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    Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony Owners' Lounge Forum' started by Hinduemperior, Jul 28, 2008.

  1. Verseau

    Verseau Notebook Geek

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    Let me tell you:

    I received my FW this evening after work....

    and have been fiddling and optimizing and such....

    I'll just say this for now:

    If you have the money for the Hi-COLOR option screen

    GET IT

    IT'S FANTASTIC!
     
    Verseau, Aug 7, 2008
    #151
  2. jonathanlin316

    jonathanlin316 Newbie

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    hmmm, do you think there would be an update or something with my current card?
    or is it unlikely that it would fix the issue? =_=

    i'll definitely give sony a call and complain tho, i do like your suggestion about asking for a discount, maybe i'll even get lucky and they'll offer me something close to what i paid? XD


    Thank you so much for your input and suggestions =)
    this is definitely a nice and friendly community



    oh btw.
    anyone know whats the difference with the high color? is there a side by side comparison anywhere?
     
    jonathanlin316, Aug 7, 2008
    #152
  3. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Does your hicolor have a problem with uneven brightness like this review?
    http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35242.jpg
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=278888

    "Moving past the widescreen experience and onto the LCD quality itself, it was rather disappointing on our review model. On anything but full brightness you could see a tunnel effect where the sides and corners were much darker thand the center of the screen. At full brightness it was more even, and was passed by early on."
     
    hendra, Aug 7, 2008
    #153
  4. Verseau

    Verseau Notebook Geek

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    I see no tunnel effect and it looks fantastic from every angle except from directly down at an extreme angle, and even then it's pretty damn good

    The only uneven brightness issue I might be seeing as described is during the boot sequence and there is the black windows screen. I've always found that to be customary...so I'm not currently seeing this issue.
     
    Verseau, Aug 7, 2008
    #154
  5. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    And this is still true when the brightness is less than maximum?
     
    hendra, Aug 7, 2008
    #155
  6. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Aug 7, 2008
    #156
  7. Verseau

    Verseau Notebook Geek

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    I see no variation in brightness at any angle with the brightness turned down at a couple of different levels including extremely low.

    Even low, the colors are still rather rich and every thing is sharp as a tack except at a very extreme angle looking down...things wash out.

    very impressive.

    I have it sitting next to my vgn-a290.
     
    Verseau, Aug 7, 2008
    #157
  8. swraman

    swraman Newbie

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    Hi,

    I just got the FW139E/H as a loaner computer while my Toshiba is in repairs...AGAIN :(

    Well I was looking on the internet for info on this laptop...and there is NONE!

    The thing I wanted to know is how do you do a system restore on this thing? There is no system restore CD/DVD.

    Since this is a pretty new computer..anything you guys want to know about it? id be happy to inform you
     
    swraman, Aug 7, 2008
    #158
  9. Mealz

    Mealz Newbie

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    Yes, i have a question - how heavy does it feel in terms of portability?
    Also what screen have you got?
    Thanks
     
    Mealz, Aug 7, 2008
    #159
  10. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    The Intel wireless card in my FW works amazingly well. The signal I'm getting is so much better than my old computer. I didn't even realize how fast my internet connection was (Cox, my provider apparently increased the speeds recently). I'm getting 21000 kbps down right now on speedtest.net.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #160
  11. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    Hmm, you are making me wonder if Sony accidently sent me the Eco screen instead of the HiColor I ordered. I've been a little dissapointed with the screen, but perhaps my expectations were too high.

    They sent me the wrong battery so I wouldn't be surprised if I had the wrong screen too.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #161
  12. bad_mo_fo

    bad_mo_fo Notebook Enthusiast

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    My Sony FW is going to arrive on Friday. I am thinking about returning it because it has the 32 - bit version of vista. I spoke with someone at Sony and they said they do not have any 64 bit drivers for that machine so I can not install the 64 bit version of vista. I am probably going to return it. I paid extra money to have 4 gig of ram which I cannot even use. Had I known ahead of time they were going to give me the 32 bit OS I would have just customized to 3 instead of 4 gigs.... Has anyone here installed the 64 bit version of vista in their FW?
     
    bad_mo_fo, Aug 7, 2008
    #162
  13. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    It should be fairly easy to distinguish. If you set maximum brightness while you're working inside with medium light, it should be almost uncomfortable to look at the screen.

