Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

Go for it, Linah4. I think you'll be more than happy with the ECO screen. And if not, you can go right back to the store and turn it in.

We are all expecting a report from you this weekend to see how it went...wouldn't it be great if you get a HiColor screen with the FW180 afterall and the salesman actually knew what he was talking about?

 

lol don't get my hopes up! but i will most definitely post a review of it as well as some pics. i just hope our card comes this week to buy it with!! lol it's been a few weeks since we ordered it and i need to pay with it cause if i do, lol i get $500 back!!

 

if you are regretting it just return it before you open it, IMO.

 

On Friday my order status changed from Processing to Your VAIO is being built. There's hope that I'll get it this week but I kinda doubt it. Waiting for that shipping email and FedEx Estimated Delivery Date (BTW, I'm a FedEx employee....hmmm, let's see, maybe I can upgrade my shipping to Overnight, heh, heh...NOT!!). Trying to stay

 

It will ship by tomorrow for sure, IMO... It takes full 2 days to get anywhere around California with ground shipping. Ouch...Florida... YOU MAY get it by friday...If it ships by tonight you def. prob get it by friday.

 

lol it's a health and wellness plan we have. My mom works for the government and she gets $500.00 off of anything to do with health and wellness, and Computers are included. so she wants to use her $500.00 on my laptop .

Duke, i'm not regretting my soon-to-be purchase at all, i was just worried that screen was going to be bad, dim and not even as good as my current one. i think/hope it will be better, even if slightly, than my HP. i LOVE this laptop, from what i've read and seen, i love the style, the extra wide screen. even if i do bring it home and dislike it, i will just use those three points i brought up earlier. the colour of it for one which i think he was wring on, the type of screen which i am sure he is wrong on, and just him telling me the screen was gorgeous. i get that 10 day exchange policy, which i will probably just use to ordering a new one with a hicolor screen, but i'm hoping it won't get that far

 

Are there any pictures on the net of a white FW? I am trying to find some but am having no luck.

 

Right here. Click on "enlarge image". There are 4 pics of the white FW.

 

Newegg price for the FW139E/H went up to $1099.99.

 

The laptop is definitely a lot sexier in white, especially since the keyboard is also white but it's gonna be a pain to take care of and keep it looking nice, as it can't hide smudges like the gray version.

 

Thanks for the assurance, Duke. I'm hoping...

 

Hi there!

I'm curious if there is posibility to connect my Logitech Z-5500 to new FW laptops. Does this tiny stereo / headphones output works as a SPIDF port?
Anyone?

 

I don't think there is an SPIDF port on the FW. HDMI has replaced older digital audio connections. FW still has firewire though.

 

so... you are telling me that, there is no chance to connect my speakers to Vaio
Logitech Z-5500 surround sound system doesn't have hdmi connector, just SPDIF and regular analog input

 

The headphone jack is a regular analog output so that will absolutely work for you. For digital, maybe you can find an HDMI-to-SPDIF converter.

 

Right, HDMI has digital audio so no problem.

 

Here are some shots of the white FW from a Taiwanese forum. Looks awesome!
http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=258&t=717274&last=7393711t

 

The White one is gorgeous, that's the one the guy took out of the box for me to see in the 170, just beautiful. i would definitely get the white if i had the option IF i wasn't so scraed of getting it dirty . lol, im just worried about the keys since everything on my fingers will turn up on the white.

 

I posted this in another obscure thread to prove something but I thought I should post this in the "official" thread.

