Official Sony VAIO AW Series 18.4" Owners thread

Are you saying that the Spyder3 Pro monitor calibrating system that I ordered immediately after my new laptop may not work on the new RGB LED screen?

 

No, I think it will work fine but I doubt if it will be able to change the white point by adjusting light ratios between LEDs, which would be a real benefit of having such a screen. I guess it will treat RGB-LED screen just like every other notebook screen, so it will use matrix to set the white point... I hope I"m wrong.

 

I am new to notebooks. I have had my AW190c for about 2 weeks now. Love it so far.

I'm working on learning lots of things about this notebook. My biggest project now is trying to vigure out how to use Vegas Pro 8.1 well enough to then edit my HD home video taken on a Sony HDR-SR1/AVCHD, then place on my server so i can stream in my hometheater via home network.

My question right now is an issue with getting it to do into sleep mode. I have the settings set for it to go to sleep in everty instance when the lid closes. However, it stays on...the power lite stays green. However, when it was open and, after non use, the screen shut down as it was set to, then the unit wen into sleep mode as it was set to. It just doesn't when i close the screen.

Any suggestions at all s to what the issue could be?

THX!

 

DOH! As I expected, the 290 on Sony's site show up $300 today :-/ Darn, to put it mildly.

 

No, he's saying that in theory hardware calibration might be possible... where as most pucks, unless expressly tied to the hardware will only perform a software calibration by means of a profile. Hardware calibration is always preferable to software calibration.

Hardware calibration on CRT's involved the pucks altering the RGB guns to as close to the ideal as possible, then generation a profile to fill the gaps.

 

Where did you set the lid closing behavior?

 

Advanced power management, one of the Vaio accessories.

I think they can be accessed from the Vaio Control Center or the Windows Mobility "thing".

 

I went in thru power settings. also in somehow in control center as netlevCM suggested. it doesn't make sence...everything seems to be set correctly....

 

Maybe something broke.

I managed to mess up a recovery after it finished - don't ask how - the Vista repair killed all Sony utilities.
Once I used the System Restore point - I think that may have killed off my SZ's lid behaviour...

If you have done any sort of recovery, then maybe something got broken...
( )

 

Hi All,

First time posting here,

I was wondering if anybody who owns one of these beasts could post the Windows Vista Experience index rating for this computer...

I am trying to copare it to other models.. it's a shame i just missed the 300 dollars off deal on newegg, but i'm still curious.

Cheers,
Prad

 

DetlevCM, I've not had to run a recovery of any kind but it does seem as though something is broken. However, it could also be I'm simply over looking something really simple! While this is my first Notebook/laptop, I'm not a beginner to using computers and once I get familiar with a program I can usualy get around well, but I have nothing more than a basic understanding that doesn't go too far beneath the surface of these things! So often i get triped up becouse I don't know what or where tpo look for things.

I am really hoping it is something simple...I don't even want to think about having to send it somewhere already for repair for such a trivial thing.

 

Hmmm - sounds more and more like a broken driver/library....

But I'm not sure how to fix this.

 

Obviously, it's not in my way or effecting it's performance. It would be nice to have it operate is intended, though. I've not tried Sony support yet. Maybe they can offer some insight. I haven't had any real experience with them yet but assume like other tech companies I have worked with I assume they have varying levels of support. Getting to someone who actually has the right answer is the tough part some times.

 

I just thought of something that may be keeping it from going into Sleep mode. I remember reading some where that it will gointo sleep mode or even Hibernate unless there's an active program running that prevents it. Now, here is the status I have started with this morning. I shut it down completely last nite so when I came into the office this morning I turned it on, connected it to external power and hard wire for internet service. I also turned my Blutooth mouse on and used it to opened Outlook briefly, then closed Outlook. I have not touched it since. The screen went off after about 10 minutes as scheduled but the green power lite is still on and the hard disc lite on left front corner flickers I gues indicating something is running?

Any thoughts?!

 

Bluetooth and Oulook won't be a problem - I sent my SZ to sleep with those running...

Although the path of your thought may be right.

 

On XP, my computers won't hibernate with iTunes running, if that's any help. I HAVE to quit it first (other than that I've never had issues with iTunes though).

