Sony Vaio Z gets another update, as Apple's MBA lags well behind three Sony Z updates

[Scottsdale]

The Vaio Z was updated, AGAIN. Wouldn't it be great if Apple gave a crap about its customers and wanted to compete just like Sony does? Amazing... a full 1080p resolution display in the new 13" Vaio Z offering. When will Apple get off it's ***** iOS high horse and give a damn about computing again?

ALL of the 2010 Mac updates were a joke except the new Mac mini. Isn't it sick that the only Mac truly getting any love is the mini desktop in a mobile Mac world? Does this make any sense? Seriously, a complete lack of innovation in the new Mac notebooks. Two years since the last MBA update.

Apple really has had its time to work on iOS products like the iPad and iPhone. I really hope SJ's has an answer to Sony, and every other ultraportable on the market, within the holiday season. It is absolutely ridiculous that we WANT TO SPEND MONEY and Apple refuses to allow us to UPGRADE our Macs.

As a shareholder, I am honestly concerned. In the long run, it will be the Macs that define the expansion of Apple year over year. Apple has more room to grow in the computing market than it does in iOS products. Apple is dominating the tablet market. Apple is doing incredibly well in the smartphone market.

Apple seems to just let the Macs grow on their own at their own small but steady rate. Wouldn't it make sense to capitalize on all of the customers who are buying iPads and iPhones and sell them Mac ultraportables and updated notebooks? Real updates with relevant components? A value over prior models?

Apple is big enough to grow both its Mac markets and its iOS product markets simultaneously. It isn't limited on resources, so why the long delays and lack of updates or worthless updates? I seriously don't understand how Sony can have an infinite number of products yet continuously give its customers a real reason to upgrade while Apple can only focus on one iProduct at a time.

Come on Apple. Come on SJ's. Where the hell is the passion for the Mac computers? Why don't you WANT IT anymore? You know what "it" is... incredibly amazing computing innovation. Don't let Sony and others keep whipping you, fight back already!

Anyone else here ready and willing to pay money the day the MBA gets updated? We have been discussing this for 18 months, and it's still not here.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Steve Jobs and team are 'skating to where the puck is heading' which means that Macs will continue to take the back seat. My random thought on the Air was that it also served to refine their design and manufacturing processes for the iPad, in terms of miniaturisation and heat dissipation.

When updates take longer and longer to come round on any Apple product, it often doesn't bode well. I wouldn't be surprised if the Air was discontinued, as it just might be in a relatively pricey niche that might not last the distance with the iPad now in the lineup. I'm not entirely happy about Macs taking the back seat in the scheme of things, but I'm not flipping to Windows.

 

[miles01110]

Anyone else here ready and willing to pay money the day the MBA gets updated?

Perhaps this is why they don't feel any urgency to upgrade. They know they have your money anyways.

 

[colourfastt]

Is there a point to this thread?

 

[lilcosco08]

Is there a point to this thread?

Yes, showing how much far ahead Sony is compared to the MBA

 

[halledise]

The Vaio Z was updated, AGAIN. Wouldn't it be great if Apple gave a crap about its customers and wanted to compete just like Sony does? Amazing... a full 1080p resolution display in the new 13" Vaio Z offering. When will Apple get off it's ***** iOS high horse and give a damn about computing again?

Anyone else here ready and willing to pay money the day the MBA gets updated? We have been discussing this for 18 months, and it's still not here.

at *$3600 to a whopping *$4100 for a plastic notebook that someone's moulded with an ugly stick???
I think not, irrespective of the specs.

and, at the end of day - it's still a flippin' PeeCee

be patient Scotters - it'll come - and for a lot less than $4k

(* these are $Aus prices but given the USD and $Aus are almost on a par these days you can knock off a couple of hundred at best to get your american equivalent.)

 

[Mike225]

at *$3600 to a whopping *$4100 for a plastic notebook that someone's moulded with an ugly stick???
I think not, irrespective of the specs.

and, at the end of day - it's still a flippin' PeeCee

be patient Scotters - it'll come - and for a lot less than $4k

(* these are $Aus prices but given the USD and $Aus are almost on a par these days you can knock off a couple of hundred at best to get your american equivalent.)