In the end, this is what my final FW will probably look like:

*Intel® Core 2™ Duo Processor T9400 (2.53GHz)
*Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1
*Powder White
*3 GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GB+1GB)
*250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [5400 rpm]
*DVD +/- R DL / DVD +/- RW / DVD-RAM Drive
*ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3470
*LCD 16.4" (XBRITE-HiColor™)
*WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n) with integrated Bluetooth® technology
*Standard Battery
*Microsoft® Works
*Video Plus
*Windows Live OneCare 90-Day Trial

For a total of $1533.99 CDN ($1538.99 USD)

What I still don't know is if I should get the full extended coverage. I know it's steep (at about an extra $300) but this laptop needs to last me at least 5 years (and if my Toshiba lasted, then this Sony should also be able to) and it will go through heavy use, I mean really heavy use. I don't turn off my laptop at all (I put it in stand by at night) and it will go through between 10 and 12 hours of use a day (classrooms, lectures, labs, library, apartment, friends' places, back home, etc.)

 

Ironically, here I am browsing this forum and I just got shipping confirmation for my FW - it's due here Wednesday!

Yay!

 

I just got one: Two things I noticed:

1. My casing although solid, is elevated where my right palm is. Does anybody else have this issue? It's not a major issue for me but is seems out a bit weird for a new laptop.

2. My Vista is having serious issues. I've removed most of the included AOL and Sony features but I've had issues with Vista when I've been transfering files from an external hard drive and my iPod. The transfer continues to go but the Windows itself freezes. The sidebar works. Also when I was importing the files from the hard disk into iTunes, it repeatedly said that my that there problem and closed. When the solution came up, it said that there was a newer iTunes. I just downloaded iTunes this morning.

Also anybody know how to adjust contrast?

And the speakers suck.

Other than that, a great laptop.

 

The MacBook dents like crazy and bends a little out of shape. My Dad's is covered in dents and he takes pretty good care of his stuff.

As for the case it's definitely not plastic but it doesn't really feel like metal either.

 

You can buy the warranty later online from Sonystyle...try out your FW first and see if you think it's a keeper. Nice config by the way.

 

Does anyone sell an FW with the HiColor screen -- without having to do a CTO? (and without having to buy the top-of-the-line FW with everything included)

 

I don't think there are any pre-configured models with the hicolor screen.

 

Anyone know where I can get 64 bit drivers for vista? I asked Sony but they weren't any help. I have the VGN-FW139E/H.

 

Sony only provides 32 bit drivers. Your best bet is to find out the individual part numbers that are used in the fw and look for 64 bit drivers on the website of the manufacturers of each part. keep in mind however that most parts will work in a 64bit OS with 32bit drivers.

 

yay mine will be in my hands in 2 weeks LOL..kuz i just ordered in canada and release date on the 11th.

 

Did you order a CTO one or a pre-configured model? I ordered the FW140 with a $100 coupon for $999. I should get it some time after the 14th.

 

i get mine in a couple of days ....go fedex!!!

@ SoundsGood... yea you should CTO, premium model is the only one with HiColor.

 

Did anyone order an FW with the Blu-Ray Reader and Writer? I was considering it, since I may do some video editing during the life of the computer. But I believe that the FW with the Read/Write Blu-Ray only comes with the Eco screen. Is that right?

Do you think it's worth it to get the Read/Write Blu-Ray now or should I wait until it's more commonly used. I'm hoping to use this computer for at least 4 years.

I was going to order it with 2.5Ghz, 4 GB, 320 GB, Blu-Tooth, Blu-Ray Reader/Writer, Vista Home Premium. I was originally going to order Vista Ultimate but after reading this forum I will go for the Home Premium and then use the saving to get the extended warranty.

I thought the extended warranty had to be purchased with the computer. After the last few comments I'm going to double check and see if I can add it later once I know I will keep the computer.

Any comments?

Thanks.

 

That's a shame. We lose out on any discounts/deals that other retailers run.

 

Okay quick (& possibly silly) question - My FW is sitting in my shopping cart at SonyStyle.com just waiting for me to click the order button but I need to know if the cover scratches easily?

I've read a few posts where this is a big downside of the FW. Not that I throw my laptops around or anything like that but I don't treat them like fine china either!

BTW...this is a great forum, I've learned a lot by just lurking!

 

Maybe this test article will help you - http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/619

 

actually if you hit costco, bjs and couple other stores, they tend to have models that aren't exactly the same as the pre-configed ones, you might luck out there. But then again its a bit too early for those machines.

