Hmmm, we were told by Sony specifically that it was an IPS panel...NBR has a whole bunch of random speculation it looks like, we'll look into it to get a better idea.
IPS does not guarantee great colors, particularly if the backlight is a low gamut (<40% NTSC) model. Without doing some actual tests I can't say how good/bad the display is in terms of color quality, though it didn't look bad at the show. The viewing angles however I'm quite sure are IPS -- certainly not TN at any rate. As Vivek mentions, Sony's rep specifically said the SE was an IPS panel (at least the 1080p model being shown).
Actually the UX31 had horrid viewing angles compared to, say, MBA. I spent some time comparing viewing angle-pictures on notebookcheck, and my studio 1555 (TN) has actually better horizontal viewing angles, but the SE has far superior vertical viewing angles.
Notice how it's an ultra-thin dock, including a slim optical drive as well. This is why I say I'd be happier with a faster GPU and a slightly larger dock, but this one is more about aesthetics. Form over function.
as Jarred mentions.Sony using a 6650M is rather wierd,does it have something to do with fan noise?did you ask the execs WHY they are using a 6650M.Will there be an option to use a higher end GPU in the dock?Is the fan noise still crazy loud like the 2011 model?
See above; the dock is basically ultrabook levels of thin (give or take), and they didn't want to make it larger/more powerful. This is Sony we're talking about after all -- just like Apple, high powered GPUs are generally the least of their concerns.
I presumed it was because the Vaio Z's implementation of "light peak" had much less bandwidth than the 'full' thunderbolt specification. A faster GPU would be bottlenecked.
That's true. Obviously without testing 6650M internal, 6650M in the PMD, and something like 6770M in the PMD we can't come to a firm conclusion. I suspect there are occasions where the Light Peak bandwidth would limit performance of a faster GPU, but there would be other scenarios where it would not. More to the point, a desktop 6770 would actually be cheaper than a mobile 6650M--MXM modules are always more expensive. But it would ruin the sleek form factor and require a full x16 slot.
Is Sony still blocking certain options in their laptop BIOS ? I know they used to block VT-x, making 64-bits virtualization impossible, among other things. Is that still happening with the new models?
I like Sony design for laptops, but I hate buying a equipment that comes locked like this. Specially the premium range. Doesn't make sense to me.
Sony still doesnt have uefi boot, ever since it was blocked in 2008 or so to prevent a bootmod that was able to modify fhe bios to enable hw virtualization.
I'm looking at getting the older 13.3" Vaio SA which has the 6630M graphics card. How would this compare to the SE 15.5? I know you guys reviewed the SB a while back, but that doesn't have the higher-res screen (have you seen how the quality is with that?) and it has a lesser GPU.
Thoughts? I know they aren't necessarily designed for the same type of user, but they are both on my radar.
Admittedly the ultrabooks are attractive initially. But I am not sure that they are really going to sell that well. They just seem too expensive for the performance, and I also dont know how they cannot heat up if you do any really intensive tasks. You could get a tablet and a Brazos netbook or small laptop for the same price as an ultrabook, at least a high quality one. And it still bothers me that a 1000 dollar plus laptop will be lower in performance than a 400.00 Llano. I know the weight is way less and it is much nicer, but still??
They might be a hit in the business world though, when the company is footing the bill and wants your laptop to look impressive, and the person does a lot of traveling.
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jeremyshaw - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
ohh......Though the consensus on NBR Forums is the SE does not have an IPS display, rather a TN with a good wide angle polarizer (similar to UX31 zenbook).
VivekGowri - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
Hmmm, we were told by Sony specifically that it was an IPS panel...NBR has a whole bunch of random speculation it looks like, we'll look into it to get a better idea.jeremyshaw - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
Has more to do with the lack of proper color reproduction. I'm interested in what Sony has to say, too.JarredWalton - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
IPS does not guarantee great colors, particularly if the backlight is a low gamut (<40% NTSC) model. Without doing some actual tests I can't say how good/bad the display is in terms of color quality, though it didn't look bad at the show. The viewing angles however I'm quite sure are IPS -- certainly not TN at any rate. As Vivek mentions, Sony's rep specifically said the SE was an IPS panel (at least the 1080p model being shown).Darkstone - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
Actually the UX31 had horrid viewing angles compared to, say, MBA.I spent some time comparing viewing angle-pictures on notebookcheck, and my studio 1555 (TN) has actually better horizontal viewing angles, but the SE has far superior vertical viewing angles.
