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

I use no special settings... except that I only use the brightness I need, in other words set it as low as possible.

I usually keep my battery charged up to 50% which gives me around 2-2,5h.
80% - ~ 3 h
100% - ~ 4+ h

And these times are with WLAN on. If I use the WWAN in motion the battery live dramatically decreases, because of all the location area updates, cell reselection, 2G-3G and back, etc. Then I only get around 2,5-3h with 100% battery.

It depends on what you do though - I usually browse or send/receive emails, chat, etc. No 3D games or hard CPU work

 

The Toshiba vs the Y is an easy call -- the Toshiba wins.

But the Toshiba vs the S is a tougher call. The S has a backlit keyboard (which I want) and an i5 Processor (which I wouldn't mind having), while the weight advantage goes to the Toshiba (3.2 lbs vs 4.4 on the S).

 

The weight of the Toshiba most likely means it's plastic, which is BAD! Can't compare it then as it could never be as robust as a metal-body-notebook like the S or MBP

 

Perhaps. In any case, THIS is the Toshiba R700 model that should be compared to the Sony S (not the lower-end R705 model at BestBuy).

The only thing missing is a backlit keyboard, which is unfortunate (in my opinion).

 

The Vaio S's body isn't metal though. From what I can remember, the bottom is all plastic matte and the top silver is SUPER prone to scratches REAL easily. (My finger nail scratched the one at Best Buy)

 

The Toshiba looks great in my opinion. I think its two main flaws are the Integrated Intel Graphics and no backlit keyboard.

 

I have to to agree with you. I have both a Vaio SR and also a S series. The SR seems to be made from much more higher quality materials and is a lot more rugged and does not scratch as easily as the S series. I also have an old Vaio SZ and it also seems to be made from much more higher quality materials than the S

 

The Sony S needs a good graphics card in the US and better build quality to even sell I think. And I hate the wedge shape laptops Sony is using. Why not just straight all the way through?

 

No argument here.

I really wanted a backlit keyboard on my next laptop. To be honest, I rarely feel like I need one -- but every now and then I'd love to be able to just flip a switch and turn on a backlit keyboard.

 

I was thinking that the SR is better built than the S. Now that I confirmation here, I am thinking I am not sure about the S.

I did read comments about paint coming off the button on the S few months later.

How did Toshiba make it 3.3lb with a DVD drive on it?

I am wondering if I just do surfing, will I see the lag in the integraphic graphic like 5 yrs ago.

 

As far as I can say yes, it seems they solved many youth problems. I received my S12C5E a couple of days ago (with a really powerful configuration at a decent price) and the screen came with no evident defects, no scratches, the AC connector and the battery are no longer loose and "dancing" (especially the battery). Moreover this time I got a "real vaio" adapter (AC19V49), even lighter and smaller than the V36 model provided with the nVidia GPU. The software side is, imho, improved a bit as well.
However there are two issues that cause me a little bit of concern:
- sometimes it freezes for a second or less (well, once didn't last just a second and I had to power off it). I suspect it is related with hdd heads unloading, I'm not sure, but I'm afraid there's something wrong. I've never seen it with the previous S11 I had.
- today, after many many hours of usage (with the WWAN and GPS on) the Wireless LAN adapter stopped working for a couple of minutes due to thermal throttling. Ok, it's quite hot today here, but It should not happen. I hope it's just a single case... I'm afraid I'd better buy a cooler Vaio Y... Have you ever experienced this problem?

BTW, today the fan is a bit annoying always turning on and off... what about your PCH temperature?

 

You are wrong - the main body is solid metal (Magnesium) - you can see it when you remove the HDD cover for example. Additionally the bottom is also metal which can hardly be scratched and the LID cover is also metal, although thin metal.

Plastic are the screen frame and everything around the keyboard, so basically the "inside" is plastic-covered, but the outside is all metal.

I don't really know what fingernails you have but my LID cover does not have a single scratch!

 

I just came back from BestBuy to look at the new Toshiba, but they didn't have it yet so I spent a few minutes looking at the Vaio S.

I'm not sure if the S at BestBuy is different than the S you guys get outside the U.S., but I was not very impressed with the S at BestBuy. It absolutely seemed like a cheaper build than my Vaio FW, which is still in pretty darn good condition.

The screen on the S was especially bad. I was surprisingly UN-impressed.

