Official Sony VAIO F Series i5/i7 owners thread *Part 3*

Because I'm a college student (and nearly all of my friends have the macbook pro 15") I've had numerous opportunities to compare the two side-by-side. The mbp's screen is great - the color and contrast of the screen is very nice and the viewing angle is quite generous as well.

That said, the resolution of the (1080p) Sony screen is much higher than the 1440x900 (I think? or maybe it's 1680x1050, but I'm pretty sure its 1440x900) resolution on the mbp's, so the image looks much more crisp. Also, with the .icc profile applied, the colors look amazing. Several of my friends have indeed said that the screen on my F looks great. I think many of the complaints earlier on this forum were because of a manufacturing defect of the screen, where the screen's filter wasn't properly calibrated so the screen actually had no "sweet spot" and thus no optimum viewing angle. It's not that big of an issue for others with a "normal" screen (like me and many F11 owners who probably haven't seen or posted on this forum).

It's not the best screen but it is pretty good (hey, I paid $1,200 for mine, and for that money I would've only gotten a mbp 13". So no complaints).

And glad that you like your new purchase

 

I think it has to do with the "Dolby Sound Enhancer" and EQ that is on by default. If you go into control panel > sound > Speaker/HP > Properties > Enhancements > (check) disable all sound effects that should fix it.

 

No Microphone noise on my F11 even with the level on maximum.

 

Good morning everyone. Just configured and bought the F1290X from Sony's site. Bought a few upgrades from Newegg as well. (Intel 160gb SSD and WD 320gb 7200rpm to use as my storage in the optical bay caddy (thanks Joe)
I am going to do a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit that I already have.
Few Questions that search is not finding for me...

1. Is AHCI available as an option? Do I need to load drivers during install?
2. Is there anything special I need to do to get the SSD running properly?
3. TRIM supported completely?
4. Do the screws for the optical drive HD come with the caddy? Drill size for the holes? I bought the Fenvi on ebay.


Thanks for your help ... new to the VAIOs but been reading through all of everyones posts here and that helped push me to Sony.

 

Hello everyone. I would just like to know if the nvidia gt300m in the F series is underclocked and undervolted. Just so I could know if all Sony Vaio's have undeclocked/undervolted gpu's or if it's just E series. Thanks.

 

I'd be interested in any tips for installing an SSD as well. I've just ordered an F12 in the UK and I'll be adding a 256GB Cruciall SSD.

 

No one could answer this?

 

If i use driver sweeper before i install an new display driver could i loose brightness control , a few other notebook i have had have had this problem as it was linked to the display driver.

Since i have had a problem with brightness i normally just overwrite the stock display driver and that usually works find.

But i would like to format my F11 and then do a clean install and i would like to install the latest nvidia driver without using the stock driver first.

 

F12 1080p:

The vertical color inversion is a big problem on this screen. Even when I am looking at it dead center the colors are already starting to invert at either edge. Almost like this...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...es-owners-lounge-part-2-a-84.html#post6004822

That batman blueray on full screen.... can never get the whole screen to appear an uniform shade of black as there is a lot of grey at edges.

Very disappointing.

 

Are you certain this is not just a display driver problem , or a blu-ray playback software one.

 

I'm willing to take some photos and post later if you guys direct me on what kind of shots to take. Any "dead giveaway" tests I can run?

 

Does this happen on any other blu-rays , have you tried replacing the graphic driver and playback software , are you still on the stock ones of have you been doing some self updates.

 

F12 is stock drivers.

The issue is basically vertical view angle. Anything less than dead center, or something as slight as putting middle and index finger under near edge of laptop, and the top of the screen begins to invert.

 

It sounds like a faulty display to me , you need to get it replaced.

But before you do, restore the notebook back to it`s bought condition see if the problem is still there.

And you are my 5000 post

 

Congrats on the 5000th post supergirl.
And vegas: Just take shots of what it looks like during normal daytime use. Well lit, and at your eye level.

 

@NAZ_VEGAS:

That's most probably a faulty display. Mine was perfect with the stock drivers, and with the new drivers.

Is it a US screen?

Its true you guys have the backlit keyboards, but on the other hand you have lots of screen problems :S

Hope you get a new one ASAP.

 

WOW gratz Tinderbox.

 

It is, 1080p F12.

I'll post some photos later.

Hopefully someone else who just received their F12 can chime in and either corroborate or refute this issue?

I considered European CTO since I'll be traveling there within a few weeks but the price makes this option prohibitive.

I'll call Sony but i doubt I'll be able to speak to anyone who knows any product specs.

 

@Naz Vegas

If the images really are anything like hoppity Bob's screen post that you linked to then return it for a new unit. I was hoping that the F12 will ship with better vertical viewing angles. I will check it out in person soon. I am planning to buy the F12 as well.

