Official Sony VAIO F Series Owners lounge

Well 9 cells is 50% more than 6 cells and users report 2-2.5 hours surfing w/ wifi w/ standard battery. In the Sony store, click more info for battery data.

"Does sony give you the 6 cell battery if you buy the 9 cell?" - nope if you chose one over the other in CTO.

BTW slrosenfeld posted nice photos of his F with the 9 cell battery here.

 

No, the Sony pricing is fine. 4 Gig DDR3 PC10666 is very expensive, three times or more that of a 2 gig. There are only two slots in the F11. Some laptops such as the Asus G51VX-A1 have FOUR memory slots precisely to lower the cost of larger system memory. I can get a Hynix PC3-10666 for about $300, which if it were put in straight away, even accounting for the value of the spare 2 gig memory, would be more than just including 6 gigs right now. But the fact is that I had no more budget at all, and was able to get in everything else I needed where there was not such an easy upgrade path, if at all. With spare cash down the road, possibly with a sale of the 4gigs 10666 to a customer, I can upgrade to a full 8 gigs, which is more noticeable than just a 2 gig upgrade. But that would be even more beyond my budget, which by the way was supposed to be $1200 max!

The fact is that 4 gigs is enough, I run Premiere CS3 on an X38 with Q9450 and 4 gigs and there is still more than 1.5 gigs free on the busiest session. erm, and in fact it's only using XP32 anyway, with an unavailable 800 megs or so. And remember the F11 will have SSD which negates some of the system memory caching that would have been required with a mechanical drive.

 

Well it is 1.5 times the capacity of the 6-cell battery. For me with the 720QM I can get about 4 hours on the extended battery with balanced settings just surfing and watching youtube vids.
FYI - in the US at least, when you register your Vaio, you get 20% off of one accessory from the sony store. Brings that extended battery from $250 down to $200. Just slightly easier to swallow!

 

Oh, I agree that there is no gouging by Sony, when it comes to the price of the RAM.

Just that if you are technically inclined and can purchase RAM from the aftermarket (via a bunch of cheaper sources including eBay), you can save some money by adding it into the machine yourself.

PS: I personally would be getting 8GB of RAM in my CTO model.....whether it be the F-series or the new Z-series (depending on which model I finally decide to go with).

 

I am not sure if the SSD flash is capable of coming anywhere close to the speed of dedicated RAM or the even faster cache memory.

Basically, more RAM will allow you to reduce the amount of "virtual memory" page-in/page-outs right ? Significantly increases the processing speed and reducing the amount of system I/O steps.

 

If I got everything, including 820, the laptop would be some $3000. I couldn't afford that..

CPU caching handles paging and "false tries." CPU cache is more important for constant processing than ram. Thus the 820, with 8 megs rather than the 6 megs of the 720 would have been nice. But even that can be upgraded aftermarket. (two years from now, with warranties expired and time for a cleanout.. I have six cats... )

 

That's my point, I am "technically inclined" so I checked if it would be cheaper to get the F w/ 2x 2gb and because there is only 2 memory slots, buy aftermarket 4 gb stick & replace the 2 gb stick in the machine & it was not cheaper than just buy the CTO w/ a 2gb + 4gb stick.

Normally it is cheaper to do as you say, but not in the case of the F with the current memory prices.

 

My boy calls me from home and informs me my computer has arrived! I'm self employed and can leave any time, but I still have work to do. The torture !

 

Yah, this is a case of paying a bit more later rather than getting it cheaper for a purchase I can't afford now, but it must be 8 gigs, not just 6. And I may get lucky, memory prices are going up in general, but DDR3 should go down against DDR2. The most commonly-used type of memory is always cheapest per Gig, that's why obsolete DDR1 has been pricy for quite a while now.

And I wouldn't ever get semiconductors through Ebay

 

Well, if living in Costa Rica, it's often the only way.

