Official Sony VAIO AW Series 18.4" Owners thread

I purchased the Sony AW190JAH from Newegg over the Dell Studio 17. Reading the Studio 17 owner's thread, it seemed as if nobody was receiving their RGB screen. Plus, I planned on running Linux on my new machine and Sony had all the compatible parts with it's basic configuration. I don't trust Dell branded parts to work out of the box with Linux.

I went to the Sony Style store to check out the RGB screen. It was nice and matte, I scrutinized it from every angle while looking at dark photos. I was a little disappointed to receive my AW190JAH and finding it has a very glossy screen, just as glossy as my older Dell E1705. I also notice dark spots in the corners due to uneven backlighting when the brightness is set less than 100%. As with nons, I also would've gotten the LED screen if my budget permitted.

With that said, I still enjoy my AW190JAH. It was meant to replace a very old desktop and it's meeting my expectations.

 

cheers nons for the reply,

hoping to order the led version this afternoon.....

been reading and it makes alot of sense controlling the black levels in each area rather than globally... not seen it in the flesh but saw a led lcd tv and that was superb... and all the reviews online for led backlit lcd tv's are raving about it.. good to know theres calibration out of the box..

best price i have found in uk is £2160 a full £400 less than sony direct...

not sure about the sony warranties... can i buy one afterwards ie in the first 30days?? save me rushing into it today....

and can it be the standard viao +1 or +2 warranty etc... i dont need the accidental damage.. think its on my house insurance need to check...

thankyou

andy

 

you can buy a warranty within 1 year I believe.

 

youre welcome adybaines.

on the german sonystyle website, you can buy the extended warranty until your original 2 year warranty runs out, it's probably country-specific. I would just check the UK site.

 

Are you sure?
I was told that I would have to get an extended warranty within 1 year for Germany... (I've got a German laptop)

 

The device is actually a combo ExpressCard 3/4 and CF Reader. The driver you want is titled:

Memory Card Reader Writer Driver JMicron CF_1A_1.1.4.7

Using this driver, I was able to get the CF to be used as a ReadyBoost device. I don't have any ExpressCard devices, so I don't know if that driver also makes the express card slot work or not.

Unfortunately, I don't remember where I downloaded it from. I had to "downgrade" my AW120J/H from Vista64 to Vista32 because of work issues, and the driver I have is the 32 bit version.

Brian.

 

it's on their website, I haven't asked them, but I think it's pretty unmistakably:

(sorry for german, it's irrelevant for you if you can't understand it )
link: https://www.sonystyle.de/SonyStyle/...2BC29B8F4667FCEAF7B700CC000000002BC29B72)/.do

hey brian,
I didnt know this is possible. can you just buy any CF card and windows will make use of it, or do you have to undergo some tweak procedures? what's the benefits of readyboost? I suppose it's a mega-hdd cache - cause that could boost my AW's performance seriously ... ing slow 4200 rpm drive

 

Don't worry - born in Germany and moved to the UK

Strange - I was told I could get extended warranty up to 1 year after the purchase date...
Maybe they chaged it since summer?

Anyway:
Basically its country specific and for Germany you've got 2 years to make up your mind (nowadays) for other countrys 1 year.

 

Hi Nons
I have AW11S/B and i have total bad problenm and its pissing me off totally!
When i connect laptop via HDMI to my SONY TV it start blinking and wont stop !
picture of mirroring is there normally but it still switching off and on ..
Could somebody know what is wrong?
thnx

 

Hi everybody,
Is this machine slow? (with 2.5 ghz cpu and 7200 rpm disks)
I am a developer and using Visual Studio 2008 most of the time.
Dont care about the game perf.
My buying reason is the big screen and price. I considered hp hdx 18t but it is like a shiny toy. I also considered business laptops from hp and dell but they are starting at $3000.
Do you think I can work with this thing?
Thanks.

 

Should run fine.
I'm running the Visual Web Developer Express Edition on a 2,5GHz SZ71VN/X - fast enough, and my HDD is slower.

Should run fine.

 

my hdmi output also has issues (weird noises and signal cancelling on lid closing), but the picture is fine.