    With the ECO screen it's totally no problem at maximum brightness.
     
    Phil, Aug 7, 2008
    #163
  14. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    I understand that the unused portion of RAM can be accessed by the graphics card and that if you use 2x2GB you get a speed benefit from the use of dual channel memory.
    So there are (admittedly minor) reasons why 4GB can still be worth having with a 32bit OS. Personally, I don't think I'd send it back just for that.

    Sony might come out with 64bit drivers eventually, too...
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 7, 2008
    #164
  15. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    There has got to be another way to know, definitively. I asked a SonyStyle guy about it, but he didn't know (although he said "There should be a way to tell, right?"). Someone somewhere has got to know how to check.
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #165
  16. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Battery life should be another indicator.
     
    Phil, Aug 7, 2008
    #166
  17. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    Is there not a tool that displays the exact model of panel used in the display? I seem to recall T61 users using such a tool to identify which panel they'd been sent.
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 7, 2008
    #167
  18. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    I was just doing a side-by-side comparison of my FW vs a Fujitsu A6030 with the color-enhanced crystal view screen. The colors on the FW are more vibrant and have more "pop", however they seem a bit less realistic in color. The black levels on the FW are terrible compared to the Fujitsu. I guess thats the consequence of the high brightness...

    Here is a comparison pic with the FW's brightness turned down to the lowest setting:
    [​IMG]
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #168
  19. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    sueveed could you post a similar pic at the highest brightness?
     
    Phil, Aug 7, 2008
    #169
  20. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    I agree that's a very poor black especially for minimum brightness... but in that pic, both laptops screens are viewed from above, which sometimes makes the screen look a bit washed out. Does it look just as bad from the 'straight on' angle too?
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 7, 2008
    #170
  21. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hmm. I'm not convinced (yet) that the FW's HiColor screen is as great as I thought it would be.

    EDIT: I really hope Dell comes out with their new models soon. In fact even a maxed out m1530 is starting to look good.
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #171
  22. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    Here's max brightness... In both pics the Fujitsu was on max also.

    [​IMG]

    Its hard to get a good exposure on the camera due to the big difference between the 2 screens.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #172
  23. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    Here is a white screen, lowest brightness on FW, highest on Fujitsu.

    [​IMG]
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #173
  24. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    Yea it's the same straight on, however the camera is exaggerating the difference somewhat.

    I have to say that looking at identical pictures on both screens, the Sony actually looks better in person if you're not a stickler for accurate colors. It's just the black levels that are a problem.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #174
  25. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    ... by better then, you mean brighter? Colour accuracy is arguably more important than brightness (except maybe for watching DVDs).
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 7, 2008
    #175
  26. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, brighter and the colors are exaggerated a bit and more contrasty... reminds me of Velvia film if you are familar with film photography.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #176
  27. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    Yup, I use Fred Miranda's Velvia Vision plugin quite a bit. I love that look so I know what you mean... but you need to be able to turn it off! :(
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 7, 2008
    #177
  28. superhob

    superhob Notebook Geek

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    Sueveed, thanks for all the nice pictures. Could you post a picture of both computers with a nice background image (the most colorful one you can find). Also, if you could keep each laptop at the brightness level you would be comfortable working with (it doesn't have to be max or min brightness). Thanks again.
     
    superhob, Aug 7, 2008
    #178
  29. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    That looks so bright I would think it is the double lamp screen.

    Yeah that would be nice. Are we keeping you busy yet? ;)
     
    Phil, Aug 7, 2008
    #179
  30. radioking

    radioking Notebook Enthusiast

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    how much of problem do you think the atheros card is? the new egg deal has this card and I'd like to go for it..

    thanks
     
    radioking, Aug 7, 2008
    #180
  31. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    I'm having trouble getting a picture that can do justice to the Sony when they are side by side because the Sony's brightness is overwhelming the camera. For example in this pic the Fujitsu looks better, but in person the Sony looks better.

