My SZ2VP arrived - first impressions

So my replacement laptop arrived. Here are my first impressions compared to my old SZ1VP.

When I opened the box my first pleasent suprise was that the SZ2 had the Carbon Weave top and not the Black Carbon top my SZ1 had.

I then examined the rest of the chassis and it seems far better put together then my SZ1 was. The panel alignment and fit is far better. The DVD drive fits flush. And theres very little play in any part of the chassis. This is probably indicative of the fact my SZ1 was an early machine and this is a second gen machine.

Even the battery fits perfectly with very little movement or play.

The first thing I wanted to test was the spacebar. And I was very relieved to find it works perfectly out of the box. Moreover, it doesn't appear to be raised at all, and I can't notice any difference in the travel and feel of the space bar compared to the other keys.

The last improvement I noticed was with the DVD drive. It no longer sounds like there is a screw loose when it spools up.

All in all I was very relieved and happy.

Now for the bad part. During boot up I noticed a weave pattern in the screen. Its difficult to describe better, but I remember a few other people commenting on this with their machines. Would be interested to know if this was resolved for those people.

Having waited so long I thought I would give it some time to see if the problem improved or I got used to it. However, when I opened a browser I noticed a more troubling problem. On the white background of the browser I could see what can best be described as floating dirt behind the screen. Its reminiscent of the old DSTN screens where you could sometimes see pixels transitioning for no reason.

To be absolutely sure it wasn't dirt I tried cleaning the screen, but the problem was still there. I also tried switching between the GFX cards but that didn't help the problem either.

So my machine is heading back for repair.

I think Sony were quite relieved that I was happy for it to be repaired. But as I explained I am happy to be reasonable when I feel the other party is aswell. I didn't expect them to send a third machine just for the sake of it. These things happened, as long as they are resolved quickly and professionally I'm happy.

Anyway, I must surely be one of the unluckiest Vaio customers. Here's hoping this time it returns working perfectly.

 

"weave pattern", "floating dirt"

What you mean? I have sz250 carbon too. Main problem with my screen its a blue dead pixel in the center. And some few problems like background lamps in bottom and above of screen. And one strange thing maybe you have something like this. On black backround i see its difficult to explain like small circles with a heterogeneous brightness.

 

Weave pattern:

Imagine the interference you sometimes see on a TV signal. Where you have wavy lines/riples going accross the picture. Usually see this when theres another RF device tranmitting near by.

However in this case the wavy lines don't move, they are fixed. And they are in a weave pattern accross the screen.

Like this:

----------
|XXXXXX|
|XXXXXX|
|XXXXXX|
----------

"On black backround i see its difficult to explain like small circles with a heterogeneous brightness."

We may be talking about the same thing. As the weave pattern is more apparent on a black background.

Floating Dirt:

At first sight it looks like the screen is dirty. However, when you look closer its behind the screen membrane. And its not static. Like fuzzy patches which move around. And they are distributed accross the screen, not just in one part.

Both difficult to explain.

 

that weave pattern may not be a defect at all.
glossy laptop screens and cellphone screens all have a diagonal weave type pattern to them. i notice it all the time with both my laptop and my cellphones when i direct light at it at a certain angle. i think it's simply the way they are made, possibly like the carbon fibre weave on the lid.

 

did the weave seem like a colorful reflection? a refraction of light?

 

5to1
I think we talk about same thing. So i have same issue. But it does not bother me to much.
For me problem is more, blue dead pixel in the center of the screen.
And this http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=64370.

 

I've had a quite a few LCD screens, from laptops to phones and monitors, and none have exhibited this.

Its two diagonal weaves, which form a mesh pattern. And it appears to be within the screen not on the surface. I'm pretty sure its a defect. Have shown my brother and colleagues and they felt the same.

Also I think it may be related to the "floating dirt" problem the screen has when displaying a white background.

One I have it back i'll try and find out from Sony what the problem was.

 

I think its on all sz same, with carbon for sure. Maybe you go in the shop and see what on another sz carbon.

Or it is something just with yours notebook?
Yes no crystal white or black a little muddy.
Buy i do not think sony will find one without it if all of them such.

 

My previous SZ didn't have it. So I'm sure its not something they all suffer from.

 

Maybe only those that with carbon case suffer from?

 

It did have the carbon case. Only the finish on top is different, which would have no bearing on the screen.

Both were premium models with the LCD backlit screen.