Do you have yellow banding on your Sony SZ?

Right, as I have said in another thread I am thinking of gettin a Sony VGN-SZ61WN/C (I think thats the SZ680 (carbon fibre edition) over in the US with a few modifications, such as a 2.2GHz CPU, 160GB Hybrid HDD, Black keyboard & 2GB of RAM), but I'm worried about getting one with yellow banding on the screen...

So can you guys please vote here if you have or have not EVER had yellow banding, and answer the following:

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?

How many replacments did it take to get a good one?

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?

What model is your laptop?

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?

Where was your laptop manufactured (will say somewhere on the under side)?


I would mainly like to hear what people in the UK have had (seeing as that is where I will be puchasing mine), and if they had a bad screen, what was their experience with Sony Customer Service?

All others are obviously welcome to post their comments/views too!

Cheers!

 

My SZ650N/C had yellow banding issue..

Purchase date : 17/10/2007
US model
I send it to Sony (one week ago) to fix screen... Still waiting

 

Cheers mate! Your the only one thats replied out of the four folk that have voted!

 

I just got my sz680 2.2ghz today and screen looks good, portable one setup and checked screen before shippping, so I will check this thread in 90 days and report back

 

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?
03/10/07
Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?
US; Best Buy
How many replacments did it take to get a good one?
One replacement.
Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?
Replaced the screen only.
What model is your laptop?
SZ650N/C
Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?
---

 

cheers guys! So far the results are as follows:

6 people have no problem at all

2 people had a problem and got it sorted after a replacement

2 people have to problem, but seem to have not tried a replacment system (yet)

So there's a 60% chance of getting a good one! Keep your votes coming! The more votes the more accurate the results will be (even tho this forum only represents a handful of customers).

 

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?

06.11.2007

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?

Finland, Sony Center

How many replacments did it take to get a good one?

Dont have it back yet

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?

I sent it in to just fix the screen (broken leds not yellow bands!!!) Mind you for replacing the screen ONLY they needed my password... So remove urs if you have before sending it in.

What model is your laptop?

vgn-sz61xn/c (which I think is the one you want, t7500,2gbram,160gb hhd, carbon fibre (not premium carbon fibre ie 691)

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?

Should be pretty shelf

Mind you I sent it to be repaired 6.11 and was first promised 5 business days, later confirmed 10 business days. Today is 7.12 and I'm just getting promises. I've been promised first place in repair queue 2 times now and according to sony support it's been sitting at a tech for 4 business days now. I've sent emails/filled support forms/phoned/talked to sony representatives and nothing. I contacted my neighbour (he's a sony guy in Finland) and he then called and surprise the notebook was taken to repair the very next day. So it's business day 23 now and I'm just starting to loose my nerves.

 

Ouch!! Sounds bad! If I have a problem with mine, I think I'll just send it back to the shop to get a replacement! I'm not sending a brand new laptop off for a repair!

Like I've said before tho, I cant comment on other countries, but from personal experience, Sony UK are excellent!

 

I have yellow banding at brightness levels 1 and 2 (Fn-F5 and Fn-F6). Since I don't use those brightness levels much, thankfully it's not a big problem for me.

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?
15/09/07

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?
A USA SonyStyle store

How many replacments did it take to get a good one?
0

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?
Not applicable

What model is your laptop?
SZ670N

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?
Off the shelf

Good luck!

 

Are you sure Sony UK will just provide you a replacement? It's something that they can fix so I don't think they would.

 

when I say replacement, I mean send it back to the shop, and get them to replace it!

If its only 1 day old, then I can get it replaced EASY! And there's no way im going to call Sony for something that I didn't even buy from them! My contract is with the shop, NOT Sony!

If the shop kicks up a fuss, then according to the distance selling act (ordering online, cos it £200 cheaper) I have 7 days from the day of recieving the item to send it back and get a refund, so I'll just do that then buy another once I get refunded!

And the place I am buying from tend to be quite good at offering replacments or refunds for faulty goods (which it would be classed as), so there's no worries!

Either way, I will get a new one from the store!

And the poll seems to be hovering around the 60% chance of getting a defect free one!

 

I have yellow bends, but the thought of sending it to sony to replace and not getting it back for weeks makes me feel uneasy, so i'll just keep it as it is

 

Where and when did you buy it mate? Please include the country it was bought.

Cheers!

 

I bought it in US this summer, theres some yellow and pink discoloration

 

Yes -- had banding on SZ650.

