Sony VAIO F 3D series owners lounge

Watching that video only further makes me wish it was the 29th already.

Size-wise, I'm currently using an AW (18.4"), so the thickness in the back isn't too far off from what I'm used to already.

 

Good god that thing is expensive! Its double the price of the 15.5" new C series. I just don't think a base level core i7 and a 540m over the core i5 and AMD 6630 is worth that kind of price increase.

 

We're probably paying mostly for the 3D technology, I'm assuming.

 

Wow, so compared to the vaio f13 the battery life went from 2.5 hours to 3 hours?!? And the weight has been increased to over 7 pounds.

I thought Sandy bridge what supposed to be a huge improvement for battery life. What a let down...

 

New F3D launched in Asia.
Tons of pics at the following links.

???????? 2011 VAIO ??? - Mobile01

[????]?2011 VAIO????? - Mobile01

[?????] ?VAIO??????????? - Mobile01

http://www.eprice.com.tw/nb/talk/990/8358/

 

Here's a pretty decent writeup of the new F.

3D Vision Blog

 

You want a non-3D 3D-F-Series laptop? You can try the F-Series laptop

 

Hmm so SONY kept their word The best 3D computer display so far and by a fair margin at that. You could only get a better 3D monitor if you get a premium high end 3D HDTV lol

 

The non 3d F series laptop have not been refreshed with Sandy bridge!
The only F series to have SB so far is the 3D model and Sony have not announced any F model with SB without 3d yet...which is a shame IMO.
I don't see the need for 3d in a laptop.

 

Does anyone know when this is likely to hit the UK? Ive ordered one from Misco a couple of weeks ago and STILL waiting. They have told me 30th of this month, but other UK sellers stating they are not getting any in until 1/4/2011. Really frustrating.....

 

Well 3D is a feature, you don't HAVE TO use it. If you don't want to use its the same as any other 2D laptop.

 

Well, just got an email from Sony regarding my CTO. Not sure the exact time as it specifies 12.30pm and it's not even that time yet today.

"Hello, Curtis

We're now configuring your computer just the way you want it.

Order Number: SW


Your order contains the following item(s):


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Product: US-VPCF2190X-LBOM
Component: High capacity battery
Component: No Fresh Start
Component: 640GB Hard Drive (7200rpm)
Component: Adobe Bundle (Free - $448 value)
Component: Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter (Click More Info for details.)
Component: Blu-ray Disc™ Player / Burner
Component: Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM quad-core processor (2.30GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.40GHz
Component: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1333
Component: Norton Internet Security™ 2011 (30 Day Trial)
Component: 16" 2D/3D Full HD VAIO Premium Display (1920x1080)
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Component: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M (1GB VRAM) dedicated graphics
Quantity: 1
Estimated Shipped Date: 20110329





In the next couple of days, you will receive another email with your tracking number. When you get this you know we are done and your computer is on its way. Please be patient, great work takes time!"

I'm stoked.

 

Hi Everyone,

this is my first post, I'd like to have some advice about the Vaio 3D laptop.
i currently own a Vaio VGN-AW11XU/Q Core 2 Duo T9600 2.8 GHz - 18.4" which has both SSD for the OS (now upgraded to Win 7 Ultimate) and an additional 500GB HD for storage. They don't do this series anymore. My problem with this machine is that it gets seriously overheated close to the fan (which then becomes quite noisy), I even recently took it to an authorised Sony repairer here in UK, i believe they replaced the fan, but it still gets very hot and noisy when watching a movie on my tv via the external HDMI cable....so I considered getting a new laptop and i quite like the idea of the new F 3D. I live in the UK where this new model is not configurable, but you can only get it with 640 GB 7200 HD, no option for SSD VPCF21Z1E/BI (VPCF21Z1E/BI) : Technical Specifications : VAIO and Computing : Sony. Do you think this version with 640 GB HD 7200 will take a lot longer to boot than my current laptop which has SSD for the OS? Generally is it better to have SSD only because it is faster to boot or for other reasons? (like is it faster generally to access files etc, handle tasks etc). I am seriously considering asking my mate who is doing a phd in the US to buy the US version http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...52921666298650&categoryId=8198552921644767501 for me with SSD and ship it to me in UK. Do you think is this a silly idea? Also the UK one comes with the processor Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM Processor, if I was to instead opt for US customised version with Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM quad-core processor (2.30GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.40GHz would I notice a significant increase in performance? Last question, I am not a gamer, do you think that using this laptop as multimedia desktop replacement also to watch 3D movies on its screen or to watch 2D movies on my externl lcd TV, will it cope better than my current Vaio AW in terms of overheating, fan noise etc.
Sorry about all these questions and sorry for my English which is not very good (I am Italian)...I just need some expert advice please.

