Sony VAIO TT-290 Endless Problems

This is a new model so I have failed to find anything about it on the web, but I am at my wits end with this thing.

I have had three completely unique systems built of the TT-290 and they all shipped with problems.

The first arrived with a touchpad that performed terribly. Responsiveness was very poor. 1 out of every 5 swipes of the finger failed to move the mouse. I could never pinpoint the mouse over a small link because it would go past it due to poor sensitivity. I tried every setting including advanced hardware settings to no avail.

So i returned the laptop and paid another $3,000 to have another one custom built, and i sat and waited 2 weeks for it to arrive. When this one arrived, the touchpad worked fine, but the Optical CD drive was broken. Sounded like a motorcycle when it would run. In addition to this, sound files seemed to sputter and fail. Most of the time only playing the second half of the sound file, if at all. Tiny click sounds never were heard because they were not long enough to have a "second half". Frustrated, I packed it up on the same day and shipped it back.

Sony kindly required me to BUY a third laptop for anothe $3,000 while I had yet to receive a refund on the first two. And I waited another 2 weeks. This one arrived with the same touchpad problems as the first one. With a slight twist. Swiping seemed fine but 50% of the tapping clicks I have to click once, twice, sometimes three times before it will register. At first, purely out of exhaustion, I tried to ignore it. But now I am going insane. This is obviously a driver problem as it seems to improve to perfection when I reinstall the drivers, only to degrade very quickly.

On this laptop, as with the others, the sound files fail to play fully. Only the second half plays of everything. It makes this insanely expensive computer seem like a rickety piece of crap.

I have contacted SONY and been told point blank "there is no way to report problems with sound or touchpad drivers. We have no feedback options for you". Astounded, I gave up. Even more astounded when the retarded outsourced support rep demanded to connect directly to my computer to diagnose the touchpad problems.

It took him about 15 solid minutes to figure out that he cant duplicate a problem that requires a finger to be touching the touchpad.

I have now tried three of these, and I am convinced the software provided is insufficient and faulty both for sound and touchpad.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Some guys talk about installing other touchpad drivers but I do not know which ones will work, or where to get them. Apparently some better sound drivers are in order as well. I am using the Windows XP downgrade - which by the way is a favorite scapegoat for support. "Ohhh! You downgraded to XP. not all features will work wit" (interruption) Me: "your website states the only thing that may not work is the bluetooth. Sound drivers and touchpad are not included in this". I love educating trained techs on things ...

Sorry for my sarcasm. Just burnt out.

Help

 

Sorry for to hear about all the problems that you are facing. I was interested in the TT but now I have changed my mind with the issues that you are facing with (not only that but it seems that the TT cannot use a 2.5" sata hdd).

I wished that the TT was kept virtually the same as the TZ with just the updated internals. Here's waiting for the T(x) model next year!

 

It seems that you're having some problems with your drivers as you yourself have mentioned since you installed XP. I left the XP touchpad link in the TT thread.
Do let us know if the drivers helped in anyway.

If you're using realtek audio you can try downloading the Z1 audio drivers for XP.
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/Z11_WITHOUT_DISC/DRIVERS/

The TT uses a 1.8 5400 SATA HD to keep the weight down. In benchmarks this drive performs ok. Using a 1.8 5400 SATA probably has other benefits as well in the way of power consumption and heat.

 

same with me

but mine's with Z690...

I returned 4 Z690... paid for it three times...

got all the refund....

I am seriously reconsidering about VAIOs...

 

I believe the TT can use a 2.5" hard drive, but it has to be in place of the optical drive (so the config would be 1.8" + a 2.5"), and you have to order it that way.

Re neverwana's problems with the TT -- maybe he's been remarkably unlucky, but the problems he's experiencing don't appear to be common -- i.e. I don't think anyone else has raised these issues in the TT owner's thread. There have been complaints about the build quality, but not about the touchpad and audio.

Neverwana, if I were you I'd reset it to factory config (with Vista) from the recovery partition, and see if everything works. I know you want to use XP, but that would be for the purposes of diagnosing -- at least you could then confirm with greater certainty whether it was a hardware problem or driver issue. If it's the XP drivers, then you can perhaps try the drivers that rachuk suggested.

 

What sorts of build quality issues are there known to be?

 

Nothing that really impinges on function. In my experience it's the trim and also the screen lid which has a tendency to separate slightly while being held. I can excuse that sort of build quality issue on a netbook, but not on a machine of the calibre of the TT - especially as I've never seen similar issues on previous Sony ultraportables before.

I used to think pretty looks masking crap build at the upper end was the sole domain of Apple - but Sony worryingly seems to be occupying the same space with the TT, although the machine itself is still a functional and engineering wonder compared to things like the Crapbook Air.

I'm in the process of giving all my TT's the boot for these problems, and also because the design has completely failed to grow on me. The TZ was just right - stealthy, classy and sharp - but bloating it out and giving it silly painted plastic accents just makes it look like a $400 netbook, *not* my style. Replacement still undecided - most likely to be more Z's.

 

The TT290 model is still fairly new overall, so you arent going to be able to google and find problems just yet. The Sony rep at the Fashion Valley San Diego sonystyle store told me "Yeah people keep coming in with complaints about the touchpad not responding". When asked if it was a software driver issue he said "No its a design issue".

Conversely, the Sony sales guy on the 800 number told me "All the guys here use the TT - its the ultra portable and we're always traveling and honestly none of them have mentioned a touchpad problem"

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I initially thought this may be a weird new Solid State Drive conflict of some sort. On the first TT model my touchpad would degrade significantly while loading up large programs, or doing many "processes". Same with the sound. The sound files seem to "struggle" sometimes. I am at 4 gig and the fastest optional processor with a 64 SSD. who knows.
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Keep in mind I am coming from the TZ model which has a *very* different touchpad. Its like sandpaper, and I hated it at first, but soon enjoyed the texture, as it definitely improved sensitivity and responsiveness. The TT model has a very smooth, waxy surface and I have a feeling that is playing a role. I may just be used to being able to delicately whisp my finger and slightly "tap" to click links .... and maybe with the TT you really have to be more deliberate.

I genuinely have tried three TT290's now, and yes - even in Vista, the touchpad had some issues. The first one it would ignore 1 out of 5 finger swipes but I had no problem with tapping. The second one I didnt even bother checking because the DVD drive was so loud. This third one is moreso a tapping problem.

Ill try the driver suggestion. As for the sound card only playing half of the sounds - definitely a driver issue. Occurred on all three models.

As for the guy who said he is reconsidering the TT - dont get me wrong, this thing is awesome speedwise and every other way. I wouldn't even worry about the design flaw comments as all the Vaios of this size have had that weird "loose" piece in the back (its actually the battery not fitting snug). It will drive guys like him and me crazy but the average person wont mind.

Maybe you will get one that has a good touchpad. I may have just been unlucky . Three times.

Case in point, i just browsed 10 web sites with no problem, swiping and clicking, but when I tried to click "Edit" on this post, I had to click it 4 times before it registered. That may be why some guys dont consider it a problem.

 

I wished the design was kept the same as the TZ (I really loved its design) and the internals upgraded.

The touchpad not registering correctly or functioning as it should would bother the hell out of me as the keyboard and touchpad is the most important factors of a notebook. I never use an external mouse with an ultraportable.