Sony Vaio Duo 13 Owners Thread

No - it's the voltage, polarity, and plug-size that is critical. The current is the maximum the PSU will supply, so as long as it's not lower than the 3.8A that the Duo 13 needs, then it will be fine (assuming the polarity and plug size hasn't changed). It sounds like Sony have reduced the size of the PSU a little from the Duo11 to the Duo13.

 

Just got mine today. I'll be doing some tests. I haven't really seen any comprehensive feedback on the pen holder, so I'll try to get down how I feel about it. I'll obviously test wifi as well.

 

Wifi Fix is out...

http://esupport.sony.com/BR/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=SVD13217CBW&upd_id=8845&os_group_id=24

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk 2

 

Will this fix be applicable to everyone, or just BR?

 

Isn't this the same driver out since 6/26? If so I can confirm that this driver does not fix the WIFI issue. The WIFI situation with the Duo 13 is the only thing ruining the experience for me. I now have 3 WIFI routers in 3 different rooms of the house so I can use the Duo 13. Sony really needs to fix this.

 

Here's an update:

Okay, so besides the frustration this laptop caused me in the beginning, I've received what I paid for. I have gotten an average of 55MBps (over the course of 6 tests. Min: 41MBps Max: 65 MBps) when I'm right next to my router. When I go upstairs, now with a good piece of floor between me and the router, I get an average of roughly 40MBps--that's almost as good as my primary RIG. YouTube loads HD videos fine all the way through, I get no disconnections (at least that I can fault the Duo 13 for), and the internet is smooth as butter. I'd be remiss not to mention that out of the box, I was struggling to even get the connection window to open while next to my router. When upstairs I had "limited" connection, and nothing really loaded. But once I restarted and moved closer to the router, I was able to get all the updates and afterwards, the internet worked out fine. I had a lot of other frustrations (a lot), but they have been mostly remedied; I'll write about them when I have the time. I'll also do some testing over various other routers like my school, etc., etc. But that will take time.

The pen holder (if anyone is interested like I was) is just all right. The pen can slide off way too easily, although it does need some friction. What would have been good is if the pen clip had a more significant ball at the end of it so that it snapped in place and needed a bit more force to pull out. It works, but be wary about where it is when you take the Duo 13 out of its case or bag while the pen was in its holder.

Right now, I'm extremely happy. I only have two complaints right now: (1) Keyboard is more shallow than I had expected, but to be fair I'm a fast touch typist coming from a mechanical keyboard. (2) The high screen resolution really does make everything super tiny. I'm glad I didn't get the ThinkPad Helix... But this wouldn't be as much as an issue if Chrome supported pinch to zoom. It's still annoying nonetheless, even if everything does look beautiful.

 

I'm wondering what others' experience with battery loss during sleep/active standby is. With Skype running I lost 4% battery per hour. Now that I have disabled Skype I lose about 1-1.5% per hour.

This is a critical issue for me, because I don't want to always keep the computer plugged in, or have the battery lose its charge because it completely drains whenever I don't use the computer for a few days... especially since I can't replace it.

 

When I get the time, I'll test this out as well.

 

Use the old version: 9.18.10.3165
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldId=22840


Everything will be OK on Windows 8.1 RTM and Duo 13, then.

 

Could any please explain to me how they installed windows 8.1 rtm because mine installs but error on restart

 

I am just about done setting up my Duo 13 just the way I like it after working on all my favorite utilities and applications for about 2 weeks. Especially with all the software that was activated and license restrictions I'd hate to have to reinstall everything god forbid something bad happens.

So what is the best disaster recover option for the Duo 13? I want to be able to restore an exact image with all the programs, data, settings, just everything. Is the best thing to do get Windows 8 to create a USB Flash drive "Recovery Drive" and then get Windows 8 to create a "System Image?" Would you then boot with the Recovery Drive and then point it towards the System Image saved onto an external USD hard drive?

I've never gone through this imaging (and more importantly!) recovery process before so I absolutely want to make sure that I have a way to restore my complete system to the way it is today.

