My Sony VAIO AR170G Review ***56K STAY AWAY***

fidodido, do you have built-in bluetooth for the laptop? If you do, it should connect automatically. But you have to follow the logitech headphone setup instructions. It should work without the bluetooth dongle that came with the headset as long as your laptop has built-in bluetooth

 

Anyone have any USB 2.0 issues with the AR laptops. Am thinking about this laptop but will be using USB 2.0 2.5 HDD enclosure to do backups and really would like your impressions of how USB 2.0 support is. Thanks.

Gary

 

I've used the USB's for my MP3 player, which runs at 2.0....it seems to work great. Not sure what the possible issues might be that you're wondering about?

 

So when I do a clean re-format install with Windows XP Professional SP2. I need to get an external floppy, and unzip the Raid HDD on to it, and go from there? Could someone help me out and what to do? Thanks.

-Mike

 

Oh man... SO confused on how to install my own XP Pro CD on it...

It won't let. Says it can't read the HDD or something. :/

-Mike HELP ME!

 

Back to USB 2.0 support for a minute. Any options in the Bios that help contorl USB such as Disable/Enable Legacy USB Devices for example. Thanks for any confirmation on this.

Gary

 

For the AR150, BIOS options are minimal. I didn't see any regarding USB settings. I would imagine this is the same for the 170/190's as well, but I could be wrong.

 

Thanks. I guess there might be problems with running USB 2 outside of Windows with my backup program. But, will do some more thinking and checking.

Gary

 

Ok. First, USB 2.0 support is superb. The bios (updated from sony's site) will let you boot off of a 2.0 device, and emulate a floppy. Performance is good.

Now, installing with wierd sony drivers. Best way I've found is to use nlite.exe to create a slipstreamed install disk. Sounds like a pita but nlite is sweet. You can inject raid, net, etc. into the install so you don't need the disks and there are hundreds of tweaks you can do - INCLUDING JOINING AN MCE COMPUTER TO A DOMAIN.

Let me know if you need more nfo.

 

I've been asked to post some more pictures of my screen so people can get a better idea of what the light leakage really looks like...keep in mind, pictures are not completely accurate...but i try to post only the pictures i personally think are most like real-life usage.

First is a picture of my desktop. Notice, light leakage is not noticeable at all:


This is a comparison of the Sony 17in WUXGA v. a DELL 18in LCD (about 3 years old):


This is with a dark background:


This is with Media Center:


This is with a video in 4:3 ratio with a black border on the left and right sides (please note the lamp reflection is coming from the border of the screen, not the screen itself):


Lastly, a video in 16:9 ratio with a black border on the top and bottom:

 

Nice pics....

VAiOWARE,

I have one question. I already ordered the AR170PU2, the day before yestreday. Also i bought the Sony Universal Carrying case that supported the 17 inch screen notebooks. Is this te laptop for me? i mean, i will use it for music, storage, photoshop(alot), rhyno, and all the architecture programs.

Was it worth the buy?
Thanks,
Alexander

P.D can you take a pic of the quality of the camera?

 

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the AR170PU2 and the AR170GU1 ? Is it _ONLY_ the OS, the AR170PU2 having XP Professional and AR170GU1 having Media Center 2005? Because i can't spot any other difference and paying 100 dollar more for just xp professional instead of mce is a bit too much

Thanks.