Sony SE:
http://www.notebookcheck.com/typo3temp/pics/99c4ed...
Studio 15:
http://www.notebookcheck.com/uploads/pics/black_87...
Notice the colored band on the right. on the SE it washes out fast, on the studio 15 it has few color shift even on extreme horizontal angles.
synaesthetic - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
WTF Sony? At least put a mid range desktop card in there.Mumrik - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
If it's in an external powered dock, why even use a mobile GPU part?JarredWalton - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
Notice how it's an ultra-thin dock, including a slim optical drive as well. This is why I say I'd be happier with a faster GPU and a slightly larger dock, but this one is more about aesthetics. Form over function.abhicherath - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
as Jarred mentions.Sony using a 6650M is rather wierd,does it have something to do with fan noise?did you ask the execs WHY they are using a 6650M.Will there be an option to use a higher end GPU in the dock?Is the fan noise still crazy loud like the 2011 model?JarredWalton - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
See above; the dock is basically ultrabook levels of thin (give or take), and they didn't want to make it larger/more powerful. This is Sony we're talking about after all -- just like Apple, high powered GPUs are generally the least of their concerns.TrackSmart - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
I presumed it was because the Vaio Z's implementation of "light peak" had much less bandwidth than the 'full' thunderbolt specification. A faster GPU would be bottlenecked.You guys mention this a while back:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4474/sony-updates-va...
JarredWalton - Monday, January 16, 2012 - link
That's true. Obviously without testing 6650M internal, 6650M in the PMD, and something like 6770M in the PMD we can't come to a firm conclusion. I suspect there are occasions where the Light Peak bandwidth would limit performance of a faster GPU, but there would be other scenarios where it would not. More to the point, a desktop 6770 would actually be cheaper than a mobile 6650M--MXM modules are always more expensive. But it would ruin the sleek form factor and require a full x16 slot.Kiji - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
Is Sony still blocking certain options in their laptop BIOS ? I know they used to block VT-x, making 64-bits virtualization impossible, among other things. Is that still happening with the new models?I like Sony design for laptops, but I hate buying a equipment that comes locked like this. Specially the premium range. Doesn't make sense to me.
nitrous9200 - Sunday, January 15, 2012 - link
Pretty sure they don't do that anymore. My laptop (Sony FW) was one of many that received a BIOS update that unlocked the virtualization option.jeremyshaw - Monday, January 16, 2012 - link
Sony still doesnt have uefi boot, ever since it was blocked in 2008 or so to prevent a bootmod that was able to modify fhe bios to enable hw virtualization.iamlilysdad - Monday, January 16, 2012 - link
I'm looking at getting the older 13.3" Vaio SA which has the 6630M graphics card. How would this compare to the SE 15.5? I know you guys reviewed the SB a while back, but that doesn't have the higher-res screen (have you seen how the quality is with that?) and it has a lesser GPU.Thoughts? I know they aren't necessarily designed for the same type of user, but they are both on my radar.
Thanks in advance.
Malih - Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - link
Proprietary connector... again?Can't Intel tell these companies to use only one type of connector?
frozentundra123456 - Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - link
Admittedly the ultrabooks are attractive initially. But I am not sure that they are really going to sell that well. They just seem too expensive for the performance, and I also dont know how they cannot heat up if you do any really intensive tasks. You could get a tablet and a Brazos netbook or small laptop for the same price as an ultrabook, at least a high quality one. And it still bothers me that a 1000 dollar plus laptop will be lower in performance than a 400.00 Llano. I know the weight is way less and it is much nicer, but still??They might be a hit in the business world though, when the company is footing the bill and wants your laptop to look impressive, and the person does a lot of traveling.
Fran - Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - link
Dear friends, sell my Vaio Z21-2011 purchased in August-2011, if there is someone interested can visit the link indicated below;http://www.ebay.es/itm/SONY-Vaio-Z21-Ultrabook-VPC...
Greetings!
Fran - Thursday, April 26, 2012 - link
Hi all! I lowered the price to -300 €.http://www.ebay.es/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&a...
Regards.