BestBuy VAIO CW

Been trying to find one online now for a few days with no luck (sold out). Anyone have a suggestion where I can get the same BestBuy equipped CW for the same price? Around $950?

14"
Black
Core i5
1600x900
DVDRW/bluray
4GB Ram
500GB HD
Nvidia 330M
Wireless b/g/n
6 cell
HDMI
Expresscard /34

 

Newegg and I believe that TigerDirect have them in stock, but they are running around $200 more than BB.

I ordered one from BB before they 'sold out' (2/9) but it's backordered and I have no idea when they will be shipping.

 

Yeah, I was going to get the white i5 CW but is is now sold out. I am hoping they get a new shipment in so I can still get it with the i5 and 1600x900. I just wish they would sell these things in the stores, I hate waiting. And I am staying away from the i3 with the smaller resolution.

Somewhat related...Best Buy needs more variety IN store. They are all the same slow processors with no GPU. *sigh*

 

You need to goto another BB. One I went to had some high end stuff like the HP envy, and the Dell XPS 16 series. Granted the CW is web only, but most places stock what sells. Crappy, slow and inexpensive computers.

 

The CW model with the GT330m is scarce right now, because the company that makes the graphics core chip, TSMC, is having problems ramping up supply at their fab. They're having low yields of quality chips. But the G310m models are flowing out like water...

 

I liked my wife's i5 CW that I ordered one for me too! too bad it's on backorder though.

 

Yeah I think I ordered the last one on 2/15. I checked back with BB an hour later and it was sold out. Have you tried contacting them about a potential delivery date?

 

If you're not in a great hurry, you might look at the Asus N82. 14" I5 GT335M GPU and Optimus switching. Should be on sale in a couple of weeks.

Bronsky

 

Great insight.

Where'd you hear of this?

 

*Here*. But the problem has been ongoing for a while now. They just can't keep up with the demand, with the 40nm designs.

 

Yeah I called them today, they couldn't give me an ETA on my order. They did say that when I ordered it (2/9) that they saw it was backordered for 10 days. That probably doesn't mean anything though.

My original order said that the ETA was 2/24 - 3/5.

 

At this point it may benefit to wait for the e series. apparently there will be both a 14" and a 15" models....

damn this game of decision. What about a lenovo... ok i need to shut up.

 

Yeah I believe my original ETA was actually later than yours. Hopefully it comes soon! I can't wait to pop in my brand new SSD

 

What SSD did you get? Im looking at the A-Data which are Intel X-25 re-branded. 128GB for $299 at newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211442

Dirt cheap!

 

Yeah that's not bad. I got the Intel X-25M 160GB. I'm gonna make a little super CW - upgrading to the SSD, upgrading the Wifi card, and popping in a blu-ray drive

 

I ordered my CW on 2/14, so I'm between you guys

bradgr81, since you ordered first, can you post here when they ship yours out? Thanks!

 

Trust me, the BB's I go to around here have the HP envy, Dell XPS, Adamo, MBP, etc... I am just tired of seeing the same 15" t4400 from every other maker. Had they have sold this CW i5 1600x900 in store I would be typing on one now. Instead, I am stuck with a t2300 Dell 15" that is pretty much the same as all the others in the BB store.

Do you have some info on the 14" E series? I am looking for a 14" i5 1600x900 with NVIDIA GPU. The S series is another option but its not available here in the US yet.

Any idea when the E and S series may arrive?

 

Upgrading the wi-fi card?? do tell...

 

Great news, I just received an email from BB saying they shipped my CW. So it took about 8 days from the day I ordered it. They had originally told me that they expected it to arrive at my doorstep around the 24th-5th (I ordered with the 2-3 day shipping). This is good news and hopefully you guys will get yours shipped by next week.

 

Thanks for the update...that's excellent news! Time to find that that Windows 7 installation DVD I used on my wife's i5 CW last month

 

I am sure you saw that BB online still has the blue/purple?

I ordered one on the 15th and is out for delivery now.

 

Yeah to the Intel 6200. I don't want the Atheros.

Sweet! I'm assuming that they just got a new shipment in and ours should be shipped shortly as well.

 

Yeah, I see the blue/purple one is still available online. Does anyone think they will get more of the white CW i5 in stock online? That is the one I was going for.

Either that or I was thinking of just getting this even though it is a 16" but with Nvidia Optimus and USB 3.0
http://www.amazon.com/N61JV-X2-16-Inch-Versatile-Entertainment-Laptop/dp/B00352LQYO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1266433870&sr=8-1

I would rather have a 14" though for portability.

 

Asus makes great laptops but they're gigantic.

 

So I was wrong. I called BB to check the status of my order and they don't even have an ETA

 

So I just got back from BB. They said that the online CW's (purple and white) that are Sold Out "should" be back in stock again. He didn't have a time line of when. But he said that if they are still on the site then they will be back in stock. Normally if they are taken off then they wont be.

And I sure do hope they are getting some new computers in the store(s). They had very little stock left of what they had. Meaning, NO boxes of many of their laptops...just display models. They were also bringing out cart after cart of desktops for restocking.

I didn't look at those since I am not interested. But I didn't stick around long to see if those turned out to be laptop boxes of new stuff.