Thanks in advance for your time

Hope you all have a great weekend

Gio'

 

True, but why should I have to pay more for a feature that I am not going to use and also you have to consider the effect a 3d screen will have on battery life.
e.g.-HP recently refreshed their Envy 17 with SB plus an option for 3d screen or a non-3d screen.
I am hoping Sony do the same with the F series.

 

Whereabouts are you situated? UK store not showing this as available yet, although Germany & Denmark have it. France & Uk nothing as yet. Sony rep told me 2 weeks (today) which I'm not happy about - tempted to cancel and get something else.

 

[quote shortened for easier reading]

Have you considered putting an SSD in there yourself? I think there's a noticeable difference when I switched my computers from 5400 RPM drives to SSDs. There is still probably going to be a notable difference when switching from a 7200RPM. This is probably going to be the easiest way to get the computer and not deal with the hassle of someone else buying one and shipping it. (what if there are warranty issues with the US computer and you're in the UK?)

I can't speak in terms of noise in the new F, that's something you'd probably have to wait for the computer to come out first and hear peoples' opinions on after it's released. But overall it sounds like it would be a nice multi media computer for your situation.

 

I'm in the U.S., and going by their estimated ship date and not "next couple of days" as in the email, I'll probably be seeing mine in about two weeks as well. For now it's simply a preorder on the site, is it not showing up at all on the U.K. Sonystyle?

 

Its showing up, but no date. Other supplies are putting it as 1/4/2011 and 2/4/2011 now. Started at 26/3/2011 and goes back a day every day. Frustrating, especially since its seems to be available elsewhere in Europe.

 

Hmm, not sure what's going on there, to be honest. Though, seeing others' situations with their preorders on the different models, I'm really not going to be surprised if mine starts getting bumped back here and there as well.

 

Many manufacturers are going to experience parts shortages in the next few weeks due to the problems in Japan. Obviously, Sony won't be immune.

 

I'm close to cancelling my order and looking around for a non SandyBridge laptop which will probably be cheaper. The date has been pushed back yet again to the 6th April - I understand obviously there will be delays because of Japan and the recall but I think this is too long to wait. The 3D aspect of the laptop was not a deal breaker for me, was just a bonus so I'm going to have a look at whats available and actually in stock.

Its a shame as I liked the look of this, but cant wait any longer.

 

Just to update this post with a little more tangible data

Toyota, Sony Disruptions May Last Weeks on Supplier, Power Supply Damage - Bloomberg

Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) and Sony Corp. (6758), two of Japan’s biggest manufacturers, are facing worst-case scenarios of long-term production shortfalls as scores of plants remain closed and workers are idled in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

“The current situation is still difficult,” Chisato Kitsukawa, a spokesman for Tokyo-based Sony, by phone yesterday. The company has shut eight plants in Miyagi, Ibaraki and Fukushima prefectures, and workers are inspecting equipment and facilities, he said. Toyota has said it will keep 21 auto and components plants closed until March 22. ...

 

According to the German Sony website the F21 is in stock and ready for shipment. I'm considering to pull the trigger and to buy this beast. Yet, if possible, I would like to read a review or two - are there any out there already?

http://www.sony.de/product/vn-f-series/vpcf21z1e-bi

 

I posted this one a couple of pages back, it seemed pretty in-depth. Haven't found any other real reviews since then.

Sony VAIO F Series 3D-capable Multimedia Laptop Review - 3D Vision Blog

 

Well, my order status just changed to "Completed" today. Just waiting on shipping info.

 

Mine has shipped.

 

Dazed, what config did you get? I just got my shipping email today as well. Should be arriving on the 30th, right when my week off from work begins.

 

Odd your laptop didn't ship until today. Late last night mine still hadn't even changed to Completed status. My configuration (I think the same as yours minus the 640GB harddrive):

Product: US-VPCF2190X-LBOM
Component: Large capacity battery
Component: No Fresh Start
Component: 500GB Hard Drive (7200rpm)
Component: Adobe Bundle (Free - $448 value)
Component: Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter (Click More Info for details.)
Component: Blu-ray Disc™ Player / Burner
Component: Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM quad-core processor (2.30GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.40GHz
Component: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3-SDRAM-1333
Component: Norton Internet Security™ 2011 (30 Day Trial)
Component: 16" 2D/3D Full HD VAIO Premium Display (1920x1080)
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Component: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M (1GB VRAM) dedicated graphics

 

Mine had sat at Completed for a few days before getting the shipping email. I've never purchased my other Vaios from their site before, so I don't really know the general flow of events. Either way, now I can really count the days down.