 

I just went into a Frys and purchased a 233x 8 Gb CF card off the rack. Works fine. ReadyBoost cache is limited to 4Gb (at this point) so I have 4 Gb of "temp" space as well. I plugged it into the CF drive and just leave it there all the time. As for performance, it's a little early to tell - I've only been using it for about 3 days.

Brian.

 

I am also a developer. I use my AW120JH 8 hours a day doing VS2008 and SQL development. Since I do client/server stuff, I have the server code running on my laptop as well, meaning SQL plus IIS7/APS.NET. I love it as a development machine - the screen is large enough that you can actually write code on it. It's quiet, and at the end of the day I can pack it up and take it home with me.

Brian.

 

Thanks everybody for your comments-especially Brian.
I think this will be my choice.

 

My AW still outputs via HDMI after closing the lid and has no weird noises, I am not saying it's all perfect, sometimes the audio cuts out but I think that might be the cable causing it.
My AW is a different model and is the LED LCD however.

 

I still trying to fix the function keys problems after downgrade to xp. Could someone please send me a VESConfig.ini from his AW11S? It can be found in \program files\sony\Vaio Event Service directory...

 

Hello Guys nons , laptodd5
I just read on AV websites make sure you have bought HDMI cable version:1.3a , 1.3b 1.3c (i ordered 1.3b cable already ) othervise there will be problem flickering skipping TV screen sound etc
nons :
that closing lid go on right click personalise screen sawer then power settings and set everithing on DO NOTHING click on every that options on the left ..

 

need a sata hdd cable extra ... that will be difficult but from ebay can be found where are spare parts or failed aw laptops ... in bios shows me that i can connect two more hdd's!

 

thanks, but I know the settings - it's all set up. still the signal gets cancelled. I'm already in contact with sony's support, yet they didn't come up with any help in a full week. it's totally unacceptable for me that the closed lid cancels the signal, I often work on an external monitor with a closed laptop.

 

So dont close lid totaly close it few milimetres off lower ... am do like that
am gonna check that lid lose , if it's doing to me as well ...
i have another problem once i connect laptop to tv tv is blinking on off and when after when i set HDMI output (audio) as default it will stops..
when watching film there are horizontal lines flickering picture on fast movements in films ... that i need a latest HDMI cable ...

 

nons
hi i just closed the lid and nothing hapenned tv picture was still running

 

thanks for trying out evoss-x!

it would be very nice of you if you could double-check if your AW makes the usb unplug/plug sound when you close the lid (be aware that the sound output is hdmi if its plugged), doesnt need to be with hdmi. thanks a lot.

which AW model do you own?

 

no, no adding sound hardware , when i plug and unplug the hdmi cable then only then.
i have the same as you

 

thanks.

that doesnt too good for me tho, as it implies my laptop is faulty (more than imply actually, it's the logical conclusion). and you even own the exact same model. oh man ... I don't want to send this in

 

nons
what you can be confused by vaio control center software !!
if u change something from windows options it will dosnt make affect !
u must run vaio control center then power management and turn it off there first .. try ..!

 

This maybe of no help but I do get a sound when I close the lid.

 

Is there anyone who can help me to solve the problem of the function keys under XP?
An also, it looks like I can't find the correct driver for the camera, not even the one for Vista: do you have any link?

 

http://www.vaio-link.com/downloads/...CCU-01363010-UN.exe&ip=SOACCU-01363010-UN.htm

 

Thanks!
The camera still not be recognized by the Vaio utility, but it is working.
Now I have to solve the function keys problem and understand why the wireless sometimes stop working, forcing to reboot...

 

another camera soft:
64bit
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNAW170YQ&upd_id=3834&os_id=36

and wireless :
64bit
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNAW170YQ&upd_id=3799&os_id=36

 

Thanks, but I'm trying with the 32bit XP... with not much luck, I have to say.
I temporary switched back to Vista, but I really can't handle it. I hate it. After cleaning all the useless programs, with a (almost) clean install, the computer took 2 minutes before being ready, with XP is about 30 sec... and the GUI is simply ... well I don't know enough english insults to define it.
I hate linux too (for the opposite reason...), but is someone who have some experience on putting linux on a AW notebook?