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?
September 2007

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?
USA SonyStyle online

How many replacments did it take to get a good one?
0 - sent it back for refund

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?
Not applicable

What model is your laptop?
SZ650

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?
Off the shelf

Comments:

For $2000 bucks it better be perfect out of the box. The poll indicates that 20-40% of the SZ series may have the banding problem. That is unacceptable. One in a ten thousand or one in a thousand is a more reasonable quality control issue. I returned mine for a full refund and didn't look back.

I eventually settled on a Lenovo R61i for about $800, not as fast, not as light, and not as stylish, but less than half the price. And you know what, the screen in the Thinkpad is outstanding compared to the Sony SZ series. I am not sorry, in fact I am glad, that I sent Sony SZ back for a refund.

But I applaud all of the loyal Sony customers who wait patiently for an SZ replacement or repair for a problem that should have never been allowed to leave the manufacturing floor.

Another thread on the the SZ screen: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=163135

 

I went through 3 Sz680's before calling it quits. All 3 had some sort of color blanding or leakage. I finally called it quits and purchased a TZ which is known to have almost no screen problems.

 

Yes, but try googling the yellow banding problem, or any SZ screen problem. There's not a single person who has mentioned it on any site other than this one...

So that would indicate its not a wide spread problem. And from what people have posted, all but one with yellow banding have come from the US, the one not from the US came from Finland.

I'd really like to hear of more from people who have had yellow banding that bought it within Europe, or even Japan!

 

I still didn't have yellow banding but leds failing causing black stripes on the screen.. Thus I also voted "No" on yellow banding in the poll

 

i was talking to a sony tech on their online chat and after a short chat she told me to send it in to san diego, im not sure if i want to do that tho... its my only computer and i cant afford to be without my computer for a month...

 

a month! ouch!

When I buy mine, the shop im buying it from won the PC Pro Online Retailer of the year award for 2006 and 2007!

If I have a fault with it at ANY time within warranty (1 year), they will take it in, test it to make sure it is genuinely faulty. Then send me a brand new replacement within a few days!

No messing about with Sony, or not having a laptop for a month!

Its gonna end up costing an extra £50, but for that kind of customer service, its worth it!

 

I've never heard of the banding problem before the SZ6 rolled around. It's a shame; one of the reasons I'm holding out from buying the SZ6 is because of this problem...waiting for Sony to come out with the SZ7.

 

the ppl who are experiencing this problem. where is your laptop manufactured? mines made in japan and i have yet to experience it.

 

good point! I think the US ones might be manufactured somewhere else, cos the Japanese are VERY strict when it comes to the quality of their products! Esp if its something obvious!

And most people reporting the problem are in the US... bar one guy from Finland. And this is the only site that has complaints about it, no other site that google finds mentions ANYTHING about the yellow bands, or anything to do with a dodgy screen!

 

my sz680 says its made in the USA from foreign parts
that explains it those are FRIDAY laptops

I dont know how long these LEDS will last but I have a
Tecra Centrino 2004 and the back light is still going strong
I had the drive fail at just about 3 years. the battery is still going strong on it I can get 4 hours of it still.

I sure hope the Leds last, they are suppose to have a longer life. Isnt that why we pay a premuim for them. If I have a dead battery in a year or failing Leds/banding I won't buy another Sony ever

 

Hi I got my SZ660 while I was on business in Washington DC on the 09/27/2007 from Circuit City, so far I have had the space bar problem which I fixed myself (easy fix see this forum) because Sony UK would not touch it because I got it in the USA, But I have not got the yellow banding, Hope to find a unlock code for the sprint wwlan so I can use it over here in the UK.. The laptop say it`s made in Japan on the label

 

picture says a thousand words so check out my new signature

 

can you please answer the following:

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?

How many replacments did it take to get a good one?

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?

What model is your laptop?

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?

Where was your laptop manufactured (will say somewhere on the under side)?

 

bought it in the u.s this summer from an idividual (not a store)... it's the sz650n, it says made in japan... i also have a question, does everyones sz650 have a sticker on the bottom that says service tag? i have one, im not sure if it was previously sent to sony, or everyone has one?

 

Yes, I have the "Service Tag" sticker on the bottom, and mine has a "Made in Japan" label, too.

 

thanks, for a moment i thought i bought a refurbished unit or something

 

Unfortunately I too have some banding issues, its visible at 1 brightness and is around 4 black bands and disappears at 3 brightness. Its black, not yellow.

