Official Sony S11/S12/S13 (2010) Owners Thread

CTO are affected. Battery can be swapped CTO or not.
I am not bothered about it as long as I know it won't fall.

 

Maybe because :
- this is a laptop targeting business people and glossy screens aren't necessarily what business users want. Look at Dell, HP desktop monitors they may or may not be glossy but what you don't have is such a shallow vertical viewing angle.
- having owned several Sony laptops this screen which may have qualities such as contrast and vibrance, is, sadly, less practical.

If I'm bored I might do a comparison between the Z, the S and the FW screens to show the differences.

 

I'm not worried about it, since there are no quality differences (and the S11G7E suits me fine) I have no good reasons to go for a CTO. Thank you for answers.

 

Sorry but what is CTO?

Customized I guess? If I go for the S - there is only one preconf. option offered here (yet) and it perfectly suits me both as configuration and price
Well I wish for a better GPU and obviously better screen but that's not changable even with CTO.

 

Yep. CTO = Configure To Order.

 

Customized to Order, I guess - the ones you buy from sonystyle

 

One small additional question - is the back cover of the screen actually plastic or metal? I couldn't get whether just the main construction is metal (as if it could be anything else, but let's say it's stronger metal) or also the back cover completely too? Does it flex if pushed in the center and how much?

The Y I looked at yesterday was quite soft - if you apply some force to the back, I think you can easily affect the screen inside :-/

 

Its mostly magnesium alloy, however the screen, like almost all other notebooks, does flex. However, it still feels durable enough that you can open/close the lid by just hanging on to one corner of the screen. It's a huge improvement over my old SZ.

To another person who asked about changing the contrast/saturation via software, you can do it through Nvidia's CP, or Intel's GMA CP (I think it has the option) or alternatively there are countless utilities out there (Rivatuner for one, does it fine even though it has not been updated to support overclocking/tweaking G310) that do the same. Also, please calibrate your screens!!! W7 has a basic app on it, you can hopefully try to match it up with your desktops display (or you can do it the slower but more accurate way through small steps in NV CP, which was what I did). Also adjust ClearType, it makes everything much sharper and cleaner to look at.
Keep in mind that different brightnesses also require different profiles, otherwise it'll look "off" again.

To those who keep claiming that the screen is horrible. It is not that horrid after you properly tweak it. Also, high saturation + high contrast does not define the best screen... Though color accuracy is not the best in the world or comparable to IPS panels, it is accurate enough that I can do photoshop work and get 97%+ (colors are pretty much on the spot) the color accuracy compared to other workstations and studio prints.

 

Thanks very much for this info. Then a very quick question to you as I see you also have the i5 + dedicated graphics version I am also aiming at:

Is really the screen a deal breaker if one is looking for at least an average screen - viewing angles, colors, brightness, contrast?! Does it really help to tweak it or does it only change unnoticably little?
Someone wrote that even text looks bold on the top of the screen, which to be honest I find hard to believe if the panel is in good position.

As I said, it looked worse then many others around in the shop, but I was not able to play with settings there - All I could do is compare the standart pictures available.

As for calibration - I only find this action adequate if it would make the concrete user more happy with the screen. It is absolutely pointless to calibrate something in order to produce photos that for 99% of the time will be viewed on uncalibrated screens. If you don't sell you pictures to really proffessional agencies that do use calibrated screens - it doesn't matter much how accurate your colors are, as the chances are that they will be just as inaccurate on other screens as if you hadn't calibrated

 

I've just gone through the Windows 7 Display calibration wizard and although it helped me to notice there was too much green and blue to make a good grey it won't help with the vertical viewing angles.
I wonder if I've been lucky with all the previous displays I use daily (Samsung 244T, Vaio Z, ViewSony 22" something and now Vaio S)..

I'm surprise one would use this display for any serious photo editing.
Right now looking at NBR website with the light blue (hopefully it's blue..) backgorund with the screen angled at its best I can feel a definite gradient between the top and the bottom where it gets lighter, and I'm not moving my head.
The only angle where the disparity is at the lowest is by pushing the display at around 45 degrees from full opening, turning my S into some sort of tablet

Oh and I forgot I've ordered the brand new Dell UltraSharp U2711 monitor to replace my Samsung 244T. My eyes going to explode

 

If you want a closer color calibration try these settings:

INTEL GRAPHIC PROPERTIES >>> COLOR ENHANCEMENT:

From ALL COLORS:
Gamma: .9
Saturation: 7

Then go to BLUE channel and change Contrast to 49.

