FW 465 J/H - Initial Review (with more in-depth analysis to come)

Just received my 465 J/H from JandR yesterday. Speedy shipping, as the site said that it ships in 3-5 business days and I received it 4 business days after ordering (though I live in CT, where shipping only takes 1 business day).

My initial impressions are as follows:

-While the shipping was fast from JandR, I was very disappointed to see that the package wasn't double-boxed. JandR did wrap the Sony box up in a rubber-sheet material and taped it up, providing a bit of protection, but would much rather have seen true double boxing with a couple extra layers of protection for the Sony box.

-After seeing a few finishes in person, I decided on the Titanium finish, which is a nice warm silver sheen. The black looked better on screen than in person, and the chocolate brown just wasn't my cup of tea, although the finish is actually the nicest of the three (very refined looking, just a little too dark for me). Overall build and finish quality of the computer is excellent.

-The weight of the FW is very surprising. While it is undoubtedly the lightest of the 16.4" laptops, it actually feels lighter than my old Dell D620. Maybe due to weight distribution (most of it is in the back, near the hinge, where the battery is) or overall unit shape, but either way it feels lighter than it looks.

-The trackpad is merely above-average. I hate trackpads in general, but the Sony FW has a decent feel. The buttons themselves are very sturdy, though a bit stiff. Some people will like the stiff buttons though, as they will definitely reduce accidental clicks. The trackpad on the NW series, in my opinion, is much nicer, as the buttons are a little softer and the trackpad surface itself has a nice stippled glass texture. So, in other words, the FW's trackpad is nicer than HP's and Toshibas, but not as nice as the NW or Apple ones.

-The screen is very good. Not quite up to the level of Apple screens, but very bright and solid. As I stated before, to my eyes, the 1600x900 screen on the FW is not quite as sharp/contrast-y as the screen on the NW, but the color, brightness and viewing angles are as good if not better than the NW screen. Even the glossy screen finish is not that reflective. Brightness was mostly turned down to 75% when I was using it, which was plenty in a brightly lit room

-As someone stated before (I forgot who the poster was), the AC in, in other words the power socket receptacle on the left hinge, has a "mushy" and somewhat loose feel to it. Considering this is a brand new laptop the mushy feeling is not due to fatigue or use. Over time, this could get worse, or it could be a design choice to somewhat circumvent the fatiguing of the ac inlet. In my previous laptops, if this feeling happened, it usually meant a fatiguing AC housing, and would sometimes lead to a replacement for the AC in.

-Egads, there is a ton of bloatware on this thing. I will absolutely do a clean install when I have the time. There are 83 processes running after startup. I don't even think I could name 83 programs.

-The laptop gets warm to the touch in operation, with the most heat coming from the left bottom, where the CPU fan is located, understandably. It is not so hot as to cause discomfort, but will def create a little warmth on the lap. The temps didn't seem to change much as usage changed, as it was consistent from Blu-Ray playback to web usage, etc.

-Initial batter tests are pretty good for a laptop of this size. Basic computer usage (web browsing, emailing, music listening, etc) seems to yield a 2h45m runtime at balanced power setting, longer for power save, while Blu_Ray playback is around 1h40m for balanced and a bit more for power save. I will probably pick up another battery, or the large battery, for when I have to take trips, but overall pretty good for a laptop of this size and screen and features. I didn't futz around too much with adjusting the monitor resolution, though I assume battery life would go up if the resolution was lowered.

-The speakers suck. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Then again, who really uses the speakers on their laptop?

-For the love of everything holy, when will more laptop makers realize that their customers want small power bricks? The one on the Sony is roughly the size of a real brick, and about as heavy. Really kills the rest of the package, and for people deciding between this and an Apple, might be deal breaker if people looking for the most portable large-screen laptop.

To wrap up my initial reactions, so far my reactions are positive, and I can't wait to start doing some real work on this unit after a clean Vista install and installing a bunch of my own stuff (Photoshop, AutoCAD, games, music, etc.). In my opinion, the FW is the best value for a laptop under $1,000 (after Sony rebate and Bing cashback). I will post my later reactions as they come along, and will try to answer any questions that you might all pose.

 

Chung - Good review with some new info - Thanks. I have been looking at the FW490 on-line - your review has convinced me to look elsewhere for a 15"-16" with Blueray. My Toshiba NB205 was from J&R by the way - and it was packed in a protective box. Thanks again and + rep...

 

Are you aware of the fact that the screen in the FW465 is the lower-end Sony screen? So a comparison to Apple's dual-lit might better be FullHD to Apples rather than apples and oranges ;-).

Just wondering what in the review above was so "convincing" that it sent you packing. Yeah, power bricks are a pain, but is that really the reason for choosing another conmputer? And does anyone really use a notebook on the lap without a board or a cooling pad, knowing that all of them vent on the bottom as much as on the sides? Hmmm....

Good luck anyway!

 

I can certainly see where a power supply might be a deal breaker...

 

Daiumn! I thought Apple was all about quality.

 

It could be worse. Japanese Vaio FWs are running about 105 processes out of the box.

Great site

 

I thought Apple was all about quality.

Forget quality, how about safety? That kind of crap can cause fires! No wonder they've been so reluctant to admit the problem. They're all about what looks good, where function follows form. Hey, it sells, good for them...

 

So what made you buy 2 Apple notebooks? And how do you like your FW compared to the Apple notebooks you've owned?

 

You're right. How could I forget about the Dell battery and adapter recalls -- especially since I had four of their laptops in a row with the overheating issues!

 

...how do you like your FW compared to the Apple notebooks you've owned?

My oldest son was required to buy a PB G4 for Digital Design. Two years later, we replaced it with an MBP. His mother and I acquired the PB. This is when I learned machines with the hype "they just work", can be afflicted with " spinning beach balls of death", " kernel panics", and require " force quits". I handle the power adapter very carefully, and have strategically placed rubber bands for strain reliefs.

The FW-465 is for our younger son's HS graduation, and is still sealed in its shipped condition from J&R. Not sure how it will compare, but how much Mac can I buy for $1,000.00?