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    Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

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

  1. Derrida

    Derrida Notebook Deity

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    Clearly the sites are still under construction (Here's the URL for the main Canada page for FW series which doesn't have the 490 yet: http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...ategoryId=100490&navigationPath=32009n100299). The link in my posting above is to the page for all customizable Vaios.

    The 490 has processors that are faster, more expensive, of course. We'll just have to wait a week or so to find out what the graphics will be....
     
    Derrida, Jun 15, 2009
    #3951
  2. Wolf04

    Wolf04 Sony Fanatic

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    There's also supposed to be a video card update.

    EDIT: Woooow, I just found out my right click button doesn't work. I don't know if this happened during the time when they changed my screen or was random after but since I used an external USB mouse, I never realized this.

    Either way, right click on the USB mouse works but on the touchpad, it's non-responsive. I restarted the computer, I reinstalled the pointing device driver, I even tried switching some of the functions around, nothing.

    The touchpad and the left click buttons still work but not the right click button. I guess I'll be taking it back to the service center tomorrow.
     
    Wolf04, Jun 15, 2009
    #3952
  3. xKelevra

    xKelevra Notebook Enthusiast

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    Okey I have a bone to pick with this laptop. Ive had mine since January this year and have been using my FW as an excuse to build up a Blu Ray collection. With the HDMI output ive been playing these movies through a 42" LG plasma, it looks great. However the audio is another story. Its a real pain in the arse because the LG TV doesnt support DTS digital optical out to my Reciever. This causes big problems since half the time I get zero audio from a Blu Ray movie since its in DTS.

    Really annoying.

    This laptop needs some kind of way to output digital audio through something other then the HDMI. Since it claims to be a entertainment built laptop.
     
    xKelevra, Jun 16, 2009
    #3953
  4. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Did you get DTS audio from the built-in speakers or headphones?
     
    hendra, Jun 16, 2009
    #3954
  5. xKelevra

    xKelevra Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well WinDVD was saying DTS audio was being played, but I doubt it. Its probably just downgraded to Stereo. When it outputs over the HDMI to the TV its fine as well I believe its just the pass through that the TV doesnt support, so DTS audio or anything thats TRUE-HD fails. This wouldnt be an issue normally because youd just have HDMI audio out directly to your Reciever but then how would you output the video since your already using the 1 HDMI port up. And you cant use the VGA because that doesnt support the DRM (HDCP) stuff right?

    Hope im making sense.
     
    xKelevra, Jun 16, 2009
    #3955
  6. dubes01

    dubes01 Newbie

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    I'm waiting for a 3650 upgrade too; And the White one to be available with the FullHD screen. I asked the sales rep, and all I got was "We don't have information on that at the moment, sorry". What was I expecting anyways ...
     
    dubes01, Jun 17, 2009
    #3956
  7. Biggamer3

    Biggamer3 Notebook Guru

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    i have had this laptop for almost a year.

    Even after i got it new i was never able to play any game normally without downgrading the graphics a lot.

    Movies also stuttered alot.

    what can i do to improve my lappys performance?

    it has 4GB RAM

    Is my Hard Drive (which was the cheapest option) the reason?
     
    Biggamer3, Jun 17, 2009
    #3957
  8. mcdanielnc89

    mcdanielnc89 Notebook Geek

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    Well, I got my new laptop today! I LOVE IT!!! VGN-FW350! I'm not used to the wide spread keyboard, as I'm used to the HP keyboards which are close together, but this is overall well. I absolutely LOVE IT. It's so thin, and light for it being a 16.4 inch screen. I think I will just keep it and not even worry about the VGN-FW490 series, unless I decide to ifll this laptop up with IMPORTANT software that I have and resell it on eBay. I sold my HP on there for 2679.00. Maybe this one will go for more, hah. Oh well. I LOVE IT. Thought I would just let you all know that I like it.
     
    mcdanielnc89, Jun 17, 2009
    #3958
  9. botchy

    botchy Newbie

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    How is the battery life on the FW's?. Has anyone purchased the high capacity VGP-BPL13 battery for the FW and noticed a considerable difference from the standard battery.
     
    botchy, Jun 17, 2009
    #3959
  10. Derrida

    Derrida Notebook Deity

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    Derrida, Jun 19, 2009
    #3960
  11. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    What kind of games are you playing?
    What type of CPU and video card do you have?
    Are you playing Blu-ray or DVD?
     
    hendra, Jun 19, 2009
    #3961
  12. tipoo

    tipoo Notebook Evangelist

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    tipoo, Jun 19, 2009
    #3962
  13. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    ya ya ya now if only they would release it so i could buy it.
     
