Official VAIO SR Series Owners Thread

Sorry I have no idea about those. =/

 

Hey everyone, I just received my sony sr490 CTO in the mail yesterday and had a problem with the windows update utility.

CPUZ and Windows detects my system to have Vista Home Premium SP1 and after I ran windows update a number of times (restarting after every new update installed); the update for Vista SP2 doesn't pop up. I was wondering if anyone has a solution to this problem

Thanks and any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

Just got the SR420 last night. So far so good! Right now I'm combing through some of the old threads to see how to do a clean install of Vista.

I noticed that my battery wobbles around a little bit. Does anyone else's do this? What I mean is, when I lift it up horizontally I can hear the battery shift a little, and then if I reach underneath I can "rock" the battery up and down. It's very minimal, but since it's plastic on plastic you can hear it.

Thanks! Are there any other things I should do right off the bat?

 

The famous Sony battery wiggle. It's quite common for Sony models in general. If you insert some paper or other material you can resolve it.

 

you can just download the stand alone version of sp2 and install it yourself. This is what I usually do when doing clean installs, rather than waiting for windows update.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d5-f907-4406-9012-a5c3199ea2b3&displaylang=en

 

Meh, ordered an SR41. Going to get it on the 12th of August. If lucky.

 

My battery does not wiggle. When i FIRST set it up vista sp 2 popped up through windows update but after I reformatted using system recovery; windows sp 2 does not pop up through windows update. Is there something going on here that it doesn't show up after a system recovery?

 

posted elsewhere

 

I have it too - and every single sony laptop I've ever owned (or touched) had it as well. You could stop by a crafts store and pick up some of those thin felt adhesive pads and put a couple in the battery compartment. That's what I did, and now it's tight and quiet.

 

Just noticed that sonystyle.fi now has a white SR41 in stock. So I could either wait for the silver one, which I'd want (it will come 12.8, earliest, possibly delaying much further), or I could order the white one. I just don't know if I want that. Looks too trendy (read: Apple-y). Anyone have any good pictures of the white model? And does it really have a white keyboard like I saw in some small pic?

 

Lots of large pictures here: http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/gallery/review-test-sony-vgn-sr41m-w-932

 

Thanks, Phil.

But yeah, it doesn't look that bad, I guess. And luckily there's some contrast with the keyboard and the chassis. Still have to give it some more thought, especially when I'm not a real DIY guy who could re-paint the lid if it starts annoying me too much.

 

It looks good in my opinion. I would prefer black but haven't seen black offered in Europe.

 

What is the normal operating temperature of the SR 490? My laptop has been getting very warm on the left palm rest and while under load it is almost unbearable to keep my hand on it :S. Looking at speedfan my P8700 is idling at 41 C and when under load it hits 65C. This doesn't really seem normal to me...
Also does anyone know how I can check the video card temp?

 

Uh, I e-mailed Sony about those colour options they have at sonystyle.fi. They replied:

Next generation of computers? Anyone have any additional info on that?

 

probably ones with the capella platform, 32nm

 

Sony refreshes models quite often. Maybe three times a year, I am not sure.

 

Those temps are fine. The reason for the left palmrest heat is due to the fact that the ATI card is right under it I think. If it feels uncomfortable, get a laptop fan =D. I used Everest to check the temp of the vga card; it is actually quite normal. During idle/low loads, it is around 40-48* C. Under load, it gets up to around 62-69* C, which is normal as well.

 

All right, looks like I'm gonna have to go invest in a good fan . Thanks

 

Mind I suggest one?

Zalman's NC1000 does a great job and the surface area of the fan reaches all the intake vents at the bottom.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Ultra-...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1247853642&sr=8-2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834998052

 

Won't be out til' at least start of next year. If it was sooner, say Sept (as originally planned..) I'd have waited but right now, I'm almost bout' to jump on a current SR cuz' 7+ months is a long time.

 

This might seem like a strange quesiton for this laptop, but how's the gaming performance on the sr490 w/ the 4570? I'm talking about newer games like Cod4/5 and oblivion, etc.

 

I saw the SR and Z in person today at sony style... sorry to say, the screen on the SR is lacking... never thought it would be, but it was one of the main reasons I didn't purchase it. This is my opinion so take it for what its worth.... just hoping to raise awareness to the people who haven't seen it in person to check it out before buying.

Some people might not even notice it or care so again, my experience could be different from others.

 

Keep in mind though that not every SR has the same screen, different brands are used. You may have seen a Samsung.

But what do you mean with "lacking"?

 

Is there any way of telling which screen a certain SR has from some model number etc?

 

For technicians probably yes. For normal buyers I doubt it very much, but it would be interesting if Sony ever specifies the screen manufacturers in their spec sheets.

cheers ...

 

I don't think so. Even when I can run software on it it's hard to tell which panel it is because Everest only gives info like "MS 0040". Which doesn't seem to be a real panel id.

 

It would definitely be awesome if we could figure out the brand of the screen. I am happy with mine. LED screens are now my favorite

 

Yes I'm aware of the different screens, not sure if the few I saw were different or the same. I saw 4 of them. 3 at sony style and 1 at Best buy. None looked better or worse then the other.

