Official Vaio Y 13.3 Series Owners Lounge

I don't pay much attention to those, as they are always higher than the real prices. The difference depending on the model is between 100 and 400 euros!

Germany. You haven't made your research good enough In some cases this is true, but more often the prices out of the US are cheaper nowadays...

Electronics go faulty often enough even without accidents - 1 Year warranty on a brand new laptop is a mockery, that's what it is. I could have expected it from the US, but I was shocked UK allows this too, being a civilized EU country...

Possible. But it is not only Sony I got the chance to compare the prices of a certain Samsung model - same thing, just smaller difference.

You mean those ugly silicon/plastic covers that were popular 10 years ago?? Seriously?

Anyway - all that stuff is made in Asia (don't forget that US imports everything more complicated than a refrigerator...). It is not that it can be found in the US only, but that such is only available for the US layout... you can order it from every continent. And if you really want a US layout - you can always purchase a US keyboard for your laptop. But buying a laptop from the US is nowadays definitely not worthy (in at least 80% of the cases).

 

Try living in Australia. VAIO Z starts at $3299 here and the business oriented S model (Win7 Pro, i5) is $2099. Needless to say, I buy electronics in the US whenever possible. I got my F for around $1400 there and the closest equivalent model here is $2599.

Not everything is cheap in the US though. The US seems to get a big volume discount on stuff made in China (e.g. VAIOs) and Southeast Asia, but European made goods tend to be expensive in the US and also goods made in Japan and Korea.

 

Even European goods are often cheaper in the States -- Bodum coffee equipments, Sennheiser headphones, etc.

As for comparison shopping -- yes, you can get laptops at below RRP by shopping around online, but going that way one has to settle for whatever common configuration the manufacturer sees fit!

Granted, that's not as bad for Vaio laptops; the wifi, memory slots, etc. tend to be reasonably easy to access.

 

Have you seen Sony's keyboard skins, or the Apple stuff from iSkin.com? Don't compare them with the cheap stuff on eBay.

I detect a certain amount of bias here. The US still makes cars and planes, after all. Even talking about consumer electronics, Intel still has CPU fabs in the States.

As for the 80% figure, well, it depends. If you look at high-end brands (e.g. Apple, Sony's Z) I suspect the US would have lower prices in general. The European price would have to be 20% lower to compensate for the VAT, unless you're VAT-exempted!

 

Don't want to lead this into a direction not corresponding to this thread any further so I'll stop here just by summing up that comparing the price and warranty conditions in US and EU is definitely worth the time nowadays, as US is very often not worth buying from. Taking the 1 Year warranty into account definitely keeps me away from buying anything from there, even if it is slightly cheaper, which no longer is the case anyway.

About bias - no, no bias... just raw numbers

Going back to the Y - YA and YB are already in the stores in Europe, whereas not even available on Sony's website in the US

 

Has anyone upgraded the HDD to a SSD on their own? I would be interested in a guide in moving all the stuff from the secret partition to an external drive and then back to a new drive on the Y so that Windows runs. Any ideas, guides pointers?

 

I suppose this might help a bit along the way - basically a backup onto DVD and put it on the new SSD (details in link):

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...13-3-series-owners-lounge-56.html#post6462349

I think the preceding posts before the one I linked to is a good read, too (all on page 56).

 

A word of caution on Windows system image: MS designed it for backing up and restoring onto the same drive or a replacement drive and it doesn't allow you to restore the image onto a partition smaller than it was created from. Your C: partition probably consumes the majority of your 320GB or 500GB drive, and the SSD is probably smaller than that. So it won't work unless you're able to shrink your current C: partition to be smaller than the size of the SSD before making the image. Depending on how full it is and how much it needs to be shrunk, this may or may not be feasible.

If you can't shrink your C: partition enough to fit on the SSD, you can use a different image/restore tool that doesn't have the same limitation. I've found Acronis True Image to be a good tool, but it's not free.

You can also manually backup and restore the files you want to save. If you just got your Y and haven't put much stuff on it yet, this might not be too bad.

Getting the hidden recovery partition onto the SSD is easy. If you haven't done so already, burn the system recovery disks using VAIO Care. After you install the SSD, do a system restore using these disks. Your SSD will then have the same factory image that you started with when the computer was new.