    Inukami, Jun 19, 2009
    #3963
  14. ppeccin

    ppeccin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Does anyone know if the 6GB FW models are dual-channel memory?
    Maybe it is 4+2GB and NOT dual channel, while the 4GB models are 2+2GB and maybe dual channel.
    Does anyone know? Does it make real difference?
    Thanks.
     
    ppeccin, Jun 19, 2009
    #3964
  15. laptopkid

    laptopkid Notebook Consultant

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    laptopkid, Jun 20, 2009
    #3965
  16. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    Inukami, Jun 20, 2009
    #3966
  17. Wolf04

    Wolf04 Sony Fanatic

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    That's an awesome colour but it doesn't look brown to me (only the back cover looks like brown). If it's black, it's pretty sweeeett. :eek:
     
    Wolf04, Jun 20, 2009
    #3967
  18. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    Lame they took them out already! lol!
     
    Inukami, Jun 20, 2009
    #3968
  19. o8x8

    o8x8 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have 3gb (2+1) FW and cpuz says it's dual channel
     
    o8x8, Jun 20, 2009
    #3969
  20. donis

    donis Notebook Geek

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    ------- FW 400 -------
    Coming Soon
     
    donis, Jun 20, 2009
    #3970
  21. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    really??? wow thank you so much.
     
    Inukami, Jun 20, 2009
    #3971
  22. tipoo

    tipoo Notebook Evangelist

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    Its only what we've been talking about for the last 100 pages, but thanks for the remindier :D
     
    tipoo, Jun 20, 2009
    #3972
  23. donis

    donis Notebook Geek

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    donis, Jun 20, 2009
    #3973
  24. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah last night they actually had the titanium gray version AVAILABLE. This morning it's gone lol =p
     
    Inukami, Jun 20, 2009
    #3974
  25. Dingle

    Dingle Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi all,

    I have the FW with the high-res screen. Can someone do me a favor, can you run 'Dead Pixel Tester' ( http://majorgeeks.com/Dead_Pixel_Tester_d4806.html) and with a pure white screen displayed (or pink/purple is good too) see if your screen has uneven backlighing? Mine is worst in the bottom left and right corners where there is a small dim spot/shadow spreading from the corners. Do you also see a shadow that runs along the whole bottom of the screen (about the height of the start bar). Please look carefully and be honest because if you don't see these shadows/dim spots then I'll have to ring up a place to take it in to get fixed. I knew i should have got a laptop with an LED-backlight screen! :(

    Cheers
     
    Dingle, Jun 20, 2009
    #3975
  26. kev_gordon

    kev_gordon Notebook Guru

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    kev_gordon, Jun 21, 2009
    #3976
  27. kgbeezr1

    kgbeezr1 Notebook Consultant

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    Finding a CCFL screen with complete uniformity is going to be tough. Even most LED backlit notebook screens aren't 100% uniform. I have yet to own a notebook that would display pure white without some degree of color/brightness variation, and shadowing in the corners is the most common variety of non-uniformity.
     
    kgbeezr1, Jun 21, 2009
    #3977
  28. laptopkid

    laptopkid Notebook Consultant

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    guys: 1080p or 900p? which should i get?! i like the idea of 1080p, but does it make everything too small?

    thanks
     
    laptopkid, Jun 21, 2009
    #3978
  29. tipoo

    tipoo Notebook Evangelist

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    It might make stuff too small for some people, i find it fine but I'm 18 and my eyes haven't crapped out yet, so use your best discretion. Try going to a local electronics store and seeing if they have the FW, and look at one with the 1080p screen.
     
    tipoo, Jun 21, 2009
    #3979
  30. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    In short... yes. It's not worth it.
     
    Inukami, Jun 21, 2009
    #3980
  31. laptopkid

    laptopkid Notebook Consultant

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    I checked Bestbuy, they only have the 900p one. And I'm young too so my eyes are fine
     
    laptopkid, Jun 21, 2009
    #3981
  32. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    Trust me it i'll look weird. Everything is so small(text, icons), the screen is not really meant for it.
     
    Inukami, Jun 21, 2009
    #3982
  33. laptopkid

    laptopkid Notebook Consultant

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    laptopkid, Jun 21, 2009
    #3983
  34. Derrida

    Derrida Notebook Deity

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    On the Full HD 1080p screen, it's no big deal. Just use the zoom feature in the browser. The ability to have two windows open side by side is very, very nice to have. And you even begin to get used to the smaller native resolution.

