Official Sony SB/SA/SC/SD Series Owners' Thread

Mine doesn't have it. Wish it had one but not a big deal.

 

Has anyone gotten a good deal on these SB models? I know you can get 10% off if you buy a stupid 140 dollar service plan

I talked to a few sony reps, one over the phone and the other through the txt support. Both of them wouldn't really budge like dell reps will. The most I was offered was 5% off lol.

If you have any tips on getting a good deal with sony please let me know. I would like to try this SB model but for a good price!

Btw, I have gotten over 20% off + next day shipping on alienware stuff over the phone lol

 

If you know someone at Sony you can get 12% off via the friends and family discount. Considering that this is employee pricing, don't expect much in terms of a discount over the phone.

Student discount is anywhere between 5-10% depending on the computer.

 

I wouldn't expect too much of a discount on a brand new laptop, I'm sure if you wanted an old S series model you could get a nice discount though. Considering the 2 year warranty ends up being free with the 10% discount, it's always nice to have an extra year of warranty.

 

Received an email from Sony Canada today. CTO version of the SB will be available on Monday April 11th....

 

Sweet thanks for the update!

 

So I ordered an SB on the 31st and I wanted to know whether or not to expect the exmor hd cam.

 

^Don't expect it.

 

Yea, not sure if it will or not. One guy that already got his laptop didn't have one and said they told him none of them do, even though they are listed on every version of the SB on the website.

Maybe don't expect it and possibly be pleasantly surprised if you end up getting one.

 

That's a good plan. I'll go with that

 

Quick question for you all regarding this phantom webcam. What type of performance should you see on this camera with the Exmor sensor? I just got an F2 last week and the webcam on this one performs worse than the one on my AW.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...f-3d-series-owners-lounge-22.html#post7326335

Here's a general idea of what it's been doing.

 

well according to the specs on the sony site, its an HD camera so its should record at least 720p

 

Yeah, it's got the resolution. It just puzzles me how the picture quality isn't that great compared to my older Vaio, even though they're touting this one as a "big" deal.

I'm going to try to take it to somewhere (coffee shop, etc.) and see if the lighting changes the quality.

 

My camera is the HD exmor sensor version, also verified by a sony tech at the sony store...it has the resolution alright. The colors don't look that great.

It also looks like they corrected the web specs for the SB11FX at least. I don't see the hybrid drive anymore.

Also found out the C-series keyboard skin fits the SB just fine. I didn't buy it though. Would rather wait for the SB one.

 

They do have one for SB/SC.
https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wc...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666291850

 

Anyone know if the white keyboard skin will look good on a black SB, or would it just look weird?

Pictures would be nice, but opinions are good as well.

 

Yep saw that but wanted to see one in store and maybe buy it there. Seems to be good investment to protect against spills and dirt from getting under the keypads.

Am also tempted to buy the bluetooth wireless mouse BMC15/B but seems expensive for what it offers.

 

I am looking to gt a 4GB ram stick for my SB. There are DDR3-1333( PC3 10660, 10600, 10666). Which would would be compatible with the new SB? Are they all?

Thanks

 

It's all the same, so pick our favorite brand and you'll be fine. It's just about how they label the numbers, some manufacturers round down, some don't.

 

all of them are

 

Can't wait till we can put 16GB of RAM in our laptops

I think I might have seen a few that can, but they are gaming rigs.

When will Intel be supporting that? Anyone know, possibly after the Sandy Bridge tick tock?

It will be total overkill, I'm sure, but still pretty cool.

 

So anyone figure out if there's a Caddy that works with the ODD?

Also, is this an SATAII or SATAIII?

 

workstation class can. Usually the limit is in the form of the slots and the chipset used.

Now that 8g sodimm have been made its possible to get up to 32g

 

went with a Samsung module myself, much much less than the $190 USD Sony wanted for the upgrade

 

A few reviews that you might find interesting:
(i don't think these have been posted already)

Google Translate
Google Translate
Google Translate

... especially if you want to see what's inside (like me)

 

The SB looks really nice in those reviews...

 

Guys, do you agree with this review about the display, or you think that, being a prototype, this is not right???

Test Sony Vaio VPC-SB1Z9EB Subnotebook - Notebookcheck.com Tests

Here, the display is ugly. The worse Vaio Display PLUS on the market (every Plus is a lot better then this one)

 

I've got one question to SB owners:

Did someone notice "battery drain" problem?
(Or at least problem with Windows' battery indicator)

 

Looks like you can add a PCI Express WWAN car yourself.. I wonder if you can do SDD too.

 

Thanks for linking these, bit odd hearing mixed views on display, seems like Display Plus could just be a semi-matte version on typical trashy screens, would have liked to see much lower black levels and a little bit wider colour gamut.

