Official Vaio Y 13.3 Series Owners Lounge

The Asus I was talking about was the Asus Ul80JT, which isn't out yet. My mistake.

 

I thought so...

Aparently the Arrandale ULV processors had some kind of delay, so, I guest I did it well

 

Yeah, I guess the consensus is agreed then.

Jump for the deal and raid Sony's warehouse!

 

On laptops where it is an option Dell charges $25 for a backlit keyboard. I don't understand why it is not standard on every laptop. Backlit keyboards have been standard on phones since pushbutton phones were first issued several decades ago.

A phone has how many keys as opposed to a computer keyboard?

If it does not have a backlit keyboard, you cannot sell it to me.
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I understand some people have use for backlit, but I had it for over 3 months and barely used it. I don't see why you can't just turn a light on? Taking a reading light if you really need to? Or just get to know your keyboard! A couple of weeks on anyway keyboard and you should have a good idea of where the keys are.

 

All this waiting got me to search some more, and I found an interesting competitor, the HP ProBook 5310m. But because a above average display is a priority for me I will wait some more...

Mikazukinoyaiba could you please do some display test? I'm really interested in the quality.

 

Sorry Esseti, but I don't intend to do anymore display testing. I don't have the time or interest, as a student.

 

I think I'm with ya. I was checking out this Y, but was disappointed to see it didn't have a backlit keyboard. Too bad.

 

Well if you guys want the form factor of the Y-series but a backlit keyboard, check out the S-series. Though currently it is only available via Best Buy here in the states.

 

$1049-

Ouch!

And no GPU for that money, crappy Intel graphics. The nonsense from Netgear does not even work. I read the reviews from Best Buy customers for this and the Toshiba "Blue Label".

If they knocked $200 off that I would consider it.
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Yep. I'd be happier if the Y simply offered a backlit keyboard.

 

Probably this summer Sony will offer the S-series as a CTO on their website.

 

The S model is in the Sony Center where I live in Poland, but it's not plugged in. I talked to the sales man and I'll be able to see it next week.

 

They have already removed the SR from SonyStyle web page in the U.S., which should mean they are getting ready to offer the new "S" series for CTO. I'm looking for the base "S" model in black with a backlit keyboard, hope it will be around $850. Or would love to have a "Y" series with a backlit keyboard instead.

 

That would be nice...

 

Well,

After all the Y I received had a terrible lose battery, and the display was a little weak (not very good contrast, very disappointing).

About the lose battery I consider it a major design flaw, I can rememner several cheap notebooks with no issues like this.. It's unacceptable in a notebook with this price tag as this so called construction quality to have such an issue.
If you grab the notebook you could perfeclty feel something was lose.

Back it went.
I am a big Sony fan, and a loyal customer for years, but it seems I wouldn't buy a Vaio at least while I remember this case.
I just can't feel good spending such an amount for a product, and being afraid of unboxing it, due to this kind of issues.

Just a shame.

Anyone knows a way I can give sony some feedback about this?

 

The S series is brand new so it will get cheaper over time.

 

You can email their customer service, write a letter to a big head hanco like a CEO, or make a review on their website.

Sorry that you disliked your Y-series, I can see what you mean by the screen display but for my uses the screen is quite fine. I typically work indoors and stream videos via Hulu/Youtube. So I don't need the incredible contrast that an artist would.

About the battery case, that doesn't seem to be a problem with the model. I haven't faced any loose battery issue, my battery has been firmly set in place and if I try shaking my VAIO I don't hear even the slightest bit of rattling from the battery. I suppose only some manufactured units have had that problem.

Also the "buzzing" that many have complained about, I no longer hear it at all even when I do try to listen for it. Don't know how that happened, that issue resolved itself or maybe it will come back again later.

I still love my VAIO Y, incredible battery life, small form, good screen, perfect touchpad and keyboard, and very affordable (as of the sale price).

 

How bad is it?

 

This is the problem though, the same problem from the beginning. This is entirely subjective and I tried doing an objective test that someone recommended and it still didn't change my opinion of the screen.

So I'll just list what you can't/shouldn't use the screen for:
- Intense photoshop work, due to color contrast in designing
- Watching a movie w/ friends, due to screen size and viewing angles.

What you CAN use it for (as intended by design):
- Watch movies for yourself
- Browse the web
- Perform productivity software

After using my Y-series for a while and now currently using it in the student break room, I have no complaints whatsoever about the screen. I can see everything just fine, I have a perfect viewing angle while sitting directly in front of it without seeing any "white wash".

 

Good analysis. The Y is perfect for the above tasks. I use it almost exclusively for coding and database design, but I also occasionally use Fireworks and Photoshop for photo editing. When I'm home, I have it hooked up to an external 24" Dell LCD in dual display mode at 1900x1200 and play Hulu or streaming Netflix movies on the large screen while I work on the laptop screen. It never ceases to amaze me at how well the Y can handle multiple memory and graphics intensive apps without breaking a sweat.

