Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

I guess I should have worded my question better...

My main question now is that I don't see the proprietary vaio programs under the uninstallation list. Is this normal?

 

Yep, it's the whole reason why people go the length to completely clean install windows when they get their laptop (like i will be doing soon).

 

I have the free Windows 7 upgrade, should I do it? Do I have to reinstall everything I have already?

Also, I have been looking for a lap stand for my FW that will fit a mouse also. Any suggestions? I've been looking at this for awhile, but have no idea how it will work:
http://www.laptopdesk.net/ultralite-gamers-desk-with-two-max-mouzpad.html

And, does anyone use a backpack here for their FW? At the store today I triedo the 15'4 Targus Olive Feren bag, and it fit the FW, but looking for other suggestions.

 

Windows 7 isn't out until October. You can do a clean install, or just an upgrade. Won't have to reinstall everything that way.

 

hey every one i bought a vaio 490 as well, i love it

i got a few questions

1. is it norma,l, for it to heat up around the right side of the mouse pad ? b/c mine does even when i am not doing anything just browsing it heats up their

2. does your res affect battery life ?

i was about to return this laptop b/c the screen res annoyed me, and i couldnt change it, i mean the default res options suck, so i patched my ati driver and now used power strip to get a 1704x 960 it fits perfectly , i ll post a guide on how to do it later.

 

So apparently i have terrible luck. My laptop was supposed to come on Saturday, but the FedEx man never stopped by. So i checked my shipment online and it changed from On Time to In Transit and there is no longer an estimated time of arrival... should i be worried?

 

so how are the hinges in the current models of these FW SERIES?


i had one on page 320+ and the hinges were horrible ..status now?

 

I should take delivery of my FW41 in the next coupla' hours.

How long should I charge it up for? And can I use it while it's charging?

Thanks

 

Can't answer 2 - but I doubt it.

To answer 1, that's probably where the wireless card is.

 

Hi

I'm thinking of buying a Sony fw laptop. Can you please help me? I need to know how much dedicated graphics(card) do I need in order to take the stress of the Pro during play back of movies(Blu-Ra). I don't want to play the latest games. I want the laptop for the internet, movies and basic games like braid. What Processor power would be suffient. I live in Ireland and this model is available to me from the local Sony store:
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
Microsoft® Windows® Service Pack 1
Architecture
Platform Intel® Centrino® processor technology
Chipset Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset
Colour
Cover colour Silver
CPU Section
Processor Name Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T6400, Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology
Processor Manufacturer Intel®
Processor Speed (GHz) 2.00
L2 Cache (MB) 2
Frontside Bus (MHz) 800
Number of Cores 2
Memory
Memory Size (GB) 4
Memory Speed (MHz) 800
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM (2x2GB)
Max. Supported Memory (GB) 8
Max Memory Comment A portion of the system memory over 3GB may not be available to the 32bit operating system
Drives
Hard Drive Capacity (GB) 500
Hard Drive Type Serial ATA
Hard Drive Speed (rpm) 5400
Optical Drive Type Blu-ray Disc™ Combo Drive (reader): BD ROM/ DVD+-RW/+-R DL/RAM Drive
Optical Drive Fitting Built-in
Drives Speed
Write CD-R x16, CD-RW x10, DVD-R DL x4, DVD-R x8, DVD-RW x4, DVD+R DL x4, DVD+R x8, DVD+RW x4, DVD-RAM x5
Read CD-ROM x24, CD-R x24, CD-RW x24, DVD x8, DVD-R DL x6, DVD-R x8, DVD-RW x6, DVD+R DL x6, DVD+R x8, DVD+RW x6, DVD-RAM x5, BD-ROM x2, BD-Rx2, BD-RE x2, BD-RE DL x2, BD-R DL x2
Display
Screen Type X-black LCD
Diagonal Size (in) 16.4
Resolution 1600 x 900
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Resolution Type WXGA++ (1600x900)
Graphics
Graphic Card Name ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4650
Total Graphics Memory Total avalilable graphics memory of Approx. 1770MB* with dedicated GDDR3 Video Memory of 512MB
Comments * Total Available Graphics Memory refers to the Windows Vista® classification of graphics memory, which varies depending on the operating condition, version of device driver and system memory size
The cost is around 1,200,00 Euro
Thanks.
One more question do all the Chassis have the same build quality?
Garret