The only thing is, every time I restart the computer, so do the settings. Anyway, YES, the colors are extremely washed out on this monitor, but if you have to use it, those are the settings I am currently using (I'll update when I work with prints).

On the other hand, for anyone in the market for this computer who does work with Photography/Adobe/etc., using the computer with an attached external monitor works fairly well.

 

can any best buy s11 owner confirm that there is global warranty? i'll be moving to china in the summer, it would suck if warranty doesn't work

 

I finally got a Sony S116 myself. A very nice model indeed. Just a couple of questions.

1) Buzz noise still not completely gone after sound driver update?

So I have been browsing this forum and was well aware of the buzz noise issue that is emitted from the speaker, and did already installed the update. The buzz noise did go away... but... only for most of the time... it just happened to me again just now. I saw about the buzz noise in the Sony F series and apparently they say it has to do with the microphone. So I am trying to change to microphone setting as the Sony F ppl are doing it, let's see if it will work. Anybody tried any other solution?

2) Do I need to get a screen protector for this?

This is my first reflective screen desktop. I am not sure how durable and scratch resistant Sony S screen is. However, I personally like it more without a screen protector, but only if the screen is of high resistance quality.

But overall, really loving it so far!

 

Hi, I live in Canada and I purchased a S series about 2-3 weeks ago from Best Buy.
I don't know about you guys but my computer keeps freezing when I listen to music. Even when I try to play games, it would freeze every 5 minutes.
I got an exchange and this one also has the same problem.
Did I just get unlucky twice or is there a way to fix this problem?
Thanks!

 

Ditto. Mine won't do it as often but it does freeze on occasion, usually when I play music. I haven't really searched for a fix - could be a WMP issue?

 

No freezes to report since I've had my S for about a week.

 

Looking at the new Z now available for pre-order, I wonder if I should have gone with it (assuming they've sorted out the problems with the flexing lid).

 

My reading of the S11, purchased at BB, is that it's North America only. The Toshiba E205 is global.

The ASUS warranties that I've seen have all been global. IIRC, two years global with one year accidental. That's a major enticement for globe trotters.

 

Hi, I'm tossing up between this and the Y series (Y series has a good battery life)

Can any users tell me how long their battery lasts?

Do you have the standard battery or extended one?

 

Hello Vaio users! I'm going to buy S model, but I'm really interested in battery life (real life) with dedicated and Intel ...
Please help me, what is the real battery life (with Nvidia and Intel) !!!!

Also one question - can intel hd card play compressed HD video.

(Please do not ignore my message)

SNX !!!!!!

 

I have the standard battery with the NVIDIA graphics and the 7200RPM drive and I will get around 4 hours (could be more, I haven't tested it thoroughly enough yet). Intel graphics and a slower HDD should achieve even better results.

However, it depends on how you use your machine. Intel graphics & screen at full brightness will affect results.

In the 3 days I have had this laptop, I have had NO BATTERY DRAIN.

 

From what I've seen - the Y is way too fragile... Wouldn't buy it for this reason. Have a look at it good before you consider it.... push the back cover of the lid to see how soft it is!

 

A question: does your S come with an Atheros Wi-Fi card or the Advanced-N 6200 from Intel?

 

Advanced-N 6200 from Intel

 

thanks guys, i'm going to go into my local sonystore tomorrow and have a look.

im in aus and the specs on our sony website say up to 3.5hrs with the standard battery (same model no. as the uk website though?) and you guys are reporting 4-6hours. battery life is an issue for me. ideally 5 hrs, no less

i'm not reeeallly too worried about Y being fragile, but if it's unreasonable, then obviously i won't get it.

im more worried about the cpu's performance. i don't do heavy work. i.e no gaming or photoshop - just surfing,music,word,excel,youtube... plus, the S here is $600 more.

i just don't want a slow computer (what i described above probably doesn't warrant the need for much though? i don't have a clue about it really)

 

Get the Y series. It meets your requirements (battery & cost being the prime ones).