 

As discussed already, the only thing the S' screen misses by default is vividness... ---> I have my NVIDIA vividness setting to 17% and the screen looks MUCH different!

 

Um...Wow, I don't know what Vaio S you have but CLEARLY the bottom is not metal...



I see a black plastic matte. And every other manufacturer out there like Dell and HP are using a magnesium alloy like Sony does on the Sony Vaio S...

 

I just wish they would update the HD drivers

15.17.7.2141 are current

8.15.10.2040 while sony is 3-4 months old and not optimized

 

And here:



Even more plastic on the sides. So I think you're either talking about some other computer or you've mistaken plastic for metal.

 

I was at BB just now and trying to dig my fingernails on the paint on the S and it will not come off. It might be what some of you are saying is that the button becomes dull after a few months of use? I usually dont use the pad. I always use a wireless mouse.

I have a SR and can anyone tell me if it is more or less glossy to the S?

 

Have owned a Sony_Vaio_S (VPCS11V9E_UK) for three weeks now and am sufficiently impressed to have moved into it (spent ages messing with configurations and learning). Normal purchase experience would by now mean that I'd be suffering buyer's remorse having made a poor choice, but it seems that careful research paid off this time. This thread helped a lot - thanks guys.

I'd ummed and ahhed for quite a while over a laptop; I loved the ultraportables but wanted some desktop replacement grunt for hobby graphics work when away from the desktop. As far as the Sonys went it came (on paper) to a toss up between the S and the F. The F is appealing because it's powerful but still quite small. Physical interaction with both quickly inclined me to the S. If this laptop was to be my only PC then I'd certainly have chosen the F or something bigger, but the S makes a fine compromise as a second machine.

This particular unit is an ex-display from the local Sony_Centre. It was kept in a cabinet instead of on a shelf so hadn't been mauled (!) like some of the others in store. There are no cosmetic defects but its not being spanking new makes me feel less neurotic about the inevitable scars of life. Having a few quid knocked off the price in combination with being able to carefully inspect and test the device outweighed the attraction of a fresh smelling consumer package (which also involved a wait).

I've swapped out the HDD for a 256Gb SSD. I'd bought two for my PC and concluded (in that context) that a single unit to accelerate the OS and applications was enough. So the bigger capacity device has dropped nicely into the S and naturally made it even more of a delight to use. Wouldn't normally pay nearly half the price of the laptop for a drive but since this one was "lying around", what the hey.

Anyway, it's late so that's enough of an intro for now. Will post more thoughts on the S later.

rgds
Peter

 

chris2k5, my S looks just like that underneath and I can assure you that it is powder coated alloy. In addition, the large piece that attaches to it, that goes around the outside front and side edges of the machine, that's metal too.

So, in your second example picture, the HDMI port is surrounded by metal; and the legend "HDMI" is printed on (painted) metal. <- correction - this part is plastic.

The curvy bit at the back of the battery compartment is plastic. It's quite flexible; deliberately so I suspect. I saw an online video "unboxing" review and the reviewer said something along the lines of "that always seems like a failure point to me but strangely it never is". I got the impression it was a common Sony characteristic.

I cannot comment on S series laptops in other markets but those I've handled in the UK have largely metal construction. There is nothing in those pictures you've posted that would lead me to believe that the unit represented isn't similar.

 

my left clicker is showing wear.

 

What type of wear? It looks dull or paint is off? Can take a close up photo? How long have you had your S?

 

Hi guys

I found that the sony s series laptop came with wwan i guess, it look like a sim card slot , it is right behind the battery, you need to open whole the back cover to access it.

 

The whole bottom is metal. mate! It might look like black plastic matte, but it is metal, believe me if you remove the HDD cover and have a closer look to it you will see it is not plastic - you can curve it and it doesn't break

PJF is right - he explained it quite well
The only plastics the S has are decorative! The rest is metal!

And yes, there are other brands/models using magnesium alloy... the same way there are with Aluminum - those materials are not found by Sony or Apple But FAR not every model of dell or HP or any other brand is from metal Nor is the discussed Toshiba as far as I read.

 

Would someone FINALLY upload a picture!??

I guess you also use it for clicking all the time!?

Here a picture of mine - 3 Months old. I use no external mouse! Just the pad. I also use the fingerprint daily (a few times per day).

 

OK, I spent a few minutes to make the metal-plastic question clear to all

Here you are:









I haven't gone into details, but the hinges' decorative covers are of course also plastic.