 

Darn it darn it darn it. I'm not very comfortable buying an Asus. It just sort of creeps me out, especially with the 15" versions containing an "ionizer". I'd be getting the 14", but still. I soooo should have bought the AW290 on Saturday, but now it's gone up $300 It's over twice the cost of that Asus, and I don't know how I can justify it (since I could buy a whole new better computer in 6-12 months even and come out the same :-/ )

 

Hmm, I didn't notice any changes... What was the previous price?

 

They had a deal where you ordered two accessories for it, and got $300 off. I wanted a spare AC adapter anyway, and then throw in the $20 case, and...

But now it's just too pricey. But I don't know when/if it'll go on sale again, and I'm uncomfortable buying Asus. But...on the other hand, I'm going to want a better GPU, and a quad core CPU, and Windows 7 I suppose, so maybe it does make sense to go cheap

 

hey Wolfpup,

check this one out: It seems as good as the one that was on sale, only difference is the screen size is 16.4" not 18.4". I'm annoyed because i wanted a larger screen, but i think this will have to do for me. Also, the video card on this one is a step below the one in the 18.4 inch..

both are made by sony..
I think this sale ends on the 4th

 

wolfpup.

sorry here is the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834117857

 

Yeah, I've ordered one with a discount (CTO), but after all I realized, that stock version was not a bad deal at all. I've ordered one with 4GB RAM and 2x 320GB HD (7200rpm) and a stock version comes with 8GB RAM and slower 2x 500GB drives... You can always swap hard drives for faster ones later and you'll get twice as much RAM for similar price as CTO version...

 

Thanks! No I'd definitely consider the FW (at least with an Nvidia GPU), but I really want something with LED lighting, so I'm pretty much stuck with the AW.

Which model is that? I double checked the 290JFQ that's listed on Sony's site, but it 'only' comes with 4GB. I have to admit, if it were the same price for 8, that would probably sway me over. I don't actually need that much, but I'd feel like I was getting something for the extra cost it is now

 

Hmm, that's strange - I could swear that it had 8GB yesterday...

 

Oh yeah.. the regular price on teh AW 18.4 ince.. (1699.99) is grossly overpriced. If you configure-to-order the same laptop on the sony website it comes out to 1550-1599. If you then sign up for the Sony Style Campus, you get a 5-10% discount ( it is somewhere between there) so the price comes out to around 1400-1500 pre-tax. Which isn't a bad deal. Not as good as the newegg deal we just missed, but decent enough.

Cheers,
Pradeep

 

Anybody know what the Windows Vista experience is for this AW laptop?

 

The main reason I'm buying this laptop is its premium LED screen - I'm not interested in CCFL models... I would rather buy something smaller with RGB-LED...

 

The $300 deal I missed was from Sony directly. And that just figures that it maybe also had 8GB yesterday! I just keep missing deals

 

I didn't notice any 300 dollar deal on the AW. from the sony website....

What is the difference between the CCFL ,a nd the RGB-LED? which one is the RGB-LED, and which one is CCFL? what kinds does the FW series have?

Cheers,
Pradeep

 

All FWs have CCFL. The 'Premium' configurable AWs have LED. It used to be that all the black ones had LED, and the grey ones had CCFL, but now there are black ones with CCFL also. Basically if it says Adobe RGB-whatever it should be LED.

LED had better color reproduction, lasts longer, doesn't fade, uses less power, gets to full brightness instantly, doesn't emit UV (presumably), doesn't contain mercury, and probably other stuff I'm forgetting. For me it's become mandatory for any new screen I get. (The vast majority of screens use CCFL right now though.)

 

is this the technology that apple currently uses for their screens? the backlight LED displays?

 

Their laptop screens also use LED lighting now (except the plastic/cheapest Macbook). The AW with LED lighting is theoretically an even better kind though (uses red green and blue LEDs instead of just white ones). More expensive, and supposedly offers even better color reproduction (although the actual screen they're using is still a 6-bit TN panel I guess like basically all notebooks (or maybe it is all notebooks).

 

I'm not so sure about that - if it's indeed the same technology as used in XBR8 RGB-LED screens it could be more than 6-bit... XBR8 uses 10-bit matrix if I remember it correctly... TN screens are 6-bit usually, but I don't think that TN technology prevents using higher bit-depth...

 

The backlighting's totally seperate from what type of screen's being used though. As per earlier in this thread, this is a 6-bit panel, like all or virtually all notebooks.

