Official Vaio Pro 11 Owners Lounge (SVP11 2013)

Just got my Pro11 and I am having exact same problem. This idle fan noise is driving me crazy. It's not loud and not noticeable in most places but when I use in quiet places, I hear this constant mechanical noise. ddddddddddddd~~
I was about to call Sony CS but I guess it's not defective... which makes me even more sad.

Mine also misses some taps. It seems like it misses when I tap on the boundaries. Hope future Synaptics driver can fix this.


Love the design, weight, and battery but I miss my Zenbook UX21A due to these problems...

 

While I love the overall form-factor and feel of the device, the experience is bumpy in Windows 8. WiFi issues blue-screen the device, it doesn't go to sleep always, rebooting and turning it off take forever and the touchpad is flaky at times. I've installed Linux on it and the experience is much better ironically... The touchpad feels better, it sleeps properly and WiFi doesn't die. It's also quieter as Windows 8 seems to be more taxing on the CPU.

 

I personally can't report any bluescreen or wifi issues.
Shutdown takes 15 seconds, and booting from off to usable desktop 8 seconds, which is very impressive!

 

+1 all things considered, I believe that its the best windows ultra portable out there! IMHO

 

any more comments about the keyboard? how good would it be for long periods of typing

 

Well, I find the keyboard nice to type on - the buttons are big enough, then again I have rather small fingers. I noticed the flexing surface of the Vaio build as described by others, however, I can't say that it has any impact on the writing quality.

Comparing the Vaio keyboard to the Samsung Series 9 and the Aspire S7 191 I owned for testing purpose, Id say:

Samsung Series 9 has a rock solid keyboard, maybe the best of the bunch - then comes the Vaio Pro 11 - then the Aspire S7 191.

Compared to the Samsung Series 9, the Vaio Pro 11 keyboard can feel a bit woolly, but that doesnt mean that its bad. Its just different. Unlike the S7 191, the Vaio has all the necessary buttons and the keys feels more solid - with the S7 191 I had the feeling that some keys would stop working eventually, but the Vaio keys seem as they can endure countless typing sessions.

 

Has anyone encountered performance issues with the Vaio Pro 11? Unlike the i5 core Ultrabooks I had so far, the Vaio struggles to play back HD streams and tends to stutter...

 

still having a tough time deciding on this or the 13..... its mostly going to be used for taking notes in class

 

I haven't seen the 13, but I have no problem not taking on the 11. It's an awesome system overall. Extremely light and powerful.

 

If you are taking notes in class, do the Pro emit any disturbing noises from the fan and/or the key pressing (clicking noises)?

I would be very interested in knowing your hands-on experience about these matters.

 

Just solved my problem. Go to Synaptics touchpad properties and turn off the SmartSense function.
Not sure whether I accidently turned it on or it was on when it came out but now the touchpad works just fine.

 

I've had the fan spin up a few times, mostly during software updates. With average use I hardly hear the fan. As for key noise, I'd say it's a little above average due to the size of the keys on the 11". The keys themselves don't really click but if you're typing fast it can be a bit noisy. Just comparing what I've got, I'd say it's in between my MacBook Pro (quietest) and my Microsoft Natural Keyboard (loudest). With the MacBook Pro, the keys are more cushioned.

SmartSense is enabled by default, set in the middle between Off and Max.

 

For those of you who are interested, I received my SVP 11 non-touch (matte) yesterday, posted some of my initial impressions over in the Pro 13 thread.

So far: excellent laptop.

 

I've had my Pro 11 for about a week now, and I'm very pleased with it. I've had two different 11" Macbook Airs over the last 3 years, and I'm moving back to Windows now, and the Sony has very much impressed me.

I had originally bought a Pro 13 at Best Buy, but I found it a bit too large, so I returned it and ordered a Pro 11 directly from Sony (I couldn't find one in a retail store, even the local Sony Store). The 11 is really impressive, considering it has the same innards as the 13, the same display resolution and color gamut, yet weighs even less. I can put it in a small backpack that I use on my road bike and not even feel it. Here are a few key observations:

-The display is absolutely amazing. I do photo processing and colour management; I measured the display with an i1Display Pro colorimeter as soon as I got the laptop. Even without calibrating, the white point is pretty much sopt on 6500K, and whites are very neutral. Theis is the best display I've seen out of the box. Once calibrated, it's as accurate as the Retina Macbook Pro. The display is orders of magnitude better than the 11" Air ot the surface Pro. It's about the same as the high-end Asus ultraportables once calibrated(I have data for a Taichi I measures in the spring) but much better out of the box.

