Official Sony VAIO F Series Owners lounge *PART 2*

Yes - realize this, but thanks for pointing it out. Its not a big deal for me, because I'm used to the really horrible screen angles on my old Z1, but the viewing angles are pretty bad. I'm just glad I don't have the bleed issue.

The times I find myself most noticing the bad angles are when I'm watching a film in 2.35:1 with the black bars on top/bottom. Otherwise, in fullscreen apps where the screen is covered with colors, it's less obvious. The bad camera also magnifies the effect, at least on my screen, because of the nature of its lens when shooting photos at a macro distance.

But you can notice the difference between this screen and the Euro screens on the previous two pages. The Matte screens look much, much better.

 

Not really. He has a lot of backlight bleed at the bottom.

 

dude you got a GOOD screen, that's impressive.

 

Good to know. I didn't think I had the problem, but if I did I would've called Sony and asked for a replacement

I think MelodyMaster meant "good" as in "not one of the bad ones with tons of backlight bleed". Unless you meant that I have a defective screen, in which case I'd like to send my F in for a new screen.... Could you clarify?

 

That is a typical laptop screen NizMoz. The way the screen is constructed the flourescent light source originates at the bottom, so it's hard to even it out over the whole screen. I have never ever seen a business laptop that has LESS bleed at the bottom than that. It's the same as my IBM, Eurocom, Dell, and Compaq (older pieces, those..! )

To reiterate, ChowderClam has the screen we wish we all had in North America (European screen aside) I'll have to check to see if mine is as good.

 

I dare anyone to find a $1000 notebook with that screen size that doesn't have at least that bit of white light on the bottom.

Some of you have rather unrealistic expectations.

 

Re: uk Sony style configurator

have just been playing around with it and in the description it doesn't state whether us Brits are getting a matte screen or a glossy screen? Could anyone clarify? I did click the specifications link and it didn't give further info

still playing with the configurator, currently free up grade to 640gb (from 500gb) ; not sure if I should give a 7200rpm drive preference ???
(would love a ssd drive but too much cash for my wallet once I have upped ram to 8gb and a blu Ray writer

decisions decisions!! It's a great forum this so much info!!

my new machine is going to be for editing RAW and AVCHD files and am torn on pressing the order button or waiting to see whether the MacBook pros go quad core! Fan of both apple and Sony but can only afford one machine!!

 

The good screen has a sweet spot, an angle at which the contrast and colour are even over the whole screen, with some bleed at the bottom and less but still evident bleed at the top. A bad screen appears to have the bleed travel up the screen as you tilt the lid, and the bottom half is always washed out, with the top fading into excessive contrast or even inversion. Someone described it as the "Flashlight effect." There IS no viewing angle that shows an even display, even for bright images.

 

10-4 Good Buddy. I agree 110%.

 

for comparison propose here is the same columbia pictures from zombieland in my european version of the F series matte screen





sorry about the focus but the iphone really sucks whit low light

i think the results are quite good concerning backlight bleeding, very accurate blacks using matt800 color scheme

 

Both those photos like identical to me!!!

Oooh, is Zombieland out on blu-ray yet in the UK?!

*checks pre-orders*

matt

 

Food for thought...

Some time back when I was working in a large corporation, we standardized on Compaq laptops with a trade-off of a lower quality screen. We were told by Compaq that higher resolution screens were indeed available but high US import tariffs for higher screen resolutions prohibited their use in the laptops. I do not know whether these tariffs are still in effect or whether they even have an impact on Sony's Marketing decision for the F's current specification. We do know that US and Canadian F's are assembled in San Diego making the units subject to US regulations.

As far as I know, Sony does not make the LCD panel but relies on little known (to the end consumer) manufacturing plants located in China/Taiwan - the largest of these is LG. EU models are assembled from parts made and shipped from China. There are no overseas transportation or import issues.

The MSRP of a base configuration F11 in the US is $999. Subtract out the cost of the i7-720qm ($300+ per 1000), graphics chip, southbridge chip, peripheral chips, memory, LCD cost ($???), assembly cost, MB cost, Wifi chipset (about $30), tariffs, etc. there is little room for profit which also must cover tech support costs over the life of the product, help reclaim engineering development costs as well as make a contribution to the corporate profit margin.