I'm sure many others would be (or should be!) interested in getting this process right. I'd hate to spend another 20+ hours of work getting my Duo to the point it sis today. I already use Skydive and GoogleDrive so my data is safe but I just want to make sure I can restore everything to the way it is...

 

So now that there's a new Vaio convertible, the Flip, any of you newer Duo 13 owners have buyer's remorse? I think the adjustable tilt in laptop mode is nice. But I'll need to wait for full specs and reviews to come out before making a judgment.

 

And price....but it looks nice. Would also love the tap if it came in 13inch

 

Hard to say. Looks like it'll be heavier than the Duo 13. I personally didn't care the least bit about adjustable tilt, which is one of the reasons I went with the Duo 13. I have not found an instance where I felt terribly lacking without it, and the Duo 13 has impressed me immensely. The pen is fantastic, the computer is light, the WiFi is actually better than decent, the screen looks beautiful albeit tiny, and the super quick conversion from laptop to tablet feels great while still being unbelievably practical, especially if you care not for adjustable screen angles. I bet the keyboard will be better, but there's sacrifices you have to make. I may be hurting for a less shallow keyboard, but the Duo 13's is serviceable. I manage to get 80% of my normal speeds on it, and with practice I am assuming that will go up.

 

I think I read in the gizmodo article that the 13" Flip will be lighter than the Duo 13. Not as light as the Pro 13, but I think somewhere in between.

Having two convertible lines, Sony probably is wise to make them different enough to justify having 2 lines. I would think the Duo 13 is more a tablet that can convert to a laptop and vice versa for the Flip. This is purely my speculation.

I am really enjoying my Duo 13 and very happy with it. I also don't have WIFI issues. It works great for me and in situations where my other devices suffer, it also suffers. Of course, I will wait for the official Flip specs, but it will really need to blow me away for me to switch from the Duo 13. We'll see.

 

I've been a huge fan of Acronis True Image for years. Download it and create a full disc image of your drive/drives the way they are exactly at this moment. And you'll forever be able to just restore that image via a bootable USB drive.

 

I've been using Horizon Datasys Rollback RX on my main PC and it's been brilliant and so easy to install and so quick to use.

I purchased another copy for my Duo 13 yesterday but, for some reason, it fails to install!! I have a support ticket open to resolve the issue.

Quick question - is there a manual dedicated to the Duo 13?

 

Lighter? Wow. It looks like it would be heavier. It also looks like converting it will be less efficient than the Duo 13. I guess you're right about the tablet - laptop, laptop - tablet thing, but my Duo 13 feels, to me, more like my laptop than my tablet. I may not have another tablet (besides my big Galaxy Note 2), but I use the Duo 13 way more in laptop mode, and when I would like to note take or to just use it flat, I can. There needs to be more apps in the windows store, as well as just more touch optimized programs in order for me to really feel as if this is a tablet more so than a laptop. Either way, I'm still loving it and I don't really know how I would have buyer's remorse. Like I said, the fixed screen angle is something that works for me. That's really the only benefit I see to this thing, and maybe a couple more viewing modes. But time will tell.

 

Key specifications


Model

VAIO® Fit 13A

Processor

Up to Intel® Core™ i7-4500U Processor

with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology

Operating System

Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro

Memory

Up to 8GB DDR3L SDRAM 1600MT/s

Storage

Up to 512GB SSD

Screen

33.7mm (13.3” TRILUMINOS Display for mobile;

Full HD (1920x1080) with wide (16:9) aspect ratio; X-Reality for mobile; OptiContrast Panel; 10 points Capacitive touchscreen

Graphics

Intel® HD Graphics 4400

Others

Digitizer stylus, 8 Megapixel Rear Camera powered by ‘ExmorRS for PC’ sensor with Auto-Focus; Front facing HD web camera powered by ‘Exmor R for PC’; WLAN IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n; USB 3.0 with USB charge (x1); USB 3.0 (x1); Bluetooth® standard Ver. 4.0 + HS; HDMI out; SD memory card slot; stereo speakers with ClearAudio+ mode ; Sensors (NFC, Accelerometer, Gyro, Digital Compass);Backlit Keyboard; HDMI to VGA adapter (optional); AC powered Ethernet to Wi-Fi Router(optional)