The hell are you talking about?

 

[entatlrg]

Is there a point to this thread?

Absolutely there's a point to this thread ... to show how bad Apple has ignored the product Steve Job's was "lusting for" ... and wow'd the world by pulling it from an envelope....

There's GOOD reason(S) to be pissed .... iPad is great for some but with 45 billion CASH in the bank, unemployed Engineer's the world over and Apple can't do *something* to appease the ultra light notebook user?

Many have jumped ship already, I did so with the utmost reluctance ... I kept going back to my MBA only to be slowed down by lack of ram, short battery life, heat and fan noise and it's sharp edges ... next was the 13" MBP 50% heavier, c2d, only two usb ports too close together, no hdmi, sharp edges too ... the the 15" MBP as a go everywhere machine ... no thanks not my preference, it's thin and light for a 15", but bulkier to carry and handle compared to anything 3lbs...

Did I mention THREE usb ports, nicely spaced so you can actually use them all at once, hdmi, sd, express card slot, i5/i7, 1gb video ram, SUPER DUPER light weight ... and their panels on the z12 and now z13 are improved, (less dark areas) so you have a FIRST CLASS screen, anti glare use it anywhere like where I'm at right now on my deck in the sun ... I can't do that with a MBP glossy display ....

Sony Z 13 a cheap piece of plastic? Strongly suggest you try one for a week first ... and maybe when you're sitting there in the sunlight not seeing your face in the screen, while you're hooked up with one cable, no adapter via hdmi to your TV waching a BLU RAY movie while working with data between 3 HD's plugged into your 3 usb ports with a machine that has ENOUGH power to handle the load of a desktop, with a killer backlit keyboard, for sure decent trackpad (just adjust the settings), all this while not cutting into your arms/ wrist and rubbing them raw while you're typing non ideal positions while traveling ... after some people experience that ....

they just might like it !!

I got that for $2905 shipped... if Apple would make something comparable I'd be willing to pay even more .. but they won't give us that choice...

I've learned by experience there's no point being loyal anymore to one product/brand/company ... it too often disappoints.

If there's something in mind you want keep looking for it, try different models/brands... It's the surest way to get what you want and be less ignorant to what's out there. I could not be happier with the Sony Z 12 and that's after I gave the Z11 a LOT of criticism I hated the screen on the two I tried, really really bad and poor for Sony to I guess slip some lower grade panels in there? Now magically everything out there on the shelves including mine seem to have excellent displays, very true colors and anti glare as a bonus.

I'm wondering why I even have my 15" MBP anymore, my Sony does everything, at half the weight and my Mac Pro can handle everything else ... I don't sit at my desk often so the Sony is really getting used and pushed as my main machine ... all I can say is Windows 7 closes the gap, and Apple is one back step away from being non existent in the ultra portable market ... unless you want an iPad or a 5lb 13" MBP ... (with no i5/i7, no hdmi, no blu ray option and on and on and on).

C'mon Steve J ... this ultra portable we dream about is also the PERFECT machine for Steve himself .... unless he only watches mpeg 4 movies and doesn't need flash

 

[rdowns]

As a shareholder, I am honestly concerned. In the long run, it will be the Macs that define the expansion of Apple year over year. Apple has more room to grow in the computing market than it does in iOS products. Apple is dominating the tablet market. Apple is doing incredibly well in the smartphone market.

Apple seems to just let the Macs grow on their own at their own small but steady rate. Wouldn't it make sense to capitalize on all of the customers who are buying iPads and iPhones and sell them Mac ultraportables and updated notebooks? Real updates with relevant components? A value over prior models?

Really? As a shareholder, I couldn't be happier. Mac sales and profits have set records in many of the past 8 quarters and there is no indication this is slowing.

It all started with the iPod and its halo effect. iOS devices are what will drive increased Mac sales. The down side to this is longer times between updates.

The fact is, people are buying Macs in record numbers The only ones complaining are geeky forum members, hardly representative of the population at large.