 

Hey, did anyone manage to get linux up and running? Hicarus, got your computer yet and fedora up running?
The intel chip seems to give a lot of people problem. I tried to install fedora and archlinux but both of them gave me an nonfunctional installation menu (what ever i pressed, i just came back to the same menu)
With ubuntu i got now two different versions installed, one with the latest kernel. Non of them work. I tried to update the drivers without success.
Would be nice to hear from someone that got linux running on a sony y..

 

Too bad, Viktator... I guess the link I posted didn't work out? I think you need to hang out on the Ubuntu forums and ask for help there. If the Intel drivers are the problem, I think it'll be solved, I mean the HM55 chipset (or the Intel gfx) isn't just for the Sony laptops.

 

I got it up running, it took some time though. I did everything mentioned on that page. Then fiddeling around. Had to install xfce, and from there i got gnome running.
Even wifi is working. Hurrey..

now i just want to be able to turn down the brightness level before i burn my eyes

google tells me about a fix, but it doesnt work for me
su -c : setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=50

 

Great to hear things are going in the right direction! I suppose you got the correct resolution now, too. When I looked at the page, it seemed quite straightforward, but Linux being Linux, the reality may be different.

Isn't there any software in Gnome (like GPM) to turn down the brightness? I found this variation: sudo setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B as a hotfix. It seems that you need to pass a hexadecimal value also, as your version above, i.e sudo setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=50.

 

Not yet, I'll let you know this weekend (I had it shipped to a friend in the States, and I'm only going there on Saturday). Can you boot the Ubuntu alternate ISO (text-only), or boot the Fedora live image in low-resolution mode?

I'm not sure whether the Pentium U in the Y is just a simplified version of the Core ULV -- if it is, since the ULV came out in May 2010 one would think Ubuntu 10.10 and Fedora 14 should support it.

 

Yup, most of the time the Fn+F keybindings work out of the box, but I've had odd experiences in the past.

I've not tried this myself (see my other post) -- but try running xbacklight ?

 

i have sony vaio VPC Y11S1ES with intel gpu
I run the last kubuntu live and everything works out of the box expect the brightness.
I fix the brightness with this command as root user
setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B
if you run this, this command returns a hexadecimal value of screen brightness
example can return FF , if the brightness is 100%
in order to set the brightness of the screen you give as root this command
setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=FF
where in position of FF you give a hexadecimal value between 00 and FF. Be carefull don't give 00 because the screen is completeley black.Give for example setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=64

Now i have install arch linux and the only thing that i don't test is the microphone and SD reader.
@Viktator i don't know what the -c parameter means in the command you write.I have a konsole as root user and just type the command ,that i write before without su -c

You can also use some scripts(you can find them in internet ready) in order to make fn keys work(each time tou press the fn key for brightness the script run these commands)

Sorry for my english, i don't speak well

 

Same for me with Ubuntu.

Glad you got Arch working. I really wanted to try Arch because I'm originally a Slackware guy and I've never cared for huge distros with multiple config layers. But Ubuntu just worked and Arch didn't. I'm beginning to appreciate that more as I get older and have less time to fitz around troubleshooting.

Seems fine to me.

 

So, I tried installing Arch, Debian, and Ubuntu and the only way I get passed the black screen is by setting nomodeset in grub.. Otherwise I get a black screen. Any ideas?

 

Using nomodeset should get you through the installation and give you 1024x768 VESA graphics. Then, depending on how up to date your distro is, you'll probably need to upgrade the Kernel and video drivers before you can remove the nomodeset option. The link OldJim provided for Ubuntu provides the basic steps you'll need to take with most distros.

 

I really want to get Arch going and I tried to use the KMS guide on their site but that didnt work. I've tried updating the kernel but no luck there either, if someone has installed arch successfully could tell me what I am missing, thanks.

 

If i run
setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B
I get ff as return. But if i try to set a value, for example
setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=A0
I get 00..

strange..

 

Do you get any difference in brightness on-screen? If not, no go with setting brightness from the keyboard, either?

 

With that command nothing happens at all. The fn-buttons do send the right messages to the system, because the brightness bar glows up when I press them. But the screen doesnt dim. And i cant dim it in any other way. However! If i leave the computer and wait for it to lock the screen, it starts to dim. So that function does know how to dim my screen.
hmm

And for ppl with problems installing ubuntu on the y. I have now done it twice (i messed up things when playing to much with my partitions). What i have to do except that guide is to also install ubuntu-desktop (apt-get install ubuntu-desktop). And you also want to install the python-software-preferencies to be able to add repositories with add-apt repository which you need to do to be able to download the drivers.

