Bit the Bullet - Ordered the VGN-G1 With the 32GB SSD Today

I'll post my findings once I get it in a few weeks. Can't wait.

 

cool, you'll have to run HD tune, to see HOW fast the SSD really is!!!!

enjoy.

 

The Vista HDD speed rating on a UX390 with the SSD was 5.9 I believe, maybe higher. I'll have to check again sometime soon, but it was impressive, so I'd imagine the G1 will follow.

I think you'll like it FenderP, it's a slick notebook and so thin and light. I've only seen one and was impressed by it.

 

Sadly, it may have a higher experience rating than my SZ LOL

My goal is to carry a small 7200rpm USB drive as well and use the 32GB for Windows, apps, and current documents. Even still, my total weight will be well under 3lbs. Not bad.

 

It shipped today ... will have it tomorrow and will do a review if I get the chance. Going on the road Thursday so it'll be the first test ...

 

What made you choose this or the upcoming TZ? I like the G, but wish it was widescreen.

 

Same! I was consider buying a TZ since my T series broke. I also really like the G series but 4:3 isn't my thing.

 

Well, I had been eying the G ever since it was introduced. When I ordered it - a mere 2 days before the TZ was introduced - it was the only thing close to what I wanted. The second Sony announced the G with the 32GB SSD, I wanted one.

Standard aspect ratio doesn't bother me at all. I don't watch a lot of movies, so widescreen is not a concern. For how often I watch, I'll take boxes on top and bottom (as I do on my TV at home). One of the main things for me was weight and features. You don't find many full featured laptops that are literally 2lbs. Also battery life and along with the weight, size and portability were key factors as I'm on the road a lot. Durability also factored in as it is more like Panasonic's Toughbook series. I've gone through enough notebooks in the past few years to know I need something that can stand up to the ins and outs of airports, etc.

As I've stated in the TZ thread, the T series has always had a nice screen (like my premium SZ does), but the resolution of 1366x768 doesn't do it for me at all, and I've played with the TX and tried to change the resolution to something more palatable and it doesn't work for me. WHat teh SZ does is just fine by me, and I wish that Sony would take that approach.

Would the G be better with a C2D U7600? Sure, but for when I need more power, I can drag out the SZ (which I mainly got to write my book on the road since I needed to have many VMs running at once). I'm looking forward to lightening my load again.

 

Please let us know how you like it? It will help those that have the TZ on order...at least for a little while. BTW, I was about 1 heartbeat away from ordering a G a couple of months ago. It is a very nice machine.

 

I got it and am setting it up ... will have more to say this weekend.

I also need more memory, so right now I'm not getting my "full power"

 

Almost done setting it up. I did find out one thing: the G does not like the 2GB SODIMM. It wouldn't boot up, so there's no way it could go to anything greater than 2GB of memory. Thanks for limiting the BIOS, Sony!

Luckily I had a spare 1GB SODIMM floating around, so I'm good with 2GB of memory.

I'm also doing a bit of experimentation: instead of carrying a spare hard drive, I'm ordered a 16GB flash drive. I'm going to run some VMWare images off of that and when I do my full report, I'll let everyone know how it goes.

If you're curious about space and the SSD, it fits all of my program files + some personal files. I still have about 5GB of the 30GB usable left. I did install some big programs (like Photoshop), so the average user will have a lot more space than I do left.

The experience so far is good. More in a few days after it goes on the road, but I'm happy with it.

 

what OS are you running?

And what other big programs have you installed? Trying to get an idea of how much space would be left after the OS and critial apps.

 

Vista Business is the OS. I installed most of MS Office and the Adobe Creative Suite 3. I didn't install every feature of each, tho.

Adobe is a real killer lol

 

FenderP wrote: "Vista Business is the OS. I installed most of MS Office and the Adobe Creative Suite 3. I didn't install every feature of each, tho."

How much SSD space is left then?

 

Right now, about 5GB but I also put some personal files and such on which is taking up room.

 

silly q but one which I cannot get a direct answer ... am I correct in assuming that a HDD is interchangeable with a SSD? - i'm real tempted to order and swap (if poss.) my curren 160GB HDD with a 32GB SSD (what with the benefits of speed and durability)!!

 

As long as it's the right size (1.8 or 2.5") and the right connector for your laptop, it should be plug and play as any HD replacement.