 

[LocoStrange]

Sony caring about its customers? When did Sony make the switch?? Ive owned plenty of their products and whenever something goes wrong, I always get the same reply "Really? Its not working? Well.... that sucks but good luck to you! "

 

[wordoflife]

The pricing on the Mac Mini is a joke!

I can't agree with you though, the updates this year were not a joke in my opinion. I agree that they should update the Macbook Air soon, but I have a feeling that it will be pretty nice whenever it does come out.

 

[re2st]

Where can I get the Z 13 in US now? Been looking everywhere. They have it on Sony Canada..

 

[CaoCao]

The Vaio Z was updated, AGAIN. Wouldn't it be great if Apple gave a crap about its customers and wanted to compete just like Sony does? Amazing... a full 1080p resolution display in the new 13" Vaio Z offering. When will Apple get off it's ***** iOS high horse and give a damn about computing again?

ALL of the 2010 Mac updates were a joke except the new Mac mini. Isn't it sick that the only Mac truly getting any love is the mini desktop in a mobile Mac world? Does this make any sense? Seriously, a complete lack of innovation in the new Mac notebooks. Two years since the last MBA update.

Apple really has had its time to work on iOS products like the iPad and iPhone. I really hope SJ's has an answer to Sony, and every other ultraportable on the market, within the holiday season. It is absolutely ridiculous that we WANT TO SPEND MONEY and Apple refuses to allow us to UPGRADE our Macs.

As a shareholder, I am honestly concerned. In the long run, it will be the Macs that define the expansion of Apple year over year. Apple has more room to grow in the computing market than it does in iOS products. Apple is dominating the tablet market. Apple is doing incredibly well in the smartphone market.

Apple seems to just let the Macs grow on their own at their own small but steady rate. Wouldn't it make sense to capitalize on all of the customers who are buying iPads and iPhones and sell them Mac ultraportables and updated notebooks? Real updates with relevant components? A value over prior models?

Apple is big enough to grow both its Mac markets and its iOS product markets simultaneously. It isn't limited on resources, so why the long delays and lack of updates or worthless updates? I seriously don't understand how Sony can have an infinite number of products yet continuously give its customers a real reason to upgrade while Apple can only focus on one iProduct at a time.

Come on Apple. Come on SJ's. Where the hell is the passion for the Mac computers? Why don't you WANT IT anymore? You know what "it" is... incredibly amazing computing innovation. Don't let Sony and others keep whipping you, fight back already!

Anyone else here ready and willing to pay money the day the MBA gets updated? We have been discussing this for 18 months, and it's still not here.

1) Please provide link, I can't find it
2) Mac Mini is a desktop version of a MacBook
3) Macs keep expanding faster than PC so we will get there eventually

 

[L0s7man]

Also noteworthy is Thinkpad Edge 11 with Core i3 processor. Apparently it's a pretty cute machine for $550... 11.6", thin and light; long-lasting battery.

Air is a huge overkill. It's unnecessarily thin. I am writing this post on Panasonic Y5. It is thick, really thick laptop. But it weights almost nothing. I can pick it up with three fingers! Sure, it would be nicer if it was thinner, but it is the lightness that makes the most important difference...

All said and done, I want an Air refresh and I want it soon...

 

[mags631]

The pricing on the Mac Mini is a joke!

What are you comparing against?

 

[entatlrg]

Where can I get the Z 13 in US now? Been looking everywhere. They have it on Sony Canada..

Yes, they're in Canada now, supposed to be released in the US tomorrow I think.

BUT - consider the Z12, with the savings it's an incredible deal and the Z13 is only a minor speed bump....

 

[halledise]

The hell are you talking about?

thanks for your polite query.

I'm talking about the price points listed by Sony for their new revision of the 'Z' series 13" notebook.

It is approximately double the price of an existing MBAir.
Hence I question the value of this upgrade

I trust this clarifies things for you.

http://www.sony.com.au/product/Comp...s=VPCZ128GG&models=VPCZ127GG&models=VPCZ126GG

 

[wordoflife]

What are you comparing against?