The S series is a better machine, but it costs a lot more and it will not be as frugal as the Y series is with power.

 

thanks (and thanks for the comment in the other thread too)
I'll see how it is in the flesh tomorrow. hopefully the store has one in.

cost is an issue atm, being a uni student. the Y is about $1000 here and thats about as cheap as you'll get for a 13" laptop. i figure i'll drop more cash on a better laptop in 2/3 years when ssd's are the new hdd's and much better things are out

 

Yeah! Thank you

Well, I can't say whether it's too fragile for you, but it's certainly too fragile for Gracy I've never seen such destructiveness before.

 

does the extended battery sit flush on this? how much more does it weigh?

 

Your spec? 310m?
Try updating your sound driver,it may help.

 

Take a look at ul30at/vt ,you'll get better machine for money.

 

I'm having the same problem....I even searched for Bluetooth in control panel and nothing came up, I thought it was supposed to have Bluetooth

Anyone else with a S have success in pairing a bluetooth device?

 

I just went to purchase it on the UK sony style store with an i5 and all the specs I'm looking for, and right before checkout I realised the model number was VPCS11V5E, which is different to the latest Vaio S which are at VPCS11V9E/B - what is the difference?

 

VPCS11V5E is the CTO model (you can configure it as you like), VPCS11V9E is the preconfigured model.

(Sony has usually a 5 in the EU CTO model numbers, e.g. the preconfigured Z had the model number Z51WG and the CTO was Z55X)

 

have you seen the build quality of those things. it's shocking!?!

it creaks.
the keyboard has wayyy too much flex.
the screen is baad.
i used the touchpad and it was horrible.

doesn't seem like a fair deal. here anyway the ul30vt and ul80vt are the same price so i'd get the 80vt because you get an optical drive and switchable graphichs but they are still ~$1500.
Y is ~$1000.

i'd need a good keyboard which means sony or apple
need a great touchpad which means sony or apple.

 

Can anyone share his calibration settings for 310m?

I only saw those for integrated card above.

 

If the i5 can last 4 hours with wi-fi on then surely the i3 could last 5 hours with wi-fi on or at least 5 hours with wi-fi turned off?

it's just weird, on the australian site it says up to 3.5hours on the i3 machine, but with all these reports of i5's getting 4 hours with the standard battery, it can't be right

would sony be testing it with full screen brightness and not power saving mode?

to clarify, the aus model i3 standard battery is VGP-BPS21A Lithium-ion battery

^is this the same spec standard battery you guys have on the i5? it doesn't make sense to say up to 3.5hrs...

if that's right though and i can get 5 hours out of the i3 machine, i'd buy it i reckon! i'd have wi-fi turned off when im typing in lectures anyway.

what does the lack of dedicated graphics mean that i can't do? keeping in mind i do no gaming, photo or video editing. can it still look fine on my 26" desktop screen? ( i wouldn't watch movies on it. i have a blue ray player for that )

 

VGP-BPS21A, yep, same battery.

3.5 hour is a conservative estimate I suppose with more aggressive usage of the system's resources. All I did was play music (through speakers) and surf the internet a little (a few videos, wikipedia, some researching), and some document typing.

5 hours might be a bit tough, but may be possible (i3 + Intel GMA)

The lack of a dedicated graphics cards does not really hinder anything if you don't play games. The GMA still accelerates HD videos, flash videos, and saves a bit on battery life.

 

I thought i'd share this YouTube clip I found earlier of a white sony S11 Vaio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B2jHjMVuF8

The owner originally posted a video of this laptop with a faulty screen, since then he has claimed the screen finally turned on after 5 days?! sounds strange..

 

he later post that the screen is fine, also there is one more video of black model

 

I have the European Black version with Core i3 and HD graphics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcsFHNnJNd4

First impressions are very positive.

Pros:

1. Great build quality
2. It's basically silent during surfing and light office work, even when playing HD video the fan rarely comes on.
3. Keyboard is excellent, just as good as MacBooks, I I haven't noticed any flex at all.
4. Lots of connections, HDMI, VGA, Card Reader, 3 USB, everything I need.
5. Integrated DVD-drive, few 13" actually have this.