 

WildSioux,

The E series will have 3 releases, the EB is 15.5" and scheduled to release in early march. The EA is 14" and scheduled for late march. And the EC is 17" or so, and released late march or even later. But all this is from what I remember reading on these forums, so I do not know how correct it is.

Slaughterhouse, what is wrong with the atheros card? I am not much of a power user and would probably have it plugged in at my dorm just for the wired performance.

 

Intel cards are known to be the best wireless cards and I'd rather have the new 6200 wifi card. Wired performance will always be the best though.

 

I always thought intel was not as good as the atheros. Oh well, either one will be more than good enough for me. I havent had my computer plugged into wired in forever, but in college dorms, it may be easier, and a heck of a lot faster.

 

I've been wondering whenn the N81/X83 was going to get a refresh. This is the only other 14.1" laptop out there that is similar in graphic performance to the CW.

Any word on a high resolution screen? I LOATHE those 1366x768 screens.

 

Sony USA store online now has CTO available. EST ship is 3/2.

 

^^ Those CTO models have been there for a long time. They don't have a 330M GPU or a higher res screen option though.

 

thats exactly why I didnt order mine from SONY.

 

On newegg, it's the models with the 1600x900 screen that are on "Auto Notify". The models with 330m and 1366x768 seem to be avaliable. It seems it maybe the LCD panels that are holding them back.

 

I just ordered the icy white i5 CW at BB. They are back in stock!!! Shows delivery of 2/23-2/26.

I would have waited a little while to for the Asus N82JV 14". Would have been cool with the NVIDIA Optimus technology. But I believe the screen is going to be 1366 x 768 and I prefer the bigger size of the CW. No other 14" laptop has the 1600x900 that I know of. At least not for the price and specs of the CW.

And as I said in the CW owners thread, I have no need for Blu-ray.

 

I never understood the point of the CW series by sony. What was its appeal compared to the NS,NW,FZ,CS,BZ, B11 or E apart from its Starbucks poser appeal.

The VAIO VPC 15.B seies would be a better investmnt with i7-620M, blu-ray,1440x900 screen 512GB ssd and 8gb ram,

http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/vaio/pre_include/html/B11/spec_vom1.html

 

My black i5 CW has changed status from "backordered" to:

Status: 1 item(s) - Order in process of being fulfilled; Usually ships in 7 - 14 days.

 

Mine shipped out!

 

Sweet! Maybe mine will ship out this afternoon. I doubt it, they probably have to complete all orders before mine before doing so. The only emails I have received is for the confirmation of order.

Edit: My CW has been shipped!

 

I for one, do not need core i7, blu-ray, or 8gb ram. I am perfectly content with a core i5, hell even an i3 if I dont bother with gaming (not that the core i3 wouldnt be able to handle it either). I have been fine with integrated graphics, but a step up to 310 or 330 would be great for gaming and 3d rendering.

And best of all, it is in a nice cheap, sub $1k mark, so us poor college students can have a great machine and still have all bodily organs intact.

So how, again, is the cw pointless? In a few years you will realize you don't need the best upgrades or most expensive machine to have a great running laptop.

 

same here

 

Oh man it's shipping from Ohio..I'm in California

Shoulda picked a faster shipping option lol

 

I'm in VA so I'm closer to Ohio...but since UPS doesn't deliver on saturday, i'm still getting the laptop on Monday

My wife's CW only took 2 days, so I would've been set if they had shipped it yesterday, lol.

 

Do explain.

Starbucks did not even remotely cross my mind when I bought mine. Heck, I don't even go to that place at all or even drink coffee for that matter.

 

That's funny. I guess the new batch got sent to some DC over there.

When I got my CW, it shipped out from Fresno. I hope you guys enjoy your laptop when it arrives.

 

+ Well said! I don't need the biggest and best laptop. And nor do I feel like spending tons of money on one just to have it be obsolete in a few months. I have been looking for a sub $1k laptop with the features of the CW. Something that will run the latest programs as well as any future programs in the next year or so. This seemed like the best value with i5, NVIDIA 330, 14" with 1600x900. Not many if any 14" laptops at this time have those specs. And the ASUS laptops have smaller resolution.

Also, I didn't want anything bigger than a 14". And didn't need an i7.

Please explain how the CW is pointless? And am also interested in the Starbuck poser appeal comment? I do not visit them...

 

Just saw that BB has the white CW26 and the black CW27 as "Sold Out" again. A day after getting them back in.

Good thing I placed my order and it was shipped out yesterday

 

Yes, they are sold out again..lol. I purchased the black version from Newegg.com, for I prefer Newegg.com and FedEx shipping option.

The UPS had been nice to me until new delivery guy came to my living area. He never visited my home but just updated tracking status as "Attempt delivery." He also didn't post any reminder on my door!

But I remember FedEx was nicer when I purchased Apple Macbook fall 2007. They left a reminder and gave me a phone call; he asked me when I can come back.

BTW, Newegg.com price includes sales tax. Even if its price is around $70 more than after-sales-tax-price of BB, the FedEx is a better option for me.

 

No argument here against NewEgg and their delivery. If you want the CW27, need it now, and want solid service, just grab it from them.

 

Yeah except it's still more expensive than BBs price even after tax. Plus Newegg charges tax to CA residents, so add another 9.75% of the total to that final price

Otherwise Newegg is great