-I had to turn off Intel display power saving as well as adaptive brightness, or else the display would flicker annoyingly.

-Fan noise is present, but not distracting. It kicks in more than on a MacBook Air, but the case stays cooler because it's not metal.

-Battery life is about 5-6 hours. I also bought the sheet battery, which bumps it up to 13-14 hours. (BTW, once you add the sheet battery, the Pro11 weighs the same as the 11" Air). One cool part of the sheet battery is that the system will completely drain the sheet battery before the internal one, since once the sheet battery is dead, you can remove it, put it in the computer bag and keep on going without the extra weight of the external battery. the sheet battery also provides a better angle for typing.

-The keyboard is nice, but the keys are smaller than on the Pro13 and 11" Air. The left shift key is quite small, as are the arrow keys. I wouldn't want to be typing on this computer all day; someone with smaller hands would be OK. My work is more mouse-based, so I'm fine with the keyboard. Backlighting is very well done.

-I use a Bluetooth mouse a lot, and I haven't had any connectivity issues (I know that there were some problems reported about the Pros and BT). Reported WiFi signal strength was a bit odd, but the latest update fixed that.

The Pro11 is on very, very nice little machine. It's worth it for the display alone. I added Start8 by Stardock to make Win8 more usable, and I'm quite happy with it. Hardware-wise, I think the Pro is definitely more cutting-edge than the Air.

 

For those looking for an adapter for the SVP11 I tried the Sony VGP-AC10V2 it works well, Its available at amazon for $25 shipped! its about 60% the size of the one that came with it so it makes for a nice travel adapter

More on that at: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony-owners-lounge-forum/720737-official-vaio-pro-13-owners-lounge-svp13-2013-a-77.html#post9289399

 

Hello everyone .
can you guys share your windows experience index score from your computer properties

 

Finally notebookcheck.com did their investigation (in German): Test Sony Vaio Pro 11 SVP121M2EB.G4

 

One can not always be lucky: one week after I have bought the PRO11 with 128GB, an upgrade to 256GB was offered at €50+.
Does anyone of you already have the VGPE-MCP11 sleeve. It has been announced on the Sony site, but without price.

 

Base: 5.8
Proc: 6.9
RAM: 5.9
Graphics: 5.8
Gaming Graphics: 6.4
Primary HD: 8.1

I have the i7-4500U 1.8Ghz/2.4Ghz, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD.

I have it, ordered directly from Sony. It's okay. Only fits the laptop itself. It's made of cardboard wrapped in a textured plastic with a felt interior and elastic expandable siding.

 

Hi Whozurdaddy, sometimes Sony makes things that have a nice look but after all prove to be less sturdy than one would expect. Your description of the sleeve (cardboard wrapped in a textured plastic) doesn't improve my expectations. Do you know if it can hold also the Pro11 including the extra battery?

 

Maybe I'm not doing it justice... The plastic covering and felt is sewn on but it's definitely cardboard. Since the sides are elastic it does expand to accommodate the sheet battery.

 

Hi all..
A new Bios ha been posted for the SVP11 on the US support site "R0280V7"

Change log:

"This utility installs an updated version of the BIOS Update software to resolve the following issues:

The LCD login screen and power LED light remain "On" when the "Settings for time period when you often use your VAIO®" have been enabled while the AC adapter is plugged in
The computer is unable to return to sleep cycle mode when the "Settings for time period when you often use your VAIO" have been enabled when using battery power
The computer may not automatically return to sleep mode in the "Setting for the time period when you don't often use your VAIO" if the "During sleep mode settings have been set" option is not selected
The computer may randomly be unable to perform a recovery after pressing the "Assist" button due to the error "Your VAIO failed to start Windows®"

 

I am looking at getting the Sony Vaio Pro 11, as I like its weight, matt screen and overall specs. However, during my research I came across two issues - the wifi problems, and the fan noise. While some people say the wifi issues have been resolved with driver updates some say they are still having issues - what is the latest on this? And with regards to the fans, are they really that bad? (it is impossible to tell in the Sony shop).

My other question is with regards to the RAM, I have been told I can get Sony to upgrade it to 16GB, but if I do it myself then it will void the warranty. Has anyone done it themselves and is it fairly easy to do, and are there any restrictions with regards to the type of RAM? Is it two slots or 4?

Incidentally the one I am looking to buy is the SVP11217PG (i7 with 256GB SSD)

Thanks for all your help.

 

For those looking for a case, this one works quite well.
It's a little tight when you close the lid, but it seems to protect well and quite light.