 

I've been looking around a bit and I see several people with other laptops than Sony that has the same sort of problems with brightness adjustments. For some reason it seems that the GPM isn't sending the slider or fn button values to the pci (i.e Intel or other gfx) hardware.

Strange behaviour with the dimming of the screen after a while.

What about trying via GRUB and acpi? I don't know how to do that, but could be an option, maybe?

 

Like many drivers in the 13.3 y2190x I need to find another non-sony driver. Can someone help me find a non-bundled camera driver? I was on skype the other day and it completely uninstalled itself and gives me error code 43/unknown usb device. Contacted sony numerous times and they tell me to format to fix it.

 

The webcam uses the standard Microsoft USB video device driver bundled with Windows 7, usbvideo.sys. It also uses the kernel streaming filter driver ksthunk.sys. Both of these are in \\Windows\system32\drivers.

You can try uninstalling it in Device Manager, rebooting, and see if auto-detects. If it doesn't, then manually re-install through Device Manager.

 

hello, im experimenting a problem with the enter key. its feel unconfortable or a litte out of site when i press the key. Any suggestion?

 

There might be some debris stuck under the key. Or it may have become partially detached. You could try removing it and then re-attaching it.

 

and how can i remove it?

 

Because it's oversize, I don't know if the Enter key is just a regular key or one with a wire clip. First use your fingernail to pry up the top of the key until it unsnaps. Then look underneath. You might be able to see the problem immediately without removing further. If not, take note of whether there is a wire clip. If no clip, then just gently pull up and forward and the key should pop off. If there is a clip, see this post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony-owners-lounge-forum/448894-official-sony-vaio-f-series-owners-lounge-314.html#post5852864

In addition to checking for debris, check for damage to the clips on the key and retainer.

Also see here:

Laptop Repair Help A key fell off the laptop keyboard. Fixing the problem.

The advice is not Sony specific, but the VAIO keyboards are not significantly different in operation.

 

Hi folks

I bought this nice laptop, and i was wondering if i can remove without any risk all those sony apps installed by default on the pc, i dont need them and they fill the hard drive for nothing.

Maybe there is a list of all the useless sony apps i could uninstall ?


And 2nd question, I often use Acronis to make ghosts of my pc from time to time, in the past with another laptop i was surprised that my windows xp version has to be reactivated again on another pc to be able to load the ghost on it... So with the vaio Y i was wondering if the windows 7 was a OEM version which could be ghosted and recovered on another pc without any pbl of entering licence key (i know this question is hardly answerable if you havent face this one time)

thank you much for your help

louisette

 

You can uninstall a lot of the Sony stuff. Make sure you keep the following, they are essential:

VAIO Event Service
Setting Utility Series
VAIO Power Management
VAIO Control Center
VAIO Care

In addition to the above, I also keep:

VAIO Help and Support (manual, etc.)
VAIO Update (since the Y is no longer current, this may be pointless)
SmartWi Connection Utility (a software switch for turning Wifi and Bluetooth radios on/off)

I personally don't use any of the Sony media related stuff, but YMMV.

I haven't actually tried installing a disk image on a different computer, but I'm pretty sure you will have to enter the license key from the Y and re-activate. And then if you actually use both, MS will detect it when they check for updates.

 

thank you much dmk2 your kind, i'm going to follow your instructions

 

Or you can follow this too ..

Sony eSupport - Electronics - Support Information

I install a SSD on my Vaio YB 11.6". See minor difference. Back to my hard drive.

You see difference in your 13.3" ?

 

I just bought a VAIO VPC-Y21AFX/B yesterday.

Nice Notebook, previously i used HP520. But I Love SONY now. like no other.

i notice on my VPC-Y21AFX/B that battery fitting is loss. when i shake notebook, there is a sound. How can i FIX it?

and how can i Re-partion my HDD [320GB/4]

 

Anyone else getting choppy 1080p fullscreen playback? On the laptop or on an external monitor?

I thought this thing was powerful enough to handle 1080p and then some?

ATi driver = 8.712.0.0 dated 3/2/2010
i5 driver = 6.1.7600.16385 dated 6/21/2006

Also, the photoshop element that came with the laptop is quite choppy too. Advice?

