Official Sony VAIO F Series Owners lounge *PART 2*

Need some advice regarding buying or not F11S. I am worried about all those heat+ noise issues mentioned so often here but even worse about apparently no solution issue with Nvidia - DPC on WIn 7.
My work is 80% audio. I suppose many here used FW before and FW51 could be interesting alternative since it uses ATI and feat P8700. Otherwise same specs 6Gb RAM,HDD size and 300 Euro less as compared to F11.
Any advice, suggestions will be appreciated.

 

What heat issue? Do you have a link or quote?

 

I meant in general, the subject was mentioned a lot in this thread, I dont mean noise as bug/design fault/issue but as part of the deal of having fast but hot CPU- "you want i7 power- got to live with some extra noise"
I often work over 10 h daily and irritating noise can be tiring or even unbearable (some other people might be able to bear/ignore it, not me). I had already bad experience with Vaio with P4, sold it after few months as it was too much, friend of mine used same model for years, she is designer and the noise didnt bother her much.
I am interested in the performance difference i7 vs P8700, the less heat/noise speaks for P8700 (I suppose) i7 will have advantage rendering (specially video). AFAIK unlike in the case of video where i7 has clear advantage, most audio applications do not take much advantage of it at all.
That is why I wonder if FW be safer bet for mainly audio use.
I could wait for F refresh that most probably will fix some existing issues but we all know "wait for next release" IT syndrom . I must upgrade from my dated FZ21. F is getting what is the best right now, FW could be compromise, have something better then FZ, while "waiting" for better upgrade.

 

In Europe there is an i5-520M version of the F11, is it available where you are? If yes, have you considered it? It does not have any heat or noise issues.

 

Hi all,

Me again...Im having a small issue with my F11, was wondering is anyone was able to assist.

I play online games wirelessly, and in the past on a vista based computer I had issues with lag every 60 seconds on the wireless network. It turned out the problem was the Wireless config program scanning for new networks which was causing the latency spikes.

I was able to fix this problem with a program called Vista Anti-Lag (VAL).

I am having the same issue with Windows 7 in my F11, and I was wondering if there is a similar tool for Windows 7 that will accomplish what I want?

Has anyone else had the same issue with online games with this machine?

Thanks in advance

 

For audio editing you will probably be better of getting a mbp or something that is quieter (or indeed the FW). Audio editing probably depends more on the hard drive speed and the amount of RAM you have, but depending on how many effects you're going to be throwing onto the files, you will need a good cpu to do all the number crunching for the sound files. The C2D Penryn (they are penryn's in the FW, right?) in the FW should be more than enough.

The F isn't too loud (I've pretty much have had it on for 24/7 since I got mine in January, and it's not driven me mad yet, although it can get loud when the CPU usage starts to ramp up. I imagine that for audio editing, you will be using sealed reference monitors, no? You really won't be able to hear the noise with a good pair of sealed cans on. There's also very little noise via the 3.5mm jack, so you'll be good to go, but I imagine that you will have a DAC plugged in anyway, so again, this shouldn't be too relevant.

Heat is also a non-issue. Haha yeah, it just isn't.

 

Mango, I wish I could +rep you for the last couple of posts you made but it says I need to spread it around.

As far as (I believe it was Melody saying) the F12 getting a better processor option, I don't think that's what should be concentrated on. Who here has thought "Damn, my F just isn't fast enough. I wish it had a better processor." That kind of upgrade is more for a new line of laptops. Instead they should be working on the things people didn't like about the product for this update. Of course it's all past tense at this point, believe it people, they have made up their minds on what they are doing already.

 

guys i really need your help, i am gathering money regarding getting the f11, but i want to know are there any major problems with the UK version.

Also i phone Sony, and they have said that they and bringing out a refreshed model in the UK, next month. Anyone know what the specs will be, whether it will be much better than the f11 and whether there is any point in getting it.

 

Oh. I'm an idiot.

So even though I use high performance mode all of the time and min and max processor speeds are 100% regardless if it's plugged in or not...it's going to be max out at 933 MHz when I'm on battery?

Is there any way to prevent this from occuring? I mean this means that now my laptop is slower on battery than my previous 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo laptop....what?!

 

Well if you can find a way to feed a system that needs 110 W to work full speed with a 54 W battery then you should win a Nobel prize or something.

Check this post by FredFrenzy, HP Gaming Staff replying to this question on the official HP forums: "... the processor gets locked at low frequency mode (x7) and all we get is 930MHz (on battery). This is unnaceptable. Has this been discussed?"

HP staff reply: "This is correct and as designed - turbo mode is disabled. We do this on many of our notebooks. Not only turbo, but the maximum speed are disabled while on battery. The maximum speed is not possible on battery power, the battery is 52watts only (and the system needs ~110 watts for full performance).

 

can someone reply to my post please, its urgent

 

You said you are allergic to noise so that rules out any brand with a i7-720QM quad core. Check this post for professional sound emission measurements of 4 brands of notebooks including the F: VAIO_F Series Variable Fan Speed & User Control.