Made for Macbook Air

Black PU Leather Notebook Laptop Sleeve Skin Case Cover FOR Macbook AIR 11 Inch | eBay

 

Do you know if the Pro 11 WITH extra battery will fit?

 

Well if it's already a little tight with just the Pro 11 on it's own without battery...

 

Does anyone regret their purchase?

I have a hardware issue riddled Lenovo U160 that I am looking to replace. The SVP11 looks like a worthy purchase for my needs (lightweight premium laptop with good battery life). From what I have seen in this forum and others, any issues so far have mainly been software and fixed with updates.

I am in the US - there is currently a $100 Sony rebate and AMEX are giving a $25 credit for Best Buy purchases. $1218.98 with tax, coming to $1093.98 after the rebate and credit.

 

A few days ago my power light was blinking orange when the PRO11 was put into standby mode. Nice to see, moreover as I was used to this with my Vaio Z12-notebook. But I don't see it anymore. Does anyone of you know about this topic? Is blinking orange normal or don't you see a blinking power light when in standby mode? Is it maybe a setting in one or another app?

 

Hi, my only concern is the no Ethernet.

can someone explain to me what this means:

AC powered Ethernet to Wi-Fi Router

does this mean there is an ethernet plug on the AC adapter or???

is the only way to get ethernet with a usb dongle? and if so does anyone have any experience with those?

 

My understanding is that you can buy a Ethernet plug that goes on the AC Adapter. You plug an Ethernet cable in there and it creates a wifi from that to your laptop.

This part did not come with my laptop for some reason, so double check if it does because I read it was meant to.

 

English translation is now live: Review Sony Vaio Pro 11 - notebookcheck.net

 

So it seems the 11" has the same annoying fan issue as the 13". Interesting that Acer had the same problems with their first version of the S7 and now have corrected it. You would think Sony would have learned from them. You have to wonder, don't these idiots actually test these things before going to market with them or do they think the consumer will just ignore it?

 

I'm wondering if things are worse on the Pro 11. It comes with the same CPU configurations, but seems to have just one heat pipe instead of two like in the Pro 13.

 

bah.. i really want the Vaio pro 11

i went to check it out in the store again today and ran prime 95 and opened 5 tabs of HD youtube videos. It does get pretty warm.

it makes me miss the vaio z even more. its like getting a slower laptop for it to be a tiny bit thinner.

i almost feel like buying a used 2010 Z1 on ebay instead of getting a pro 11. Its basically better in every way except for weight and battery life.

3 years later... id expect a laptop that would be better in every category.

just so disappointing.

i dont know what to do.

especially now after using a Thinkpad W530 ( i only want a pro 11 for work since its so light to bring around) i dont know if i can go to such a slow CPU. I am used to 12 gigs of ram and a quad core i7 with an ssd... the Vaio Pro 11 feels like a netbook in comparison.

I originally only got the W530 because my Z1 broke and i got a good deal on Craigslist for ($925 with 3 year warranty) but i sure have grown to love my W530 much more then i thought i would.

should i just buy some cheapo acer ultrabook or something? bah...

 

Back on Memorial Day weekend I got the Acer S7 191 for $799 at Costco. It comes complete with a nice leather cover and bluetooth mouse and is wonderful except for its horrific 2.5 hour battery life.

I'm still within my return period, and with the Vaio Pro 11 going for $1,150 plus a $100 rebate, there is only $250 separating me from a Haswell with perhaps triple the battery life and better video. I figured the Sony was worth a serious look, and so I spent almost an hour playing with it at Microcenter. I really wanted to fall in love and take it home - and consider myself lucky that Haswell came out on time for me.

Unfortunately I must report that IMHO the Sony does not measure up to the Acer. Here are the main issues I noticed:

1: The lid. The Sony lid has a lot of free play, while the Acer gets nice and stiff as you open it and it holds its place when pressing and swiping. Big difference.

2: The keyboard. I don't think the keyboard flex is a problem technically, and the keys actually feel a tiny bit more springy and have a drop more travel than the Acer, but - the flex make the unit look and feel cheep. And folks, it's not just the keyboard that flexes; pick up the base and try bending it (gently) on the left or right side and see what happens. The whole bottom flexes! Doesn't inspire much confidence. The Acer keyboard is solid, as is the whole base; built like a brick.

2a: The backlight. Vaio Pro's backlight consists of small led "dots" under each key. Plenty of light, but it looks rough and cheesy. Acer's backlight is a smooth and contiguous green. Beautiful.