Dimensions DxHxW

Approx. 223.4 mm x 14.3-17.9 mm x 325.4 mm

Weight

Approx. 1.2kg (with standard supplied battery)

Battery life

Not available yet


Seems to be a nice machine. Wifi ac is a nice addition although it doesn't come with mobile connectivity.

I think the duo 13 is more beautiful than fit model though

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

i like duo 13 more than fit flip, but tap 11 looks great, i need a tablet most of time, i want to use it as laptop sometime

 

I too have used Acronis in the past but the version I have now is very old and may not fully support the new partitions. I looked into the current version of Acronis but I can't in good conscience depend on their product working with the latest version given the abysmal reviews on Amazon. SO MANY people are complaining about backups not working and in some cases resulting in empty folders. Yikes!

Amazon.com: True Image 2013: Software

So my question is Doesn't WIndows 8 have the ability to back a "system image" with your data, applications, settings and everything else intact? Wouldn't this accomplish a full disc backup without needing anything else? Any caveats to be concerned with the Duo 13 for full system image backups? Is there anything that needs to be changed in the BIOS, especially for booting with the rescue USB flash drive?

 

The dedicated GPU is nice... but I'm not too sure I'd want to go bigger to get it. Besides, I've been pleasantly surprised with how well the Duo 13 has been able to run everything I've thrown at it so far (Dishonored, Tomb Raider, Half Life 2, Mechwarrior Online). Sure better is better... but still surprised that the integrated chip can run these games as well as it does. Very playable.

The new folding mechanism seems like it might be more intuitive/flexible? but somehow less secure?

Not too keen on how it looks in tablet mode (looks pretty unrefined).

The larger touchpad is definitely nice.

All in all I'm really enjoying the Duo 13 (aside from a few very well known and discussed issues that will hopefully be resolved by Sony/other software vendors), so no real buyer's remorse.

 

I also have the Note 2 as my phone. I also have an iPad that is no longer used much now that I have the Duo 13. I do agree on the apps in the store. I wish I can completely abandon my iPad but I can't due to the lack of apps in there. I use my iPad for digital magazines and I wish there are Windows 8 versions. There aren't so I still need my iPad.

 

I've only tried Civ 5 and a point and click adventure game and they run fine on the Duo 13. Someone earlier reported that Diablo 3 is unplayable, I will test this myself soon. I'm a bit skeptical about this due to the fact that Diablo 3 seems to run fine on the new MacBook Air (many youtube videos), but i'll see myself after I get around to installing it.

Yeah I think the Duo 13 seems to look better than the Flip. But we will see.

 

Just an update for anyone that is interested. Here in the UK, my vaio update is now working and picking up driver updates .

Still waiting on the wifi fix.

Also, just download Clip Paint Studio, the English trial version direct from their website (not the smith micro version) and it supports the stylus correctly. Still no update on artrage or n-trig fixes..

 

Anyone have a problem with Vaio Battery Care not working 100% of the time? I've had two incidents so far where my battery has fully charged despite Battery Care setting of 80%.

 

yeah. i knew why ) go to vaio control center and turn off battery care function

 

can i upgrade ssd drive to 1Tb????

 

Maybe they had their resolution or other graphics setting set too high?

I've been running the games at 720 resolution (rather than 1080) at medium settings and that seems to run fine. I don't have Diablo so can't speak to that though.

