Official Sony VAIO F Series Owners lounge

Sorry to hear this. I was waiting to see what your opinions were since we seen to be somewhat "old timers", and maybe "curmudgeons" with the lappies.
I had a Zenith Laptop, IBM T-20/23, Dell Lat XM, D600, etc, etc. Going with the gray again? Or talking them into an exchange with the "black"?

 

@Derrida: It doesn't void your warranty, but indeed, as Joe pointed out there's no need to check it visually (I wasn't aware that Everest could read RAM information).

@MelodyMaster: thanks a lot for the pics!

Thanks Joe. Could someone with the 2x4GB config please run everest and see if they're also Hynix?

 

Oh I'll try to get the black. Grey is alright, but if I feel at all hesitant then I'd better follow my instinct. A new order would cost more since prices have gone up but the fellow would want to keep the sale, so it would be the same price for a new system or goodbye.

Strangely enough I've been utterly unable to get that noise from the microphone everyone mentions. The loudest sound is the air exiting the vent. There is the slightest fan whine when the system is stressed. The serial number by the way is 0000031, very early.

 

There is no exchange with sonystyle, as far as I know. You just have to return it and re-order.

 

I guess therein lies the advantage of dealing with a particular sales agent over the phone rather than an impersonal computer Shopping Basket.

 

Is yours customized? If so, you can't return it but you can exchange it. I wanted to return mine due to the rattling sound it makes when I tap the palm rest but read on the website that all sales are final for customized Vaios. I'm going to bring it into a Sony store and ask for an exchange if the tech guy can't fix the problem.

 

Have you tried lifting the back about 1/2" from the desk with a narrow piece of wood under the rubbers, for example, to help natural ventilation? On some models it cuts the fan work by half.

 

I'm not seeing many people here complaining about the throttling issues when running on battery.

MelodyMaster (and everyone else), can you check if this is also the case for yours? See thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=452126

This will likely need a BIOS update, and that will only happen if many people report the problem.

 

Same for the pre-built models if you chose engraving.

 

It's not an issue nor a problem, it's a choice they made.

What's wrong is that they don't mention the .990GHz limit when they write in the Features:

Estimated Battery Life : Up to 4 hours Standard Capacity.

They should either disclose the limitation or give the user the option to choose between full CPU performance or battery life optimization in the BIOS.

To users who reported FPS with some games, how does it compare vs. running on battery?

 

Thanks for the advice, but I'm kinda stuck w/ buying from Best Buy...

 

First, I will say I'm really enjoying this machine. No computer is perfect, but I felt that this machine hit a great price point for the performance and features.

Here is my question:

Does anyone else have a fan that runs constantly?

Mine is almost always running at medium blast; even when the machine is idle. maybe that's intended and/or necessary? My previous laptop was purchased in 2006 so I can't say I know what to expect from the newer machines.

Please let me know if that's normal or the sign of a problem.

 

Wait...cto computers can be returned to sonystyle as long as you've not had it engraved right? I got an RMA for two laptops from sony and shipped them in already...

 

@mkny
I've returned my F for other reasons but when i had it, fans only kicked in once in a while surfing the web watching a movie, running photoshop and autocad.

 

Interesting; seems like as long as I'm browsing the web or doing anything, I'm listening to the fans. Not sure whether its an issue or just design. Why did you return?

 

I don't know about CTO's but:

"The 30-day return period does not apply to engraved products. Engraved products cannot be returned for refund or exchange unless they contain defects in materials or workmanship or are otherwise returnable under applicable warranty provisions"

From: https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentDisplayView?hideHeaderFooter=true&storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&cmsId=terms_cond_engraving

 

Oh well, ordered it anyways even with the battery throttling, lets see if it's too much of an issue to me.

