Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

I think that was brought up before, they dont have the education store on the Canadian site, only the American one.

 

Hi, I was wondering if anyone with a loose/broken power barrel managed to get it repaired either from Sony or elsewhere. I have the same problem with my FW series laptop and I really don't want to have to replace the whole laptop.
Cheers

 

When do you guys think we can see a customizable version of the 400 series?

 

Probably around the 26th since that's the shipping date of this pre-configured FW490JFT -- and get a look at these specs for the price:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665893596

Amazing, actually. That's a read/write Blu-Ray on a P9600 (with the larger cache) and 6GB of RAM with, ahem, the ATI HD4650 with 1 GB vRAM...

(Of course, there's a typo in the Sony specs: that must be the T9600 with the larger cache -- as it says at the specs tab but not at the top of the main page....)

And anything shipping after June 26th has the automatic upgrade coupon for Windows 7.

All for $1819.99....

 

No one has any idea about this problem?

 

On the 50% recharging....

The only thing I can think of is that the battery isn't really fully at 50% when you plug in the cord, the computer then realizes that and charges it to 50% and stops. Remember: Sony laptops don't keep charging the battery when the cord is in. And if the cord falls out a bit, then it would start to use the battery -- then it would start to recharge to the set maximum once the cord was sitting properly.

 

eh that's still so expansive for my tastes. I would gladly give up blueray reader for 6MB L2 cache in the VGN-FW465J/B

 

Well, that's what I want to be sure of. If the computer is fully charged, then stops charging, the battery slightly depletes, then the charger kicks in again and fully charges the battery and the cycle continues

or...

Some wires in the barrel are not properly connected. I'm thinking I should start smelling something burning if somehow the wires are damaged.

I should note that I don't wiggle the plug at all and then it starts recharging again. Actually, I don't touch it at all.

 

Absolutely. I am with you. The point is that with the FW490 CTO you will soon be able to build it without that Blu-ray and with one of the processors that has the better L2 cache, etc.

And further, the price will likely NOT be more than the current FW390 CTOs -- that's what I was deducing from the pre-packaged deal. For that price, a preconfigured FW3 series gave us much less....

It's like at the US SonyStyle Outlet -- all those Clearance FW290s just sit there because the Outlet price and reduction are based on the pricing at date of original build. We look at how little we'd get for the money and we walk on by, so to speak. They just sit there.

So, in a few days we'll know for sure, but I'm betting the FW490 CTO will have options that will enable you to have what you want and not what you don't want -- which can bring the price down a bit, as well. And with an upgrade coupon to Windows 7, as well....

 

Question: Can you try another Sony AC adapter? Perhaps bring it in to a Sony Store or authorized retail dealer? You can wander the esupport site to find out which models use the same adapter (all FWS and I think AWs use the same one, for example) and see if the issue resolves. One less variable, anyway, right? What if the adapter is switching on and off?

 

Unfortunately I don't have another Sony charger. I guess I could go to the store though. It's just that I can't control when it happens, it's completely random so I could be in the Sony Store for a few good hours and it would be completely fine.

I'll see when i get my FW back from the service center, hopefully by the end of this week.

 

regular PC games, Sims 3 recently for example

Product: VGNFW290-CTO
Component: Microsoft® Works
Component: LCD 16.4" (XBRITE-FullHD™)
Component: No Fresh Start™
Component: 250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [5400 rpm]
Component: Video Standard
Component: No Engraving
Component: Standard Battery
Component: QuickBooks Simple Start
Component: WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n) with integrated Bluetooth® technology
Component: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3650 with 512MB vRAM
Component: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40GHz) [Regular price $150]
Component: None
Component: Blu-ray Disc™ Read and Write Drive [Regular price $250]
Component: Windows Live OneCare 90-Day Trial
Component: White
Component: Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit
Component: 4 GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GBx2)
Quantity: 1
Estimated Shipped Date: 20081212

 

For the pre-orders, are they guaranteed the upgrade of Windows 7 since the orders don't actually ship til around the 26th? Or is it only if you purchase it after the 26th.

 

I had a perhaps similar experience and was convinced that my wall outlet was defective (don't laugh). I tightened the lead prongs on the surge protector into which the adapter cord itself was then plugged and I had consistent levels at all times. At last.

At least knowing that the problem occurred with more than one outlet, more than one surge protector, etc. would help to eliminate some of the variables....

 

Hey everyone. I just preordered the FW490JFT. Does anyone here have any experiances with Sony preorders before? I'm just wondering if I should put any stock in their estimated date or not.