If you find a notebook with a quad core that emits less than 30 dB @ idle then please report back. The TDP of that CPU is 45 W + the GPU & all the rest. That heat must be evacuated. Picture the heat generated by a lit 60 W incandescent light bulb.

 

Urg. That stinks. That's such a dumb feature! Now it's like super slow if it's not plugged in.

 

Well, look on the bright side. It's only handicapped and "slow" for a little over an hour, then you have to plug it in and you get full speed again!

 

Ok I've bookmarked this reply... The proof is in the pudding, as they say. I imagine the custard has been made, is in most of the bowls, and is just waiting to be taken to the tables... Can't wait for the official announcements of the F12!

 

Well my 1998 Acer_Travelmate runs @ 650 mHz & on battery the Speed Step throttles it to 500 mHz for longer battery life. What's dumb about that?

 

Really, in terms of the nosie being produced by a PC used for audio editing, even a water-cooled desktop has hard drive hum, pump noise, and such. I'd say that without doubt the F11 is quieter than an equally-powerful fan-cooled desktop ssytem.

I haven't had experience with the mobile Core2Duos, but the mobile i7 demolishes my desktop Q9450 in terms of rendering speed in MOST applications.

 

There's no doubt the main reason for waiting for the F12 is corrections to problems with the F11. But there WILL be additional options, just to SELL the new system.

I can imagine the Sony advertising:

"Well, we royally screwed up the F11, sorry to all those users stuck with a buggy machine, but now, for those who were smart enough to wait, those who weren't so stupid as to buy our first try at an i7 laptop, or those who have tons of money to throw around, we introduce the F12! We've eliminated all the idiotic mistakes and plain unbelievable boo-boos we committed with that lousy F11.. Hey! we think we got this one right! no new options, just an actual, functional machine.....

....Coming to a store near you, The Sony VAIO VPCF12, an F-series Notebook that actually almost works properly!!!..."

.

I think a potato chip manufacturer had that type of advertising once. Since they didn't last long I can't remember the company's name...

Worked for Coca-Cola though..in reverse...

 

Most Vista tools work in Win7, have you tried it?

 

Settle down with a vodka-laced coffee, a good Costa-Rican blend of course, and READ the last 25 pages.

 

No it's faster than the P8700, just the core clock is slower. There was a comparison online somewhere beetween P-series and i7/i5 clock speeds versus calculation speed.

 

I don't find that running the F11 on its battery is "slow" by any vaguest stretch of the imagination.

 

But I have an extended battery I get about 3 hours out of it. I'm just gonna create an extension cord long enough to go around the world with me, and it'll be invisible and weightless.

 

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when someone trips and sends their latte flying while you're exploiting the wifi at a cafe.

Seriously, though, have you experienced significant slowness? Or are you mainly just bothered by the raw numbers not being what's "advertised"?

 

I am a little bothered by the numbers...but I do notice a difference. I use Digsby as my AIM client. On my two year old Core 2 Duo laptop scrolling through the buddy list was a bit slow at some points in time. When my F is plugged in, scrolling through the buddy list is fast. When it's unplugged, scrolling through the buddy list is just as slow as my previous laptop. A little laggy. Also noticed some stuttering in certain flash animated videos.

 

If you don't need a computer now, I would wait. I was going to buy an FW in December, but I heard rumors that the F was coming out in January, and I didn't need a laptop immediately (well, I did but I could stand to wait a month or so). Needless to say, I'm happy I waited.

The new refresh (F12) will probably work out most of the kinks in the F11 and offer some new colors and possibly lower prices.

There are also rumors of an i9 mobile processor or updated graphics card, but imho I doubt we will see any of these. More likely, Sony will offer discrete graphics switching (with the i7 6xx chips and the gt 330m with nvidia "optimus" or whatever) for extended battery life.

Re: are there any issues with the UK F11

I have the US F11, so I can't say with confidence how the UK F11s are, but mine has been on almost 24/7 since I got it (really, I'm not joking. At night lately I've been leaving it on to defrag and run Vaio care and a virus scan). The only thing that went wrong was my keyboard, and after a phone call, Sony sent a technician round to my house and gave me a new keyboard. So yes, my experience has been quite good. Can't say the same to those who had problems, but I think that its good value for the money.

That said, I would wait for the refresh if you don't really need a laptop asap.

 

omg that thing to hold down a key to reduce fan speed is true ? I'm going to make a exe. to constantly press a key. -_-'

 

Video: Sony’s new, super-thin OLED display wraps around a pencil

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/05/26/video-sonys-new-super-thin-oled-display-wraps-around-a-pencil/

 

mango thing is i really want a laptop, i assume the refrsh model next month is f12, but are there any specs for it, from what i can tell its going to be expensive, i only saved enough for the f11, which i can say is one of the best sony laptops out.

Im fed up with companies releasing refrsh laptops all the time, mango will the refresh model really have loads of updates, as the f11 is only few months old.

 

What key would you use to prevent it affecting anything? lol, and it's not that they key has to be pressed...it has to be held down.

