Please share Boot time

Hello,

I am currently shopping for a new laptop and have been considered the Sony Vaio's (the SZ to be specific). I am currently working on a Fujitsu S6210 from 2004 on windows XP. My current boot time is about 25 seconds to see the desktop, and then another 30 secs before I can actually run an application.

I have been reading reviews that these Sony machines, while very powerful, have an excruciatingly long boot time of over 2-3 minutes. I would like to know from personal use, what should I expect as a boot time from a new Sony Vaio (both XP and Vista). Also, if some of you have used a Fujitsu lifebook in the past, I would appreciate if you could comment on how much better(or worse) I could expect the SZ to be.

Thank you ~

 

my fe855 with "slower" t5500 processor boots in less than a minute. I havent timed it exactly but it is around 40-50 seconds.

People with slow boots usually havent gotten rid of the bloatware and/or done a clean install. Also they probably havent cleaned up the startup programs and services.

 

My boot time is not a problem. I have the sz491. I only reboot about every week or so. I just put it in sleep or hibernate when i won't be using it or am transporting it somewhere between class/stops. The boot is a bit slow (maybe 2 minutes--haven't timed it. If i have time later i'll get an exact number and post it back), but it doesn't bother me since i do it so infrequently. Vista does an excellent job with sleep and hibernate (one of the things i love about vista over XP) so there is no need to power off and reboot so often for me.

 

Simply put, you MUST at least uninstall the bloatware or else your computer will run like a Pentium 3. A fresh install is preferred.

I understand the purpose of bloatware, but Sony goes way overboard. I don't see how these laptops are even usable for the average consumer with all the crapware.

 

On my FZ190, 2ghz, 5400 rpm drive, clean Vista install, with a wired network connection, a cold boot takes about 35 seconds to get to a login prompt. Another 15 seconds to a usable desktop (i.e. I can start running applications) and another 15-20 seconds till all background jobs have settled down (things like AntiVirus update checking etc.)

It takes a few seconds more if I am running wireless.

Wake from "sleep" state is about 5 seconds.

Wake from "hibernate" is 25 seconds.

(Note: I am absolutely NOT running the Norton crap. It is the single worst piece of cpu and disk speed hogging software I have EVER seen. I am using AVG instead. That one thing makes a HUGE difference in boot time as well as day to day execution speed.)

Gary

 

The corporate version of Antivirus is much better and less intrusive.

 

Are you talking about the server based one that filters things BEFORE they reach your laptop? If so I'd agree. But doesn't that solution require you always use a VPN when away from the corporate site so as to route traffic through the corporate Gateway?

If it doesn't require a constant VPN connection, then it must also install the "standalone" antivirus components on the laptop. And if that is the case, I don't want it anywhere near any machine I own. I have fought the Norton uninstall battle way too many times in the past. It was great before Symantec got in the picture. I used to swear by Norton, now I swear at it. <grin>

The benchmarks I have seen recently on the STANDALONE version that most folks her would be using, show it to really eat a lot of CPU cycles. And it adds a significant amount of time to many disk IO operations. I'll see if I can find the article, AVG was much less intrusive. It was not the absolute BEST, but it is free for personal use and was realy close to the best of breed (I forget which got the actual best ratings).

Gary

 

No it doesn't require a VPN connection....it works just like the retail mickey mouse version. Sometimes you wonder if it's actually working but it will alert you as soon as something critical is about to occur. It does use a little more resources than I would like, but it does a nice job. I have heard good things about AVG too.

 

I use Windows Live Onecare and i really don't feel like it's hurting my performance.... very pleased with the snappiness... I did, however, uninstall lots of bloatware and stuff. I think i've got my system pretty streamlined without all the hassle of fresh install--at least its streamy and dreamy enough for my tastes.

 

Hey, if it works for you, that's what matters. I always do a fresh install no matter what on a new computer.

 

OK I found it. Well, to be more accurate, I stumbled on it today. But here are the benchmarks for the various AntiVirus apps out there. If this doesn't make ALL of you rush to your Unistall panel and ditch Norton right now...well.

Click this link for the real scoop: AntiVirus Benchmarks