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    Exchanged a SONY VAIO FW Series for an AW Series for less than $20!!!

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by ErikAllen, Nov 7, 2008.

  1. ErikAllen

    ErikAllen Newbie

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    I'm envoking my 30-day return policy priveledge and sending back my 2-week old FW290. BTW, I loved that computer... returning it for something even better!

    With the current SONY VAIO sale going on, the price was almost exactly the same between the 2 computers after my $200 discount for adding an AC adapter with the laptop over the phone. The configurations are the same, but the AW includes a few "changes":

    --------------------------------------------------------

    Product: VGNFW290-CTO
    Component: LCD 16.4" (XBRITE-FullHD™)
    Component: 320 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [7200 rpm]
    Component: Large Battery
    Component: WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n) with integrated Bluetooth® Component: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3650 with 512MB vRAM
    Component: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9400 (2.53GHz)
    Component: DVD±R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive
    Component: Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit
    Component: 4 GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GBx2)
    Per Unit Price: $1,749.99
    Subtotal: $1,749.99
    Tax: $134.88
    Shipping: FREE
    Total Price: $1,884.87

    I also purchased seperately an AC adapter from SONY over the internet with no further discount.

    Product: FW Series AC adapter
    Per Unit Price: $73.56
    Subtotal: $1,884.87
    Total Price: $1,958.43


    --------------------------------------------------------

    Product: VGNAW190B-CTO
    Component: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9400 (2.53GHz)
    Component: TV Tuner
    Component: WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n) with integrated Bluetooth®
    Component: Extended Battery
    Component: Blu-ray Disc™ Read and Write Drive [Regular price $100]
    Component: XBRITE-FullHD™ (1920x1080)
    Component: 4 GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GBx2)
    Component: Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit
    Component: 320 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [7200 rpm]
    Per Unit Price: $1,744.99

    Product: AW Series AC adapter
    Per Unit Price: $89.99
    Subtotal: $1,834.98
    Tax: $141.02
    Shipping: FREE
    Total Price: $1,976.00

    --------------------------------------------------------

    So, after all is said and done... my bigger badder AW190 cost only $17.57 more than my beautiful FW290. I'm so stoked I checked the site again within the 30-day period!

    Now... I need a backpack to fit this monster! Does ANYONE know of a packpack (not a messenger bag or briefcase) that can hold this guy? Please send in ALL recommendations.

    I'm wondering if the Targus XL17 will fit since most people say that it has plenty of room with a 17" widescreen in there. Can anyone supply the interior (laptop compartment) dimensions of their large backpacks?

    Thanks for your help!
    :cool:
     
  2. Wolfpup

    Wolfpup Notebook Prophet

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    I'm totally confused by what bag you'd need to. I keep hearing that a lot of 17" notebooks don't fit in most 17" bags...and this thing is 18.4"!

    (And REALLY awesome looking from what I could see at the store :)
     
  3. ErikAllen

    ErikAllen Newbie

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    I know... the bag is going to be a challenge. What's comincal, is there is a SONY bag just for the AW series... but a search for it yields it at tons of stores, with all of them out of stock or on backorder. And when calling SONY, they had no idea what I was talking about and said they don't have a backpack for a VAIO that large. I'm in a crunch...
     
  4. Lattice

    Lattice Notebook Evangelist

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    Check the official AW owners' thread. A couple people there have discussed and found laptop bags for the AW.
     
  5. maxoutjunkie

    maxoutjunkie Notebook Enthusiast

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    Couple of questions:

    Do you know what the extended batter looks like on the AW cto? Does it stick out? Vertically? horizontally? at all?

    Also how did you get such a low price on the AW? When I customize it it gets to about $1900
     
  6. ErikAllen

    ErikAllen Newbie

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    Not sure what the battery looks like on the AW yet because it's still processing. If it's anything like my FW with the extended battery... then it sticks out below the base of the laptop. It kind of makes your laptop look like a stinkbug... but it does help with ventilation.

    I got such a low price on my AW because of the deal I envoked over the phone. When I priced out the AW... it was $1944.99. I then added an $89.99 accessory which took the laptop to over $2,000. This enabled me to use a discount that for each laptop that is over $2,000 with an accessory purchase, you will receive $200 off the total price. This took it to $1,800 something, plus tax, free shipping equals $1,976.00. Not too shabby!!!
     
  7. maxoutjunkie

    maxoutjunkie Notebook Enthusiast

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    Oh ok so I guess I hadn't tried calling in to get that deal. I ordered my VGNAW190B-CTO today with the exact same specs without the extended battery. Hoping that the 1 hour + time will be enough to do some productive work on. Super excited about it but the wait is about 10 days right now.

    As for the bag I ordered the VGPMBA10 which is on backorder. I dont mind waiting a bit and getting a good solid bag. If you do find other compatible bags for it please let me know.

    Last, I looked on the accessory site, and no AC adapter or Batter is listed for AW what so ever... weird. Do they have that stuff for the AW at this point or is it just too early to expect those things?
     
  8. Wolfpup

    Wolfpup Notebook Prophet

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    Weeeeeeird. Well it is available on Sony's site...on backorder.

    There HAS to be a cheaper way to house this thing, but given how many problems I've heard people have fitting 17" notebooks in supposed 17" bags...

    I just double checked, and don't see it either. The only way I see it is as a configuration option when you order it. It's $90 when you order it.

    (And I just noticed, I guess it qualifies for their educational discount, so I could apparently get another 10% off...hmm...)
     
  9. Wolfpup

    Wolfpup Notebook Prophet

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    Weeeeeeird. Well it is available on Sony's site...on backorder.

    There HAS to be a cheaper way to house this thing, but given how many problems I've heard people have fitting 17" notebooks in supposed 17" bags...

    I just double checked, and don't see it either. The only way I see it is as a configuration option when you order it. It's $90 when you order it.

    (And I just noticed, I guess it qualifies for their educational discount, so I could apparently get another 10% off...hmm...)