 

that would definitely help us........if we knew german. lol.

 

Translation by Google:
http://translate.google.com/transla...urnal.de/tests/619&sl=de&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Measured brightness and contrast are very good: Ausleuchtung von 357 cd/m² und kam mit einem Kontrastwert von 400:1

(double lamp model)

 

Yep, already tried Costco... no luck yet.

 

interesting as the measured brightness is lower than that of the FZ.

 

Less than 10% difference so would be hard to notice I figure. For a big screen, 357 nits is great by any measure!!

 

It makes sense too, two lamps on a 15.4" surface will give more brightness than on 16.4" surface. Sony may even have used the same lamps.

 

Does anyone know who manufactures the 16.4" screen on the FW? Is this a genuine "sony" screen or is it from some third party supplier like LG or Samsung? Perhaps someone with an FW could see if they can identify the screen maker.

 

I'm wondering the same thing, I somehow doubt it's an actual sony-made screen.

 

hi guys i will be getting my fw in 2 days and i order it with a hi color screen but how i can make sure that mine have the hi color screen???

 

couple of questions on the FW - I was planning on getting a CR before the new ranges came out but now i've been completely seduced by the FW - so, for people who already own it - is it at all portable? I don't use a laptop on the move much and mainly it would just be sitting on my desk, but occasionally i'll need/want to move it around or take it on trips. what's it like carrying it around or using it on small desks/laps?
Also, since in the uk you can't customise models i'd probably have to get the eco screen; i know you guys have already hashed the screen issue to death, but for those with the eco - is it nice? I'm a big movie fan and there's not much point getting a huge screen if the colours aren't pretty.
sorry for the long post; any views would be read with interest...

 

Ouch. I thought all Sony laptops had screens made by Sony. Is this not the case?

If not, why are Sony laptop screens considered to be so darn good?

 

Good afternoon everyone,
I recently purchased this laptop and I had a few questions that I'd like to ask because I'm moving towards returning it, any help and input would be greatly appreciated.

so i picked up the 139e/h at frys last friday because of their return policy. they did a price matching with best buy so i got it for 999.

i noticed that on the screen it says 139e, does that mean it's a different model than the e/h? or is that just how it is? i dont know where else it might say more about it.

also, is the video card an ati 3470? it says 3400 series but doesnt specify which one it is. dont know where to look for more info on that either.

i've also tried to do a fresh installation of windows vista ultra, and used the drivers on the sony support website. but cant seem to get the regular theme to work with the transparency and everything. it doesnt allow me to do it for some reason...

and lastly (for now i guess lol) is that i have a problem with the wireless ethernet card. i frequent this teahouse called tenju and i have no problems connecting to their wireless router with my other laptop and my friends laptops. it's almost instant with every other device other than this fw.
here's the thing. it recognizes the network when i start up. i try to connect, it fails and i go back to the network list. but it's gone
refreshing gives me a bunch of other networks around the area. but every time i refresh it loses networks left and right and then they reappear sometimes. tenju never appears again unless i try to connect to one, fail and go back to the network list, then it might appear, most of the time it does not...
any suggestions on how to solve this problem?
i'd rather not have to return this notebook if it's something that's easily fixed...
if not, im going to return it, just mainly because i'd see issues in the future that i dont want to deal with.
a friend suggested that i just buy a usb network card and be done with it. but in my opinion, it's not really what i paid for, i wanted something to work the way i want it to.

apologies if some of these questions coincide with previous posts or if they're newb questions.

thanks for those who can help!

have a good one

 

The FW model you purchased has an Atheros wireless card....not an Intel card. That could be the source of your problem. Sony is now shipping FWs with the Intel card so you may want to consider returning it and buying a CTO through Sonystyle. Do it over the phone and make them give you a $100 promotional discount and tell them about the problems you had.

 

Sony screens are made by sony. thats why they are loved, whereas every other brand is basically a game of luck.