Product: US-VPCF1190X-LBOM
Component: No Additional Video Editing Software
Component: Intel® Core™ i7-820QM processor (1.73GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.06GHz (Reg. price $300.00)
Component: 16.4" VAIO Premium Display (1920x1080) with NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M GPU (1GB VRAM)
Component: No Fresh Start
Component: Microsoft® Works
Component: No additional Photo Editing Software
Component: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1333 (Reg. price $335.00)
Component: Blu-ray Disc™ player
Component: Norton Internet Security™ 2010 (30 Day Trial)
Component: No Keyboard Backlight
Component: Standard Capacity Battery
Component: Black
Component: No Engraving
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
Component: 500GB Hard Disk Drive (7200rpm) (Reg. price $105.00)

 

Several reasons, keyboard flex on mine was bad, bevel attached to drive tray not snug. It rattled when a disc was spinning, high pitched squeak for some keys, it was more a build issue rather than hardware. They were minor but annoying and i didn't want to live with it for a couple of years.
I'm getting another one though but i have to wait for the refunds to clear

 

@ fernandes: The i7-820QM limitation is 1.2GHz on battery, it's not that bad.

 

I know, that probably tipped me over to the 820QM But I would still like to be able to run at full speed when I wanted.

 

I wonder how much trade-off there is between the 820QM & 720QM considering fan activity & battery life?

Intel mentions only the 45W max but not the minimun here:

http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?familyID=43402

"But I would still like to be able to run at full speed when I wanted" - that's why I like to ride my motorcycle on remote roads.

 

I can buy into batteres not having sufficient capacity to run the i7's at it's intended speed but it has to be made publicly
known. It's performance is not as advertised and it is misleading a lot of consumers. This is a major fault within marketing.
Truthfully, if i had known of the F's throttling issue, I might as well have purchased an i7 desktop. We all bought the i7's for their power and to only experience that plugged in is quite disappointing...

 

The 820 has got 8MB of Cache, while the 720 has got 6MB. That could be significant too.

 

Agreed that it is disappointing. However, buying an i7 desktop is a whole different thing than say being able to use the F laptop all around the house, while on battery, doing web-surfing and pretty much everything else, except for those processor intensive stuff. When you need to do intensive processing, just plug it in - wherever in the house you may be (not possible with a desktop, right ? )

Bottomline, I am glad that I am aware of this quirk. I will simply adjust the way I use the laptop and I should be good to go. And yes, it should be mentioned by Sony - at least in the small print.

 

@roweraay

i agree with you...i sometimes will use it on the field though (construction sites) where the thought of getting an electrical feed thru a gas powered generator is like playing with fire..

That said...i think i'm just feeling bitter about having to wait a tiny bit before i can buy another laptop...

 

@roweraay: consider the case of travelling with your notebook. You might want to check on something for work, opening intensive tasks intermittently, etc. Or just watching a Full HD movie during your flight.

Actually, can someone please try and see if that's doable (watching a blu-ray movie on battery)?

 

That's more like attaching a stick of dynamite to your power supply.

 

I know I'm not as knowlegable as some but when did 1.2ghz start being acceptable? With all due respect, would you actually buy a laptop (not a netbook) that was advertised as having a 1.2ghz processor?

 

Yes, returned mine no problem. I've had 4 or 5 Sony laptops, and 2 TV's, I've always found CS helpful.

 

You were probably trying to quote Joe.. but it should be noted that at least there are 4 cores running at 1.2ghz. In any case, that is still not acceptable if you have a single threaded application where you need any (moderate) amount of processing power.

 

@glashub

sigh of relief!!!!

 

1.2ghz doesn't sound too good but i will primarily run autocad which should run those 4 cores as much as it can.
Still, it's like driving a ferrari with the handbrake on.

 

@fernandes you're right I was trying to quote Joe about the real not percieved acceptability of 1.2ghz. My apologies for mistakenly quoting you. Do you want me to try and delete it or are you cool with it? Thanks.

 

@ Glashub: actually if your application is not coded for multi-threading, it will run at 990 Mz max with the F i7 on battery. If it is, then it will run at a maximum of 990Mz x 4 = 3.96 GHz.

Naturally if you are multi-tasking, with the 4 cores & 8 threads, the programs will be spread around so it will be faster than a netbook with more than one program running, even if it's a 1.66 GHz single core.

