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

Has anyone successfully installed Ubuntu on their S..? If so, are there any issues with it..?

 

Oh no... I have had the S for 10 days. It was not doing the high pitched sound, until today...

I could live with the blank screen when plugging and unplugging from AC, but this noise is unbearable. Best Buy, I am taking this one back to you.

What is your experience when returning defective laptops at Best Buy? Do they give you a hard time since their policy is a 15% restocking fee, which is only waived for defective units?

 

How big is the difference between core i3 2.13 ghz and core i5 2.4? If I want to do gaming, will these make a lot of difference? As far as I know, CPU nowadays is fast enough. The only problem is the GPU. My laptop is T7300 and I feel that my laptop is fast. The reason I want to upgrade is the GPU since my laptop doesnt have a GPU.
If I upgrade, which one should I choose? The one with the core i5 or the one with core i3 and save some money?
What about the screen? Does the screen look good? The colour? Viewing angle?
And about the keyboard, is there a version of S series with keyboard that doesn't have separate home, page down, etc keys? I prefer the look of Sony's keyboard like the Z, CS, CR, SR series.
I also have a question about Intel Wireless Display. How Can I know if a laptop has Intel Wireless Display? In the spec of S series in my country, there is no mention of Intel Wireless Display.
Thanks.

 

Still don know how plastic can be sturdier than carbon fiber,you may experience some flex on the screen but that doesn't mean it is a con,cause it helps to absorb shock.I am really disappointed to hear they use plastic to build S.

 

There is a magnesium component in the material for the casing, which isn't that common, is it? (I forgot the proper English word for it, so I hope this is clear enough)

 

Magnesium alloy is common,but I was trying to say that they only use it for the lid but inside(palm rest,etc) is totally plastic?

 

Just picked mine up yesterday. Had the high pitch noise problem, but the latest audio driver from sony fixed it. The loose battery is a little troublesome though. More of a cosmetic thing, but it takes away from what otherwise feels like a very sturdy notebook

 

I picked mine up yesterday, but I'm confused about one (possibly stupid) thing:

I was under the impression that the S111FM didn't come with a Blu-Ray drive, but when I look in the "My Computer" window I see:

(D) BD-ROM Drive
(G) DVD RW Drive

What gives? Do I have a Blu-Ray player or not? I don't have a Blu-Ray disc to test.

Thanks!

 

Maybe they put in a BD/DVD combo unit, that plays BD also but does not burn a BD DVD (like what they offer in the CW model). That would be nice if they had included that.

 

For the sound problem, download the following update for the sound driver:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VPCS111FMS&upd_id=5448&os_id=45

 

I guess I'll have to try and hunt down a Blu-Ray somewhere to test. I'll update as soon as I find out for sure, if someone else doesn't post the answer first.

 

The Core i5 will be faster, but you would likely not notice it. Also, by getting a Core i3 you miss out on one of the best features of the new generation of processors, Turbo Boost. Core i3 does not have it. So I'd go with a Core i5 at minimum.

 

Googling did me no justice, so I'm going to ask you guys instead. Do any of you know when the Vaio S becomes official? As in "available everywhere" and sonystyle.com. If bestbuy can get their hands on a black version with nvidia gpu, my money is theirs.

 

It is only available through Best Buy and it is an exclusive, I doubt it will be available directly through Sony till maybe this Fall at earliest.

 

The eventual US "final" version better be more impressive than the UK version. Nvidia 310m gpu is a no go for me. I guess I'll keep my Vaio CW with 330m + 1600 x 900 screen until the ASUS ul30jt becomes available. If the US version ever include the 330m, and if it is available in bestbuy (18month no interest), I will definitely buy it.

 

I think sony S series with nvidia graphic model have the ability to switch graphic between Intel HD graphic and the 310m look:



Does anyone who has the S series,is the screen look grainy?

 

Is there a docking station available with this model?

 

heyi'm quite concerned with this battery drain issue - "just under 1% per hour" would mean if the laptop were to be untouched for 24 hours the battery would be already depleted by ~24% the next time I switch it on?

this sounds quite serious to me..

 

Interesting, none of the official Sony websites mention this AFAIK.
Mine is supposedly meant to ship to me today or next Monday, so hopefully it's not shipped from the other side of the world, a Sony customer service person told me it was CTO'd in Japan, when one said it was in the Netherlands.
Who knows...

 

How do you know that this is talking about the S?

 

http://www.sony.com.au/product/vpcs117gg

Read those tiny text below the supplied Acessories on the specification tab
until you came across on that statement

http://www.sony.com.au/product/vpcs113fg

But on this model ,it doesn't mentioned of the hybrid graphic because it doesn't have the nvidia graphic.

Then if you go to Sonystyle Japan , there is a lot mention of "stamina mode" on the nvidia model.So i think this hybrid graphic system is based on software unlike the z series with the physical switch. Daneel can you confirm on this feature once you get your laptop

 

Thanks!

That would be awesome if it has switchable graphics.

Please can anyone check this?