I got a CPU, video card, memory sticks, several external drives, laptop drive + LCD + battery, etc from USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, India, China, Great Britain, etc & all where fine. You just need to chose sellers with the highest feedback scores.

 

True, but there are a lot of counterfeit transistors, particularly in high power audio outputs, so I prefer to deal with local parts suppliers. But yah, sometimes there's no choice but to go to Ebay. One of my clients (against my advice) ordered some hard drives though a "trusted" ebay vendor.. every one was bad and he got no restitution.

I'll probably get a spare battery for my Asus and VAIO laptops through an Ebay vendor from whom I've ordered before, since they seem to be genuine OEM whereas my Office's battery supplier uses some obscure Chinese-made type, definitely NOT OEM..

 

I bought 7 HDD's on ebay: Samsung, WD & La Cie, all are fine. But that's off topic, no?

 

Do You Really Need More Than 6 GB Of RAM?

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/memory-module-upgrade,2264.html

 

ops I did it again!

I've put Avast on mine and as You are I'm still doubtful about the firewall

Glad You did it

matte is matte, here is mine




but there's no evidence it's also LED, really there isn't even a clue that it is.

Yop, me too, luckily no whine but sadly the whistling fan is there, still not so annoying and I hope it doesn't become to bad in the future (it can't get better )


I've been really busy those days and I'm sorry to come back so late with few news about mine but Yesterday and the day before I've spent my little time here on the forum helping a guy with the command line...

BTW mine is also ubuntisized now and screen, wifi, audio, webcam.. everything it's now working fine. The mic is the only open issue. If anyone knows how to fix it I'll thank him, if anyone needs help on the former I'll be glad to help

I'll start with some pics and I hope during the WE to play a little more with the new kid to give You my perspective.


First thing the box was bigger then expected...





there was a nice surprise waiting for me!





then the unpacking

 

WOW great pics! Keep them coming

Is that the premium black color?

 

Thanks for the info. That makes sense as the recovery partition is not affected by programs added/removed. I'll definitely create the recovery and restore discs with the laptop in its default factory state. Then I can tweak it to my liking and create a system image and do a recovery, as you stated.

 

Yes, I take that back: there is no evidence that there are LEDs at play in the European F -- except for the fact that, in the Z series, the matte screen was married to an LED (i.e., the Duraview coating was advertized as LED) and the RGB screen in the AW series was LED. But Sony has not so stated for the F series....

 

Hey guys,

I've ordered my new F laptop . I think its the matt version(hopfully the supplier won screw up the order). I know i read somewhere on this thread i read about fresh install and everything but i cant find it in the 300 odd pages. Can someone please give step by step instructions ( even from opening the box if you want lol) cause i'm unsure and just want to do it properly.Thanks

 

Fresh install or clean start, the choice is difficult!

 

None of the F-series has an LED backlight for the screen. The new EB and others will offer that I think.

Yes the carry bag IS a nice surprise. We in North America only ever get the bare minimum for online CTOs. I was going to put mine in a grungy old Eurocomm case from the early 90s, really primitive. No potential thief would suspect one of the latest models being inside it ..

 

The factory option is fresh START. A user-initiated start from scratch is a CLEAN install. There is no "fresh install" as a phrase in this thread (until now,) that's why you couldn't find it..

 

@LuvrGirl -- I saw the pictures you posted, early in the thread, showing off your new F-Series. I have a question for you. I noticed your computer is on a folding laptop stand and it happens to be the same exact stand that I currently use. It kind of tripped me out when I was looking at a photo of the same computer & stand that I use... haha

My question is: Do you remember the model/manufacturer of that laptop stand you have in your photos? I'm trying to track down another one - I really like it! I purchased mine from Staples but they don't have it in stock any longer. I guess Private Messaging is not allowed on this forum. I couldn't find the option anywhere so I apologize for putting this in the thread...

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you...

