Sony Speaks Out on Carbon Fiber Casing VAIO SZ160P/C Debate

The Sony VAIO SZ160P/C is a 13.3" widescreen laptop made by Sony. It is marketed as a high end configuration of the popular VAIO SZ series and part of that premium configuration is having a carbon-fiber casing for extra protection and light weight. Recently debate has raged as to whether the casing is truly carbon-fiber and people have claimed Sony has sold them a plastic casing laptop for $2,500, when they paid for and expected carbon fiber. We have talked to Sony representatives and they say no Sony SZ series uses plastic casing and clear up confusion caused by differences in carbon-fiber version between the Japan and U.S.

In a raging debate in our Sony forums seen in these two threads:

• ALL SZ160p/c OWNERS MUST READ THIS!!!!!
• SZ160P vs SZ160P/C - whats the difference?

Owners wrangle and debate as to whether their casing is plastic or not. We asked Sony whether they did indeed sell plastic casing on these Sony SZ160 models that were promised as carbon-fiber and they offered the following response:

"It seems this is a simple misunderstanding. Claims that these SZ Series notebook cases are not carbon fiber are innacurate. Sony advertises that the VGN-SZ160 casing is carbon fiber and that is true. The confusion probably stems from the fact that in Japan there are two carbon fiber models. The first is the premium version that has a criss-cross pattern texture on the surface. The other is the standard carbon fiber version which is smooth. People may be confused because the smooth surface VGN-SZ160 model in the US does not look like the textured premium version sold in Japan."

So, to clarify, in Japan there is an option for "Premium Carbon" casing on certain SZ series models, this casing has visible weaves. However,this casing option is not available on any North American configuration of the VAIO SZ. Instead, the SZ160 comes with what Sony calls "Black Carbon" in which it is a smooth look and the weave is not visible. See the image below for visuals on this:

(view large image)

• "Premium Carbon" = Available Japan ONLY for VAIO SZ Premium models.
• "Black Carbon" = Available Worldwide for VAIO SZ Premium models.
• "Black" =Available Worldwide, this is the standard magnesium-alloy casing on all non-premium VAIO SZ models.

Furthermore, our highly trustedfriend, Ivan G.of PortableOne.comwho sells Sony VAIO laptops,offers the following input fromhis post in the forums on this topic:

"By reading this thread it looks like what caused this question to blow-out of proportion was that Sony rep who responded not knowing what he or she was talking about. In case I missed someone else's post, you can check out various Asus units that feature carbon fiber composite lids & encasings, such as the Z33's, V6's and others and none of them have any sort of weave in them. And Sony does not offer a plastic lid for any SZ series; the other non-premium edition unit uses a magnesium encasing."

It seems this is all a bit of a big confusion, and the flames of the debate stoked by uninformed tech support people at Sony. Some of this can certainly be attributed tobad/confusing marketing on Sony's part, but no malice or rip off attempts were intended.

 

Good to see Sony finally spoke up. Took them long enough. True or not, this was a PR disaster in the making since once something like this starts to spread it sort of takes on a life of it's own, seeing as how a lot of people do what I refer to as "drive by reading" when looking at news on the web. They just skim headlines and that is what sticks with them, many times whether is based in fact or not

 

Good update post, no need for much debate anymore yes? The laptop's fine, customer service not so good, end of story.

 

Why do people think carbon fiber has to always have a weave. it can just be imbedded in plastic. you really only see the weave in car producs and thats just for looks.

 

It also doesn't help that only about 10 people on this forum actually know anything about carbon fiber...

Javier

 

Thanks for the post. good reporting.

 

I would like to add a special "Thanks, Sony". It is about time that Sony is responsive to consumer questions. Now, if Sony would take ownership of some of the well-known intrinsic design flaws in their notebook computer lines...

Q

 

This explanation does not satisfy average buyer. Average buyer wants to know what percentage of carbon is in premium carbon, what percentage is in black carbon and what percentage is in premium carbon. Only then, when he knows all the details, he can make responsible decision which model to buy based on feature/price ratio. Buying a notebook is like investing on stock exchange. If you are dumb and do not investigate multitude of attributes of a company you are investing in, you are gonna loose all of your hard earn money very quickly. But if you investigate trends, price earning ratios, revenues, etc. you might get a fair chance to make a good stock investment. The same is true for notebook purchase. There are dozens, hundreds of features and models. Only if you have all the data in front of you, only then you can make wise decision. If carbon was not so expensive, then percentages would not matter, but here we are talking about hundreds and hundreds of dollars of difference between each level of carbonization. For this difference alone you can buy even a new basic notebook. Buyer wants to know if price difference is justified.