    [​IMG]
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #181
  32. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    These shots seem to be taken from above... not from a "normal" viewing angle. Could that be part of the problem?
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #182
  33. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    Here is a pic of the Sony by itself:

    [​IMG]
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #183
  34. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    Another shot from a Blu-Ray movie

    [​IMG]
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #184
  35. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    Seahorses are cool. :D
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 7, 2008
    #185
  36. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    I don't have any experience with the Atheros card so I don't know, sorry. This intel card is great though. Right now I'm getting 4 bars of signal strength while my other computer in the room is getting 2.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #186
  37. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Interesting. I thought it was coral.

    Hey, why do you guys suppose Kevin's review found this problem with the FW's HiColor screen?
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #187
  38. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    I'm not sure how big the problem is. If you set a black screen and turn up the brightness completely it's going to look funny on almost every screen I expect. Even a TZ I think.

    Although I've never tried it. I was never interested.

    I'll try it on my current monitor. Edit: Not much to see cause my room is too bright.
     
    Phil, Aug 7, 2008
    #188
  39. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    I reckon it's seahorses hiding amongst coral, so we're both right (I hope!). ;)

    EDIT - I think it's this seahorse, to be precise. :)
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 7, 2008
    #189
  40. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    By the way guys, I just got the latest issue of Consumer Reports magazine and they rated computers. They didn't rate the FW, but did test the FZ. For display quality they gave it just a "good" (as opposed to very good or excellent). The SZ and AR got excellent. The other computers to get excellent for display were the Apple Macbook Pro 17" and Macbook Air, and the Gateway P-172X FX.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #190
  41. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Any idea if that was Eco or HiColor?
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #191
  42. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    They didn't say, but I'd guess it was the Eco.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #192
  43. jonathanlin316

    jonathanlin316 Newbie

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    i called them to ask for that discount for my 139 e/h (which was packed with 139e!!!)

    and they're like, we can give you 50 bucks and free shipping
    they already offer free shipping anyway!

    that's kind of messed up
    the manager wasnt very nice either

    i asked to talk to the higher ups
    he told me to write a letter to corporate... which will take like... a month?
    and then said "you're going to tell them that I did my job, and you'll get the same thing i offered you"
     
    jonathanlin316, Aug 7, 2008
    #193
  44. Verseau

    Verseau Notebook Geek

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    "They sent me the wrong battery so I wouldn't be surprised if I had the wrong screen too."

    I can't speak to the screen but I think they sent me a large capacity battery instead of a "normal" one.

    In the end, I guess it benefits me but what it does is elevate the entire unit a bit higher than normal...

    I was being dense and couldn't figure out why it was taking so long to charge the battery and why it said my battery would last 4 hours at Maximized performance on battery power...

    Hmmm
     
    Verseau, Aug 7, 2008
    #194
  45. sueveed

    sueveed Notebook Consultant

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    I wonder what would happen if we called to compain... Do you think they would let us keep the extended battery and send out a regular one? The battery runs down pretty fast due to the screen brightness and ATI card so the extended is nice, but it does make the laptop seem heavy and unwieldy.
     
    sueveed, Aug 7, 2008
    #195
  46. swraman

    swraman Newbie

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    Not too portable...the 16.4" screen is better than a 14 or 15 inch imo.

    It weighs about 6 pounds, not that heavy considering it packs a radeon HD 3000 series card.

    Dut, this thing is super portable compared to my laptop that it is temporarily replacing, that one is about 8 pounds and 17", so to me this one is no problem ;)
     
    swraman, Aug 7, 2008
    #196
  47. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Is Sony sending everyone the extended battery ??
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #197
  48. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Probably closer to 7 if they provide the extended battery.
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #198
  49. Wolf04

    Wolf04 Sony Fanatic

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    Even though I'm stuck between the FW and the Z right now (I know they're meant for totally different markets but both would be perfect for me), I'm still surprised how people don't find the FW portable.

    The Toshiba Satellite A20 I've been lugging around for 5 years is 1.6 inches thick at the back and almost 1.8 in total with its thick pads. Not only that but the thing weighs almost 8 pounds! (7.9 to be exact). :p
     
    Wolf04, Aug 7, 2008
    #199
  50. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Got any pics of this you can share?
     
    SoundsGood, Aug 7, 2008
    #200
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