Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

Congrats on your new purchase, I'm sure you'll enjoy it! It seems you're the first one with an FW with the ATI HD4650. It would be nice if you perhaps did some benchmarks to see how it performs, if you don't mind.

 

These are the models of the FW4 being planned in the States with the 4650: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-matrix.pl?upd_id=4682, just posted on 5/29/09.

 

Tried running 3DMark Vantage and it wont run as I cannot give it the resolution it requires. Any other suggestions for a benchmarking tool and I will happily run the tests and post results.

Richard

 

then i'd suggest to try 3dmark05 or 06

 

Yesterday the USA FW 390CTO was unavailable.
I thought "hooray, the 490 is coming today!".

But nope.
The 390CTO is still there with some discounts and no 490 and no ATI4650.

No FW for me.

 

It is only expensive when one bases the sale on exchange rate and the extra tax. When taking in consideration of the warranty period, prices are pretty much the same.

UK Sony offers one year warranty like USA, but with rest of Europe Sony offers a 2-year warranty.

And if you buy one from the US and take it back to Europe, you will get hit with the tax as well. And this would put you in a disadvantage due to lesser warranty period.

cheers ...

 

I sure hope that juicy Radeon 4650 comes to Canada soon!




Yes, i just called a GPU juicy. What of it?


ps, check out these numbers:

http://optimitza.cat/benchmarks/laptops

Looks like the 4650 is pretty close to a Geforce 9700M GTS!! Thats very exiting, considering that the former is a mid-range card and the latter is on the higher-end.



P.p.s, they removed the SPRING e-coupon code

 

Sony, I just want 4650 =(

 

Hi there,
I have three questions about the touchpad on the VAIO FW: Can you program an area for right clicks etc.? Does it support vertical and horizontal scrolling? Is there a dragging function (e.g. if you drag an object and reach the edge of the touchpad, does it extend the dragging)?
Thanks for your help!

 

I'm getting a SONY VGN-FW245J/HC. Is this an accurate device? Is there any malfunctions with it, or anything? or should i just buy the FW390 off the sony site?

 

Wait for the FW400 series refresh coming soon, it's due for an update. The refurbished 390 is out of stock right now too...

 

When does it come out and will be be any higher?

 

Not sure about the release date, but it should be soon. Yes the GPU will perform much better than the 3650.

 

Will be be out before July? I need a laptop ASAP as this laptop is becoming horrid.

 

Yeah I would like to know too as I need to purchase soon. Any guesses on an entry price level? Same as it is now?

 

I don't see why would Sony increase the prices. So far, the refreshes have had similar prices, no notable increases (except in Canada, after the US dollar rose again)

 

The prices of the refreshed models here in Australia remained the same as the previous models. Some stores are now discounting the old models by a little, but not by enough to make it a better buy then the new ones

Cheers

Richard

 

Hey, I'm considering getting an FW (after the refresh) and I'm wondering if I should go with 900p or 1080p. I originally wanted 1080p, but I've never seen 1080p on a 16" laptop, so I don't know the relative size of everything. Is text and everything too small to be usable? I have good eyesight so that isn't a problem, but I'm just wondering what you guys think on the matter.

Thanks

 

Wha'ts the reason for the refresh and what exactrly IS a refresh?

 

What are the chances that an LED-backlit screen (like on the VAIO Z series, MacBook Pro etc.) will ever find its way to the FW series?

I've had a Z since last Fall, and just received a new FW390 yesterday. I was actually shocked at how dim and "yellowish" the screen on the FW looked next to my Z. No amount of adjustment could get it anywhere close to the brightness or "whiteness" of my Z.

I would like a larger screen, though - but I don't want to move to a MacBook. Any rumors or rumblings that the FW might get an LED-backlit screen in the next refresh?

 

Refresh is usually where they update a same line of machines, but don't change the name of the series.

Refreshes include:
- upgrades of hardware(to newer/more recent hardware usually)
- upgrades/fixes to chassis design(but still staying within the original purpose of the series)

 

Is there any FW laptop that have a BR-RW if so what model number

 

Hey mate,
I'm looking at this exact laptop. Seems like a killer price for the specs.
Have you had a chance to give it a good run yet?

Any chance you could GPUz to check whether it is the gimped or fully fledged 4650. Just need to check the memory type. If its GDDR3 its the good one, if its DDR3 its the middle one and if its DDR2 its the gimp one. I know the UK get the GDDR3 so I hope its the same in AUS.

Also would love to hear your general impressions of the laptop's screen, battery life and sturdiness (I know that the screen has changed since release but I'm not sure bout the rest).

Hope you are enjoying your new purchase!

 

Hey there. The memory is GDDR3. So far so good with this baby. It does everything and more that I need it to do. Actually for my work purposes it is so over spec'd, but much better than under

There isnt too much else on the market here with the specs at that price.

Richard

 

RichardLOZ, you own the new FW with the 4650?

 

What screen changes are you referring to, exactly?

I'm still intrigued that the FW4 in Europe speaks of "mulitple" lamps and no longer of a "dual" or "double" lamp screen....