As far as I know, all TN panels are 6-bit, though I wouldn't stake my life on it

 

It would help if you give a screen capture or list of the running programs and what you have set in the Advance Power Settings under "Power buttons and lid".

You could always install MCE Standby Tool and use that instead, I currently have MCE on my AW and it works for me.

 

Is anyone having that occasional screen flicker on the LED 290s, like what happened with the 190s?

 

Does anyone know what the max. refresh rate is on the new Vaio AW-290 screen is with the Nvidia 9600M GT?

 

LCD screens don't really have refresh rates, though '60 hz' is almost always the right setting for them.

 

That's what I thought but was having a discussion with someone today about a few new home theater LCD displays that were sporting 120hz and up. The picture quality was amazing and they stand out next to any other LCD. I remember seeing a screen like that a few months ago and was wondering why it made the other screens look like old film in comparison ( exaggerating a bit). Anyway, I was just wondering if they would ever have that in a laptop display and had to ask since these new Vaios are supposed to be 'top of the line' and the guy at the Sony store kept going on about watching movies on it. Mine is already in the order process but I wont have it till Friday.... unless they somehow get it made quicker.

 

It's kind of confusing-my understanding is those '120hz' and '240hz' TVs, that that's just a processing effect, nothing to do with the panel used (though many TVs with that are going to be using high quality panels). It sounds like it's a personal preference kind of thing, like a lot of reviewers will tell you to turn off the 120hz processing. So...kind of confusing.

 

Hey did you have to buy a service plan in order to get the discount?

I called a sales rep and they have this 300 dollars off if you purchase a service plan (min 3 year ship and service (199), and two accessories. cheapest you can get it is like 250, so you essentially get 50 dollars off.. kinda expensive still..

 

Pages 113 and 114 have a discussion about the Sony Style $300.00 off the purchase price with the bundled package when doing the CTO route. It actually is a tremendous deal. A couple examples are given showing the end price. As for the Newegg price, I got it for $1399.99 and that was a great deal. Keep your eyes open for the price to go back down again since this is the AW190, now that it is becoming " old tech " but in it's own right is a fantastic notebook, even if it is only CCFL and not LED.

 

Yeah, 1399.99 for the AW190 was a great deal. I missed it by a day (just thinking about it) and i had a feeling it would end right as the clock turned midnight on the 1st of Feb.

anyways, they still do offer the bundle deal. CTO AW290 + 3 yr purchase protection plan + 2 accessories, with a student discout (though i'm not really a student) then minus 300 dollars... I might get one tomorrow. The sales rep even offered me sony financing with no payments or interest for 24 months (this ends tomorrow though). I might actually do this. .....

 

Wait...what? You can still get the deal?

I don't remember if you had to have the warranty or not, but I did, so maybe that's why it was working for me (I had planned on getting a 3 year with 'accidental shipping damage', whatever that is).

So I guess you have to call in or something? Mine's no longer shown the deal since Sunday I guess.

 

Bad news for potential buyers...The AW190JAH on Newegg is not on sale anymore. Was $1399 now back to $1699 (no longer one of the better deals out there).

 

Well.. i had to call in.. and i asked about some 300 dollars off.. and they said i could get 300 dollars off if i purchased a protection plan and two accessories.. the sales rep said they would apply it over the phone. It's worth a shot if you know what you want. i would suggest that you fill your cart with CTOAW290 and two accessories and call a sales rep.

try it out, no harm.. also sign up for sony style campus.. you'll get 7% off

 

Thanks! AAAH! Darn, now I have to really think about this again. I'm still got my cart saved that had the $300 off until Sunday. I get the educational discount too, and hopefully this would combine (I mean it did last week). I hate having to call though :-/

 

hey all.i came across this on a website.
1299 for the AW190. it is from a vendor i've never heard of. i don't really like buying things from a company i've never heard of.. haha. it also seems to have mixed reviews (either really, really good, or really, really bad).

if someone wants to trust 'em.. go for it.. there is also a slight difference between the one listed on newegg and this one..

http://www.clearanceclub.com/products/9809-VAIO-VGN-AW120J-H#simprod

 

oh yeah i forgot to mentioned..it is factory recertified...

 

laptop no.2

it flickers as well...

bum... apart from that it's brilliant

vista rating on this aw xu is 5.5