I’m REALLY thinking of getting the new Vaio TZ and have seen that in Japan at least, you can pick either the optical drive or a 2.5” 160 gb hard drive in its place in addition to its main 1.8” hard drive and the latter option also adds another USB port.

I am going crazy over which one to pick. This one seller I’m thinking of buying from is charging $200 more for the optical drive. With the 2.5” hard drive, you cannot use the AV mode unfortunately. I don’t use the optical drive that much at all and think I can just rip some ISOs on my dad’s computer and transfer them to the TZ’s 160 gb hard drive, all of them in one safe and convenient place.

But I have never gone without an optical drive before so I dunno.

All signs seem to indicate it cannot be done, but would it be possible if I chose the 2.5” hard drive and later wanted to take it out and put in the optical drive and vice versa? I know its not a modular bay unforunately but would there be any way to do it, I know it will most likely void the warranty as well. Maybe if I took it to a technician or something?

Thank you very much and I hope I can get some answers ASAP! 

you know i hate to break your heart, but i don’t see this happening.

Unless ..

For switching to make sense in everyday use, I think it must be possible to make it in a handy, like on the Fujitzu-Siemens P7010. This doesn’t seem to be the case with Sony TZ.

For all of us who need or wish a dvd drive, this implies that the current TZ models with only 32 GB SSD will have too small disc capacity. For me this means that I will wait for 64 GB SSD will come, hopefully later this year.

I also hope that there will be more color options available in the wonderful TZ series: White (and also white keyboard) and blue in particular.

Isn’t there an exterior DVD option Dynamism and Geekstuff4U? Makes sense if you really do not usually use the DVD drive you can leave the exterior at home and use it only in emergencies or before you leave home, or just leave it in the car/suitcase when traveling.

It is quite expensive. Would only this particular DVD burner work on the Vaio TZ or would any external optical drive work on it?

BUMP! Any more feedback please?

...pity Sony doesn’t seem interested in putting powered iLink ports on their lappys anymore.  I have a PCGA-DVD1 i wouldn’t mind using on this thing.

my personal choice would be, according to dynamism, the first two configs

http://www.dynamism.com/tz90/pricing.shtml