 

Wow no joke and I thought it was the hard drive all this time.

cuz it becomes hot whenever the hd light is buzzing nonstop on a big file transfer, extraction, or at startup

Well I've only had mine for a week but I'm pretty sure thats what it is I'll test turning off the wireless to see if it impacts the heat.

Other than that this laptop doesn't put out much heat lending itself to the "lap"-top part of the description more accurately whenever the need arises.

 

By the way, the Chocolate Brown FW looks really ugly on the website - but absolutely gorgeous in real life. It's more of a reddish-brown and looks very elegant. It's worth it to see it in person if you are unsure.

 

What's the model number, BTW?

You might want to click on several of the links to comparison charts and lists of performance specs concerning cards, games, graphic memory, etc. at this site: http://www.notebookcheck.net/FAQ-Tips-Technics.123.0.html

Enjoy!

 

Hi Can you please help. I live in Ireland and I want to buy a Sony FW laptop. I just want to ask one question. These are the specs of the laptop below. Do I have enough dedicated graphics memory to take the stress of the processor while watching blue-ra DVD's. I don't want the laptop for complex games and is the build quality as good as the other models(not plastic). Thanks. Garret
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
Microsoft® Windows® Service Pack 1
Architecture
Platform Intel® Centrino® processor technology
Chipset Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset
Colour
Cover colour Silver
CPU Section
Processor Name Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T6400, Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology
Processor Manufacturer Intel®
Processor Speed (GHz) 2.00
L2 Cache (MB) 2
Frontside Bus (MHz) 800
Number of Cores 2
Memory
Memory Size (GB) 4
Memory Speed (MHz) 800
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM (2x2GB)
Max. Supported Memory (GB) 8
Max Memory Comment A portion of the system memory over 3GB may not be available to the 32bit operating system
Drives
Hard Drive Capacity (GB) 500
Hard Drive Type Serial ATA
Hard Drive Speed (rpm) 5400
Optical Drive Type Blu-ray Disc™ Combo Drive (reader): BD ROM/ DVD+-RW/+-R DL/RAM Drive
Optical Drive Fitting Built-in
Drives Speed
Write CD-R x16, CD-RW x10, DVD-R DL x4, DVD-R x8, DVD-RW x4, DVD+R DL x4, DVD+R x8, DVD+RW x4, DVD-RAM x5
Read CD-ROM x24, CD-R x24, CD-RW x24, DVD x8, DVD-R DL x6, DVD-R x8, DVD-RW x6, DVD+R DL x6, DVD+R x8, DVD+RW x6, DVD-RAM x5, BD-ROM x2, BD-Rx2, BD-RE x2, BD-RE DL x2, BD-R DL x2
Display
Screen Type X-black LCD
Diagonal Size (in) 16.4
Resolution 1600 x 900
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Resolution Type WXGA++ (1600x900)
Graphics
Graphic Card Name ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4650
Total Graphics Memory Total avalilable graphics memory of Approx. 1770MB* with dedicated GDDR3 Video Memory of 512MB
Comments * Total Available Graphics Memory refers to the Windows Vista® classification of graphics memory, which varies depending on the operating condition, version of device driver and system memory size
Interfaces

 

Hey Garret,

The laptop looks nice and is a very capable laptop......the 512 MB dedicated ATI 4650 is more than enough to watch blu ray movies......but the LCD screen X Brite ......is just 1600x900 i.e. not full HD i.e. 1920x1080..........

