Official VAIO SR Series Owners Thread

Hey everyone,

Have an SR390 and I noticed that with the recovery partition taken into account and installed windows, my 320GB hard drive is missing like 80GB from something that I can't figure out. Currently, have 30GB worth of media which brings it up to 200GB free and it says 287GB total, so what is taking up this difference?

Thanks.

 

i wish but since windows 7 is not out yet. i cannot due this. I am going to return the laptop. I cannot take it anymore. Any suggestions for another laptop in the same category.

 

I also this its the processor, 2.0 issnt that fast really. the sr is a really awesome laptop

 

do a clean install, and boom -> laptop super-fast. All vaio laptops are like this. Bloated w/ junk. However, once cleaned, it is the same speed as any other laptop (spec-wise).

 

Take a look at my post here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4506560&p=4506987

 

I juat bought an SR390 and love it! I installed Windows 7 RC and it works very well. I have a question about the keyboard. Currently the A and W keys squeak, and I've read that this is an issue with Sony (and other manufacturers') keyboards. A search on here told me to pop off the key covers and lubricate the spring/depression plastic, but I'm afraid I'll break the keys or damage the keyboard/notebook.

It seems silly to return it to SonyStyle for a squeaky keyboard, and I definitely don't want to do that as the rest of the laptop exhibits good build quality. But - I don't want to live with this issue, and I don't want the service guys to yank apart my brand new computer and potentially scratch it up (something that's happened in the past with Sony service.)

If I call Sony will they send me a new keyboard so I can replace it myself? Before I even call them, is this a repair that's easy to perform?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

Windows 7 RC1 is out to the general public on a trial basis...

 

I notice that sonystyle is only offering the Intel 4500 graphics card on the SR390 custom builds. How good is this card?

I'm mostly looking to surf, use Office, and maybe occasionally Photoshop, but want I really want to make sure of is that I never have to deal with YouTube videos and the like hanging. I'm not a big gamer, but I'd like to leave that option open too.

Should I wait to see if they offer a better graphics card or am I fine with the stock one?

 

the intel is great for general use

i wouldnt use it for gaming...

 

Hey, yeh I know that it wouldn't be 320GB but lower, but from the 287 available, I started with about 200GB free, so I'm wondering what is taking up 87GB on my hard drive?

 

Yeah, 100% free to and use until next year. Download from here.

 

Mine uses about 12g++ (see pic below), don't really know much why its about EISA when in fact if you relate it to the old ISA technology, there is not much use of it... Hmm



Planning to take it out after I am done creating the recovery disc and then when installing Windows 7 64 bit.

 

User 'Nobackup' ran 3dmark06 on his new SR with P8700 and ATI 4570, he got 4143.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=382225&page=37

 

O_O

Wow. That is a vast improvement! I'm impressed.

Now I want to buy a new laptop. xD But this one works well for what I do. I don't play super complex games (except for I've been picking up Neo Steam as of late, and I think the laptop can handle everything on mediumish settings even with shadows, but I turned most everything down to try and reduce heat. I don't think it's working. So I'll probably turn everything back up to where it should be.)

 

Hey, I've never posted here before. I've been running various versions of 7 for awhile, and I'm curious if any of you know, or have found a way to make use of the convenience buttons or the various function keys (volume, brightness). Thanks.

 

ok, thank you for your response. But I've been told that certain games rely more on the CPU than the graphics card.

I am just afraid that the Core 2 Duo 2.0 will be to old soon and not run applications very fast(as well as games).

 

Hi!
I have just read the past pages and noticed that you asked me for a link as a proof for the power of the hd4570. Sorry for this late reply, I even forgot that i have posted in this thread
For sure, I can tell you that the hd4570 is as powerful as the 8600m gt and the hd3650. There are tons of video about the 8600m gt on youtube and you can search for what you need. You can checked Phil's post about the guy who get ~4000 in 3dmarks 06 with his new SR.
Btw, why don't you get a SR with a better CPU?

 

hi to everybody, I'm going to buy a Vaio VGN-SR I still don't know which model I'll choose.
I have a simply question. I see that I can't select any 7200rpm hard drive on the store. So I was planning to do by my self.
I have only a doubt. The drive (hard disk) access is under the note ? or under the keyboard ?
please let meknow
thx

 

The SR490 CTO can be selected with a 320GB 7200rpm drive, at least on the US site. Here's a link to a guide on upgrading the HDD:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=283218

 

the SR hard drive is under the notebook and easy to change out. the sata ribbon cable is delicate so be very careful handling it. I just changed one out recently.

 

great news guy, I leave in Rome (Italy) and here we can't select the hard disk speed. So I'm going to update it with a WD Black Scorpio as soon as the note will arrive.