ALB

P.S. If anyone else knows exactly which stand this is, feel free to chime in!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5749663#post5749663

 

My F shipped today, so I'll have it Tuesday! The only thing they got wrong on my order was the hard drive, they gave me a 500gb 5400 rpm drive instead of a 7200 rpm drive. Should i send it back or just upgrade later? Is it that much of a difference really with my specs?

 

I would frankly just upgrade it to an aftermarket SSD later. SSD prices are coming down by the week and newer offerings are constantly breaking the price barrier and drawing it downward. Toshiba, Samsung, OCZ are all players who have seriously entered the ring and you should be able to pick up a 512GB SSD over the next year or so, for a few 100 dollars.

The configuration I am planning on, is the same as yours (including the 820QM, 8GB RAM but with a bluray burner etc), just that I will be going with the SSD than the HDD.

 

Thanks for the advice, that's what I'll do i guess.

 

Have not received the Spyder yet. Please re-post color management settings.
Thank you!

 

a simple search does wonders.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5784440&postcount=1572

 

Here are some unboxing pics of the Asian F:

http://www.mobile01.com/newsdetail.php?id=8866

Enjoy!

 

Very nice pics! Appreciate it

 

Here's my "Fresh Start" start menu, with the software I installed myself cut and pasted out. I think Adobe Reader was on there too, and I accidentally cut it out along with Photoshop. So it looks like Fresh Start drops the number of items from 47 to 26.

Thanks Joe Bleau by the way for linking some of my earlier posts and saving me the trouble of repeating myself or repeatedly linking myself. And thanks for the recurrent reminders to make recovery and repair discs. After about the third time I saw your suggestion to do this very important but all too often neglected bit of housekeeping, I finally got around to doing it myself. (BTW, making the recovery disks went fine even after I'd installed a bunch of software)

 

Many thanks to everyone in this thread... I had the chance to reconfigure my F again with different parts since my current order was pushed back and the build had not even started yet.

To anyone planning on buying from Sony in North America and would like to try for the 15% over the phone and assuming you got hold of a rep who was not already having a rough day.

It seems that the sales rep will work with you on pricing according to these steps:
1. Be nice (not sickeningly nice mind you)
2. Higher item order (adds 5%)
3. service plan** (add another 5%)
4. additional accessories (add another 5%)
**Service plans apparently are not discounted but getting one may add to the discount on your notebook and accessories

I tried for 15% instead of 10% this time around from the success of recent posts, and it worked!!
Now i've got a fully spec'd machine at a $350-$400 savings (depending on additional accessories bought)

Hope this helps

 

Hi Ota-con, thank you for the super pictures and benchmark results!

• Please can I ask where you can get the Street Fighter IV test from?
• And what game is playing in the last video with the fire dragon?

matt

 

Unfortunately the pics aren't mine but from a user over in Taiwan.

(I am still undecided whether to buy the new F or new Z to replace my Z51.)

I think the game with the dragon is devil may cry 4.

 

actually wasn't cto I bouhgt it online for +o- 200€ less, got it in few days instead of 2/3 weeks and got a bag as a surprise gift!!

it's really a different thing and it's absolutely unprofessional (thus when needed I elevated the note a little bit with a ruler or a cork or whatever I had disposable) but over the years I've found a breakfast tray being so useful and comfy I can't stay without it and I use it all around the house, sofa, bed, to**et









I have 2 of them

 

I am waiting for my f11 to arrive. Seems to be taking forever.
My question is, as this is my first ever laptop (always had desktops) when I get it do I need to charge it before I use it or can I use it the moment I open it and then leave it to continue charging.

 

Start using it is fine.

 

Hi guys ! Which notebook can you recommand me ? The Sony Vaio VPCF11M1E/H or the Sony Vaio VPCEB1S1E ?? It's a very hard decission, both are nice, and the specs are allmost the same. I think the differance is made by the video card, but, I don't know...you tell me. Thanks, sorry for the language, not my native one

 

Thank you luftwaffa & slrosenfeld for their programs screen grabs. Here is a side-by-side of the defaults factory installed programs: Win 7 Home Premium vs. the CTO (Configure To Order) Win 7 Pro w/ Fresh Start option (see thumbnail below).