 

I understand that most of the SSDs out right now use the U-ATA connectors and most of the newer laptops have the SATA connectors. Make sure whichever SSD you buy has the same connector as your current HDD.

 

I'm interested to hear too. How does the extended battery for the laptop look like? Will it protrude from the back or elevate the laptop?

 

Nope, fits right in. No bump raising it or extended behind the laptop like on the TZ or SZ series. That's both good and bad. I kinda prefer the bump at the bottom a la the SZ as it increases a bit of airflow and raises the laptop a little, but that's a preference. Most like a more uniform look, and Sony delivered it.

The G is quite a nice bit of engineering the fact they could get everything in a 2lb package even with the extended battery is insane.

I'm on a week long business trip and my SZ is at home. I'm not really missing the SZ yet ...

 

Wow, where did you get this information? I always thought the extended battery would make a large bump at the back, just like every other laptops.

 

If you look at the thread, it's pretty clear I own it, so that's how I know.

The G is quite a different beast.

 

Hi FenderP,

Just a quick question, because I'm close to grabbing one of these svelte machines...

How is the keyboard on it? I know it's a 12incher and on my apple 12s I've had no complaints with the keyboards, but I've heard the G has a little bit smaller keys. How do you feel with them? Also how does the stroke length feel?

I've used the TX and found it too small. Can't remember how the SZ felt though.

 

The SZ is full size and I quite like it (some don't). This is more of a traditional keyboard feel unlike the TX/TZ keyboard which has slightly different action (but similar). However, it is a bit smaller and it reminds me a lot of the keyboard on my old JVC 741. If you found the TX too small you may find the G similar.

Having said that, if the TX wasn't your cup of tea feel-wise, you may really like the G. For me, it was just a matter of adjusting to a smaller keyboard again since I've done it in the past. (Also, truth be told, I don't have very thick hands, so my experience may be fine where someone else's isn't.)

 

Fender

Now that you have been using the SSD, can you give some impressions of it? In terms of boot time, opening apps, noise or lack of, heat....

Was it worth the premium that you paid for compared to a 5400rpm drive? If you had to do it again, would you do the same?

 

Overall, it is generally snappier than my 7200rpm in the SZ. At this point I wouldn't use a 5400 in any machine I'd ever own. I replaced the standard drive in my SZ day one with a 7200. Speed is as good as or slightly better than my 7200rpm. Boot time is great - definitely quick.

Where I am noticing a bit of a "lag" is the single core. For example, in Outlook 2007 when you log in and have multiple accounts it's updating, on my SZ, I can click between them as it's updating with no problem, but on the single core, you pretty much have to wait a few seconds or so until the processor can handle the request. This was one of the things I noticed when I went from the Pentium M 1.73 of my Sharp to the Core Duo 2.16 of the SZ. To date, it's the only real slowdown on the G I've noticed. Everything else for the most part seems about as snappy as my SZ for normal tasks, which is quite surprising considering the clock speed is slower and I was even expecting it to be slower. So I'd say if you're getting the TZ with a Core 2 Duo, you will most likely NOT have this issue.

Similarly, depending on how much you are starting with your OS, obviously a single core is going to start those in a more serial fashion, so I would say your Core 2 Duo ULV in the TZ would handle it a bit better. That said, it's fine. I'm just noting differences in using as Core Duo and going back to as single core; none of this is drive speed related.

Space is obviously an issue, but a thumb drive (such as a 16GB) or external HDD solves that problem. I did get a 16GB thumb drive from newegg and it works like a champ I even ran some VMWare images off of it. When the 200GB 7200rpm drives get out there in mass quantities I may get one, but I'm OK for now.

The drive itself is silent - and that makes sense, no moving parts. It's nice not hearing the drive whirr

It doesn't add any heat per se. The bottom left side of the G gets hotter than my SZ, but to me it's due to the design of how Sony is moving air vs. how they did it on the SZ. The TZ I'm sure is 100% different, so I can't say how it will be different from the G or SZ.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. I think when the consumer 64GB ones hit the market, it will be a no brainer for anyone assuming the price isn't too crazy.

 

That's the one. WIth a rebate and sale, it cost me about $125 from newegg. Not too bad.

 

What kind of VMware images are you running off the flash drive?

 

Haven't tried my clusters yet, but my domain controller and standalone SQL Server images work just fine.