 

Sure do

Cheers

Richard

 

The multiple lamps is what I was referring to. I don't know what exactly the change is.

Thanks for the details mate,
Mine will be for work too. Sounds like a solid machine.

 

Does anyone feel that the FW is too thick for its form factor?

It seems sleek, but according to Sony's site, it is 1.47" thick, compared to the Macbook Pro 15 and 17's 0.95"

 

As a 16.4", it's a heck of a lot thinner than an HDX 16t by HP.

 

It's thickest at the back (1.46") and slimmest at the front (1.14").

 

I hope the refresh of the FW won't be as long as the wait between the Far East and the US with the Dell Studio 1555. That was like a month and a half!

 

It looks thinner in person than the measurements would suggest. But those Macbook Pros are beautifully thin!

 

The Sony BC-5500S Blu-ray drive: Is it noisy on boot-up even if it's empty? Does it take several hits on the button to get the tray to open, even when empty?

A friend has asked me to find out but I have no experience with Blu-ray at all.

Are all BD drives noisy when empty on boot-up? Do they vibrate the laptop, she asks? Do they take several minutes to "settle down" when playing a disk?

Any one know if this is a Sony peculiarity or a function of the construction of Blu-ray drives in general? I have a DVD drive that's silent on boot-up so her question took me by surprise

Thanks for any assistance with this question. I'll pass it on....

 

My boss recently gave me a Sony Vaio VGN-FW235J (based on the badge below the LCD). The only bad thing is that it's broken. In a drunken rage (maybe) he ripped the keyboard out. The connection on the motherboard seems OK and there is some superficial damage that seems fixable or unimportant, but where can I track down a new keyboard for this notebook? I'm not even sure if this laptop originally had a "keyboard bezel" that surrounded all the keys. He also removed the memory and HDD which are easily replaced. Please! I'd love to get this laptop up and running for the price of some memory, a HDD, a new keyboard, and some of my personal time.

 

ebay is your friend crashman. do a "fw vaio keyboard" search or something like that.
Of course if you want to be absolutely sure and have guarantee you can head to the sony service. but prices are really higher.

for memory and hdd i t'd be better if you just hit the stores.

P.s. I 'm calling "shotgun" if he has has any new drunken rage on his current laptop!

hope i helped

 

I'm not entirely sure what you mean, maybe post a picture?

Damn! I call shotgun if he does it twice then

 

Please any reviews ? games benchmark ?
Photos ? videos ........

 

Well, my boss has sworn off the booze now. When searching eBay, those keyboards look good. I just don't think I'll be able to find the metal bezel that fits over them, and the Sony live chat was not cooperative. We'll see.

Here is what I need: a photo from an auction selling the keys
There is the metal (I've now found out that this is plastic) bezel/covering on top and the keyboard underneath with the keys poking through.

 

Apparently the FW490 is available in Canada, shipping on 6/30/09:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=20153&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665893057

 

There are some deals on FW's of the 2 and 3 series at the new Circuit City Website (yes, it's back -- under new management): http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=Sony+Vaio+FW

All Eco screens but some with Vista Business (32-bit apparently) and some with Vista Home Premium 64. Most are new; one is a refurb.

 

can US people buy from the canada site?

Although its goign to be shipped the 30th, will it be available on the US site then as well?

 

Probably there would be warranty or service plan issues whenever one crosses borders.

My point, however, was that if Canada is getting them, the US is likely not far behind -- or will be at the same time. In other words, it is likely that neither the US nor the Canada Sony Style sites are openly marketing the 490 yet -- but Canada has already put up the Website.

The regular Canada site is still only advertizing FW2 and 3 series: http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...1&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&categoryId=100393 and the delivery date if you order a FW390CTO right now is 6/23/09: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=20153&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665751055

My guess is that next week will be the unveiling so that there is a week's build time before the 30th.

 

Dang! I just bought a 350 series, LOL. Looks like I'm sending it back. I want the new one! haha

 

That still lists the 3650, still no 4650? Dang, thats the only thing I'm still holding out on.


And more importantly (well not really, lol), wheres the white one?!?!?!

 

Actually, look at those URLs. The US ( www.sonystyle.com) is managing the ordering sites for the US and for Canada. Only the composite pages use the www.sonystyle.ca URL.

Interesting.... This page which has the US top logo on it ( http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...angId=-1&LBomId=8198552921665893055&mode=null) only a few minutes ago came up in Google for "VGN-FW490" and has as a header "CTO/Error Page".

So, I'd say the Web designers are at work as we speak, er, type.

 

I noticed that. I'm getting a hold of the seller i bought the new laptop form to cancel the order, hopefully he can canel before he ships, lol.

 

I customized the VGN-FW390 to my likes and it's going to cost $1279.98 with the two year extended warranty. The VGN-FW490 on the canada site went to $1636.23. Will this be cheaper once in the US?

Also, I see NOTHING what so ever different between the two... Other than a slight CPU upgrade.

 

Yes, and that makes me sad

Even given the exchange rate, the Canadian models always work out to be more expensive. Just a smaller market, i suppose.

 

I feel for Canadians then, lol.. That's overly priced, haha.