 

@vaiofann
Could you elaborate on the display quality while working with Photoshop? Are the colors well saturated? And is the screen evenly lit, w/o any negative contrast and/or bottom glare when looking at it directly ?

 

The screen is evenly lit and colors are well-saturated, but the colors look much richer and more vibrant when I have the Y connected to my external monitor. The Y doesn't have an ideal screen for photo editing because contrast isn't as good as some of the higher end laptop displays like on the Vaio SZ/Z, but for my limited Photoshop needs, it's perfectly fine. As long as you don't have a direct light source behind you while working on the Y, there isnt' any glare, but if I'm sitting in a coffee shop, for example, and there's a window behind me, the glare from the window can be seen on the screen, so you just have to be careful with that, like you would with any glossy screen.

 

Finally decided on the Sony Y series over the HP 5310m and the Asus UL30VT-A1.

Ordered the silver version (only the silver version was available in NZ) and should be here in a few days hopefully.

 

You did right, by not getting the UL30Vt. It's display is just horrible to look at, although the rest of the laptop is perfect. Too bad really ... I would gladly pay an extra $100-200 for a better display on that laptop.
On monday I'm getting the Y11 also

 

I'm happy to see that we now have two more Y-series owners.

 

Did anybody hear any news about sony implementing nvidia ION in their Y (or other) series?

 

I haven't heard any such news.

 

Did anyone do a clean install of Windows 7 when they received their Y?

If so, what drivers and Sony software were necessary to get everything up and running properly?

 

I've got a "Y" on the way. How accessible is the wireless card? I think I'd prefer swapping an Intel card in there for the Atheros card. Is it an easy swap or is it one of those that requires tearing the case apart and removing the keyboard etc?

 

No one that I know of have taken apart the Y.

Why do you want to switch the wireless cards BTW? Based on what I've read in Sony's manual, everything is easily accessible underneath a single cover panel.

 

I don't know that I will, but I've generally been dissatisfied with the Atheros cards in the past. I swapped an Intel 5300 into my NC10 and the difference was huge. (Of course putting it into the NC10 required a near compete disassembly.) I just wondered how accessible the card was in the event I wanted to swap in a different one. I'm certainly willing to give the original card a full and fair tryout though.

 

I returned an NC10 because I couldn't get the Atheros card to work correctly.

 

the $799 model is showing out of stock, hopefully if they are planning to revise it so soon w/the i3/i5 culv chips that it happens very soon bc i was planning on buying one this week for the fiancee

 

OOS? When I press "Shop Series," I get nothing except the usual "Discover, Shop, Services, Support" buttons and the links underneath them!

Almost like the Sony Y is GONE!!!!!


Oh well, hopefully they offer CULV versions of the Y with a choice of i5 or i7 soon.

 

I can see the Y-series just fine in the Sony Store from where I'm at. They even let me add it to my cart.

 

Weird! Tried adding to cart using Firefox and IE8. Didn't try with Chrome since some links don't work anyway.

 

I uh.. use chrome and everything has worked fine for me. >_>

I'm in the US btw

 

Haha. US too. Dunno. It should be showing up on FF or IE though! Weird....

 

NVM. Back in stock and working.

I really hope Sony keeps up with CULV upgrade trends like Apple almost certainly will do. There's no justification in paying $800 for this baby if a MBP 13" CULV-i5 can be bought for $300 more especially when accounting for the fact that MBPs are normally traditionally more expensive spec for spec.

 

the $799 shows in stock for you guys? still not me :\

 

I looks like it is in stock (you can add it to the cart) but if you do so, the fine print says:

"Temporarily out of stock. We will email you when your product ships."

 

Getting my tomorrow. Will report ASAP.

 

I have changed my wireless card to a intel 5300 hehe

It's all under the keyboard!







It doesn't show the third antenna required for N but I used those apple ones that you can find on ebay and it all fits under the keyboard.

Wireless is better now (not that it was bad).

 

when did you place your order for the laptop?

 

How difficult was it to replace the wireless card (did the new card fit properly without too much jamming in etc.)?

 

So you get better download/upload speeds now? Faster webpage loads? I'm guessing there's a manual on the website on how to remove the keyboard to upgrade the wifi card? Mind linking to the eBay page you got the card from?

 

I went to my local PC hardware shop and just ordered it.

 

Yes!

I do get faster download/upload speeds and webpageloads.

I didn't use any manual...

I just started to take it all apart (carefully)!

This is just for advanced users!

As now you know that it's behind the keyboard it makes your life easier if you decide to do this.

The material I used I had laying around but if you want to see ebay products here they are (I didn't search for the cheaper product):

http://cgi.ebay.com/WiFi-Link-Intel...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item563a607a9c (It has to be this size)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-Wireless-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45f06ad036

The new card is exactly the same size as the original.

The only problem would be the extra antenna but if you lay it on top of the 3G card it will fit also perfectly.

 

What a weird decision...

Few days ago I had 3 Sony Laptops. 2 older generation Sony notebooks & 1 new Vaio Y.

Vaio Y was able to find almost 2 times more wireless networks in my apartment. It has very powerfull wi-fi adapter!