Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

Hey, I'm with ya! But I'm trying to convince myself to forget about the Z.

 

I'm guessing it was a mistake on the first day of production... I wouldn't be surprised if all the early orders will get one.

 

Ahh, I see. I thought it might be in response to some negative reviews concerning poor battery life.

Hey, ya never know!

 

I too am torn between the FW and the Z. But seeing the Z earlier this week made the FW look unwieldy, even though it is beautiful. While buying the FW means more bang for your buck, buying the Z means you get one of the best ultraportables out on the market right now. I am still unable to decide....help!!

 

"Got any pics of this you can share?"

I can when I get home, but I return home later this evening 9:30 or after PST

 

Exactly what I was thinking! Even though I'll be using the laptop every where (home, library, lectures, etc.), the FW's size is not a problem for me and since it was announced, I was set on getting it. Then, a few days ago, I looked more into the Z and was shocked at the awesome build quality and the power it packs inside such a tiny machine.

 

I must be unlucky with laptops (had recurring issues with an Asus U6sg).
The FW I bought a couple of weeks has a problem with the backspace key where it will not raise 30% of the time, this is really frustrating.
I will call Sony support tomorrow and I'm interested to hear how they compare with Asus. I purchased as well the 2 years extended warranty so hopefully they're not going to be causing me any trouble.

 

Did they give you the bigger battery for free? -- Nevermind, I see that you did...I hope I get one too...delivery is tomorrow!!

 

It's called "Sony colors". You can see it in their cameras, camccorders, and TVs. Velvia all the way!! They do it because market studies show that the masses prefer saturated popping bright colors.

 

Duh! Because they look perty!

 

Is is safe to say now that you like the HiColor screen? And that maybe the word "stunning" would not be an exaggeration for the casual observer?

 

Yeah, sounds like typical Sonystyle. I got them to give me $100 off because I told the sales guy I could get 4% off the CTO ordering it online via eBates (it's true). Since the sales guy make money selling it over the phone, they offered me a $100 promotional discount to order from them. Did you return your FW139?

 

Speak of the devil, I just ordered a XPS m1530 for my nephew at a blowout price!! For $1149.42 + tax, I got 2.4ghz T8300, 4GB RAM, NVidia m8600 w/ 256MB, 250GB HDD, 1440x900 LED-backlit LCD (WOW!!), Intel N wireless with Bluetooth, 4 yr. warranty with damage protection and lojack. There's a link in one of the posts in the NBR Bargains forum. It goes through an EPP link (Employee Purchase Plan) and my company has one with Dell...so not sure if it will work for everyone but it sounds like it should work anyway. This is almost 50% off the list price.

 

may not be a mistake. they might have ran into some supply problem with the standard batteries. customer service is important. instead of making you wait, they might have decided to send the big one. This practice is not too uncommon.

good for u. I put in my CTO (2.26 Ghz, 3GB RAM, xbrite-hicolor) on sunday. initial shipping estimate was the 12th. But they managed to push it out on the 5th. Its supposed to reach me on Monday. really excited abt it.

 

This is one reason why I like the m1530.

And this doesn't hurt either.

 

Oh boy... I'm not sure how you feel about this, but I would not be happy. An extended battery sticking out the back of the laptop is bad enough... but sticking down below the laptop? I don't like it. I'd prefer my laptop to remain flush with the desk/table/whatever.

 

In all the reviews and discussions I have seen so far, I havent seen anyone really critique the dolby sound room. I realise the speakers are not so good....how is the performance when connected to external 2-speaker system? Is it a lot better than another laptop that does not have dolby sound room? thx in advance.

 

Now I hope I don't get an extended battery...the MacBook 17" sleeve I ordered for the FW is tight and probably won't fit.

 

Yeah, I'm happy with the screen. I'm really liking the 1600x900 resolution -- I could never go back to something like 1280x800 now.

Here's a clip I put on Youtube of a Blu-Ray disc playing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft3dr_Th290

Click "watch in high quality" if you have a fast connection.

 

If you do get an extended battery, just give it to me, we'll trade (if I buy the FW)

 

Very nice. Seeing it in person is the only way to do it justice I'm sure. Tomorrow!!

 

Only if Sony won't give me standard one and let me keep big one.

 

Strange thing about the atheros card! Because from what I read on some forums including old posts from this forums, basically all said the atheros card was better than the wireless chipset found in the centrino 1. Better signal, no drop connections. Did intel really improve that much their wireless chipset since last time, despite the fact that atheros makes more routers?
To back up my claim : http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=53519

 

Thanks for the tidbit.
He said that he'd give me expedited shipping, which means nothing to me, thanked him for his great service, and promptly told him I was going to contact his headquarters anyway.