Cons:

1. Screen is ok, but not great or excellent. Viewing angles are not good. I don't mind that much, because I will use an external monitor for all serious work.
2. Battery seems small and really hard to insert. I don't expect more than 4 hours max, larger battery is avaliable though.
3. Lots of crapware, really needs to be re-installed with a fresh Windows 7, I will do that asap.
4. Kinda slow harddrive (5400rpm), but very quiet.

Windows Experience Index:

Processor: 6.2
RAM: 5.9
Graphics: 4.6
Gaming Graphics: 5.1
Harddisk: 5.9

Video:

Video showing in full HD streaming, which the VAIO S with integrated graphics does perfectly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcsFHNnJNd4

 

There you go... finally the first detailed review is available in German:

http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Sony-Vaio-VPC-S11M1E-Notebook.25698.0.html

I would translate some of the most important comments if you wish, but generally - nothing we didn't know already - with a few words:

Qualitative construction, good keyboard and mousepad, cool and silent, BUT dissatisfying display - bad viewing angle, poor brightness and poor contrast, as well as color range! Also - average battery lifetime, but more important - slow charging.



Nevertheless, a score of 86% which is a bit above the average.

 

Wii, if it's possible would you please do a test from a fully charged battery too see how long it lasts with power save mode on and brightness turned down a bit? No one else has had the i3 wiht HD graphics in this thread.

No probs if you don't want to/can't or whatever.

 

Here the results from the review, based on an i3 with Nvidia 310:

Idle (without WLAN, min Brightness) 5h 08min
Web-browsing using WLAN 2h 27min
DVD watching 3h 07min
Max load (with max Brightness) 1h 00min

 

Oh yes, I will test the battery this weekend and update my little review with my findings, you can also comment on my video so I remember. Thanks, I'm typing on it now, it really is a nice laptop, the screen is ok for most people I'm sure, I'm a webdesigner and need a better screen, but it's ok for me to use an external screen for serious use.

 

thanks for the translate...wow - that is abosutely horrible!

I can't see how people in this thread are getting 4 hours with the i5 then?
I'll wait for an update from wii as I' get the one with HD graphics aswell.

Thanks alot.
yep i always use an external screen for prolonged use. who could stare at a 13" screen for a long time???

 

Any stated power profile?

Balanced? Power Saver is still a power hogs, if you monitor your CPU clock when using Power Saver, you'll still see it spike near 1.8~1.9ghz, its multiplier is still unlocked. Create a new profile and limit the CPU Max state to 50% (Power saver is 75% I believe). Then it will keep at its lowest clock. Also if you want to browse for prolonged periods of time, use Firefox + Adblock, flash ads are the culprit of crappy internet battery life, some take nearly all of your CPU cycles for no apparent reason...

Its weird though, my S lasted 3hrs and 30 minutes with moderate usage (music, internet, around 30gb worth of file sharing to my friend's laptop over wireless) and has 20% battery remaining. Brightness is at 2 blocks, and with the custom power profile.

Also note that the Vaio Music/Photo/Video Analyzer running in the background, even if you pause it, it still takes 10~20% cpu cycles. The only way to fix this is to kill the process. It may be a bug on my laptop or something, but it constantly did until it finished analyzing ALL my music.

I understand if its watching Youtube HD videos it might lower battery life, but otherwise, it shouldn't be that crappy. DVD playback should instead be lower than internet...


Also, yeah 13" for prolonged use is torture on your eyes. Imagine that on a higher resolution too....

 

Weird, your RAM and HDD scores are quite a bit higher than mine (5.5 / 5.6)
What make is your hard drive? Mine is a Toshiba 500gb 5400rpm.
Also which RAM sticks does yours have? I have Hynix chips rated for DDR3-1066 at 7-7-7-20 though the VAIO picks 8-7-7-20.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but all Arrandales have the same el. efficiency!! It doesn't matter wheter it is i3, i5 or i7, as long as it is not a Clarksfield! All arrandales have 35W TDP. Don't be fooled that the i3 will last longer - it is just not so powerful.

Me I "stare" at a 14,1" (just 0,8" bigger) for about 6-12h daily for about 4 years now You are just not used to it I guess I on my side wonder how so many people work daily on "TV-screen" (>19"). To me that's terrible.

No.