Below are pics of my US 1080P F11 screen in dark backgrounds. The shots were taken with the screen tilted as far back before any inversion/washout occurs. The angle of the tilt is shown in one of the pics.

Note: there is a slight light bleed at the bottom. This is just the camera being sensitive to light. It does not show at all to the naked eye.

Disregard the white spots. I was smoking a cigarette when I took the pics

Imageshack - dsc02327lo.jpg

Imageshack - dsc02325m.jpg

http://img69.imageshack.us/f/dsc02326ev.jpg/

http://img267.imageshack.us/f/dsc02321g.jpg/

 

EDIT: Some hints when you take the pictures: make sure that the edges of the picture are parallel to the edges of the screen. On point-and-shoot cameras, you want to zoom into ~50cm (a slight zoom) to avoid fishbowl distortion form the camera's lens.

That is definitely the "shading" problem on earlier F11 models (which is a manufacturing defect). Another example of a what a screen without this problem should look like:

 

I think this thing is going back.

These were taken at one or two notches lower than max bright with the Spider_3 color profile.

Okay, let me try the photos again.

 

That bottom picture has some diagonal lines that show in the clouds , is that just a camera affect.

Also to check for light leakage i use a dead pixel finder software to show a totally black screen.

 

Trying again.

 

I have an SLR with wide primes at home but these were all taken at the office with my blackberry phone.

 

About the angles;

the screen was tilted back as far as it goes. The first photo was taken head on and the second, if there's a matching pair, was taken from in front of the laptop parallel with the desk that it was on.

The last two are particularly telling. My desktop background head on in the second to last and parallel to the desk in the last.

These are not extreme viewing angles, no?

 

Can't you post a photo taken squarely in front of the screen & not at skewed angle like Mangosango did:



Are the photos you took with your phone really representative of what you see in real life or are they skewed like what my Canon P&S SD880 does & like To no End mentioned above:

HoppityBob wrote in his post with the really bad image:

Now if your screen really looks like that HoppityBob's photo below then return or exchange it immediately after returning the OS to factory state to make sure it's not a video driver or a monitor profile you installed that messed up things.



If your point is that the image is skewed when looking at the LCD from different angles, well that's expected within a reasonable range. From notebookcheck's review of the $2000+ review MacBook_Pro 17 inch 2010-04:

 

I hope this isn't representative of what I'll get! >_<

 

Check the Vaio_F Series Windows 7 Clean Install Guide:

1- You can use the OEM recovery discs & input your Ultimate key via Anytime Upgrade in the Start menu after the OEM OS installation is completed like I did & all the drivers necessary for your Vaio_F will already be installed. From the discs or from esupport.sony for your model, install the Intel 5 Series 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller Driver (supports TRIM & SSD) if it's not already done like it was in my F11_case.

2- Follow Ilfuca's link in that guide if you install from a generic Windows 7 Ultimate as you will need to install several F12_specific drivers, etc.

3- Go to support for your model of SSD & check what software, drivers & installation tips they offer.

The Fenvi HDD caddy for the ODD bay should come with screws to secure the HDD but w/o holes unless they updated their design. It's easy to drill as explained in the article linked in my signature below.

 

NEW: VAIO_F12 Owners Poll about the Display (LCD)!

The more owners votes, the merrier.

 

I installed the display profile under mango's siggy, http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...es-owners-lounge-part-2-a-56.html#post5992644 . I'm not sure if my eyes are trying to adjust, but, my display seems to have a pink tint to it, at least on this page right now. I see pink on the left-top corner...

I'm using the highest resolution: 1080p.

Edit: Newegg is allowing me to return my F11 and exchange it for an F12, however, do we know when Newegg is getting the F12s with nice specs? :/

 

In a pinch, what happens when you move your head directly in front of the area that looked pink and look at it directly?

I bet if you do that the spot that previously appeared pink is now snow white.

 

The pictures provided by the site for the "limited edition" VAIO F look identical to the 17.3" VAIO EC series.
So it's hard to tell what it exactly is.

and for a sec I thought that the F12 had a new hardware design...

 

You are right. What does this mean? =o

 

The viewing angle on these things is so tight that when you are looking at the screen the corners are already washing out on you.

If I'm looking at a white background I expect it to be white edge to edge, not pinkish greyish in the corners because of washout.

Joe, fyi, I'm not trying to slander the F12's, I just want to find out why my screen looks like that.

I'm on the phone with sonystyle tech asking them do dig up details on the part # or # of lamps or anything actually. Enjoying a live justin timberlake set on hold....

