Sony Vaio T350P Touchpad problems

I'm on my second Sony Vaio T350P laptop in two days. Both of them have exhibited the same problem right out of the box. The touchpad is sluggish and occasionally unresponsive when it is running with no network connection or when using the built-in wireless to connect to the internet. If I connect to the internet using the built-in ethernet port and a physical cable, the touchpad becomes extremely erractic and unresponsive. The computer is pretty much unusable at that point until I remove the network cable. Both units came from the same retailer, and I was thinking maybe this retailer received a bad lot. Does anybody else have hands on experience with one of these units? Any ideas? Should I run away from this model as fast as I can?

 

This is a follow-up for anyone interested or who may be able to help or advise me.
I returned the second T350P unit with the intention of buying some other brand. However, after looking at a few models, I realized that the vaio really is what I am looking for (minus the touchpad problem of course). So I decided to try the VGN-S460P. Unfortunantely, (Sigh!!) after getting it home, I found it exhibited the exact same behavior. Here are a few more details for anyone who may be able to help me.

1. After working with all three machines I now realize that the responsiveness of the touchpad is below par of what I was used to on my old Sony Vaio (a PCG-GRZ660) but may be the norm for these new machines.

2. The most significant problem (the touchpad becoming unusable) occurs when I connect any of the machines to the internet via the built-in ethernet port. As soon as I remove the ethernet cable the touchpad returns to its former state (sub-par but useable).

3. If I connect the machines to the internet via the built-in wireless the problem with the touchpad does not occur.

4. I am using a linksys wireless router which is providing the connectivity in each of these test cases. I have used different ports and different cables on the router with no success. Other brands of laptops and desktops connected via cable to the router are not having any problems.

5. Sony Technical support tells me that they have no record of this type of problem occuring with the T350s.

The same problem on three different Sony Vaios!! ... One of a different model!! ... What am I missing??

 

Well .....
After discussing my observations with Sony Techsupport, I took the new S460P to the home office of a co-worker. I powered it up there and used the touchpad for several minutes with no noticable problems. I then connected an ethernet cable from her Linksys router to the laptop and continued to use it including surfing the web with no noticable problems. It definitely behaves differently in my home office, even when it is not connected to the network and not plugged in to any electrical outlet. Don't know if theres too much static electricity from the carpet, too many pieces of equipment plugged into too few outlets, my Linksys router going bad, or some combination of each. Whatever it is doesn't seem to affect my older Gateway and Sony Laptops which also have touchpads.

Since I really like this unit, I'm going to stick with it for now and see if the touchpad continues to work reliably as I use it at various other sites.

I hope this update (reply to my own post ) is useful to the community

 

in my t250 this problems appear some times on windows but in linux this problem is massive! :S

but this for me is a minor issue...

i will sell my t250 when the new T thats just now in the japanese site will be released in europe

 

I have a T2XP (Uk model) and i have some touchpad problems put they are only minor to what yours sounds like! i only use the wirless and its only constantly and about maybe once a day it sort of stops moving then jump all over the place, but that it, usally not even that often.

Cameron

 

Sorry to bring back an old topic, but I've used several Ts for extended periods of time at retail stores and have never experienced what you guys have, I found the touchpad to be excellent.

 

FYI - Same experience here. With a Cat5 Ethernet cable connected via Belkin router results in erratic response from VAIO TR3A touchpad. Wireless is switched off on laptop. When I disconnect 5e patch cable - then touchpad returns to normal sensitivity and accurate response.