The new Sony FJ Series

The new Sony FJ Series, what does everyone think about them?

Link: http://products.sel.sony.com/fj/fj-2/features.html
Have a read, they seem light and very stylish, I';m checking them against the W3V right now, but I thought this topic would be an intresting one to open.

Dec

 

they sure look nice..but I think its major downfall is the fact that you pay so much for something that has no GPU. I personally would still prefer either the w3v or the chembook 2030 for 14" wxga models.

 

Or wait for the BX series to finally get that X700 out...

 

There was some discussion on this in the news section a week or two ago. The bottom line is that they're vastyl over priced, unless you want to pay $300 for green.

 

Yeh shame about the lack of a GPU, Im off them now, I'm on to W3V (As always) the V6Va and the Sony VGN-S4XP

 

I suggest get Asus laptop. I was disappointed with s4xp with its heat problem and annoying fan that turns on every 10 second. I tried to sleep while my laptop was still on next to my bed, but the fan noise was unbearable.

 

how good is the asus screen? as good as sony xbrite?

 

I also wonder about this... it is the deal breaker for me between the Asus w3v and the Sony FJ..

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

If you want the best glossy screen, get a Fujitsu. If you want to game, the W3v is it.

 

Well, the HP DV1000s and Compaq V2000s don't have dedicated GPUs as well, the Sony FJ isn't alone, but these notebooks really need to get some dedicated graphics when some of their competirots like the Toshiba Satellie M50 series and Asus W3V series have em!!

 

Why a FSC? The glare/glossy of the FSC notebooks do reflect so strong that you can hardly use them, when sunlight is shining into the room.
The XBrite 2nd Gen. are the only glare/glossy screens I've seen that have nearly no reflections.

Are you sure Fujitsu are the best?

 

I sifted through some forums, seems that the asus w3v screen does have backlight issues, but not 100% sure if its the same backlight issues as the S series or totally new issues like backlight glowing.

 

The FJ170 is now available in my local BestBuy and Frys stores ($1499 + tax). It also showed up on Amazon.com today for $1499 - $150 rebate. I placed an order but it shows an expected shipping date of December 30th. Since that is way past the rebate postmark date of December 08, I wrote to Amazon.com's Customer Service. The reply back was to cancel the order since I will most probably miss the rebate deadline.

Wow, Amazon.com are usually pretty quick with getting new items in-stock. Don't know what's holding this package back, they will miss out on the Christmas boom if they can't deliver them in time.

 

I'm very curious to know whether fan noise is reduced over the Sony S series.

If anyone has first hand knowledge...the stores are always to noisy to tell.

Avi

 

just saw teh FJ at fry's the screen is horrible its on par with the toshiba/hp/dell quality , theres a bulb glow on the bottom edge of the screen, the screen isnt anti refflective ie. blue reflection.

 

The screen looks just fine to me. I'm sitting in front of one, and just got back from looking at another. Maybe defective? The screen looks great to me.

~ompa

 

have you tried looking at it with a black screen? or watching movies with top and bottom black bars, the bottom is illuminated, and if you tilt the screen it has extermely bad vertical angle, as is how all the standard screens are nowadays.

 

I've tried with a black screen, and I'm currently going to test with a movie. Thus far, I have no complaints about the screen.

I'm just guessing it's a matter of personal preference.

~ompa

 

The screen looked fine to me too, just like the FS series. Maybe it's personal preference, but I somehow like the white exterior and keyboard of the FS series. I hope the FJ180/white becomes available soon somewhere online. Buying from SonyStyle direct adds a whopping $130 just in taxes! Wish I knew someone working there.

 

Absolutely correct! I thoroughly examined 2 FJ series laptops...1 at Fry's and 1 at Costco. Both had obvious substandard screens. The FS series screens are far superior! Currently, I am waiting on the BX but am cautious to see quality of the new ECO screens on FJ and upcoming FS builds. BTW..Sony has no firm ETA on BX X700 ordering for the next 45 days. Reps say maybe Nov...maybe Dec.

 

That's the possible difference between the x-brite and x-brite eco. I really don't feel the need for the extra brightness the x-brite provides, hence I feel the FJ's screen is fine.

Thus far, the laptop has been pretty good- The screen is really nice, at least in my opinion. I prefer watching movies on the FJ than on my 17" IBM LCD monitor I have now.

The glossy reflections aren't really noticible unless you're really looking, in which case you shouldn't buy the notebook if you're already expecting it to fail all your expectations.

~ompa

 

The new FJ has to be one of the nicest looking 14" machines out there - I am very impressed. One part I really like is where the LCD hings are...that just seems really cool to me.

 

You mean the screen that goes below the keyboard level when open? I like that as well, been a feature on some of Sony's for a while.

 

Finally someone with good eyes!!

yah i kind of think the bx screens will come out as bad, "but" the FS eco screens dont seem to have that glowing problem the FJ has, might be a 15inch vs 14 inch issue, i really think they should have a xbrite regular choice for the bx but oh well cant win em all.

 

Something is extremely odd then. I have watched 4 different DVD's on my FJ, and I notice no alteration between the color of the top and the color of the bottom, regardless of brightness level.

Please do explain the glowing problem, because I don't seem to have light leakage or any abnormal "glowing" issue on mine. I of course can take pictures if it is asked of me, but it might take a few hours, up to a day, for me to get them up.

I WILL agree that the x-brite eco screens aren't as bright as the x-brite screens, but hey, it is called eco for a reason.

~ompa

 

its not the brightness tahts the issues its light leakage at the bottom edge of the screen. have you tried using the laptop in a pitch black room? even in a brightly lit store i can see the light leakage, especially in vertical angles.

Is your FJ model UK or american?

 

American.

I guess I can see the brightness in the bottom that you speak of, but only when the screen is not in the proper viewing angle. I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. I wouldn't be using the screen in a non-optimal angle, so it doesn't bug me. I'm actually looking at my laptop next to me right now in a dark room, in reponse to the post. It in all honesty seems fine to me, unless you look at it from some pretty extreme angles.

Following was posted on notebookforums as well, as per request of Dave:

First, I do not claim to be an expert with cameras. I admit, the settings are a little off, and I claim responsibility since I didn't try to set it to night mode while taking some of the pictures in the dark. Everything was set as full-auto, with flash off. Camera is a Minolta G500 5mp camera; if anyone has any advice as to how to take some better pictures, as in how to play with settings, I'd love to do so.

All pictures were taken with screen brightness set on lowest, unless otherwise noted.

Give me a few days and I'll try to get some GOOD images of just the laptop itself, in normal light. You know, outside appearance and all.


/\dark room, dvd, tilted towards/\


/\dark room, dvd, tilted towards/\


/\dark room, black screen (after windows startup before welcome)/\


/\low brightness, mediocre bright surroundings/\


/\high brightness, mediocre bright surroundings/\

As for any future questions about undervolting; my cpu temp is approximately around 40 celsius with basic tasks. Harddrive is around 34-36celsius. I have not tested using games yet, so obviously processor speed idles around 800mhz. CHC was used for the undervolting. I will take pictures of the stats when I take pictures of the rest of the laptop. I *promise* better pictures next time!

~ompa