Sorry for not explaining... I'm no expert on screens and displays but here's my take. The only way to put it was a little washed when looking at pictures. Text looked pretty crisp and easy to read but viewing a slideshow of colorful pictures brought out my use of the word lacking. The only word I can say is uncrisp (I know not a word). I can't say unclear or blurry, they are too much of an insult but it just didn't seem up to par with other 13" LED screens I have been looking at. And like others have reported, the white is off... didn't seem to show bright white like others. Possibly all the screens I've seen were the bad samsungs... can't say for sure though.

The screen on the Z was great however, even my friend noticed it (not into computers).

 

I understand when you say ´washed out´, that´s what people usually notice when a screen has low contrast. It is interesting because the European review sites seem to have great screens with high contrast. The two SRs I have seen also had great screens.

I owned a Z540 but the SRs I saw had better contrast.

By the way, there have been a couple of threads about the SR screen quality. Some owners being very happy, some owners mentioning washed out colors. Changing the gamma in calibration can help a lot.

 

Yea I mean again, I wasn't there for hours changing settings and so on.... but just my initial impressions. I'm sure I could have atleast made them alittle better by changing some of the levels but didn't really go that indepth. Just surprised that all 4 were very similar.

 

Can this computer play Cod4 smoothly?

 

People with SR4 series and has the ATI 4570, listen up.

These settings are the ones I use to calibrate my screen and it is awesome. Try these settings if you like to improve the colors for your screen.

1> Goto ATI's CCC > Go under Notebook Panel Properties > Click on Avivo Color > Set Saturation to 130 (or to a level that meets your expectation).

2> Now click on Color (It is between 3D and Avivo Video) > Click on Reactivate ATI Color Controls > Set Gamma to 8.0 (+/- 0.5 depending on your expectations).

Voila, my SR screens seems to match my returned Vaio Z screen, if not even quite better. Enjoy!

 

Not sure if my post got deleted or the connection time out killed the post.

Anyways, refer to this user's videos (Crysis, Prototype, etc. bunch of games):
http://www.youtube.com/user/manofest

He uses a Dell 1555 with a 4570, so performance will be similar.
Basically, almost everything is playable with good fps (and since the SR has a lower resolution, some games will perform better cuz he was playing them at full res)

 

Would have liked to try that before returning my SR today. Hah!

 

I am thinking of getting the Sony SR series notebook.

1. Do you think there will be a new model of this coming soon?
2. What are all the SR420 SR490 SR410 I am seeing? Very confused.
3. Where is the cheapest place to get a SR?

Thanks!

 

1. No, not within 3 months I expect. SR4 has just been released.

2. You´ll have to look at the specs. Some models have integrated graphics, some have ATI 4570

3. Google Shopping and Pricegrabber are good for searching deals.

 

Thank you.

So SR4* has just been released?

I notice some dealer give you rebate for "FREE PRODUCTIVITY OR MOBILITY MAIL IN REBATE". This maybe my deciding factor.

I have the Z540.

 

Its been in stock now for about three weeks....

 

I think buying from Sonystyle does not quality for rebate of those productivity or mobility. Correct me.

I see nobody is selling the SR490 except Sonystyle. Resellers are all SR420 or SR410. Why is that?

I remember only the laptop from Sonystyle comes from Japan. The rest are all assemble here like when you buy from resellers.

 

Most resellers do not assemble their own laptops, except for Portable One who assemble only some parts.

Better to just buy from resellers unless you want to pay the Sonystyle premium.

Here are Newegg's models: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...er=BESTMATCH&Description=sony+vaio+sr&x=0&y=0

 

What ever happened to Sonystyle having sweet coupons? I know when I got my SR a while ago they had a 200 dollar off coupon. When I placed it on top of their 200 dollar instant savings it was a pretty good deal! I think the coupons have disappeared

 

Can someone give me a link to a good review of the sr series computers? Thanks in advance.

 

I did a review that's in my signature called My SR290 Review. Its not the SR490 but not much has changed since then. Hope it helps!

 

What is the wrong with the SR screen?

I dont know why I want to get rid of my Z540 and get the SR.

 

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Sony-Vaio-SR41M-S-Notebook.18254.0.html
Here is what I think it is a reliable one (SR4xx).

 

Good find Cronny. Didn't know they had a review for the newer series. That one looks a lot more detailed than mine .

 

Hi, I'm planning to get a sony vaio SR here in the Philippines. I've checked U.S. models and the one here and found hese 2 - sr 490 and sr 46gd. I'm not sure if these models are different or just named differently per region. aslo, the one her, the 46gd, is only available in black. Is it because the other colors are exclusive to the U.S. only? I really want it in Sunset Pink or Titanium Gray. Would anyone have pictures for all colors? I can't find much photos for any color. The images in the sony site may not be the real deal if you know what I mean. And is it wise to have the pink shipped instead through sony style? Thanks in advance

 

Sony is killing me. I'd be all over the SR430 but this model doesn't qualify for the Trade-Up program. I talked with Portable One and models with P8700/ATI combo are not in stock and won't be until mid August.

Anyone know if the T6500 runs that much hotter than the P8700 in real world usage?

 

what do you mean it doesn't qualify for the trade-up programs?

if you haven't already check j&r. they're selling that p8700/ati combo for 1349.99, with the 100 dollar MIR and a 5% bing cashback. and i'm pretty sure it's in stock.