 

I finally received my duo yesterday and love it! I'll just post a few things that I was curious about before buying:

One note
This works better than I could have expected. I've set it so OneNote opens when I pull the pen out of the holder. It opens in seconds and you don't have to select a drawing tool, as it just goes with your last pen selection. Drawing and writing at the same time is a breeze- Writing with the stylus automatically picks the drawing tool and tapping on the screen places a text box for you to type with the main keyboard (laptop mode). These two operations can be carried out extremely easily, and I could draw a picture and label it within seconds (Perfect for exactly what I bought it for, taking notes for engineering lectures)

Internet
Once I'd installed the internet fix from the Vaio Update, I haven't had a single dropout (even using my useless router from the other side of the house, I have far more signal than an iPhone/Pad)

I do have one problem however: When I'm using chrome (app mode) and close all my tabs using Ctrl+W, I would usually close the window with the same command once I'd got to the last tab. This doesn't seem to work at the moment, and it just closes to a grey screen which I can't drag down so I have to Alt+F4 it.. Any ideas?
I'll add once I've played with it a bit more!

 

Hello guys
did you see the new vaio tap 11 , it has about the same pen as duo 13 , but engadget say
" Oh, and in case you were wondering, there's pen support for Adobe Photoshop CC / Illustrator CC"

soo do you think sony made the drivers for n-trig and included them on the new devices (and will release the driver for the previous devices )

this the link for engadget article
Sony takes on the Surface Pro with the VAIO Tap 11, its first Windows 8 tablet (hands-on)
(( the thing about the pen is on the last row of the third paragraph ))

 

What's internet fix from Vaio update? I just received duo 13, and updated everything yesterday, I only have 1 bar,wifi signal is really poor.

 

Adobe has been working on supporting the newer Windows Ink APIs instead of just using WinTab. Once they've got it working, that means you'll get pressure sensitivity with N-Trig pens. I've heard they were trying to do this by year's end.

 

Got my DUO. Nice convertible but there are some points that I dont like.
The WIFI isnt that great. You can life with it but my 7 year old notebook gets a better speed and connectiion.
Whats really bad is the buzzing sound that I can hear in a silent environment and also annoying is a high frequent noise. I cant hear it all the time but often. Anyonge got this "sound" problems?

 

Note that the article said the N-Trig works with Adobe CC, not CS. And if they get the windows ink API working for Adobe it will most likely be for CC products only. All those CS users will have to upgrade.

 

Has anyone else tried the Microsoft Wedge mouse with the Sony Duo 13 - or any Bluetooth mouse, for that matter?

I have found that the mouse is almost unusable due to stops, stutters and lag while my Wi-Fi is engaged. While connected to my USB Ethernet device, it is smooth as silk. Go back to WiFi and problems resume.

 

For those that don't know there a new bios update available notes claim it Improves the battery charge function. Go Get it

 

I'm installing it now... Too bad they can't issue a similar update to fix the WIFI. It has only been about 2 months and it has probably only scared away about a third of potential sales of this otherwise incredible laptop.

 

I don't have sound problem, it's very quite, even when i was installing win8 updates, hardly hear any noise.

Only issue I have is weak wifi, I usually have 1-2 bars, I can browse internet and watch youtue at lowest quality, at the spot where other devices can stream 1080P movie. I will buy a wifi extender and put in my room, see if I can temporarily sovle the problem

 

I've been using the wedge since day 1 and have only found it lagging on a couple of occasions, no more than my usb mouse.

 

The same for me. At home, with a 2GHZ it is unusable, at Work, I use a Apple TimeCapsule, serving network at 5GHZ, and the Wedge works fine. I am returning it, besides the fact it interfers with Wifi on Duo 13, it does not have a middle button.

 

I noticed similar buzzing noise, im on my second duo 13 as the first laptop was replaced due to dead pixel right on the middle on the screen. I didn't noticed any buzzing noise on my first laptop however on my second laptop I started to notice it last week. The buzzing noise occurs when its both on AC and on battery, it is quite audible actually in a quiet environment. Im not sure if I would replaced it since some people have this problem, I would wait when they revised the problem, including the uneven backlight before sending in for repairs or replacement.

For onlookers or fence sitters

For WIFI issues, i would say that duo 13 does not have the "normal laptop" WIFI strength range, it is simple to say that it has the range of a tablet or a phone like xperia z. I have no experiences in dropout in my home or at university.