I dont know about Ireland as I live in the US......but this model of laptop is customizable in the US......so I have also ordered one and its being built rite now.....shipping on 21st....... I have ordered the Full HD screen as the reviews regarding the 1600x900 were not gr8..........and one more thing in the US if u want the full HD screen then u need to go for the 1 GB dedicated graphics option same card ATI 4650.

My advice wud be to go for the same
Rest all the config is more than adequate for yur needs.

 

Hey everybody,

My order status changed today to being built........how many more days till it is shipped?? Can all those who have received it recently pls let me know.

Thanks.

 

I disagree with this. The 4650 has a 128bit bus, and therefore can't really push that many pixels at a time in full HD for playing games, thus making the benefit of the 1GB not noticable. For movies, the 512mb 4650 would be fine for 1080p. Not really worth a paid upgrade, tbh. But I don't know the US prices.

 

drcristian, mine only took 2 days to build.

 

I'm one of the people that ordered the fw 490cto (ordered on 8/23) and have my order still PROCESSING!! I've called and emailed sony many times--no progress.

I was able to get $50 off the total order and overnight shipping but I think I deserved more, I mean it's still processing two weeks after it was supposed to ship! And school already started and I still don't have a laptop.

Does anyone know where I can get emails or phone #s of U.S. management?

customer services reps won't give any info.

 

Hey I'm planning to buy this laptop and I was wondering if the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P7350 (2.00GHz) would be good enough for playing Call of Duty or something like that. I don't really plan on multi-tasking while playing games so I wonder if that would be enough.

 

I just bought the vAIO FW Series VGN-FW463J/T, it came with windows vista home premium 64bit. I changed it to Windows 7 but i didn´t like it. Now going back to vista, i can´t get the FN KEYS to work, any help please ??

Thanks!!

ps: Looked for the drivers at sony.com but nothing came up.

 

You got an extra $50 off? Consider yourself lucky! My order was canceled, and now I have to wait until 8/25 AND I have to pay full retail price first and wait for a credit refund on the $150 bundle discount that I had in the original order.

I talked to three different reps and none of them is willing to offer any further discount.

 

For those that are sick of the bloat ware, I discovered where to uninstall all the preinstalled programs.

Go to Program Files -> Sony -> VAIO Uninstaller.

 

yea man i think its the HD, b/c only when i am downloading and extracting movies and using the HD i feel the heat their

for the heat i feel it a lot when i watch movies for long periods of time

also i got the choclate brown and it is so dam SEXY

sexy, i mean every one has the black/silver comp so i went with the choc brown. and i love it

tell me does any one else want to know how to get more resoluation options ? if so please say so and i will make a guide, i mean i know the full hd was great but after a while my eyes hurt and i got a headache, and the type was small, and games dont run to well on 1080p no matter whats in the FW

 

Did you try [email protected]?

And of those three "reps" you spoke with, how many were supervisors or managers?

P.S. It occurs to me that there might be a relationship between the fact that EPEAT has so many pre-configured FW4 series models, including the FW490s but no FW490CTOs and the fact that the FW490CTO orders are all messed up.

And those people whose chosen FW490CTO configurations were identical to those of a preconfigured model are the ones who received their computers (the preconfigs) right away, right?

Just a guess -- but it could be that Sony had to halt production for a change of something.

 

!!!!!
help

 

In the US, if u want the Full HD 1080 p screen in the FW series, u have to choose the 1 GB VRAM option, they say it on their website.........

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...52921665899058&categoryId=8198552921644564889

 

Mine started building today and was shipped today itself!!!!!!!!!!! Expect it on the 21st........cant wait to get my hands and eyes on it!!

 

bump.............

 

You'll need to download and install the (in a particular order)
1. Sony Shared Library
2. Notebook Control and Utilities.
Also assuming you formatted and did a fresh install? (not mentioned - so guessing on this...)
That should give you back all your functions keys