Compare it to anything you want. $700 for that? At least give us 4GB RAM.

 

[lostforwords]

I was going to get a Macbook 13", but looking at the specs of some Sonys, I can get alot more for cheaper (or the same price) and they don't look half bad either. I've always wanted a Mac but a C2D is old. I'd rather have something fast, that will last me a while.

I completely agree with you. I wish Apple updated alot more.

 

[Scottsdale]

I don't care what Apple wants to charge. In fact, I believe they need to raise the offering and raise the price of the MBAs. I want an ultraportable premium product. The Vaio Z is an ultraportable premium product that, by the way, destroys the MBPs in every way... not just the 13" MBPs, the 15" MBPs too... even in display resolution! On a 13" Vaio Z.

Why isn't anyone else pissed that Apple doesn't give a damn. Shareholders should be furious because Apple is missing an opportunity TODAY. Apple could have sold me maybe two extra $2500 MBAs if it would properly update on a "normal" tech cycle. That is a lot of potential profit Apple is missing out on.

In addition, it doesn't matter if Apple is gaining year over year. What matters is that Apple could be DOMINATING if it gave a damn and stopped worrying about consumer margins on every product it sells. Seriously, the Macs are a terrible offering right now. There is NOT a premium offering, and Apple cannot compete at the lower price points when it needs to make its margins ratios.

I see so much opportunity being pissed away. Seriously, there is no reason Apple cannot FOCUS ON EVERY PRODUCT. Unfortunately, I believe this is too much of SJ's model of him wanting to control and micromanage every ***** product, design, update, whatever else... it's wrong and it's sad.

Shareholders should be happy about valuations of their shares of AAPL, but NOTHING ELSE. There is ZERO reason to believe AAPL wouldn't be double the value if Apple actually took strides at competing in the computing market space. The iOS products open the door for Apple to sell unlimited Macs to all these buyers who NEED a computer to sync their iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone. Why not worry about ALL POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY?

Go to Engadget for the latest info on the updates to Sony notebook dominators. It makes me sick that I am using a Lenovo ThinkPad, when Apple could have had the opportunity to make the sale. Apple doesn't care and that's being careless with shareholders' investments. $45b in the bank and cannot update its Macs.

And I still disagree that the Macs were good updates this year. I feel like it's a joke that Apple cannot give us medium grade components for our premium dollars. In addition, it's wrong to sell two-year-old Macs for full retail. Updates make buying Macs more sensible, and when there's no update buying Macs is completely stupid. When there's nothing to update to, the company needs to grow the market tremendously. Apple is depending on continued loyalty but it's not giving its customers a reason to be loyal to it. In the end, it's holding its OS hostage! That is the bottom line!

 

[kryca]

The Mac seems to have become the Apple II of this decade. Apple is ignoring their home base - almost non-existant update cycles of xserve, mac pro and MBA are the proof of the day.

Yes you could say switching from Apple II to Mac was a wise decision and it brought wealth and market share in the end. It was still a shift within roughly the same customer segment. Apple's current focus these days is purely adressing lifestyle and trends, and that's not a trust building approach to pro users. This development is rather dangerous.

I hope they will fail with all their gadgets miserably at some point and they have to get back to the roots.

Sorry for this pessimistic outlook

 

[tubbymac]

Steve Jobs and team are 'skating to where the puck is heading' which means that Macs will continue to take the back seat.

This. There just wasn't that much interest in the MBA from the average Apple consumer even during the golden days of the MBA. The MBA always had the least shelving space allocated to it and not many people gravitated towards it. The interest was always primarily focused on the iDevices and the MBPs. It doesn't take a marketing major to realize that even if you sold the MBA at like 1000% margins, the market size was too small to even put a blip on the financial statements.

The Intel versus Nvidia chipset dispute probably had a lot to do with Apple's shift focus towards iDevices too. Apple is all about gaining complete control of their hardware. In the Mac world, Intel dictates the chipsets and Intel dictates the timelines of new releases. Again it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that Apple gains more control of their hardware going the ARM route instead of the Intel route. Hence considerably more focus on ARM these days as their chip architecture of choice.