 

1- Revert to your OEM video driver & default monitor profile

2- Right-click your desktop > Personalize (or: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Personalization\Desktop Background) and choose the solid white background (solid black to see light bleed if any)

3- If from a normal working position & viewing angle the corner is still pink then return or exchange or get your defective unit repaired.

Why not call newegg & see if they can guarantee an exchange for the_F12 with similar or better specs than your current_F11?

I understand. If the viewing angle is so narrow that the corners are skewed from a normal viewing angle or even with a slight head movement then your screen is defective. happens, that's why there is a return period & a warranty. Good luck!

*****

 

Apart from the i7-840QM processor increase and Transfer Jet, The specs are old news. Not inventive at all for a Vaio signature series. Maybe it's a real black finish and not the gunmetal grey that's standard on the US 'black' models.

This definitely does not look anywhere like the Asian/Europe Premium model.
Specs on the Display is the standard 1080 HD available in CTO's and pre-configured models.

 

lol that signature edition is just the F series with all the top specs except it has a 640GB hard drive @ 5400 RPM instead of a 500 GB hard drive @ 7200 RPM. I'd prefer the lesser space and and faster speed of the hard drive IMO.

what a gimmick lol

edit: ... it has the leather palm rest too. sweet. but i dont think its worth $2300 lol

 

No Kidding? There's no particular reason why they would still be using the bad screens, other than stupidity and miscommunication with the production line, but it's possible the F11's early nemesis is still with us. Take it back.

 

Yes, now that the info is out on the new F12, I am pretty underwhelmed by the 'upgrades' they've introduced. I am still hoping that when I finally take a look at it in person that the screen is an improvement however slight? If they're the same as before, I will look for F11's instead at a cheaper cost.

Well, at the very least the F11 spec will still be current till the next refresh.

 

One thing about the F12 is that the 8 Gig Ram option is MUCH cheaper than with the F11. But with no Premiere bundle being offered with the F12, I still prefer the overall package I was able to get with the F11 CTO. Especially since the 256 Gig SSD was only $225. I just need to upgrade to 8 gig, and replace the da**ned screen with one without inversion.

 

I think it is not the leather palm but something else like E series are using ( sorry dont know how to call. Metalic surface ?)

 

It does? where did you see that? IS this in the North America Sony Style site?

 

guys what are the main problems with the f12, and is there any point in getting it.

 

Ahhh. if you're looking at the gallery pics then I believe that's a mistake of the company updating the site. That laptop is the EC series.

The palm rest looks like glossy plastic with glitter (why use glitter? who knows )

 

Just a quick update, I called them and got only 5% instead of 8.6% (even though I'm in NY like the poster above). However they said if I got the 2 year warranty for $125 (or something like that, can't remember the precise amount), then I'd get 15% off the entire order. All in all, basically for $2 more than what it was coming to earlier, I was able to get a 2 year warranty. It seems they have different offers they can show to students?

 

Yeah dude, those photos show a really nice looking screen, it should always look like that. Plus, your is US huh? VEGAS you should send yours BACK.

 

yeah that's about right...I got the 15% as well for my F11. Some have received 15% without the purchase of the extended warranty and/or accessories. I think it depends on mood of the sales help or the authorizing manager of that day.
One thing is for sure, If you want to buy Sony, phone sales are a must to get a good discount.

 

Thanks. I finally got onto the new updated Sony site to order a F12.

I will be doing video and photos only on this computer as I will be buying a Sony NEX5 to go with my XBR8. I have a Mini Mac already to handle my Internet needs so the Sony will be a truly non internet, stand alone video editing and photo computer.

Sorry for being a Newbie but this is my first PC. The reason I'm buying a Sony is for the Bluray and compatibility with my camera and TV

What real increase in speed would I notice going to the 840 versus the 740 chip for what I will be using it for? I don't 3D game or do any major multi tasking. Is the 840 worth the $350.00 extra or would my needs be quite comfortably be met by the 740 chip? Would I be better off saving the 350 for the inevitable replacement?

 

It's as bad as the F11 except that Sony has learned from the complaints of the customers and enhanced the badness. No there's no point getting it, as a paperweight it does indeed have the mass to hold down documents in a decent wind, but the size and shape make it difficult to put ON the pile of paper one-handed. Also I always believed a paperweight should be a loud colour, like red or green. Black and grey are so Been There... - and those colours don't make a good contrast with the paper. I guess the F12 would make a good heater on a cold day for a room the size of a domestic washroom..

 

I guess sony marketed the 1080p as a PREMIUM over the 900p is just a GIMMICK! they are both glossy and nothing premium on the 1080, its just higher resulution...for Vegas...your screen is terrible, like an early F11. I think some CTO still using the same F11 screen..maybe that's why you get free upgrade to 1080 until july?