A few hours later he called me saying, "the powers that be" would let him give me $100, but with standard shipping. Which means the same thing.

I'm going to return the one I have. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with his offer.

 

wowowow lol this thread sure grew in the last couple of days. so i still haven't got my FW, tbh, i was having some doubts of whether to get it, or get a macbook pro. but i think i've come to a conclusion, yet again. lol well i keep worrying about "maybe a macbook would be best for me (it probably will be)" but you know what, i've wanted this laptop since i freekin heard of it lol, i love it, and if i don't get it i will always think "man, i wish i had that laptop!". so, i'm just going to get that laptop! lol i just emailed one of the instructors and am trying to get a hold of the coordinator, who is back on Monday. so i may have a later deadline, i should have it no later than Tuesday, hopefully i will hear back sooner and can get it this weekend, possibly tomorrow! you think one of you can help me in installing Vista, since i guess they don't do it for me at the Sony store?

also, do you think i'm better off buying from Sony store or Best Buy? BB just got the 180 in...

 

21000 kbs....that is awesome, but you are still only getting 54kbs on your wireless connection.

What happens to the 20946kps that is not going to your FW via the wireless connection?

 

54 mbs, not kbs

 

While it is slightly tinny, it does actually sound really good - if you adust the base function using the dolby controls, it's a richer and fuller experience.

I think I'll be getting this for my FW

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-980-...UTF8&coliid=INEK0QLPSYQTT&colid=1F80GEN8IKN3C

As I have a docking station with speakers in addtion to surround souns speakers for my vgn-a290

I like BIG SOUND!

 

I called Sony about this issue of receiving the extra capacity battery instead of the standard one and they didn't have any explicit explanations. I do agree that they may have run out of the standard ones and included the large capacity ones.


It's a mixed blessing I think.

While I genuinely appreciate having the extra capacity/power for more extended mobile sessions, it does add 3/4 of an inch to the size/vertical clearance.

I also believe that the FW is so new, they don't even know how to address getting a standard one - it wasn't even in their catalog.

So, I think I will just keep on them in a couple of weeks and see if they will give me a pricebreak (or free!) for a standard battery as I normally use AC anyway...

But I sure am keeping this larger capacity battery!


Edit: here are the model numbers for the battery:

Normal: VGP-BPS13/S
Large Capacity: VGPBPL13

 

Anyone else having any fan noise issues on their FW. Mine seems to be spinning up a bit more than I expected it too. I checked the core CPU temp and it's staying around 39 C. I wonder if it might be the ATI card putting out a lot of heat... I'm kind of wondering if I should have ordered it with the Intel graphics instead since I don't game much.

I'm also wondering how much extra power the ATI card uses because the extended battery seems to drain pretty fast.

 

Oh no...

 

I just played a game (Battlefield 2) for 15 minutes to see what effect it had on the temps and noise. The fan didn't get that much louder and the cpu core only went to 43. The vent area on the left side was hot, however.

 

I’ve got a particularly awkward question ! I’m hoping to get a FW11E and use it for gigging with a product called Project 5. I’ll be using it with an external audio interface (the Edirol FW101) which is a firewire interface. However there is some concern in “Pro Audio” circles that some firewire chipsets might not be up to the job. For instance see:

http://www.adkproaudio.com/laptop2.cfm

(Biased I know but an example of the received wisdom at this point). So with that in mind can anyone tell me what the firewire chipset in the FW11E is ? If it’s not generally know, anyone be willing to install ( PC Wizard ):

www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

Go to the Bus Firewire and tell me what it says ?

Many Thanks
Andy

 

It's a Ricoh R5C832

 

WOW! That looks amazing. The hi-color screen appears to be well worth the extra bucks.

 

Speaking of HiColor....


Does this, or does this not, come with a HiColor screen?:

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product/VGN-FW190EEH

 

Many thanks for the info. not sure if this will change my mind yet.

Andy

 

43 isn't high at all. If they vent is hot, it is doing its job.

 

the left vent should be hot, thats usually where the heat sink is. and 39 idle and 42 while playing sounds like great temps to me.

 

I just tried using the HDMI out for the 1st time. At first I wasn't getting a Blu-Ray movie to work, but figured it out -- you have to have the display settings set to external display only. Apparently this is due to HDCP.