 

If you pre-order it, do you get the free windows 7 update when it comes out? I'm hesitant to order it just a few days before the 26th since supposedly that's the date for laptops to get the free update.

 

I'm not sure... I'm in a bind and need the new computer quick for work, the HP I have now is on it's last leg with GPU and a short in the power adapter, so I need Sony to ship this ASAP.

Windows 7 wasn't mentioned at all during the checkout process though. This might be good news for me though, they may be more inclined to move their and ship it to avoid having to pay for the additional copy of windows

 

Haha, that's true.

 

Wow the 490JFT seems like a good deal! It's actually $300 less than a similarly-configured 390 even with the 390 having a worse GPU and an older T-series CPU

 

Hi guys!
today i've buy a nex fw 41 j\h...
at the fist start i was shoked, 1,5 gb of ram processing...
so i decide to fix windows XP (Ita)

-Where i can find every driver? (i'd like not lose any function or driver)

-Do the warranty die?

thx for info

 

How much RAM did it come configured with? If you disable some of the Sony software they have, you should be able to get Vista to use no more than 700-800mb on startup.


Besides, Vista uses Superfetch to load programs you use frequently into the RAM so you dont have to wait as long to open them, it can be expected that it uses more RAM than XP. At this point i don't think Vista is any worse than XP, and better in so many ways.


If for whatever reason you REALLY dont like Vista, you can always get the RC for Windows 7 until the day it launches, and then upgrade to the retail version.

 

Thanks for reply
My fw fix 4 gb of ram
i decide to fix Xp as is more light than vista, and it's better to playing.

I'm looking for drivers but it's quite hard.
On support website there are only vista driver, but i see that some series, for example SR, have the XP drivers.
FW and SR have the same hardware? if yes, is possible use SR drivers on FW

Thanks for attention (and sorry for my bad english)

 

The SR doesn't use all the same hardware as the FW, that wont work.


As for gaming, Vista is pretty much on par with XP now.

 

ok, but i use better XP.

So is it impossible find FW drivers for XP?

 

Got my shipment notification for my 490 so I guess Sony was true to their word about expected shipment of 6/26.

 

So I'm about to buy a new notebook soon. I'll acutally be using it on my lap a lot. Is the FW series suitable for that purpose? I asked the same in the AW thread and they recommended against it. But what would you guys say about the FW?

 

The FW notebook can only be opened 25 to 30 degrees from its vertical axis. That's not a good enough angle if you want to put it on your lap.

 

fw 490 cto is available on us site.
blu-ray burner is back to 180$ additional,
there is a choice between 512mb and 1gb of the 4570 (?) gpu
additional ram is cheaper,
hard drives are somewhat cheaper
and there is no option for white, only black and brown. and i personally freaking want it in white!

 

The 4570 must be a typo. The esupport site indicates that the driver is for 4650 and the preconfigured FW models come with 4650.

Never mind I won't buy it anyway. Sony refuses to reintroduce XBrite HiColor @1600x900. I wish they just get rid off all those inferior ECO screens.

 

Is the 1920 screen LED-lit? Or CCFL?

 

Got my 490 shipping notice too... should be here this afternoon. I wonder if it'll be brown (like the picture on the preorder screen) or black. Does anyone know if either F, J, or T is a color code?

 

Hendra, you are pretty bummed uh?
i hope you re right about the 4650.

maybe someway try in europe? the lower model screen is referred to as WXGA++ -LCD (1600 x 900) with X-black. i don't know if it's any different than the eco screen.
but have in mind that prices here are way higher, so i don;t know if it's worth the price and trouble.

@ Vogelbung Ii have no idea what ccfl is. i guess it's the standard 1920 screen they offered before

 

X-Black is ECO screen. X-Black Double/multiple Lamp is HiColor. I don't believe Sony Europe sell FW with Double Lamp at 1600 and I won't buy a laptop from Europe. It's just too risky and too much hassle if something goes wrong. I would rather ordering from Sonystyle US because if something goes wrong, I could just return it with no restocking fee.

 

Can anyone tell me how the Vaio treats audio over HDMI out? As in there is the option to enable or disable Dolby Digital and DTS formats in the supported format section of the Vista's audio properties on the HDMI output. However ive noticed that Dolby Digital 5.1 still gets through to my LCD TV and through to the Receiver. Strange?

Its almost as if the output formats change nothing, and the HDMI just outputs whatever its receiving from the winDVD Blu Ray playing application.