@ roweraay: good point about the 8MB vs. 6MB cache.

 

I've just returned mine too. How long did it take you to be credited back?

 

I play L4D2 as well, and I have been experiencing good FPS Fairly smooth with everything on even at 1920x1080.

I haven't done too many tests, but COD4 seems to run well also at higher resolutions. It's a bit choppy (40fps or so) at 1920x1080 with everything turned on, but from the small amount I've played so far, it seems to run pretty damn well for a laptop :O

The only other came I play is Halo 1, and it runs very well at high resolutions

 

Could you do the same test on battery?

 

The one I plan to purchase is from Newegg, specifically the VPCF116FX/B. If anyone gets their model from Newegg, I'd appreciate hearing of any impressions or problems.

 

I've only just found out about these laptops and they sound pretty sweet. Anybody tried installing Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc) on them and how do they go?

 

Yes, returns within the 30 day period simply by choice is only unacceptable on laptops with personal inscriptions, as far as I can read. Anyway if it's an actual defect as with mine (seemingly) a return for refund would always be accepted in the trial period. Mandatory return for exchange only on defective units only applies after the 30 day trial period.

I tried again, I just find the shading on the screen unacceptable. I'm SURE if this were typical everyone would be complaining about the screen, but they're not.

 

Too sad about that, I can't wait for mine and I can't figure out how will it be to send it back

By the way I didn't noticed it in the photo You previously posted, it just happened later?

You're still trying it or is it already packed for shipping it back?

 

My laptop is now on its way to the 'logistics center' and I am expecting it to arrive within a week.

I want to turn this machine into a dual boot with windows and linux (opensuse 11.2). Also, I want to try if it is possible to run the windows part from linux using intel VT. Intel VT has been confirmed to work already on the F on this forum.

When I have the laptop I will start blogging about the detailed steps on my site (brakkee.org).

 

No Vaio F models showing for customising on the Sonystyle.co.uk site at the moment???

matt

 

Since today the Vaio F is not available for order in Sonystyle in Italy.

I've phoned them to ask about my delivery and 'what if' I wanted to change the HD and they told me that was not possible (right now) since it would be a new order and that they were not taking orders for this model now since it was out of stock

I add to that that also the first ones (Italians) that bought it and were supposed to receive it this week, haven't received not only the note, but also the info about it being shipped from Japan (for Europe it goes from there to Holland and then from there delivered with tracking number to us), so it appears like they're still stuck there.

What do you think? They just sold a lot of them given the price/performance or are they waiting to solve the issues You already experienced?

Any different info?

 

Great stuff, thanks. I'm looking forward to hearing about it.

 

So I was saying, I bet it's allover Europe

 

That's what I'm really interested about, in case I'll provide info about how it works with Ubuntu, which will be pretty much the same I suppose (and hope).

 

They are custimisable in the dutch sonystyle store (dutch = .nl). Belgium never had custimise options, last time I spoke to a sony salesmen he qaid it would take a long time before it would happen, but since they started giving custimise options in the netherlands my hope is growing ^^

 

I talked with sonystyle.nl a few days ago to enquire about my order. Basically, the story is this. As soon as the laptop leaves the factory in Japan you get a notification. Then they basically lose track of it and the next status update will be when it leaves the logistics center in Tilburg/Netherlands. They did not get any information about something being wrong with the order and said they are still happily expecting the orders to arrive.

In case it is like you suspect that they are want to solve a number of problems in the laptops first, then it is fine by me as well, but then we would like to know. I can wait because I have been waiting for months already for Sony to release laptops with core i7 processors.

I am assuming for now that the information is still correct and that the orders are simply underway from Japan to Europe. However, given the fact that the laptop left the factory already on Monday, I would assume it to be already there in Tilburg right now. Unless, of course they are truly shipping the orders, as in putting them on a boat!

 

That's strange - they've been removed from the site...

https://www.sonystyle.co.uk/SonySty...ideActive=)/.do?tabKey=tabKey1&next=products#