Will uninstalling all that Sony stuff help? (I'm keeping the Element for photography purposes though).

Thanks!

 

Hi all ,

I understand the Y series is discontinued, are there any rumors of a replacement? No more Y series left in the U.K

P.s his hard is it to change the keyboard on the Y?

 

1 more question, I had a Vaio F13 but returned it because of the fan noise, is this the same issue with the y series?

Thanks

 

Some answers:

There are a couple of posts in this thread showing how to eliminate the battery rattle. I know I posted a pic with tape on the battery, and Gracy123 used some kind of stick-on dots.

I have absolutely no problem with choppy 1080p video, although I did have some issues keeping sync with my TV over HDMI. Mine is the old model with SU7300 CPU and integrated graphics. I only see around 25% CPU usage playing 1080p videos in MP4/H.264 format through WMP. When playing 1080p Flash video over the web, it's more like 40%.

The 13.3" Y has been discontinued for a while now. It was replaced by the 11.6". I haven't taken my keyboard off, but I've disassembled far enough to see that it should be an easy job.

The fan noise depends on which model you get. The basic i3 model with integrated graphics stays cool and the fan mostly runs at low speed, turning off occasionally. Some people don't care for that. If you get the i5 model with ATI graphics, expect the fan to run continuously, mostly at low speed but occasionally spinning up. Like most VAIOs, the fan sound is more of a whirr than a whoosh. Some people don't like that. I also have an F and it's much worse than the Y. The fan on the F constantly changes speed and whines. The Y fan doesn't do that.

 

Thank you dmk, appreciate you comments.

 

I know, that's what I was expecting too... What do you think could be the problem?

 

Sounds like you're just not getting hardware acceleration. My first guess is graphics driver issue, then a video codec issue or maybe a Flash issue if it only happens with Flash video. Might also be a power management settings issue if it only happens on battery. Are you using the same driver the laptop shipped with, or the latest one downloaded from Sony eSupport, or one from another source? Does it only happen with certain video formats or players?

 

Ordered mine, cannot wait! I hope the keyboard is easy to change.

I recently sold my Asus ul30 because of the s#%t screen

 

Sorry to say this, but the screen on the Y isn't much better.
Hope you enjoy it anyway.

 

Hi dmk, thanks for the reply, I hope there is a slight improvement in the screen quality, struggled with ul30 gamma levels and lack of colour saturation .

From reading reviews of the Y, the screen is not perfect but best in class ( Asus, Samsung, Acer) ?

 

The main problem with the screen on the Y is light bleed and black level. Black isn't really black, it's dark grey and changes with vertical viewing angle. Same problem for the others in this class. I think it's because they are optimized for power savings. To let more light through, they make do with a minimal light diffuser and screen coating. That way, the backlight can run at lower power for the same brightness.

I think the Acer is probably the worst of the lot. I'm not sure about the UL30, but other Asus seem on par with the Sony. The color gamut and brightness might be a little better on the Sony than the Asus, but it's still pretty average. It's not like those old Sony XBRITE screens.

 

Thanks, I hope it is bearable, the Various Z is out of my price range. The Asus UL30 was so bad that I had to wear my glasses. It strained my eyes, found the screen to "white" in-turn , I dimmed the screen, making eyes hurt.



Finally ...

Quick question regarding formatting the HDD. Can the key/serial on the case be used to install a 32bit version on Windows 7, as the installed version is a 64bit?

 

If you have a Win 7 disc of the right edition, then it should be possible. The activation code should only limit which edition you install (Home Premium, Pro, etc.), not 32-bit vs. 64-bit. I haven't tried it though. Why would you want to install Win 7 32-bit?

 

I have soo many problems with 64bit, I thoroughly hate 64bit

.

 

First, impression - Great laptop with nice build quality. Keyboard is nice to type. Screen is fine, must better than the Asus UL30.

The laptop came with Win 7 Pro 64bit. I promptly removed it and fresh installed a 32bit version.

Works great apart from the function keys and sony assist. How can I restore these please?

Many thanks

 

See this post for general instructions. It's possible, though unlikely, that some of the required Sony software is 64-bit.

I personally think you would have been better off sticking with 64-bit. Vista 64-bit was dodgy at first, but got better, and Windows 7 64-bit has been excellent from the beginning. 32-bit isn't as well supported anymore and you don't get full use of your RAM.