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?
10/11/07

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?
HongKong Airport

How many replacments did it take to get a good one?
Still on original purchase

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?
Just discovered it after this thread

What model is your laptop?
SZ58GN/C

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?
Off the shelf

Where was your laptop manufactured (will say somewhere on the under side)?
Japan

 

Raul thats exactly what I had. I'm getting it back today after 37 days.. Wohoo.. They've changed
* LCD UNIT (13.3 TFT WXGA) (S)
* 3980 HOUSING BEZEL ASSY CF CA
* 3980 COVER CAMERA

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

I'm waiting for your comment about replaced lcd unit.... impatiently...

 

Sorry I'll just post this and jump under the bus afterwards. So then, after 36 days of waiting and constantly trying to contact the ppl in France I finally got the thing back, after first being promised 5 and then 10 days MAX. Hmm ok so they overshot a "little". No worries when I see the DHL car drive in to our yard. Impatiently I rip the thing ou of the package and check the comp VERY closely for any dents whatsoever. I also find some but they are almost invisible so I think it's ok. I let the thing warm up a sec and then minutes before heading to school I want to check if the 36days has helped. Well,hmm, this is the point where I want to jump under the bus. Although the black banding is significantly less noticeable I spot the oh not-so-normal vertical band. There is only one now (down from about 8) and this one is really feint (faint?) but IT'S STILL THERE. I checked Sony Center on the way to school and they said that 10 units has been sold and not 1 complaint from them. Hmmmmm. Well I ain't shipping this one to repair but I might return it (already scared the shop guy with court as he said 30d return is max(((it did seem to help though )))). The repair guy has removed my fingerprint power on. They get + for cleaning the whole unit and the repair bill says they've updated my bios. +++++++ for DHL and their really fast delivery. --> to the bus

 

Just though I'd add to this thread that I got my SZ61WN/C on Tuesday the 18th, and I dont have the yellow banding!!

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)? ordered 16/12/2007, arrived 18/12/2007

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)? MoreComputers.com (UK)

How many replacments did it take to get a good one? N/A

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen? N/A

What model is your laptop? VGN-SZ61WN/C

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one? Off the shelf

Where was your laptop manufactured (will say somewhere on the under side)? Japan

 

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?: 12/14/2007
Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?: Amazon.com (USA)
How many replacments did it take to get a good one?: Zero (Returned)
Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen? NA (Returned)
What model is your laptop?: VGN-SZ660N/C
Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?: Off the shelf.
Where was your laptop manufactured (will say somewhere on the under side)?: Made in Japan.

I had a VGN-SZ660N/C (Premium model with LED screen) and it definitely had the banding problem; I noticed it right after turning the system on for the first time and tinkering with the brightness. You couldn't see it unless you turned the brightness down a few notches though (full brightness it was hard to tell though it did look like some parts of the screen were "whiter" than others...). On a white background it was more of a black color than yellow (didn't try testing other backgrounds). It was about four or five black bands running vertical in the center of the screen, and yes they did look like candles. I returned the SZ a few days ago, and now have a TZ which has zero banding whatsoever even on lowest brightness.

 

To above poster,
Exactly same issue, good call on returning.

 

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)?
summer 2006

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)?
on ebay, germany. But it was new

How many replacments did it take to get a good one?
no replacements yet, as i dont have a bill or a receipt coupon for it

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen?
-

What model is your laptop?
SZ4XWNC

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one?
-

Where was your laptop manufactured (will say somewhere on the under side)?
dont know.

Do you think sony would replace my screen even i dont have a bill or an official guarantee coupon for it???

 

Well I never showed any documentation atleast. The only thing they asked concerning the matter was "when did you buy it" and that was over the phone.But I'm afraid your guarantee is over, atleast I got only 1 year from sony.

 

well, i could try to ask the support, however i got the notebook cheap and i do definately love it. Banding issue is visible, but i think im getting used to it.

Cant afford not to have my notebook here for 4 weeks or whatever it takes them to replace it.

 

Mm well it might take 4 weeks but the second time around I had it back after 5 days (sent it friday, got it tuesday), they didnt fix anything this time around though. They claimed that the first time around was a mishap of some sort.

 

I didn't notice this thread started a couple of months ago; I hope you're still interested:

Roughly when did you buy your laptop (dd/mm/yy)? 12/02/08

Where did you buy your laptop (both country and store)? U.S.A., PortableOne.com (laptopsinc.com)

How many replacments did it take to get a good one? n/a

Did you replace the whole system, or just send it to Sony to fix the screen? n/a

What model is your laptop? SZ780

Did you get a custom one from Sony, or an off the shelf one? I think the SZ780 is a configure to order model?

Where was your laptop manufactured (will say somewhere on the under side)? U.S.A. "with foreign components"

I didn't have screen problems, but P1 actually discovered a bad pixel on the one originally meant for me, so they didn't send me that one.