SB series has terrible design/ build quality issues

That's what I was thinking too. FWIW mine came with a Hitachi.(5400rpm)

Regarding the lid flex, it's a design decision by Sony...remember seeing a video of their Z and how the screen bends without breaking like bamboo. With my past 2 Sony laptops, I've carried them in my backpack on less than gentle trips and never had an issue with the LCD.

 

you actually can its called the ZM 68 chipset. The problem is that its not released yet

 

Sounds like Sony has sold a defective horribly made machine using cheaper components not built to their own listed specification and got a high asking price where people wanted the Sony based on name and perceived quality and the like.

It sounded great at first and VAIO's in the past have been well received especially on previous models.

Too bad Sony couldn't deliver.

 

I guess the real question is how do you think the sb will hold up, I am looking to you current sb owners. Would you recommend this notebook to another interested party? Does it feel sturdy, or do you think these issues will lead to trouble down the road. More specifically, Mr MM I am looking at a build quite similar to yours. Thanks for the thoughts in advance.

 

everyone who holds the laptop in his hands thinks its a great machine, the build is sturdy and even though the screen bends a little its not really a problem.
Issues i can think of are only usual hardware issues that arise with almost every laptop. the overall build quality is great and the gaps in the mouse button's are the only real flaws in this laptop.

 

Nutral, do you own an sb and if so how hot does it get underload, and how sufficient of a job does it do with cooling itself? Thanks again.

 

Cooling is ok, although could be better, the laptop itself gets warm when under load, i haven't really put it under load that much so i don't know. too bad the screen hinge covers the outtake, so in full load the cooling is inadequite.

 

Went to the local sony style store and looked at their $999 model. It's sturdy, touchpad works, has a nice backlit keyboard, display looks good (enough), and the unit felt really light. It seems pretty standard. Great processor and GPU. Good pricing. I don't see any real gaps, granted there's no fingerprint reader on this unit. I remember checking the dvd drive to see if there was a gap underneath the unit, and I don't recall seeing one... pretty impressed, ordered a white i7 2620, 6630m, 500gb 7200rpm ($1350 CTO + $250 ADH W - 10% off total purchase for student discount). I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's looking for a "premium" laptop, they will be disappointed because the color is a shade lighter than white (jk).

 

I see what you did there

Sound like you ordered a nice one, I also went with white but just stepped up the processor with the i5 2520. Did you happen to see a white one at the Sony Style store? Any thoughts?

 

I looked at the black one and from that, I was confident I'd be pleased with a white one or grey or brown. Call me easy.

 

Ha, I actually did pretty much the same. I'm looking forward to the white, a bit of a change form me from my usually aluminum and black laptops.

 

Haha, you are the winner sir. :laugh:

 

was it supposed to be the momentus drive? If so, the lack of it is most likely due to the fact that issues recently came up with that drive. Long term users began to experience issues.

 

Why does no one order the purple one I'm really eager to receive mine, since I couldn't find any real life pictures of the purple one..

I expected the white one to be a bit more plastic-like, but even the white one already looked quite nice at a local store, with the exception of the grey plastic keys of the keyboard.

 

Maybe because it is supposed to be a business notebook and taking your PURPLE business notebook out of the bag during a meeting can somehow distract people and make them lough !?

 

That's what I call pure awesomeness, but even more disturbing, my 13.3" sleeve (which I bought for my P31F) has some orange accents haha!

 

See how it goes No more complains )

 

cant u guys check if the boot time is fast? it should be less than 30 sec.

 

This is nothing new!

Most of previous Vaio SR has GAP on the DVD drives!

My SR was wobble on one of its feet. Sony sent me replacement feet, but I never bother to take it out and replace it.

If you got problem, call Sony to sent you the replacement part.

1+ year later, now I got another Vaio, its the YB.

 

Why do we keep pulling up this thread?

This was a rediculous post about design "problems".

Let's let this one die and post our usual discussions in the right thread:

Sony Viao SB/SA Thread

 

Because they renamed that one to SA only and people don't know what to do with the discussions about SB.

 

Here ya go, problem solved:


SA/SB/SC/SD Owners Thread

 

that sounds bad. have you got refund yet?

 

Ya, I am sending it back.

 

You don't even need to connect it, SB is WIDI ready, with WIDI receiver connect with TV, you can play Blu-ray wireless.

 

That is not correct. WIDI doesn't support protected content.

 

hummm... is that so? could you refer me to the tech doc regarding it?

 

From Engadget WIDI review:

" Additionally, WiDi also doesn't support playback of DRM'd DVDs or Blu-ray discs; when we tried to watch Empire Records on the E205's on-board DVD player we got sound, but no picture on both the laptop and the TV."

Toshiba Satellite E205 (with Intel Wireless Display) review -- Engadget

 

Can's cite this, but I've read in several places that WIDI-2 (1080p, SB cpu only) will support protected content in the not too distant future. It's clearly a licensing issue, not technology.

 

This is a pointless and misleading thread. I own a Vaio SB1S1 and i'm very happy with it. I also own a VAIO Z133 i5-580, which i'm about to give away and keep the SB1.

I previously owned a Toshiba Portege R700 i5-460 and some other 13.3 models - i tried almost every ultraportable 13.3 model i could get my hands on and nothing compares to the VAIO SB1.

The Vaio Z133 is nice but compared to SB:
i hate the USB port placement
there is no USB3
the display flexes and the hinges are not sturdy
the design is not flat and looks old fashioned
the keys are small on the keyboard
Gets hot underneath and blows hot air from the left side (ouch, my leg hurts)

Toshiba portege is awful and here is what made me sick:
Awful keyboard - you just can't type on it
Overheating, even when you just browse web sites
Very loud fan
Toshiba support is non-existent
Feels plastic - awful quality, it flexes everywhere...
Bad display

On the other hand on my VAIO SB1 i'm proud of:
Great keyboard - i can type very fast and feels like a desktop keyboard
Keyboard back-lighting works great
Sandy bridge is very fast (i use an intel 310 SSD and it boots in 20 secs)
It never gets hot - i use my laptop in the summer while i sit semi naked on my sofa and it touches my skin (legs and tummy). No problem at all.
Great quality, people at the office just stare at it. It's super thin and very light, but it's big enough so not to look like a netbook.
Battery lasts for ever... (well, almost)


I'd like it to have a premium quality screen... i miss the great blacks and brightness on the VAIO Z.

And yes, it has a small gap underneath where the dvd is, so what?
i don't have a fingerprint reader on my SB1 and my touchpad keys are ok...

Have a nice day from Greece...

 

^^ on the Toshiba support, I agree. You think Sony is bad? I have had to deal with both (via work), and Toshiba is already on a blacklist. A single entry blacklist

 

My sister is looking for a Vaio, and I recommended her the SB, but after reading this thread I have become nervous. Between the SA and SB, would you say one is significantly better then the other? Which would you recommend?

 

that was because of older Intel drivers. It was a documented fact. Drivers greater than 2.1 support protected content and full 1080p.