All things considered, I think we get a rather good product for the price paid. This notebook is new (we are the early adopters in the product life cycle) and there will be problems in the early production runs. Engineering (both manufacturing, development and component purchasing) back in Japan have to analyze the problems and come up with solutions. This doesn't happen overnight. We just need to be patient, continue to hammer on Sony and get the problems fixed under warranty.

My first onsite warranty repair happens in a couple of hours for the fan and speaker distortion. Fortunately, I do not have the large light bleed as reported on this thread. Some of the pictures look pretty bad.

And no, I don't work for Sony either!

 

Yes the European screen is way better, better colorimetry, better construction. The US display appears to be using an older technology.

 

Nizmoz, I don't want to make this personal, so let's end the ranting here .

We get that the screen has disappointed you. That's fine. Nothing is perfect, and sometimes some issues bug people more than others. You had a defective screen, decided it wasn't for you, and returned it. Good for you! You also made it very clear (along with others here) that the U.S. screen is Subpar and could pose problems for those who want to edit photos professionally (although there have been past posts claiming that the screen "sweet spot" is very nice, indeed. This is my experience as well).

The unification thread has the "screen issue" and a paragraph explaining that it is one of the largest complaints. I don't think it's necessary to flood the forum with commentary that US F11 screens, which are clearly normal and have poor viewing angles because the nature of the screen itself, are defective - especially since you (I believe) had a defective screen and returned the laptop. Not only does this mislead customers who have already purchased the laptop, but it also gives a one-sided view of the laptop to customers who are considering purchasing the laptop.

I have to kindly ask you to stop wildly voicing your opinions that the U.S. screens are defective, unless, like in the case of Triton77, they are defective. It was okay the first few times. Now it is just becoming obnoxious. If it weren't for the other posters here, with your advice, I probably would've returned my laptop, thinking there was something wrong with it, wasting my time as well as Sony's time. Let's try to offer objective commentary and be very clear when we are voicing our opinions so as not to prospective buyers and owners.

Thanks.

 

hey i am just trying to help giving you some comparison pictures from the US to the EU versions

dont forget I am here to help

 

I repeat

With that screen size Though I may be wasting my time w/ the F-series troll.

 

When discussing European screens we have to remember that North Americans are paying cconsiderably less for their laptop in real money than purchasers anywhere else in the world. Somewhere along the way we simply have to have cheaper stuff in our computers.

 

It's really much appreciated. The European screen looks great btw! - thanks for posting the pics.

 

It still would have been nice to have the choice of a more expensive matte screen when I bought my F11. The more options the better.

 

No, I am not the one that is denying the problems. I see it in the pictures and I have other machines in my hand that were so much better.

I guess because I am not biased, I get blamed for voicing what I see.

 

Now that is how it should look! Nice pics!

 

Defective? Not per Sony. And the BB laptops I saw also showed this same issue. So it isn't defective. It is just a crappy LCD.

FYI, if you don't like others talking about defects, you know where the door is.

 

Mine was one of the really early ones. I ordered around 12th Jan recieved on 19th Jan.

 

Give Nizmoz a break, he's voicing a lot of customers' opinions including my own. I realize now that my screen is most likely defective, but with what I've seen in stores, I think that Sony is still selling screens of an unacceptable quality. A laptop must be able to have a forgiving vertical viewing angle as background light sources often require an angle adjustment to reduce screen glare.

 

Woah! I can barely tell what the image is supposed to be. Would you say the pictures give a good idea of what the screen is like? I looks like the pictures were taken from a lower angle. The optimal viewing angle is probably going to be looking down on the screen a little.

 

I think everyone would be better served if a separate thread just for the F screen is made and linked to the unification post. Anyone with concerns can voice it there. We have to go through recurring bouts of personal attacks between forum members just because of this screen.

There are good screens and defective ones. A comparison guide in the first page would be a good idea. A caveat could be included for prospective buyers to determine if the quality of the 'good' screen is acceptable.
Whoever is interested can champion the cause for or against this screen until Sony decides to replace it with a new one.

There are more good and bad things about the F that need to be addressed.

Edit: This would include a comparison to EU and NA screens as well.

 

This is a good idea.

 

Great idea. But how do you keep it from getting lost?

 

It's not quite as bad as that in real life but it is quite bad, I cannot get a black screen from any angle without maybe half to two thirds of it being off-black. This pic might have a bit better angle.

