Advice on problems with my SZ1VP/C (SZ180) Please

I bought the SZ1VP/C in the UK almost 3 weeks ago. This is equivelant to the US SZ180 I think.

Although I like the laptop in general, there are a few problems which mean I will probably be taking it back. I called Sony and they gave me the BS about only exchanging within first 14 days. But I pointed out the Sale of Goods Act set no such time limit on the return of goods which were faulty at sale. They soon backed down, and said I was free to return/exchange at the Sony store I purchased from.

I called the store, and they gave me similar BS about the normal procedure being sending it back to Sony. Quoted the same legislation and they backed down. But now they want to send it back for examination by there engineers. Having thought about it, I dont see why I should allow this. The faults with the machine are:

1) The clip on the panel above the keyboard is broken/missing. This is the panel which has the S1, S2, Stamina/Speed, Power button on it. It attaches to the chassis via two clips either side of the LCD panel clips. I noticed when I got the machine the left side of the panel had some play in it. But couldn't see why. It was only when I closed the machine to take it somewhere I noticed part of the clip on the back was missing.

2) The space bar only works 100% when hit in the centre of the key. If hit on the left/right of they key it wont work at all (I use my thumb so often hit they key here). If you hit it one thumb space in, it will sometimes miss. Any further in and it will generally work. I've had dozens of machines and this is the first one I've noticed this on. Why have such a big key if only 50% of its area work reliably.

3) The screen suffers from light leakage. Particularly noticeable during boot up. But you can also notice it when displaying dark images and when the ambient light is low.

So my questions are. Does everyone have these problems with their machines. Or are the later built ones better. Also has anyone returned one in the UK for similar reasons.

Sony accepted the machine was faulty and agreed to take it back for repair. So their can be no argument the machine is faulty. And the faults are pretty obvious, so I dont see why the Sony store needs to send the machine for examination. I think I'm going to demand a replacement or my money back.

 

I got a first run SZ1VP (number 119 of a limited edition of 2000 according to the little certificate that came with it). Come to think about it, if this is a limited edition of 200 I'm not sure how they can replace it all that easily...

I think the "Clip" problem is definately a fault - I'm not even sure what you are talking about so I assume I don't have it.

The space bar issue I do have - but it's not such a problem for me. I would like it to work across the whole bar but tend to hit the key centrally enough in normal use to get away with it.

I do notice a slight (5mm) increase in brightness at the top edge of the screen when using a balck bacground - but agail, it's not enough to bother me unduly & I assume it's a result of the LED backlight.

I'm not so happy about the beeping the DVD drive does or the battery life though.

Hope this helps,

M1

 

The DVD drive is annoying. But I hardly ever use it. I've always had sub notebooks and so often forget I even have a DVD drive.

One other quirk I noticed with the drive is it gets **** noisy if u move it when it has a disc in. My GF left one of her CD's in there, and I noticed if I moved the laptop holding it where the drive is, you get a whirring/s****ing noise. As if the CD is hitting the chassis.

 

The two main issues for me are the space bar, as I use my thumbs when typing and hit the edges of the key often enough for it to be annoying. (I've never had any problem with any other machine/keyboard I've owned). And the chassis piece missing.

If you look at your machine you'll see where the LCD attaches to the main chassis via 2 hinges. Outside each of those there are two smaller hinges which are part of the panel above the keyboard, which houses the S1/S2/Power button etc.

Now spin the laptop around and look at the back of the hinges. You'll notice it splits in two, with a line going accross it. Well the botton half is missing on one of them on my machine.

Very annoying for a 2k machine to be honest.

If I wasnt so reluctant to go to 14" form factor, I would simply return it and move on. But this is about the smallest machine on the market with the dual core and dual gfx as a bonus. Abit reluctant to go with a ULV single core P-M with Vista on the horizon.

 

Hi, I also have a SZ1VP.

About point 1, Sony should fix it, no question.