 

That would be why, especially with car themed laptops and to get car nuts to buy. I like cars, I like carbon fiber and I prefer with the weave.

 

I'm still unclear as to what part of the laptop is made from CF. The lid only, or the interior casing too? Either way, it is a very light laptop at 13.3"

 

When they talk carbon fiber, it's almost always just the lid, this can vary on the model though.

 

I think that the biggest SONY scams are the 'claims of long battery life' versus the actual battery life AND the low end software packaged with a high end machine.

 

Well, I guess the debate rages on... The $500 difference in price is not just for the carbon fiber - it's for the razor-thin, lid (which just happens to be made of carbon-fiber, which in turn leads to a slightly lighter total weight of the unit). Let's not forget that 'cool' products (read: Motorola RAZR when 1st released) are always expensive, and this certainly falls into this category. There is always a premium paid to have 1st, thinnest, lightest, etc... The deal 'maker' for me in this case was the FAR superior LCD of the premium vs the non-premium, one of the best I have ever seen. Due to LED lighting technology, the LCD also yields slightly better battery life. ALL of these things make the premium superior to the non-premium models. If you're not satisfied with Sony's explanation, then I suggest you vote with your wallet and send them a message - BUY SOMETHING ELSE.

Javier

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

I was laughing as I read posts about the lid not being CF whilst it is. *pats his SZ Black Carbon Lid*

 

Why don't we focus our efforts on Sony's consistent (ridiculous) lie about their claim on battery life?

Can they compensate us with an extra spare battery?

 

I asked. They said they will test and get back to me. that was 2 weeks ago.

 

As someone that has owned a few VAIO's I agree, you have a very good point here.

How do you like your D620?, how long have you had it?

 

i've actually gotten 6 hours on my SZ. stamina mode, wifi on, bluetooth disabled. i used it to browse through the internet. i'm sure when they claimed 7 hours that would be for minimal power use.

 

Premium Cabon-Fibre Casing only in Japan eh? Don't look now but the VGN-SZ281P/XK1 is now available through sony style U.S. I guess they saw a market and went with it.

tsha

 

pure carbon fiber has a weave, and on car parts, thats usually why its left unpainted.

 

how?!????? with the regular battery?? thats hard to believe.

 

carbon fiber (example car hood) are woven carbon fiber sheet cover in epoxy... then polish to look glossy... its way to complicated if they uses real carbon fiber, and its to expensive to make it for laptop... cant paint it if they havent put a top as epoxy or polyurethane... unless they cover it wit fiber glass then paint it, which make no sense because you cant see the carbon fiber which make every one feel cool to look at... and because its a fiber cloth, it has no definite texture... if it has no coating...

a car guy...

 

sorry OOT

which one is better actually, CF or magnesium alloy?
which one more expenseive?

T60 has magnesium alloy which seems very strong

 

for laptop its definitely the magnesium, carbon fiber its not as strong as magnesium but if you bang it its have little flexibility to it and it wouldnt dent like the magnesium, but it could crack... but in anycase magnesium last longer...

 

Go magnesium, they spread heat better than the carbon ones.

 

if some of you people thought the whole case was carbon fiber, you're idiots. the only thing that is carbon fiber is the lid casing. the end.

 

whoa there, learn your stuff, carbon fiber is way stronger than magnesium.

 

sony actually claim a 200% strength increase over magnesium in their latest mid 2007 catalogue..

in total they say the cf chasis is 200% stronger then the equiv magnesium chasis, and the main chasis is 400% more rigid then std plastic bodies, with a 30% reduction in weight.

 

Carbon fiber, like any fiber-reinforced material, is strong in its fiber direction, but not in the direction perpendicular to the fibers. Now, when you lay several sheets of carbon on top of one another, you can do it in a few ways; one is to continue laying them with the fibers in the same direction, another is to lay them with the fibers perpendicular, and another is to lay them with fibers at 45 degrees (generally). The latter two methods achieve greater strength in non-longitudinal directions, but it tends to be expensive. When they are laid perpendicular, that's when you get the "weave" effect.

Also, being a composite, carbon fiber is brittle (much more brittle than metal alloys). So it's tougher than magnesium alloy, but not necessarily stronger. But the average person really doesn't know the difference.

There's your engineering lesson for the day .