Don't worry I'm not a newubbie !!!

thaks a lot !!!

 

Toxic,

I'm thinking about replacing the T6400 in my SR41 with a P8600 (I have one spare)...

When you fitted your P9600 was it just a case of removing all the srcrews from the bottom, removing the panel to expose the mobo, unscrewing the heat sinks, switching CPU...??

Was it that simple..?

Cheers.

ponx

 

Are hard drive replacements covered under the warranty?

I have a 2 year warranty with Sony and the hard drive has just failed so need to get it replaced, would I be able to go to a Sony Centre and get it done there?

Thanks

 

yes all the laptop (except battery) is covered by 2 years warranty.

 

Thanks. Saves me £40 from buying a new one!

 

this is the same story in Italy, RAM and Hard Disk upgrade are more expensive than if I buy them in a shop.

 

Sorry if this has been posted before but I couldn't find it. Does upgrading the HDD and/or RAM void the warranty?

 

Hi Grenwar,would you please tell us how you can CTO sr490 at that low price? Do you use any coupon? or you traded in your old one?

 

Employee discount + Extra employee discount of 15% off till the 30th. Perfect timing for the SR to be released for me.

 

Ok, I see. Thanks for the information. BTW, another bundle for you to get...Do you know if sony will extend the time for the bundle rebate? I wanna get my sr after July 1st...

 

Bundle rebate? No idea..

 

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/lpage.do?page=/vaio_smb/index.html&name=VAIO SMB

Here is the information.

 

Oh sweet! In the terms and conditions it mentions, "Eligible models must be ordered from a Reseller of a Sony Authorized Distributor and shipped to end user customer within the promotion period to be eligible for the rebate."

2 questions.

Buying directly from Sonystyle dot com qualifies?
Must I receive the laptop BY the 30th to qualify?

 

I read a old thread here regarding of this topic...you can do a search. What I remember is you can get the rebate even though you got your laptop from sonystyle.

 

grenwar, are your sure your SR is DDR2? everyone on the forum has told me the 4570 comes with DDR3.

 

The sig is exact copy and paste from order confirmation

Edit: Just checked on Sonystyle dot com and it is DDR2

 

DDR3 is the ram for the video card.....ddr2 is the system memory....

 

good to know, thx

 

ok thanks. thought both were ddr3

 

grenwar, I'm curious as to how you came to such a low price for your SR490 CTO. Care to shed some light?

 

Employee discounts =]

 

The SR series is a great line-up of notebooks. The only nuisance is the lack of a hi-color display (1366x768 or 1400x900). The 1200x800 eco-display is the only one that is being offered and it is not that good.

The SR series notebook would have been the best if it came with a high-color display (1366x768 or 1400x900 resolution), Ati HD4670 GPU, aluminum chassis, and a brand-name speaker system (something like JBL).

I don't see why Sony wouldn't make such a notebook. It would leave all other notebooks in the dust, given its size and performance.

The irony is that Sony is losing money now, given the bad economy, and the company continues to fail to address what a lot of people would really want.

 

Notebookjournal reviewed the SR41. They measured the screen with a colorimeter. Contrast, black levels and brightness are as good as the Hicolor Z screen. Don't let the word Eco fool you.

PS. Ati 4670 creates too much heat for a 13" 1.9kg laptop with DVD drive.

 

Hello, I just have one question. Or perhaps a demand, if that doesn't sound too ridiculous.

Does anyone happen to have a Alpine white Sony Vaio SR 490 notebook? If so can they upload some pictures (preferably in high resolution) of the white laptop in all directions?

Or perhaps someone can direct me to a link where good "real" pictures of the notebook, so to show what the notebook really looks like in person and not photoshopped.

PS. I have a night black Sony Vaio SR290 and was dissatisfied with the colour since it was quite a bit different from what the pictures showed on Sonystyle's galleries.

Thanks.

 

Large gallery, medium res: http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/gallery/review-sony-vgn-sr41m-w-932

 

Thanks a ton Phil.

BTW Phil, is there any chance you would know how to customize the keys? Eg. make the white keys into black. And also how difficult it would be to repaint my laptop?

thx again.

 

Exchanging the keys might be possible if you have a new set of course. I'm not sure.

About the paintjob: Maybe someone in the Notebook Cosmetic Modifications section knows.

 

just exchange the whole keyboard tray called Sony support EU they were going to quote the cost but the call was cut off... I wanted a German Keyboard for a SR bought here in Dubai so its possible Just buy the color of keys you want and replace...

 

Ati 4670 creates too much heat???
Does that mean the 490 will suffer as a consequence and does the new videocard reduce the battery life of the new machine?

 

Not at all, since the SR uses the 4570.