Also, regarding the F12 refresh...my F11 is less than 30 days old, received it as a gift from someone who works for Sony, but she asked me which model I wanted, and paid for it. I am having a minor issue with the headphone port, and am kind of annoyed at the squeeky spacebar. Do you think it would be reasonable to return it (I would pay for the shipping), and then ask her to reorder the newer model when it arrives in late June? I know it would be a bit weird to ask...but it might be worth it, right? It was a gift for my 21st birthday.

 

The spacebar issue resolves itself, and yes it IS a bit difficult to get the plug right into the headphone/optical port. So if you return it it's choice, not warranty.

 

anyone actually goiing to get the f12, or return the f11 and get the f12

 

I purchased the F11 in January and returned it in March due to some faulty parts. As soon as the F12 is available I will be buying one. I would have bought another F11, but there haven't been any 330M 1GB VRAM options available in Canada for months.

I was advised to wait for the refresh by a Sony representative - the only way I could get the 1GB or better video card...and possible i9 option as well.

I have been waiting since December to buy a laptop. I don't NEED a laptop, but it sure made life easier for the 2 months I had one.

Soon...very very soon...

 

I think I might do that considering my F11 is less than 2 weeks old right now. Hmm...it's just asking the person who bought it for me to repurchase it an issue. I don't know if that's really moral or not considering it was a gift fr my 21st birthday...but she did ask me which one I wanted, and she works for Sony...I would totally pay for shipping too.

 

ok, im not sure, i will wait for f12 to see the new specs and price and see if that is the best one. Thanks phookie for clearing it up, now got to wait. What date is the f12 coming out.

 

There's no official date from Sony, but here in Europe some stores give June 17th and according to melodymaster June 19th in North America.

We'll just have to be patient.
And good chance Sony will announce something at Computex Taipei (that's from 1-5 June or something like that).

 

I said June 26th actually.

 

New Coke reference?

 

Yah, in this case the "Old" model turned out to be the customer's preference.

 

I just tried my up to date OEM WinDVD 10.0.5.164.94956 for_Vaio & I can't believe that they greyed out the > Open > File or Folder as well as the > Tools > Bookmark or Capture when playing a DVD.



The only way I found so far to play DVD content copied to the HDD is to play the individual .VOB or other media files.

I know about ISO & using other software but I'm looking for a workaround for our crippled WinDVD for_Vaio. Anybody knows which file could be edited to unlock these features?



Hard to believe also that in Settings (right click viewing area), the Mobile Technology Pack tab is missing as the point of that is to optimize battery life so you could see the entire movie before shutdown. See the help file within WinDVD to see what is disabled.

 

Yea, that's annoying. Thanks Sony + Corel. Looks like the binaries are where the disabling occurs. Just a quick peek into the workings revealed this:

[SNIP!]

Ok, so I posted a workaround, because I thought that an update disabled the functionality on accident. Random thoughts lead me to an alternate conclusion, where Corel envokes the DMCA against me for circumventing their code.

So, is this really an accident? If we can determine that, then I'll repost. What a world we live in...

 

Could you tell me exactly the name of file I should check?

 

Meanwhile I found the reply to a question posted a while ago by our friend stationed in Korea (Huh!): WinDVD Blu-Ray (BD) DVD Region Free Reset.

To be able to see ivireg.ivir in C:\Windows\System32: > Tools > Folder Options > View > select: Show Hidden Files.

The user Dchan mentions iviRegMgr.exe located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InterVideo\RegMgr but according to the article, it does not seem necessary to touch that. I will report after reaching my 5 region change limit but it may take a while.

 

Joe,

is this a new software update ? If so when was it released ?

I have some BD rips so want to know if this update would affect the utility of WinDVD in playing those iso's. Thanks.
T.

 

Correct, my mistake. Makes it 1-1
I confused the discontinuation date of the F11 (June 19th) with the introduction date of the F12 (June 26th).

Could have know that studying affects the brain. I'd better start reading this thread all over again, before making any other mistakes. Oh my, I'll need more than one Red Bull to survive that..!
Just kidding, but still, this thread is a labyrint. Thank God, there's the unification post! Even if some people can't even seem to find their way to it, despite the numerous huge red signatures linking to it in half the posts.

 

Sure It's (from memory):

C:\Program Files(x86)\Corel\WinDVDxxx\resources\...\xml\GG_OpenCtl.xml

There are multiple directories for languages/resolutions, the one that worked for me was in 1920x1200.

So, I never opened WinDVD until I read your first post (which was after I updated it)... did it used to allow you to select those File and Folder options?

 

anyone know will it be possible to still get the F11 when the F12 comes out.

Also is it true that the Speed will go down drastically when u plug the charger in.

 

Where are you guys getting the information about the F12 release? I've spoken to a couple of Sony representatives and they have absolutely nothing to tell me.

 

It's weird... but I like it

 

The info is in this thread...

1. Click on Search this thread in the top right corner.
2. Search for F12 refresh
3. Start reading...

Btw, not all representatives know everything or are allowed to tell everything they know.