    On the uneven backlit screen: This is interesting. I haven't tried the dead pixel software (I rarely download from sites I don't know) but I have seen that the dual lamp screen -- when it is functioning and has not been damaged in transit or has only one lamp functioning -- presents pretty even lighting except for the very perimeters, usually the corners. When one lamp is not functioning properly however, then the backlight appears brighter at the bottom than the top, for example. These observations were made when booting up in a dark room....

    This is what I've seen on a friend's two FWs: one with a screen problem and one without. In general, reviews at www.notebookcheck.net do measurements on the models they test -- and by and large have felt very impressed with the dual-lamp Sony screen even though there are some spots a bit brighter than others.

    I've also seen the LED on the Dell Studios and was singularly unimpressed. Yeah, the lighting might have been a tad more regular BUT the bluish whites and the color deformations on all of their screens, including the LED (although I have not seen the RGB LED) are more than disappointing -- they're unnerving.

    The far whiter whites of the Sony screens are something to be cherished, indeed.
     
    Derrida, Jun 21, 2009
    #3984
  35. botchy

    botchy Newbie

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    botchy, Jun 21, 2009
    #3985
  36. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    you're a bit late...
     
    Inukami, Jun 21, 2009
    #3986
  37. botchy

    botchy Newbie

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    really?...when did the 400 series FW's become available in the US?
     
    botchy, Jun 21, 2009
    #3987
  38. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    i mean on saying that it's up, it's already been said.
     
    Inukami, Jun 21, 2009
    #3988
  39. Wolf04

    Wolf04 Sony Fanatic

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    Just a quick question on the FW. This never occurred to me before leaving at the service center so I didn't bring it up to them but I want to make sure. My laptop battery is set to charge to 50%. I've noticed that sometimes, while being plugged in, and the laptop being fully charged (at 50%), it would stop charging for a bit (while still being plugged in), battery will decrease to about 49% or 48%, then it would start charging again until it reaches 50%. :confused:
     
    Wolf04, Jun 22, 2009
    #3989
  40. J&SinKTO

    J&SinKTO Notebook Deity

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    I would highly recommend get the dual lamp version - the screen is just plain better. Have seen/used both on the FW models. The text size boils down to personal preference. I like the extra screen real-estate. I'm in my late forties with a set of bifocals and I can still read/use the computer without my glasses. One of the best screen I've used/owned to date.
     
    J&SinKTO, Jun 22, 2009
    #3990
  41. Aule

    Aule Notebook Consultant

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    Is there any benchmark of the FW with Radeon 4650?
     
    Aule, Jun 22, 2009
    #3991
  42. The Albatross

    The Albatross Newbie

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    I'm sure this question has been asked before, but the search function on this site is terrible.

    I am trying to connect my FW-373J to my Westinghouse HDTV using an HDMI cable, so I can use my HDTV as an external display to watch DVD/BD movies.

    There is no sound coming through my tv speakers when I do this.

    In the control panel, under sound, playback, the only two devices listed are:

    Digital Output Device (HDMI)
    ATI HDMI Audio
    Not plugged in

    and

    Speaker/HP
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Working

    Any ideas?
     
    The Albatross, Jun 22, 2009
    #3992
  43. ppeccin

    ppeccin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Like where????
     
    ppeccin, Jun 22, 2009
    #3993
  44. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    Inukami, Jun 22, 2009
    #3994
  45. DeaglinG

    DeaglinG Newbie

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    few questions:
    will windows xp work on the FW490?
    and is the FW490JEB just a pre-configured FW490?
     
    DeaglinG, Jun 22, 2009
    #3995
  46. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    From what i know sony vaio FW is not limited in what OS you can install, it's just getting all the drivers to work that's a hassle. As for pre-configured yes the 400 series FW are all pre-configured right now, you will be able to customize them soon but i'm not sure if it i'll include the ATI radeon 4650 (1GB) from what i understood, to get the 1GB version instead of the 512MB you had to buy the pre-configured model, it's not being offered in the customized.
     
    Inukami, Jun 22, 2009
    #3996
  47. Derrida

    Derrida Notebook Deity

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    Derrida, Jun 22, 2009
    #3997
  48. laptopkid

    laptopkid Notebook Consultant

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    When the FW490 CTO is released probably next week or so, do you expect the starting price to be the same $839 starting price as the 390?

    And will the offer the 390 at a discount?
     
    laptopkid, Jun 22, 2009
    #3998
  49. tipoo

    tipoo Notebook Evangelist

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    I hope so, I was counting on that "SPRING" coupon code they had a few weeks ago, but thats gone now.
     
    tipoo, Jun 22, 2009
    #3999
  50. Inukami

    Inukami Notebook Consultant

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    well you can still make use of the 7% off with the educational store(back to school).
     
    Inukami, Jun 22, 2009
    #4000
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