 

Sony does a mass shipment a couple times a week (seems to be twice a week, not sure if that is written in stone). They don't ship individual computers - they only send shipments in bulk. So if your computer is completed right after a shipment has been made, or too late to be included in the next one, it will sit there until the following one is scheduled.

 

Must have always been lucky with Sony then. This is the 3rd VAIO I have ordered in the last 3 years and each has shipped same day as complete status.

 

Good to know!

What is the current ETA on yours? It looks like mine just got into the states, here's hoping it gets here a little sooner!

 

ETA is still listed as March 30th, but intl release happened this morning and with the previous two once intl release happened I had it the next day. Fedex is usually pretty good about getting things delivered as fast as possible. UPS on the other hand will hold things up just to make sure they don't get there early.

 

Hmm, looks like mine just changed to the same status as well (just woke up, so it happened this morning, I'm assuming). Hopefully I get the same luck as you and it gets here tomorrow.

 

Yeah, as jpride said our laptops were in the same shipment.

 

Mar 27, 2011 5:57 PM
Departed FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

This bodes well for a Monday delivery. Though it still depends on how efficiently it gets sorted at the next hub (I am guessing that will be Oakland.)

 

Mine departed 3.57. Which state are you in? I'm in Texas.

 

I live in Irvine, CA. Mine was sent from Memphis at 2:50. I would love to get it tomorrow. I have a bunch of 3d home movies I took with the Fujitsu w3 camera and would love to see them on a larger screen.

That said, I hope that this laptop isn't outdated in six months and I hope 3D survives. I think 3D is really great when it works. You have to take your own movies in 3D just to see how great they are.

 

Washington. And I was wrong about it going to Oakland first. My laptop is on a plane bound for Seattle... so there is really no reason it shouldn't be delivered tomorrow. Entering Idaho airspace as I type this.

 

We want pics from all you guys who receive the 3D beast ASAP

 

My F is in Dallas as of 1.30 this morning. I think it's safe to say mine will be here today.

And avmaxfan, absolutely. Pictures will be incoming!

 

Just received mine. Be back shortly!

 

Congratulations!
I eagerly await your pics and impressions.

 

Mine is out for delivery, likely a couple of hours before it gets here.

 

So far I'm still setting it up, but my initial impressions are very positive.

I'm coming from an AW, so the dominance of plastic on the F scared me a bit. However, after having it in front of me, it's a very "quality" plastic, if that makes any sense. Everything seems well-built and the odd slab look does grow on you. It's different, as my buddy says. It's like a grand piano Vaio, very sleek.

I'm still trying to figure out how this keyboard compares to my AW. The depth is about the same, though the keys don't seem to "wiggle" as much when typing. The backlight is beautiful. The touchpad is distinctly textured and the rocker right/left clicker feels solid but not too rigid. One thing that surprised me about the inside is that the palmrest that sticks out shown in the pictures is some sort of "metal" material which reminds me very much of the magnesium casing on the AW. It's very solid and cool to the touch, I like it a lot. The only thing that worries me is trying to get all these stupid stickers off of it. I'm hoping I don't scratch it up or anything.

Still getting used to the smaller screen (18.4" to 16"), but the reviews that have been linked on here do not lie. "Wow" is how I'd put it right now. The color seems even throughout the screen and the 3D in this laptop really do compare to the 3D Bravias, in my opinion.

I'll get pictures up soon, still want to play some more.

Oh, and WEI is 7.6, 7.6, 6.6, 6.6, 5.9. I'll do SSD later.

 

oh congratulation eehpeehthreeh! can you tell us about the sound quality

 

I'm still adjusting to it and testing it here and there, but the sound is very clear, does not sound very laptop speaker-like.

 

I was a little bad about mine. I got off work at 6.30 this morning and tracked the package as having left the sorting facility and heading to the hub before going on route. I just asked them to have it there for me to pick up at the hub after work. I couldn't wait and the stop was on the way home.

 

i guess you're very busy with it it's a nice laptop, we are waiting some pics or vids

 

Yeah, I'll try to get some pictures up later today. As far as the sound goes, it definitely does not have the bass like my AW. Not sure if there's a way to adjust that, but I'll keep digging.