 

What do you dislike about Vista's GUI? It's practically the same thing, just tweaked here and there, from what I can see.

 

Well, I dislike everything about Vista, and expecially the GUI. Useless graphics effects with the only meaning to wast memory and computing power... and with reduced functionality respect to the XP interface. A big step backward, I would say. I can't really explain it in english, it's just unusable for me. I was able to restore some of the standard windows appearance, but the Vista essence remains: no toolbar bar, no menus, no folder visualization options like in XP, no "know" file extensions... I can't say exactly that it's like to go back to DOS, because DOS was far more intelligent than this OS. It's just a huge step in the wrong direction.
Vista is made from a basic assumption: the user on the other side of the monitor is a complete idiot. Before finding a way to disable the user access control or whatever was its name, I had to click two or three times to made everything: the first time, to tell the pc what I was instructing. The second, to tell him that I was permitting him to do what I was asking. The third one, to tell him that yes, I was sure of what I just told him. This is just mad.
And this is just about the user interface... an OS that completely empty (it means, after cleaning it from all useless stuff, services and effects that comes with the notebook) takes 2 minutes to start and 800Mb of ram is absolutely meaningless.
So, if I'm able to get the wireless working without problems, I'm going to eradicate this Vista-virus from my pc.

 

I'm having problems with the Synaptics Touchpad settings on my AW190 Premium..

Everytime I reboot the system, the Synaptics settings seem to go back to the default. I have no idea why... it's not really *that* big of a deal because I have a Logitech USB wireless mouse that I mainly use, but I'd like to be able to use my touchpad whenever necessary, and right now the pointer moves too slowly for my taste.

I'll go to the Synaptics settings, set the pointer options to have the pointer move faster, turn on "smart move" or whatever it's called, and then everything works fine with the touchpad.

But the second I reboot the machine, those settings are lost and it's back to the default. Anyone know what's going on?

Thanks.

 

Support for XP will be even less and less as time passes with probably no support when the new pcs come out next summer/fall.

 

let's try to keep the pro/con vista discussion out of this thread, it's of no use.

I managed to find a work-around on the lid closing issue. I needed to disable the device "ACPI-Lid" in the device manager. now I don't have the options on what to do when closing the lid, but I don't mind since I don't want the computer to do anything then anyways. the laptop screen still powers off when I close the lid of course.

I also "upgraded" and got my a 4 GB sdhc card for readyboost, it feels faster, especially when starting often used programs like outlook. pretty useful with that slow 4200 rpm hdd.

 

that's because there is more software i mean vaio control center and they are crossing together ..
u have to set it in there press s2 button or go to vaio control center and choose mouse pointer device and apply

 

Hey, do you have both a Sony AW Adobe RGB screen and a new unibody Macbook Pro side by side? I have the unibody Macbook Pro and I like it a lot but I'm disappointed in how windows runs on it. I have a blu-ray player attached externally and I watch blu-ray movies on it in bootcamp. I have to turn off my wireless though since the wireless interferes with the sound and you get a crackling sound. Using Vista Anti-Lag mostly solves it, but you still get the occasional sound crackle but its not as bad or as severe. Anyways there are other issues.

I'm thinking of switching to a Sony AW RGB laptop though, but it seems I'll have to deal with other various windows problems. I love the screen on the macbook pro too, it's super bright if needed and the colors come across as being very vibrant.

I was wondering how the Sony AW RGB screen compares though.

 

happyprozak:
if u want best display screen picture , u have to buy that most exp. vaio
its awxu/q with LCD technology .. (same like big screen TV's)

 

I'm aware of the differences in the various AW screens. All laptops use LCD technology by the way. The high end screen uses a special RGB Led backlight that lets the screen reproduce a larger gamut of coloring. The actual LCD panel is still a TN 6 bit panel though, while almost all TV's use 8-10 bit IPS panels which are far superior.

I've seen an AW premium in person but at the time I was expecting an IPS panel and when it wasn't there I walked away and never really gave the screen a chance.