3. The trackpad. Very soft and mushy right and left click buttons on the Vaio as opposed to the Acer, which is firm and clicky.

So in sum, while I'm really unhappy with the Acer S7 191's battery life, and while I don't understand why Acer choose not to produce an 11.6 inch Haswell model, I'm afraid I have no choice but to reluctantly hold on the my quality Acer unit

 

Funny, I've gone for the S7 11" as well.
I returned my Pro 11, because two days after I ordered it, Sony dropped the price on their website by £40 pounds and they wouldn't refund me the money, even though I wouldn't receive the unit for another 2 weeks yet. So out of anger because of their pettiness and because the rattling fan noise really bothered me, I returned it.
I couldn't believe that after a life of Sony products I'd ever go for an acer, but the s7 is a really nice machine - save for the battery life. Which is something, that Haswell would have fixed. I guess nobody bought these machines, that's why they discontinued the line, but they were really difficult to find, and until I looked into it I hadn't even heard about these laptops, so I blame Acer'sw marketing department.

 

Also to add, during the few days I had the Pro 11 I took it on a train ride and placed it on the pull down tray from the seat in front of me.
The screen was wobbling so much that i had to stabilise it all the time in order to read things comfortably. Writing, with both hands occupied, would have been very annoying.
S7's screen is rock solid in place. Given that the S7 is just 120g heavier I know which I prefer.

 

how about the noise when it's running a virtual machine ?

Regards

 

How about the noise when it's running a virtual machine ? is 4 go of ram enough ?

Regards

 

Thought I should sign up just to share my experience, so this is my first post.

After much deliberation, I ended up buying the Pro 11. I must have spent 2 weeks deciding and this thread was my main source of information as not enough official reviews had been published (last I read was a German translated review).

Main concern from this thread & reviews was the fan noise and the wifi drop outs. Main reason to buy was the battery life and the fact I needed something similar in size to a netbook but with a bigger screen.

Decision to buy was made on the basis that people with a bad experience are louder on the internet, and for every 1 poor laptop experience there must be 50 good ones who have not bothered to share feedback. Plus I could always return the laptop for a refund!

Verdict:

I am very pleased with the purchase. Only had 1 instance of wifi dropping out, but a driver update has fixed it and not a single incident since.

The fan very rarely comes on. When it does, it is a light hum, I don't actually notice it unless absolute pin drop silence, and even then my typing is louder. Maybe they have fixed this issue on later models because I was expecting MAJOR noise going by the reviews?

I am using a i5 processer and 256GB SSD. Went for i5 as I was concerned the i7 would make the laptop hot and the fan issue might affect it more, plus I thought it would affect the battery life more than i5. Not to mention it is overkill for such a tiny laptop for simple tasks.

I have upgraded from a 10" netbook, Samsung N150 Plus, which performed very well with an SSD - up to 40 chrome tabs open at any time, plus word, excel. and even photoshop. It never failed me, plus battery life was excellent 5-7hours.

The Vaio Pro can do a lot more, and the biggest selling point for me is the mammoth battery life (plus larger screen is a bonus). I have got the extra battery sheet and with it I am achieving 19 hours! That is with wifi on and screen brightness on the lowest setting at night and second lowest setting during daytime.

I have also got the Ethernet adaptor which is very cool - converts any cat5 input into an instant wifi access point. Handy if you travel.

Just discovered a new chrome extension called Tabs Outliner, this has made a massive difference to both my netbook and vaio experience, so if anyone has issues with running loads of chrome tabs on their laptops, try it! Your 4GB of ram will thank you.

I have a Acer S7 13.3" and the build quality is good but battery life is horrendous which totally defeats the point of owning an ultraportable laptop. The backlight on the Sony is brighter and better IMHO. The Acer is more sombre.

However, the smaller S7 11.6" is perfect in most respects as it is almost half the price of the Sony but with only a third of the battery life. If you don't need the battery life, its pointless buying the Sony as its much the same and Sony is always over-priced (a simple sleeve/cover for this laptop is £50! rip-off). Get the Acer if battery means nothing!

If you want a battery that can last you a long time then nothing beats the Sony. The extra battery sheet is very slim and actually enhances the experience of resting the laptop on your lap or table due to the angle it adds.

Only downside is, unlike my cheaper netbook which I could throw about and which had fallen on the floor a number of times, I'm constantly worried about the Sony as it is much more expensive and I doubt it can withstand much abuse.

 

And here I thought opening my dozen tabs once in awhile was too much!