I have to say the picture on my TV (Sony Bravia 40" LCD 1366x768) was way better than the laptop screen when watching the Blu-Ray but I guess that is
to be expected. I wonder why LCD TV's still look so much better than even the best computer displays.

 

Got my FW at 9 AM this morning. Threw on Apocalypto Blu-Ray and I'll tell you it is at least as good as my JVC LCOS 70" which is excellent (very film like). I also have a Bravia and the Bravia is significantly brighter with more pop than the JVC. However, as far as being more theater-like, I have to give it to the JVC and the FW. It's all a matter of what you prefer.

 

Got my FW CTO this morning. It's a 2.53Ghz, ATI 3470 w/ 256MB, HiColor screen, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Blu-ray burner, and large capacity battery.

Notes:

• Got large capacity battery for free (I ordered standard)
• Came with Intel 5100 WiFi (Centrino 2 sticker)
• 320GB hard drive is a Toshiba

Impressions:

• HiColor screen is gorgeous...at least as good as LED-backlit I had on Dell m1330
• Colors are outstanding
• Text is crisp; whites are very white
• Black level is more than acceptable for CCFL; LED-backlit is always gonna be better with blacks
• Uneven backlighting is there (tunnel effect)...need to pull screen towards you to mitigate problem
• Blu-ray playback is excellent...I mean superb contrast, color, WOW!!
• No issues with black levels or uneven backlighting during Blu-ray play
• I love the keyboard, very comfortable to use
• Touchpad is nice and roomy
• Touchpad offset to left makes it very natural to lay your arm
• Harddrive spinning is noticeable; easy to mistake for fan
• Very easy access to hard drive so I'll be upgrading to my Hitachi 7K320 very soon
• Blu-ray drive is very quiet; much better than slot-load drives
• Bottom barely gets warm even when sitting on my chest for hours
• I actually prefer the larger battery...it helps keep bottom elevated for ventilation
• FW with large battery fits CaseLogic 17" Macbook sleeve like a glove...perfect fit!!
• Charger is only 2-prong variety; I would prefer 3-prong for ground
• All in all, an A+ and I've been shopping for awhile.

 

Ok, folks. I just did a side-by-side comparison of my new FW HiColor screen against both my old HP dv4000 and my new MacBook Air (which is LED backlit).

You will be happy to know that the HiColor screen utterly trashes the HP (which I used to think was very bright and crisp). But more amazing, the HiColor signicantly trounces the Air with it's much touted LED display. With both at max brightness, the HiColor is brighter, whiter, deeper color, higher contrast, and better blacks. And I have loved the Air screen. So that's pretty definitive for me....the FW HiColor rules!! " Stunning" is not to too strong of a word.

 

Congrats on the new purchase!

Just a few questions:
- Portability: how is it to pick it up and move about?
- Any noticeable creaking sounds?
- How's the battery life on the extended battery?
- Planning on installing any games to benchmark the graphics card?
- Can you find out what type of memory the ATI card uses?

 

First off, congrats. Very cool.

Now...

Will you be requesting the regular battery?

Is an LED screen a lot blacker?

When does it have the uneven backlighting?

Lastly, who makes the Blu-ray Writer?

 

Actually, can you talk a bit more about the uneven backlighting?

It's scaring the crap outta me!

 

Congrats to TetonWolf! It sound like a beautiful machine and I can't wait to get mine.

How many days does it take once the Notice says "shipped." It looks like it's coming from CA and I live in Chicago.

Thanks!

 

Portability: how is it to pick it up and move about?

It's fine. I took it to work today and while it is slightly bigger and slightly heavier than a "usual laptop," it's pretty nice in the portability department

Put it this way: it's 2 lbs heavier and noticeably bigger than both of my mom's vgn-s660's;

It 2 lbs lighter and somewhat smaller, more manageable and portable than my vgn-a290.

- Any noticeable creaking sounds?

None for me and it's EXTREMELY quiet - I don't hear the fan or hard drive at all thus far.

- How's the battery life on the extended battery?

As I previously stated, it's a mixed blessing but it does provide **noticeable** longevity over a standard battery. I am going to request a free or reduced priced standard battery when they are available for times when I am consistently working from AC.

 

TetonWolf, where are you?? Stop playing with your FW and talk with us!!!

Now back to the questions...


1. How are the vertical angles on the HiColor?

2. Are you seeing anything like this on the screen?

(and from above, repeated here)

3. Will you be requesting the regular battery?

4. Is an LED screen a lot blacker than the FW's HiColor screen?

5. When are you seeing the uneven backlighting problem?

6. Who makes the Blu-ray Writer?


That's it for now...