I have a late '08 Macbook Pro and the screen is pretty amazing. The glass screen gives the screen this incredible purity, white's are blinding white while on full brightness and the blacks remain deep and rich. Going over to the Lagom LCD test though shows that the Macbook Pro's color reproduction is limited by its 6 bit panel. I'm sure the AW Premium can reproduce colors better, but as far as watching movies I'm wondering which screen would look better. Also, just in overall usage I'm wondering how the vibrancy in the colors look. From what I've read some screens that show very vibrant colors aren't very good for color accuracy in photoshop but the vibrancy makes movies look great.

Also, does interwin Blu-ray use color management? Or is the Adobe RGB screen wasted on movies?

 

From what I've seen, even the florescent backlit AW screen looks really good. Probably all three screens look really good, by laptop standards.

(And unfortunately you have to add the Blu Ray drive on externally on the Macbook Pro )

 

I have seen the RGB-LED version next to a macbook pro, the colors look way more vibrant on the AW - maybe even too extreme. the ccfl is closer to the macbook screen than the RGB-LED version imo. just go to a shop which offers both sony and apple, AW and MB pro are prominent models which they will have there.

 

Well you do have to add the blu-ray drive externally but you can also convert your movies to another format. So far I've converted Pirates of the Caribbean 1 and 2 with the standard ac3 sound file(dobly 5.0 sound) and the video into h264 and I put them in a matroska container. Media players in OS X like PlexApp and Boxee can play these on your Mac. I converted them so they fit on an 8.5gb dual layer dvd and you can either put them on a dvd or on your mac. The quality looks 1:1 to me, I can't see an deterioration in video quality and I take the dolby sound without any compression. You don't get an HD sound or any fancy menus though. You also don't have to deal with all the silly commercials thrown in at the beginning of some movies or any real load times. As far as subtitles, there is a program where you can rip most subtitles but some don't work, although the author said he's in the process of fixing it. The biggest caveat with this is that it's processor intensive. I have a spare laptop that handles this and it takes 36 hours to convert the movie, yeah literally a day and a half. It's my spare computer so I just hit a few buttons and let it work. It is a lot of work just so I can watch movies in OS X though, which is a big reason I'm looking at switching back to windows.

The only store that I've been able to locate a premium model with the RGB LED is at the Sony Style. The only stores in my area that have the Macbook Pro and Sony laptops on display is best buy and they only have the standard model. I'll have to take a drive down to the Sony Style store again. I think I've had the Macbook Pro long enough that I can get a roughly good idea of how the two compare by looking at the Sony and comparing with my memory. I'm surprised to hear the Sony is more vibrant though, I would of thought the matte screen would have diluted the vibrancy of the colors as that's been my experience with matte screens.

 

You are correct that matte based LCDs are a bit less rich then glossy LCDs, however for a RGB LCD notebook Sony is the only one carrying it as I am sure you know.

It's hard to know what type of Macbook display you are talking about, if you are talking about a WUXGA display then for movies it would be good (great if it did not have that light leak at the bottom). But if you are talking about a WXGA or less display then you are watching movies at 65,536 to 256,000 colors with crappy dithering to try and fake a wider colorspace.

I know there are a lot of people who claim the human eye cannot tell, but I have always been able to prove them wrong with a simple gradient going from 0 to 255 intensity and pointing out the ugly banding that shows up.

 

Well I believe all TN displays are 6-bit meaning laptop displays can only reproduce 65k colors, resolution has nothing to do with it. The Sony AW uses a 6 bit panel too, the extra colors it can reproduce come from the RGB backlighting. From what I've read on this thread it seems the program you are running has to use color management in order for it to take advantage of the display. Does interwin take advantage of this though? If it doesn't then you'll only be reproucing 65k colors.

 

So the LED backlit model is matte? That's pretty cool. Didn't realize that.

 

And when the hey is Sony getting more AC adapters in? :-D It would be handy to order the spare at the same time.

 

Hi Guys
Can somebody tell me how to disassemble the aw laptop that i will not knackered thayt plastic body ? i mean i can see processor ,graphic , look for hdd port connections ... etc
thnx

 

Someone with the aw laptop can you check your file windvd.exe and scan it with Avira I have this laptop and Avira today said its infected with the tr/apkes.mcg trojan. My wife has the same laptop and her has the same message from Avira
thanks