will the new Z refresh ever get GT430M? The desktop version of Nvidia 4xx has already been released. I think it won't be long for the mobile version to be released.
I am planning to get a new laptop around August or September but I don't mind waiting for a couple of months if I can get GT430M. However, if the GPU will never get an update, I think I'll buy the Z earlier since I don't think there will be much of an update before August. From what I see on the old Z, the GPU never got updated. However this time the GPU on Z is a little behind with no DirectX 11 support.
I have been waiting for the Vaio Z to be refreshed with a new and improved graphics card, i was hoping by the summer as other pc makers are doing this. Do you think Sony will use the new ATI 4000 series or the new nvidia series? Will it get refreshed by the summer?
View 10 Replies View RelatedHow exactly often do they happen? I plan on getting an FW very soon, I could buy one early Feb, or wait until middle march will be the best times for me to buy one financially wise. My question is if I wait until middle March sometime, do you think there will be some upgrades on it opposed to the current FW390CTO?
View 3 Replies View RelatedMy z690CTO is on it's way and I purchased a SONY 3 years extended warranty.Now if I do decide to upgrade myself let's say the HDD will this
void the warranty or not?
I know this might be a bit early to ask, but I have one last (hopefully) quick question and advice to ask from all of you.
Once I get my new Z690 in hand, any advice on which way to turn with the OS?
XP SP3 (32-bit) or Vista SP1 (64-bit)?
I've used both and I'm comfortable with both, and have no issues using either or any of their features.
My main question is with performance... are they equal? Will I see any improvements with Vista in 64-bit mode using all 4GB of my system memory vs 3GB in XP
Im trying to decide on a few options, if they are worth it or not.
1. should I spend $50 more on the 2.53 or will the 2.4 be enough... I would like the 2.66 because of the L2 Cache, but $250 seems like a steep price. I will primarily be doing photoshop image editting as my most intensive application.
2. standard 160 gb 5400, or upgrade to 320 gb 7200 for $90? I am leaning toward the upgrade because its reasonably priced. Buying a drive myself and upgrading will cost between 60-80 and I will void the warranty.
3. 2gb ram or 4gb? I feel like I could probably buy another 2 gb on my own for $50 through my brief websearches. I dont think the $100 premium is worth it. Plus I wont void the warranty by upgrading the ram myself.
4. Just a question... Does the premium carbon fiber add anything in terms of strength to the housing, or is it purely an aesthetic thing?
any backlight leakage in you Z690 screen?
If I set the (1600x900) screen black on my 2 days old Z (this can be done with the "blank" screen saver under Vista) the upper and bottom parts of the screen are brighter than the central part. I knew that *some* leakage was unavoidable with TFT panels but I don't about LED panels so I can't realize if it is normal or a defect.
I've only tested this on a vaio in a sonystyle store and it seems to be totally black but I can't be sure because there was a lot of ambient light in there.
I'm about to try - just wanted to know if there was anything I should know. For the moment I've given up on trying to get Windows XP on it.
View 9 Replies View RelatedI have a valid volume licence XP CD that will let me install on other laptops. I attempt to install on the VGN-Z690 and I get a bluescreen before it gets to the disc detection /f8 to continue part. I put the sata drivers on a floppy, selected them and I still get the BSOD.
I've had this on some dell workstations and you had to change the controller in the bios but I don't see that in the Sony bios.
which SSD make/model is in a Z690? I assume they would be similar, but I am interested in the 256GB option in particular.
View 4 Replies View RelatedI have a VGN-Z690. I'm trying to install XP on it. It bluescreens before I even get as far as selecting the disc to install XP on - anyone have this experience and a way around it? I've tried four xp install discs.
View 3 Replies View Relatedthe glass of wine poured onto my laptop, right where the plug inserts into the laptop. I heard a crisp snapping "zzz" sound, and all went blank.
I quickly opened up the laptop, and dabbed as much wine up as possible. Unfortunately, I saw the liquid swish around the CPU / Fan and about the motherboard. After drying out the motherboard as much as possible, I plugged it back in, and hit the power button.
At first, the laptop turned on! (thank god) Then the green power light on the hinge started to blink, and the laptop hibernated, and turned on again... repeatedly. I turned the computer off... and that was its last breath of life (i hate you god).
Since then, I have not been able to turn it on. Does this spell the end? Is this a massive short in the motherboard? Is it even worth repairing? I called Sony and 'Water damage' repair costs at the minimum, $700.
I bought a z690 with a blu-ray recorder for $1550 at SonyStyle. The problem: it connects to my high def Vizio Television, but there is no sound coming out of the television speakers, only the Sony speakers.
It says there is an HDMI audio driver but it is not connected, even though it is. Keep in mind - I did upgrade to Windows 7. It was working with Windows Vista
Is there a a guide or a faq for brining Z698Y from Vista Ultimate 64bit to Vista Ultimate 32bit? I'm looking to do a clean install but with out loosing any key VAIO controls / drivers
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