 

Now you have me doubting myself again I really do think the Acer is a much more refined, higher quality build, but I also feel that being able to use the ultrabook for multiple hours unplugged is important. I really don't want to regret settling for less than a Haswell if the damn things are here already. Any other options out there in the Acer / Sony class?

 

Panasonic CF-AX3

Not exactely the same class since twice as expensive, but very well built, Haswell, 8GB RAM and unique features like 360° flip-over matte touch screen, WWAN and dual battery.

 

You could always go for a Thinkpad X220 or 230

you can usually pick up the 1 model behind for very very cheap and they are amazing laptops.

 

Well I went to look at the Vaio Pro 11 again, this time at a brand new one right out of the box, and came away much more favorably impressed. The more closely I looked the more there was to like compared to my Acer S7 191. Either the first display model that I saw was really beaten up, or the build quality has since improved. I hope there isn't too much sample-to-sample variation going on here...

So let me reconsider my earlier points:

1: The lid. The Sony is definitely looser than the Acer, which gets noticeably stiff about half-way up. the touch experience feels much better with a tighter screen, but the new Sony that I tried is not that bad at all.

2: The keyboard. The better feedback on the Sony makes for an easier and much more satisfying typing experience than on the Acer, as does the slight upward angle. Also, the base of the new Sony that I tested does not flex or pop, unlike the earlier Sony a saw.

2a: The keyboard backlight on the Sony is very configurable, (can be turned off entirely when plugged in, and time on can be set) as are many other parameters on the Sony. No such control on the Acer. Acer's light is more refined, but doesn't come on with first key press. Sony light comes on instantly.

3: Trackpad on the new Sony is every bit equal to the Acer in terms of it's clickiness. Again, I hope this is not the result of too much sample variation in the Sony.

4: Fan noise. I did not hear any unusual fan sounds on the Sony. Yes, the fan comes on when doing something demanding, and more frequently than on the Acer, but it's a steady and normal-sounding fan noise. Best of all, you can configure the fan to "silent" mode, which throttles down the CPU but makes the fan virtually inaudible (unless you hold the unit right up to your ear!).

5. Picture quality. Whiter, brighter, sharper, crisper colors on the Sony than on the Acer, even when turning off all color enhancement, or going to "normal" mode. Both are good, but the Sony wins. I did a direct comparison.

6. Price differential for the Sony vs. the Acer is less than I thought; only about $160 right now when you factor in the state tax and Costco handling charge. Acer comes with a nice case and a bluetooth mouse included, but still...

I suspect my days with the Acer are numbered...

 

Just to clarify, the price of the Acer S7 is expensive brand new and if your going to pay over £1000 then you are better of going the full mile and getting the Sony Vaio Pro 11.

When I mentioned the big price difference in my earlier posts, this was alluding to the refurbished units which are on sale. I know Curry's is retailing a refurb unit for £799, with some ebay deals I recently saw for £500.

 

And I'm coming around to that way of thinking as well. I mean, you can now found the Asus VivoBook X202E-DB21T 11.6 inch touchscreen (i3 w/500 gig hard drive) for $400 (I kid you not!) - so yeah, if I'm going toward the $1,000 range, it already behooves me not to scrimp...

 

Surely the attraction of the PRO 11 is the Full HD screen. If you don't care about that then there's plenty of alternatives. In fact, Macbook Air is probably unbeatable.

 

Have sent my PRO 11 back to Sony: too slow WiFi connection, whether working with the Internet or in data-exchange with other devices (though I had installed the update for the Intel Wireless LAN driver), some apps start very slowly and even shut down slowly. After a total backup of the contents of the SSD I have tried a factory reset (in order to restore the machine into the original setting before sending it back). I would say: don't try that at home. It has cost me at least 4 hours to find out. By chance I found a way to fulfill that operation. Do not ask how because I do not remember the steps I have made in the Vaio Care menu after Assist-boot, did not make a script of it.
I will wait till the growing pains are gone.

 

Have sent my PRO 11 back to Sony: too slow WiFi connection, whether working with the Internet or in data-exchange with other devices (though I had installed the update for the Intel Wireless LAN driver), some apps start very slowly and even shut down slowly. After a total backup of the contents of the SSD I have tried a factory reset (in order to restore the machine into the original setting before sending it back). I would say: don't try that at home. It has cost me at least 4 hours to find out. By chance I found a way to fulfill that operation. Do not ask how because I do not remember the steps I have made in the Vaio Care menu after Assist-boot, did not make a script of it.
Maybe later I will buy this Vaio PRO again, but for now I will wait until the growing pains are gone.