 

I bought my first F11 the day they arrived at BB. That one had a fan issue and a screen issue (as well as the "morse code" mic noise). Second unit has been much better. I'm quite picky, though, and I'm probably nitpicking on the backlight bleed that my current unit has.

No question, though, that the vertical viewing angle on all US screens is very limited.

 

The option will probably come, but right now the matte screens are ALSO in short supply. At least we'll have the i9 option in June along with other 1 gig video card choices.

 

Yeah, I think your screen has a bit of backlight bleed. I think the pics I posted a few pages back give an idea of what a screen without as much bleed looks like.

 

Fermi, you say?

I'll be flipping my current unit if a June refresh has an updated GPU. I'm a sucker for refreshes, I did the same thing with my Gateway P6811FX when the P7811 was released.

 

I'm not sure if the moderators would put it as a sticky if it was created. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask.

So Moderators......how about it???

 

Ordered an F in February, and received it on Tuesday. All of the problems checked out: No noise, acceptable flex, etc.

Even the display looked great... until it didn't.

The day after I got it, just as I had finished copying files and installing the basic software, the screen took on a blue tint. The screen distorts all colors somewhat, and produces black as a bright blue.

They are sending a tech out to fix next week to repair/replace the screen, but I'm less than thrilled so far with the purchase.

Searched this thread and elsewhere and saw lots of complaints about the display quality, but didn't see any with actual defective screens. Hopefully this is an isolated incident, and the replacement part quality will be acceptable. If not, back it goes.

 

MODS: Ditto, this is a great idea!

Personally, i'm very fortunate not to have any issues with my EU screen and these posts detract from an informative thread with just screen shots alone adding many pages to a great forum. However, they still deserve their own forum space for discussion and linked into this thread via the Unification post on Page 1.

Please!

matt

 

Aaahhh. More Endless Recursive Decision Making ERDM! I will just have to live with obsolete one month old F11J.

 

You have a very very bad screen, return the computer. My understanding is that the US screen and European Glossy are the SAME unit. (thus has the same percentage of defects) So, read this Nizmoz, the European Matte screen is better than the US standard, but it COSTS MORE as an option!

 

Wasn't someone meant to be getting the very first field repair for the whining sound very recently ? I can't remember who. Does anyone know.

Melodymaster can you explain how you are so sure of your theory for the reason for the whining/whistling sound ? Is this from a Sony rep or do you have an expertise/interest in this area of physics. Is it the same principle why jet engines make a whine sound ?

 

Hey, I paid more for the Premium screen. So go figure.

 

I'm getting onsite tech to get fan fixed... although I have not set a time yet because i've got a deadline to complete. it will have to wait a week or two.

 

Well, I know how a siren works, if that's what you mean by "physics." Otherwise my experience comes from working on and repairing computers since 1992. And one of the big deals was the production of quieter power supply fans once the power requirments were increased and the fans had to run harder, thus making unacceptable noise in an office.

The official, internal, reason for the fan whine has something to do with the paste, and incorrect mounting of the heat sink. Which MAY tie in with what I think, I don't know. That does suggest however that indeed a field fix for the noise is doable.

 

jacksjw will be getting his repaired soon. I await eagerly for a status update

 

The tech just called and is running an hour late but he is on his way.

I will report later.

 

Yes please!

Bar the windows and block and lock all possible escape exits. Don't let them leave until it's fixed!

 

God this really look bad, looks like a display of a laptop sold 5/6 years ago

the first lcd`s sold where really bad concerning backlight bleeding, this looks like using that old technology

 

Actually that's not true. What makes you believe that? Displays on my laptops from 1994 and 1997 are pretty good in terms of uniformity. Even a 486 Eurocom has a lightbleed-free display, though it's a tiny screen. This picture of the F11 screen has worse bleeding than any I've ever seen.

 

Sony has agreed to pick up my machine and replace the fan, although I'm not convinced email support really knew/cared about what I was saying - they kept sending me a link to a support page talking about generic fan noise/rattling etc. I did mention the fact that these forums had highlighted the need for a new design fan/mounting but I'm half expecting the repair people just to stick the same fan in and then it'll come back still with the whistle. Argh...

 

any of you F series owner experiencing battery drainage problem while computer is shut down? (turned off).

 

Some of you talk about swapping out for the new models when this refresh comes along. By that, do you mean just buying the new one and flogging the old, or does Sony do anything for swapping (pay the difference or something)? If so, does that also happen in the UK?