Anyone had issues?

 

Been lurking in this forum for weeks, in search of a notebook for my youngest son's high school graduation. Finally settled on the Vaio FW series, and have been waiting for the 26th to roll around, to perhaps snag the Windows 7 Upgrade Option. Also, holding out for the HD 4650 GPU.

Watched anxiously as the units at J&R Music and ABT flew off the shelf. I need this puppy in my hands by the 18th, for the graduation party. Well, looks like I got real lucky. J&R seems to have the VGN-FW465J/B back in stock at only $1,149.99 with free shipping and no tax! Oh, and that's not all. $100.00 rebate from Sony to top it off! Yeah, I'm still pinching myself. As long as it shows up before the 18th of July, I'll be a happy camper. Couldn't care less about the free Windows 7 upgrade anymore.

Thanks for all the posts that led to this decision and purchase. I'll try to be of service to others in the future.

 

Here are some drivers for XP for the FW190 series, a better bet than crossing over to a different series completely:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNFW190&SelectOS=7

 

I will buy the New FW 400 ...
But the question is :
FW495 black is my best option ? ( for the price $1629 )

Core 2 Duo Processor P8700
6GB (1x4GB, 1x2GB) RAM
500GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
Blu-ray Burner
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Graphics
16.4" Widescreen Display 1920x1200
Integrated Camera and MicrophoneBluetooth 2.1+EDR802.11a/b/g/n Wi-F
...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...B_VAIO_FW_VGN_FW495J_B_Notebook.html#features

= )

 

This is the best deal i think compared to if you were trying to make a CTO close to that

http://www.jr.com/sony/pe/SON_VGNFW465JB/#productTabRebates

No tax or shipping fee and $100 rebate. very nice.

can anyone beat that?

 

Nice, i was waiting for details on the Windows 7 free upgrade thing. I wonder if they ship you an actual CD, or if you have to download and maybe burn it yourself?

 

I was wondering how hard it would be to replace the CPU in my FW-455J/B I can't find any guides for the FW on the site, I can find others asking and guides for the other Vaio line just not the FW, don't get me wrong I love my FW but I wan't to bump up the CPU it came with a 2.10 T6500 in it and it runs Windows 7 RC like a dream but that chip does not support VT so I was thinking of taking it to a faster chip that does, I'll take any help anyone can offer, Thanks.

 

can't be done.

 

If you purchase it for JR.com, do you still get the free upgrade? Even if its not from Sony dealership? Thanks. I'm ready to pull the trigger here. haha.

 

on post 1190 of this official thread there are pictures of a opened up fw
i was thinking too about future replacement


http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=390747

 

Thanks I will be ordering a new CPU Monday to do the upgrade.

 

Having trouble finding the source of this info, but I remember reading it will be offered on one DVD for all versions. What you are able to install from that disc depends on your authorization code. Ah, found it:

As with Vista, each DVD includes the various editions. Unlike Vista, every edition of Windows 7 is a superset of the previous edition, so you will not lose any features when upgrading. Once you have some edition of Windows 7 on your system, whether you purchased it via an OEM or just upgraded from Windows XP or Windows Vista, you will be able to upgrade to a "more premium" version of Windows 7 by purchasing an upgrade key to unlock additional features, just as with Vista. This is called Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU). For example, you could start off with Windows Vista Home Premium, upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, and then later choose to upgrade to Windows 7 Professional. - By Emil Protalinski | Last updated June 25, 2009 8:00 AM CT​

So, as far as I can see, you can copy a disk from a friend, or borrow it, and install that, so long as you have a key code.

Now, what are my chances of finagling a Microsoft Offer Form from J&R?

Edit: Just got a prompt reply from J&R's customer service:

"Thank you for writing. We do not have any forms for this upgrade. You will need to go directly to the Sony web site for information on how to obtain the free upgrade."​

Bummer. This isn't over, but it ain't looking good...

 

ornery, did you purchase the FW465 this morning? I just did as well, pretty sweet deal for my taste.

 

I just purchased my FW465 NOW(this second) from JR.

 

what will be the process of obtaining the free upgrade? Has it been disclosed yet?

 

Yep, 8:40AM this morning, and there's still no tracking number.

This just in from J&R:

"Thank you for writing. We do not have any forms for this upgrade. You will need to go directly to the Sony web site for information on how to obtain the free upgrade."​

I'll keep begging, and see what I can get. Remembering you catch more flies with sugar...

 

May I ask why the Microsoft offer form is needed?