 

Yes,VGP-PRS10
http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/vaio/products/S11/acc.html

http://www.sony.hr/product/docking-stations/vgp-prs10

 

Isn't that a little too expensive? I was expecting core i5 around $1200

 

Well of course everything in Australia is excessively expensive compared to USA XD but im buying it from singapore, ditch the box and packaging and i save AU$400 XD

 

Can anyone confirm the switchable graphics story? This would be indeed awesome, battery life without sacrificing graphics performance.

 

HI ALL,
im new here. came across the web when searching for S series.


what is the cheapest price anyone got their hands on?

i tried looking for a display to play around but sony centre at melbourne doesnt have it?

 

Here are some live pics of the white/silver version of the S

http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=258&t=1406969&last=17312422

 

I really like the silver design, the only thing I don't like is the white.
Now I'm very sure that I will buy a silver version.

 

I would like a silver one as well but want a white keyboard with it like my SR.

Модель VAIO VPCS11V9E/B
Процессор Intel® Core™ i5-520M 2.4ГГц with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology (max. 2.93 ГГц
ОС Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (64-bit)
ОЗУ 4Гб DDR3 SDRAM (1066 МГц
ЖД 500Гб Serial ATA
Дисплей 13.3”, 1366x768 LED
Графика NVIDIA® GeForce® 310M GPU, 512Мб GDDR3 VRAM
Вес и размер 1.78кг (с батареей ; 226.5 x 23.7-32 x 326 мм
Другое WLAN 802.11b/g/n; Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; MOTION EYE камера; HDMI-выход;

 

have other S users run into the problem when watching video/listening to music, sometimes the audio kind of freezes on one note/sound for a second before resuming back to the song/video? whats wrong...? or is it just mine?

 

I guess you need to update sound driver

 

I have noticed this but I think its only while I am streaming. I did put the newest driver in also.

 

I read somewhere, somebody had this issue resolved with specific sound driver update from sony website.

 

I know exactly what you're talking about. I notice it when streaming youtube videos in particular. The updated audio drivers fix the high pitch noise problem, but didn't do anything for this.

 

I took the plunge and ordered an S series (VPCS11V5E):



Black, backlit keyboard, i5-540M 2.53GHz, 320GB 7200RPM, GeForce 310M, Win7 Pro etc etc etc

 

I just bought a Vaio S yesterday

Model VPCS117GW (Taiwan) Black

i5 520M
4GB DDR3 (Hynix 1066 7-7-7-20 set to 8?-7-7-20)
W7 Pro
G310M
Toshiba 500GB 5400rpm drive with drop sensor
Biometric scanner

Bought mine around 46000NTD at Sony retail store (around $1400USD) which included a high quality screen cover, keyboard cover, and 1 sleave + 1 case
they also tossed in a free usb mouse ..


I really like the design of this. I've used a SZ a while ago, which didn't feel really sturdy. I think the hybrid idea was good, but didn't really affect battery usage times that much.

Has anyone found out where the Realtek Audio Control Panel is? Also does anyone know which chip this laptop uses?

 

How much did you pay for that?
Also I see many VAIOs you have owned.Which one do you love more?(specially Z vs. S)...I'm thinking of ordering one with 520M.

 

How's the fan noise of the new S-series ?

 

I picked up the Canadian Best Buy version over the weekend
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10138683&logon=&langid=EN
Two things I've noticed and do not like about this computer
1. HDMI out video STINKS! - I'm finding the the video quality of MPC or DIVX videos is horrible on an LCD TV through HDMI. The resolution is poor and the quality is choppy. A $450 HP MINI 311 NETBOOK! gives me better video and resolution through the HDMI. Could the lack of an NVIDIA graphics processor be to blame?
2. Horrible high pitched noise everytime I click the mouse.

For the HDMI alone, this laptop is going back.

I think I'm going to try a CW series. Which is too bad because I love the build quality, looks and features of the S series (metallic case, backlight keyboard, battery life, slim size)

EDIT: Solved problem, see later in this thread for the solution

 

£1200

I love my Z, but either I am getting old or my eyes are getting worse but I am finding 1600x900 not so comfortable anymore during extended use. I think the 1366x768 display of the S will be a lot more comfortable for me to use for extended periods of time and the backlit keyboard will be a huge benefit. I have specced up my S quite high so I think I should see a noticeable performance boost over my Z and hopefully a better battery life.

The X is used for travel...

 

Where is the noise coming from?

 

It's hard to tell, could be the speaker, but also sounds electrical in nature.

 

@Steve
Sony really loves you too...lol...hope you enjoy your new VAIO with no pitched noise...post your impressions when you had your hands on it.

 

I will do for sure. Sony says I have to wait 3 weeks for delivery though...

 

Anyone got a 3DMark06 result with the nVidia 310M yet..?

 

Congrats on your new S.

Can the graphics be switched to the integrated chip?

 

In Russia Sony offers S model with WiMax card!!!
Does the S series in US have WiMax?

VPCS11M9R/B Model in Russia: Corei5 2,4-2,93Ghz, 4gb, 320(5400)Gb, GF310M, WiFi (without n!), WiMax, BT, Backlit keyboard ... costs about 1670 USD

 

by the way, what is battery life with GF 310m??? Any users??? And battery drain??? still ..... or not

 

where is the cheapest place i can get this baby?