Sony VAIO Z1 series

Sony VAIO Z1 series - Overview Sony VAIO Z1 series - Front Sony VAIO Z1 series - Back Sony VAIO Z1 series - Sides Sony VAIO Z1 series - Above
Product summary

The good: Thin and innovative case design; integrated wireless; numerous multimedia applications.

The bad: Average keyboard; weak speakers; comparatively short battery life; internal media bay is not swappable.

The bottom line: It's neither the fastest nor the least expensive thin-and-light, but the VAIO Z1's combination of a unique case, built-in wireless, and multimedia software apps puts it near the top.

Specs: Processor: Intel Pentium M (1.3 GHz); RAM installed: 512 MB DDR SDRAM; Weight: 4.6 lbs  See full specs >>

See all products in the Sony VAIO Z1 series

hide (x)CNET editors' review

Reviewed on 5/2/03    Updated on: 5/5/03    Release date: 3/12/03    The Sony VAIO Z1 series is one of the most stylish laptops to join the Centrino notebook parade. This slick thin-and-light carries the three Intel parts that make it an official Centrino: a Pentium M processor, an 802.11b Pro/wireless (Wi-Fi) mini-PCI card, and an 855PM chipset. The VAIO Z1 series includes additional cool components, such as a DVD/CD-RW combo drive, a Memory Stick slot, and two USB 2.0 ports. Sony stuffs these parts inside a unique case that allows ports to be recessed from the edges. When all is said and done, the VAIO Z1 series is a bit pricier than the competition; nevertheless, it's a fast, versatile, and great-looking notebook. Buy it if you care about style and wireless networking and you can live with the trade-offs.

Design of Sony VAIO Z1 series

The VAIO Z1 series' case design is classic Sony, with cutting-edge good looks. The system measures 12.4 inches wide, 9.7 inches deep, just 0.9 inches thick in front, and 1.5 inches thick at the back where the battery props it up. It weighs 4.7 pounds by itself and 5.4 pounds with the AC adapter, placing it in the same weight range as other top thin-and-lights, including the IBM ThinkPad T40 and Dell Latitude D600. Instead of a swappable media bay, which you'll find on most thin-and-lights, the VAIO Z1 series includes an integrated (and not swappable) DVD/CD-RW combo drive. That's too bad, because you can't swap in a cheaper drive, such as a DVD-ROM drive, or a second battery. Of course, there's no built-in floppy drive on a system this small. You can buy an external floppy drive at Sonystyle.com for $79.

The sides of the VAIO Z1's unique case curve to allow recessed ports.
The application-launch buttons above the keyboard are quite small.


Sony has done everything in its power to make the modest-sized VAIO Z1 appear even slimmer. The front and side edges slant backward at approximately 45-degree angles, giving the system a streamlined look. Halfway down each side, the edges have an S-shape, opening up a rectangular hole where Sony hides many of the laptop's ports. In addition to two USB 2.0 ports, headphone/microphone jacks, and one Type II PC Card slot, the left edge sports two Sony staples: an iLink (a.k.a. FireWire) port and a Memory Stick slot for storing music, images, and other files on Sony Memory Stick media. On the right edge sit the power button, a 56Kbps modem jack, and two system-status lights.


The VAIO Z1's keyboard is big, but the feel is nothing special.
The mouse buttons under the touchpad are on the small side.


Unfortunately, the VAIO Z1 series' keyboard and touchpad setup are less impressive than its angular case. The reasonably wide keyboard contains comfortable, if not extremely solid, keys. The plain-Jane touchpad is smooth and easy to use, although the two matchstick-size mouse buttons underneath the pad could be larger. A strip of average-sounding speakers is centered above the board. Two programmable buttons for launching applications also live above the keyboard, but they're barely bigger than the head of a pin.


Features of Sony VAIO Z1 series



The DVD/CD-RW is a fixed, not swappable drive.
Sony sells six preconfigured versions of the VAIO Z1 series on Sonystyle.com, but the company doesn't let you build a VAIO Z1 to order. Luckily, considering the rich mix of components in the preconfigured models, this isn't a problem. Systems ship with a Pentium M processor running at either 1.3GHz, 1.5GHz, or 1.6GHz; anywhere from 256MB to 1,024MB of 266MHz DDR memory; a 40GB or 60GB hard drive; and a 14.1-inch display with a native resolution of 1,024x768. You can also choose a model that has a 1,400x1,050-resolution screen. No matter which VAIO Z1 you choose, you'll get a DVD/CD-RW combo drive and an ATI Mobility Radeon with 16MB of 266MHz DDR SDRAM.

Rather than offering wireless Wi-Fi (802.11b) networking as an option, Sony makes this a standard feature in the VAIO Z1 series. All configurations offer Intel's 802.11b Pro/wireless 2100 mini-PCI card. Coupled with the Pentium M processor and the Intel 855PM chipset that come in every system, the Intel Wi-Fi card makes every Z1 a Centrino.