I could not be happier with the Sony Z 12 and that's after I gave the Z11 a LOT of criticism I hated the screen on the two I tried, really really bad and poor for Sony to I guess slip some lower grade panels in there? Now magically everything out there on the shelves including mine seem to have excellent displays, very true colors and anti glare as a bonus.

Argh. Just yesterday I was about to pull the trigger on a Sony Z12 until I did some google research and came across YOUR complaints about it in older threads. You and some other guy returned your Z machines (I didn't realize it was the Z11) and hated the screens. Google's first few results were the MBP 15 vs the Z11 thread. In that thread you both returned the Sonys and it persuaded me to not buy the Sony Z12.

Then I went to the store today, had a look at two different Z12 screens and was wondering what both of you were smoking because the screens looked fine to me. Now I'm all confused, hah.

 

[CaoCao]

The Mac seems to have become the Apple II of this decade. Apple is ignoring their home base - almost non-existant update cycles of xserve, mac pro and MBA are the proof of the day.

Yes you could say switching from Apple II to Mac was a wise decision and it brought wealth and market share in the end. It was still a shift within roughly the same customer segment. Apple's current focus these days is purely adressing lifestyle and trends, and that's not a trust building approach to pro users. This development is rather dangerous.

I hope they will fail with all their gadgets miserably at some point and they have to get back to the roots.

Sorry for this pessimistic outlook

Dunno about the Xserve, but the Mac Pro lacked the chips to upgrade (they upgraded when they did) and the MBA is as good as it can get as a C2D and the fastest i7 is @1.33GHz with a TDP of 18 (vs current CPU's 17) so the only upgrade is an inferior chip and why would Apple do that?

This. There just wasn't that much interest in the MBA from the average Apple consumer even during the golden days of the MBA. The MBA always had the least shelving space allocated to it and not many people gravitated towards it. The interest was always primarily focused on the iDevices and the MBPs. It doesn't take a marketing major to realize that even if you sold the MBA at like 1000% margins, the market size was too small to even put a blip on the financial statements.

The Intel versus Nvidia chipset dispute probably had a lot to do with Apple's shift focus towards iDevices too. Apple is all about gaining complete control of their hardware. In the Mac world, Intel dictates the chipsets and Intel dictates the timelines of new releases. Again it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that Apple gains more control of their hardware going the ARM route instead of the Intel route. Hence considerably more focus on ARM these days as their chip architecture of choice.



Argh. Just yesterday I was about to pull the trigger on a Sony Z12 until I did some google research and came across YOUR complaints about it in older threads. You and some other guy returned your Z machines (I didn't realize it was the Z11) and hated the screens. Google's first few results were the MBP 15 vs the Z11 thread. In that thread you both returned the Sonys and it persuaded me to not buy the Sony Z12.

Then I went to the store today, had a look at two different Z12 screens and was wondering what both of you were smoking because the screens looked fine to me. Now I'm all confused, hah.

The MBA has less space than the MP?

 

[fuzzielitlpanda]

The Sony Z is a great laptop. Even though it's really expensive, you really are getting your money's worth with its top-notch specs. If anyone cares, I found a great machine that is light, fast, has a very good GPU, and is cheap:

http://www.cendirect.com/main_en/tech_specs_JO65876O.html

Before you guys say anything, I absolutely love Apple laptops. However, there comes a time when it's just not worth it to pay more for less. I'm still interested in seeing what the new MBA will bring as Sony seems to have the best machine right now in its category.

 

[CaoCao]

The Sony Z is a great laptop. Even though it's really expensive, you really are getting your money's worth with its top-notch specs. If anyone cares, I found a great machine that is light, fast, has a very good GPU, and is cheap:

http://www.cendirect.com/main_en/tech_specs_JO65876O.html

Before you guys say anything, I absolutely love Apple laptops. However, there comes a time when it's just not worth it to pay more for less. I'm still interested in seeing what the new MBA will bring as Sony seems to have the best machine right now in its category.

The i3 has double the TDP and gets 266 more MHz wow that is fail