The spacebar on mine sucks big time. It's extremely flimsy and flexes. I ripped it off and I'm trying to find a way to make it stiffer... Maybe I'll dremmel a groove and inlay some MoP or something weird. I did put some duct tape on the underside of the space bar where it pushes the button, but this isn't a 'real' fix, I just wanted to know if it would work. It's very effective, but not a great solution.

Light leakage on mine is moderate. Not as bad as some of the photos that have been posted and definitely not an issue for me, but I can see how it could get annoying.

About the CD, there's an option in the power settings to disable the CD/DVD drive for different power schemes. I'm wondering how easy it is to write an application to shut off the drive and allocate it to a Fn button. That way, it would be less annoying to travel with a CD/DVD in the drive, but you can still turn it on manually when you want it.

Skrunch.

 

Well they did offer to fix it. But couldn't give me a timeframe.

Considering I bought the laptop because I needed one that instant, and it was faulty to begin with, I'm not accepting that.

I told the store I wanted a replacement. But they told me they were back ordered for 4 weeks. So I said fine give me a refund. Now all of a sudden they can get me a replacment. But they want a day to send it to their engineers.

I was going to agree to that. But the faults really don't require an engineer to verify them. They are pretty obvious. So I think i'll just insist on a replacement or refund.

Once they have the machine they may just fob me off untill they have it repaired.

 

That is a brilliant idea - it would also reduce drain when it tries to access the drive looking for files etc. I don't know how that would be done but either assigning it a desktop icon or a function key would be great!! I think this is worth a thread of its own.

 

I have the same issue with my spacebar. When I was talking to the Sony people they were utter ****. They wanted to take mine away also, I told them where to go.

When I said that a few people were having the spacebar issue I asked him to check if they had any other such reports, he checked and said no. LIAR.

I did create a thread which involved us mass complaining to sony and demanding they rectify the problem with a brand new replacement laptop which doesn't involve depriving us of our machines, which we NEED.

I am disgusted at the attitude of Sony and I will NOT be buying another Sony product again.

If you would like to swap details please feel free, we may then complain en mass and when they deny any knowledge of other cases where the spacebar is an issue we can quote each others case references to them.

 

I've PM'd you my case ref for use in future arguments.

 

This is a return issue for sure.

I just wish someone with the knowhow would hack the firmware for the drive to stop it spouting alerts and while they're at it, disable the pesky DVD region restriction nonsense.

I travel between the US & the UK. This is a laptop. I take it with me. I want to watch movies that I have bought from either place as and when I choose to.

They don't want me to. I resent that and I'm forced to work around it.

Will they never learn....

 

I just tried disabling the drive via the power manager and it doesn't work. It won't shut off while there's a disc inside. To hack the firmware, I'm not sure it's possible from the computer. You might need direct access to the drive, in which case, you could easily just disconnect the speakers as it sounds like they are in the drive, not using the computer speakers.

I know what you mean about the region thing. I had my brother unlock my Pioneer DVD player with his Palm IrDA just so I could watch the one DVD I brought with me from North America.

 

Took it back and the store refused to replace/refund the laptop.

They wanted to ship it for examination to ensure it had not been dropped.

Clearly it has not been dropped since there is no damage other then the missing part of the clip. Moreover the space bar issue and light leakage is not isolated to my machine.

It would be ridiculous to suggest the space bar issue alone was not a defect from new. As such under the sale of goods act I am under no obligation to allow them anytime at all. I made it clear I felt my statutory rights had been breached and have called their customer services. Awaiting a call back now.

 

there is no software on the internet that disables region coding? try googling you can do virtually anything else you want with a dvd including ripping it to the hard drive

 

I only got a sz1xp, but...
The spacebar is definitely an issue confirmed across the sz range (sz 110, 120, xp/160...)
The leakage is present on mine too, but still it's the crispiest screen I've looked at.
The region lock is annoying because I have practically all regions in my collection and so far only in linux is ok (altough I yet have to get a decent gui-oriented dvd application working)
The drive disable I think is not an issue, because I've never got "independent access to drive" (i.e. the OS to access the drive on it's own).