Sony preloads Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional onto the VAIO Z1 series. The company also includes Microsoft Works, Money 2003, and Encarta Online. But the big software bonus comes in the form of Sony's useful multimedia-app bundle, which includes DVGate, SonicStage, and PictureGear Studio for working with DVDs, music, and photos, respectively.


Performance of Sony VAIO Z1 series

The VAIO Z1 model that we tested, the VAIO PCG-Z1A, achieved impressive performance, especially for a notebook with the 1.3GHz Pentium M processor. The Pentium M processor was made from the ground up to keep its performance high even when unplugged, and the VAIO Z1 reaps the fruit of that labor. The processor plus the system's 512MB of DDR RAM allowed it to beat the 1.4GHz Pentium M-based IBM ThinkPad X31 which has a faster CPU but only 256MB of RAM.

Mobile application performance  (Longer bars indicate faster performance)
BAPCo MobileMark2002 performance rating  
Fujitsu LifeBook S series
162 
Sony VAIO PCG-Z1A
148 
IBM ThinkPad X31
143 
 
Find out more about how we test notebooks.

System configurations:

Fujitsu LifeBook S series
Windows XP Professional; 1.4GHz Intel Pentium 4-M; 504MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 Graphics Controller 64MB (8MB shared); Hitachi DK23EA-60 60GB 5,400rpm

IBM ThinkPad X31
Windows XP Pro; 1.4GHz Intel Pentium M; 256MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 16MB; Hitachi DK23EB-40 40GB 5,400rpm

Sony VAIO PCG-Z1A
Windows XP Home; 1.3GHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 16MB; Hitachi DK23EA-60 60GB 4,200rpm


Battery life of Sony VAIO Z1 series

In CNET Labs' tests, the VAIO PCG-Z1A survived on its battery for well over three hours, thanks to its 11.1V, 4,400mAh battery. But we expected more. With a lower-speed processor than those of the comparison systems, we expected the battery life to reach four hours. For instance, the IBM ThinkPad X31--even with a less powerful, 10.8V, 4,400mAh battery and a higher speed 1.4GHz Pentium M processor--achieved well over four hours of battery life.

Battery life  (Longer bars indicate longer battery life)
BAPCo MobileMark2002 battery life (in minutes)  
IBM ThinkPad X31
270 
Sony VAIO PCG-Z1A
223 
Fujitsu LifeBook S series
207 
 
To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark2002. MobileMark measures both application performance and battery life concurrently using a number of popular applications (Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Netscape Communicator 6.0, WinZip Computing WinZip 8.0, McAfee VirusScan 5.13, Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1, and Macromedia Flash 5.0).

Find out more about how we test notebooks.


System configurations:

Fujitsu LifeBook S series
Windows XP Professional; 1.4GHz Intel Pentium 4-M; 504MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 Graphics Controller 64MB (8MB shared); Hitachi DK23EA-60 60GB 5,400rpm

IBM ThinkPad X31
Windows XP Pro; 1.4GHz Intel Pentium M; 256MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 16MB; Hitachi DK23EB-40 40GB 5,400rpm

Sony VAIO PCG-Z1A
Windows XP Home; 1.3GHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 16MB; Hitachi DK23EA-60 60GB 4,200rpm


Service and support of Sony VAIO Z1 series



Sony isn't overly generous in the service-and-support department. The company offers a standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with return-to-depot service (Sony pays for shipping). But rather than toll-free, 24/7 phone support for the life of the system, Sony includes only a year's worth of free phone help. After the warranty ends, calls to support are $19.95 per incident. At least you can up your warranty to three years for another $200, which we recommend doing.

The company's support Web site has improved in the past six months, now featuring a new, intuitive knowledgebase that's a lot like Ask Jeeves. But it still lacks helpful elements such as customer forums and the ability to chat in real time with a tech-support representative. Thankfully, the printed and online setup manuals are easy to follow.

hide (x)User opinions

hide (x)Where to buy

hide (x)Similar products

Similar products

hide (x)Tips

hide (x)Forums

Forums for Sony VAIO Z1 series

by panchopanteratec - June 20, 2006


by smgnj - March 09, 2006


by hanyk - January 18, 2005



sony vaio's? 4 comments

by mclaughlinhugh - October 12, 2006


Where to buy Sony VAIO Z1 series

Buying choices

from online stores:

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.


advertisement
advertisement
Before you buy
Laptop finder
Editors' top laptops
Laptop buying guide
See all laptop reviews
advertisement
Click Here

Popular on CBS sites: Fantasy Football | Miley Cyrus | MLB | Wii | GPS | Recipes | Mock Draft


© 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use