The rest of the laptop seems good, only note was the rear exhausts and whether in real application they would be blocked and heat up the laptop further under load...

 

it looks like sony canada is busy working on the SB CTO page. not sure how long this page will continue to be hosted, but i just tried building a maxed out SB and it came to around $1400 after taxes (obviously unrealistic pricing, furthermore, the slice battery option was available for $0, as well as a blu-ray read drive for $20)
http://www.sonystyle.ca/webapp/wcs/...198552921644766000&LBomId=8198552921666323150

i was able to build and add to cart. i'm basically one click away from putting in an order.

one more thing that you may find interesting - a new eCoupon: SPRING200SB gets you $200 off a CTO SB over $2000.

cheers

 

ok update: i just spoke to sony canada on the phone and i can confirm that that CTO option for VAIO SB is official. i just ordered one with the slice battery for $0 and Bluray read drive for $20. even the telephone rep was chuckling about the price.

it will be shipped out april 14.

i'm thinking either the deal is too good to be true and sony canada will email me to cancel the order, or i'm getting one helluva deal (compared to US CTO prices)

happy shopping to everyone

 

You didn't max it properly if you came out at $1400, since the 512 SSD is already $1000.

Anyways, I'm really not sure what is wrong with Sony Canada, cause that page is public, and is linked to from various parts of the site, so as far as I'm concern, these prices are legit.

Either way, I placed my order, and until I get it in my hands, I will be waiting for the canceled email, caused I can't imagine Sony giving stuff away for free like this.

 

oops sorry you're right i didnt "max" it properly (i went with the 500gb spinning HD instead, as i have my eyes on some aftermarket ssd drives).

hope your purchase ships as spec'd. good luck to the both of us!

 

I know its a bit early, but anyone got the same thought as me: put the SA screen in the SB machine? Or any other better screen. How can one find out which screens could be used?

 

@ nutral

which ODD caddy are you planning to use? do you have a URL?

 

The dog ate their web page

 

update 2: clicking on the Vaio SB CTO page now leads to "temporarily down" page

http://www.sonystyle.ca/splash/inde...198552921644766000&LBomId=8198552921666323150

 

Looks like the Sony Style US page is down as well, damn dog...

 

Though now the whole sonystyle.ca website is leading to the same page....

 

I still don't get it, in what bizarro world can the SB be compared to the Macbook Air?!? It seems like a ton of the reviews out there throw up the Air as a comparison. I mean yea, the SB is pretty light and thin and all but it has absolutely nothing in common with the Air or the Samsung Series 9. However, it has very similar dimensions to the MB Pro which would be an obvious comparison. Which it compares very favorably with.

 

a while ago the lenovo x301 was being touted as PC's answer to the MB air. go figure.

 

i feel the "sorry your order has been cancelled" email coming........

 

I would've considered the MBP a competitor if they actually did what everyone was hoping they would do by making it lighter and putting in a discrete GPU instead of the Intel one. But alas, they failed miserably. So it weights more, and has crappier 3D performance while costing more than the SB.

In reality, there's no real competitor to the SB atm.

 

But the SB, talkin about LCD quality.. seems to be very BAD.

Look at notebookcheck.de ... low contrast, low color gamut, low black....

Very far from a normal PLUS display.. it seems more like a Vaio Display, a normal one.

 

Apple has been dissapointing me for years now. Ever since they made it to a more "mainstream" market their upgrades have absolutely sucked! They have been using the same design for the MBP for what seems like forever. I mean using C2D processors more than a year after they were obsolete?!? Now, it is a very nice notebook and all but can we get a change up please! I'm sure they will be redesigning it probably sometime next year, which I am definitely not waiting on. I have some pretty crazy ideas on what they will do with it (thinner, possibly CF bottom and lid, no ODD, etc) but knowing Apple now, they will no doubt dissapoint, just like they did this round with no GPU option. They will probably leave out a webcam and come back the next year and deliver it as the next coming.

/rant

 

Probably why in the US they don't put the Plus in their description.

 

Can someone with a white SB post some good pic's please? I am trying to decide which to order. Black or the white-I would like the white but not sure if the silver inside would look as nice. Thanks

 

after being an osx user for 5 years, i'm so happy to be ditching my 15" mbp for the sony sb. ctrl c and v here i come!! i cannot stand osx anymore and using it makes me nauseas. it has become a conditioned behavior.

osx might be good for some, but it's definitely not for everyone.

 

hey officer_hardass, i just tried to apply the SPRING200SB discount, and it's not valid. did it work when you ordered yours?

edit: nevermind, it's on orders over $200