Battery: I have used this laptop for a month and the battery life is around 8.30 hrs at 80% charge( VAIO care) as indicated by Batterybar. Brightness is roughly 3 notch up using keyboard Fn + brightness. WIFI, Bluetooth, NFC are on by default. I used Onenote, Word and IE10 only.

Does anyone knows how to limit max processor state as the setting disappeared in the power option.

 

I have been using mine for the last 3 weeks and I am quite happy with it. No noise no wifi dropout... but there is a problem with Samsung devices (android phones and tablets) while using bluetooth and/or nfc. First bluetooth: My Note 2 (GTN7100) has never been discovered nor the phone could discover Vaio. My Note 10.1 tablet been discovered, paired then upon starting bluetooth services Vaio says Note 10.1 is off, although it sits just there. Galaxy Nexus phone just like the tablet discovered but off. My son's Galaxy s3 behaved the same. NFC never worked with either device. I hear the connecting sound but no notification on Vaio's screen. Since NFC is related to bluetooth (correct me if i'm wrong) that is understandable. Or is it? Other bluetooth devices paired without problem. Has anyone experienced this? Last February I had a Vaio duo 11 for couple of days but returned it because of screen freeze problem had no difficulty in connecting above mentioned devices NFC included. Any reply appreciated.

 

Have you removed from the McAffee and the rest of security bloatware?

Also I would recommend you to remove and reinstall the sony's wifi control program (don't remember the name)

Could you please report about your results?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

I don't have any of these bloatware applications installed and I have WIFI issues. Reinstalling anything does not fix this. The WIFI issue has nothing to do with any other software but Sony's incompetence to fix the problem with their WIFI implementation after 2 months. And they should have found this problem during quality testing.

 

Does anyone know where i can buy a spare stylus for the Duo 13? I know you can buy a Do 11 stylus that is smaller but I'd like to buy the one specially made for the Duo 13 that is a bit larger. Would any NTrig stylus work with the Duo 13?

I want to get a spare stylus for the Duo 13. Would the following stylus on Amazon work with the digitizer in the Duo 13?

http://www.amazon.com/HTC-Scribe-Di...8&qid=1378564864&sr=8-1&keywords=NTrig+Stylus

 

Have any owners noticed a popping sound from their speakers? I get a random popping sound coming out of the left speaker. The speaker seems to be working ok. When I play music the sound seems to play OK...

 

You are not hearing things and like you, I'm also sensitive to high frequency sounds. In a quiet environments I too hear high frequency almost electrical sounds coming from the side rear vent on the left side. If I come closer to that vent I can hear the sounds more. It's almost like the sound you hear from a transformer but a lot fainter. It is annoying but nothing too significant so I figured I'd live with it because I like my Duo 13 that much and for me the WIFI issue is a lot more significant because right now I have setup WIFI routers in 3 rooms of the house so I have decent connectivity. If this whizzing sound gets any louder I'd be seriously annoyed by it though. I et they all have this issue and hearing or not hearing this sound is a matter of sensitivity.

I have not heard this kind of sound on any other laptop so something in the design of the Duo 13 is creating this and perhaps this is one of the growing pains as they figure out how to cram so many electronics into such a small enclosure and still run full blown Windows. Even despite the WIFI issues I look forward to using my Duo 13 every day. It's an amazing productivity tool.

 

My Duo 13 is completely silent. I think I'm pretty sensitive to electronic noises. I've heard noises coming from various phones, battery chargers, etc. I hear nothing from my Duo 13.

 

I used to think the same until I started noticing the buzzing sound. 3 people in this forum have noticed it so I think the sound is present in a whole lot of Duo 13s and like I said unless you are really sensitive to high frequency sounds you will not hear it. It also depend on the angle of your ears to the left side vent. If I turn my head the other way I can't hear it any more.

Who knows, maybe one day you will notice it and of you don't so much the better!