One may conclude: if going the CTO route, the Pro w/ Fresh Start option is cheap & valuable. If buying a preconfig w/ Home Premium, there is not much bloatware & it's easy to remove the unwanted stuff. For me a clean install is too much work w/ diminishing return in this Home Premium F case as I would have to buy a new Win 7 license instead of using the included one. Microsoft is rich enough...

The second thumbnail is what I plan on un-installing & dragging to other folders and the third thumbnail is after renaming (deleting Windows software name, Windows..., Windows..., drives me nuts) & final clean look.

"BTW, making the recovery disks went fine even after I'd installed a bunch of software" - good for you but some users reported disk creation problems after customization and one had to go back to factory state & lost his work so might as well do it right out of the box before tweaking.

Glad you made your recovery and repair discs but what about a system image to preserve all your actual system state w/ added software & customization?

Here are the links again for latecomers:
- out of the box, create recovery discs (to preserve factory state)
- create a system repair disc
- after customizing & adding software, create a system image, which contains a copy of Windows and copies of your programs, system settings, and files with Windows Backup or an other backup utility.
- if you used Windows Backup to create a system image, you need the system repair disc to re-install in case your HDD is dead for example.

 

Why not post links or list specs if you want some feedback?

 

I've been reading this entire thread over the past week or so. I'm also eagerly awaiting my very own F-fie:

VPCF11V5E, i5, win 7 prof (64bit), black, 500gig 7200 rpm, 4GB 1066, Blu-ray writer, 1920x1080, nvidia GT 330M....

I want to thank everybody for their nice inputs (well, most of the time anyway . Keep it coming, and feel free to ask me anything: for the coming time i will keep following this thread (if i can keep up, haha).

greetings from the land of tulips 'n windmills!

 

can anyone please tell me what the type of wireless network adapter is that is used in the VPCF11Z1E/BI?

I wiped the win 7 home premium for a Win 7 enterprise edition and downloaded all available drivers. everything works fine, except for the wireless network adapter that is not detected any more.
I am trying now to install it using the old "have a disk" trick, but there are tons of drivers in the netathr and netathrx.inf files

 

they are very similar in specs, the main diferences are size and look

F bigger and matt look

E smaller and glossy look

so for me it's only chosing about it's portability or it's look

it's a beautyful intel 6200 that supports dual band

yes it's premium, here they are!

http://img34.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=dsc0109w.jpg


isn't that nice!?

 

Thanks for the beautiful pics!

 

Sorry, I'm posting from a iphone and this is madness The links:

http://www.hardware.info/en-US/productdb/bGpkbJiTmJXKacg/viewproduct/Sony_Vaio_VPCF11M1EH/

VS

http://www.hardware.info/en-UK/productdb/bGpkbZiYmJHKZ8g/viewproductprices/Sony_Vaio_VPCEB1S1EBJ/

Which one should I buy ? Thanks alot !

 

I am looking covetously at pictures 21 and 22 (the one with the matte screens).....unavailable here and to be quite frank, is a big thing for me.

 

Me too but after researching like crazy for a i7, matte w/ 16:10 or 16:9 screen @ a reasonable price, I gave up & got the F. At least it's not high gloss.

 

Thanks alot for your awnser ! The big difference in the hardware specs is the video card: F with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M GPU and E with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650. Any performance differences between those two ? Thanks

 

A big one, see Laptop Video Graphics Cards - Benchmark List

 

Is that a big difference? with a gtx 280 I would have said that, is this the case?

ok, it's got directx11 is that important to you, then get this, you prefer the bigger/better screen get the other, still I don't see huge difference between them

 

The 5650 is better than the GT330