 

Gracy, I'd got the impression that the piece above the black base was also metal (where it says "HDMI" on the side above the HDMI port). It was so hot last night I couldn't really tell but it previously felt like metal to me.

 

I don't think so.... tap on it with your fingernail.... definitely plastic. Besides that it is exactly the part (the edges) where the paint could come off if not transported properly (sleeve) or not handled with care. It becomes black (black plastic).

 

Yes, you are correct. I'm home now (early, yay) and can confirm your findings by heat conductance tests (metal feels cools, plastic warm).

First the world cup, now this.

 

Haha, no worries.... it seems to me the players had legs from much softer plastic then the S....

Back to the subject - The plastic parts don't really bother me, as what really needs to be metal - is! And plastic has some advantages over metal as well which are very well used. I think the S has a great combination of materials so that it could be robust, light and with style at the same time. MBP is great all from metal.... but it is accordingly heavy and has pretty much simple design and outlooks.

A mistake however is not making the track pad buttons from homogeneous plastic and no paint on top. I uploaded a pic of mine above, but others seem to have paint issues there. Depends on the usage I guess.

 

Yes... you found America Most S sub-models feature WWAN module and the SIM card slot is behind the battery. Probably the rest have the slot inside as well, but no WWAN card.

 

Are you going to remove that sticker? I remember on previous PC's I had with the stickers, if left on, over time the casing gets darker while the spot covered by the sticker stays light.

 

Good question. Haven't really thought about it. I usually like the stickers. Those on my previous notebook didn't last long as the casing (hinges) broke 3-4 monts after I bought it and the whole thing was replaced with one, without stickers of course...... )

Will remove them soon I guess.

 

Good god that looks horrid...Omg that is horrible.

 

how long had you had it? I just passed my 14 days to return it

 

As you can see it isn't TIME-related but USAGE-related! Compare mine to his!

Hence - the more you use it - the faster it will get like this!

This is definitely a failure from Sony but I can't believe so many people use that button.

If I were you I would at least out of curiosity send this foto to Sony's support and ask for exchange or solution.....

 

Wow, that's a really strange wear pattern. Can you get a closer shot of just the button (if your camera can manage it), and at a more oblique angle? Be interesting to see how deep that goes. Is it through to metal or a base coat?

It's a bit worrying because I use that button a fair amount. Maybe I've led a sheltered life but I'm not sure of an easier way of clicking and dragging files, etc. Have been playing solitaire on the S recently in an attempt to acclimatise myself to a trackpad again (haven't used one in ten years or so) and the left button seems essential. Use it a lot on a mouse, too.

 

Gracy123, why is yours not wear out and BooBoo is? Is this man vs woman thing?

Thats more than dull, thats paint off! Thanks for all the photos and illustrations.

 

She has stated many times that she rarely (if ever) uses the button.

 

Thanks for paying attention! Once again for the rest - I don't use the left button... like at all. I tap on the pad - this is way faster and more silent. I only use the right one occasionally.

PJF - there is no metal there. Buttons are plastic.

I would still address this issue to Sony and see what they would reply/suggest.
If anyone does that - please let us know.

 

its from all the .

and I think its because one day last week I had some goop off on my fingers and that will eat anything. i thought i got it all off but i guess not. oh well i still am a fast clicker

 

Are you saying that the "wear" is actually due to some contaminant reacting with the surface? A closer pic would be good.

 

Oh dear, have I developed a metal fetish and not noticed? (checks face for piercings - phew, none)

It really is quite bizarre that a manufacturer would go to the effort of painting plastic for different finishes when they could simply inject a mold with specific coloured plastics for each batch and have solid colours all the way through. Then the only issue would be wear causing shiny or flat spots, which I don't think anyone would object to.

I think this what the young people call a "fail".

 

Does anyone else have this issue? I know this happens after a year or two of usage, but generally it shouldn't be this quick?

 

Does the S12 really have those extra breathing wholes on the front...? (click on image for bigger version)

 

No, they (both the previous S11 and my last S12) don't.

 

Thanks. I know about S11 but was wondering whether this could be something new by S12. Apparently there aren't any visual differences then!?

 

Uhm, I'd say none, they look the same, just a better production process/quality (and in my case a better AC adapter). BTW, another S12 owner reported (elsewhere) the same about the battery, so it's surely a solved issue.

 

Is the new S12 any lighter in weight than the S11 ?