Things that have got me annoyed about VAIO

Let's me start this thread with my reaons:

1. The microphone location sucks. I thought it was decent enough to record a very important seminar, but in the end, i ended up with a 50 min recording of me typing on the keyboard
2. why the heck Macbook get their LED backlight keyboard, even HP is putting that in theirs and SONY has nothing planned out. I can't see sh!t typing in the dark (yes, i don't need to see but there are times u will find yourself searching for keys)

...
lets' go on with the list guys.

 

Did you know these things before you bought your computer?

 

1st of all, no offense. I do apologize if I offend you.

I do have some comments on the microphone. That microphone is only meant for use on video chatting & so on, not for recording some important seminar. IMHO, if the voice recording is so important to you, you probably will want to invest some money on a dedicated digital voice recorder. It will do a better job at what you want it to do. I see this as similar to the case of comparing the quality of photos taken from a cell phone camera & a professional grade camera.

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about the grieve you have in owning your Vaio Z notebook. I sincerely hope you'll have way better luck in the purchase of your next notebook, be it a Vaio notebook or notebook from some other brands. Good luck.

 

Like the others have stated, the microphone is only for use on video chats because you're facing the microphone (simple physics).

Also, I think backlit keyboards are a fad and totally useless but to each his own. If you wanted a laptop with a backlit keyboard, you should have bought one with that feature and not a Vaio.

If you're looking for people to agree with your misinformed buying decision, maybe you should look somewhere else. Sony makes some pretty damn good laptops (to me, they're only second to Apple) but of course, they're not for everyone.

 

I would have liked a backlit keyboard as well. I don't know that they're a fad necessarily but I can live without it. Yet for the money I spent it would be nice to see the keys when I'm fumbling in the dark watching a movie and want to push a button.

 

Well, it's a personal opinion. For me, personally, I don't see the point of a backlit keyboard. I've been using keyboards for quite a while and I type without looking at the keyboard most of the time and the light coming from the screen is enough to make the keyboard visible, especially since my FW is white, it's even easier to see.

 

Are you guys SERIOUS? I'm TOTALLY HAPPY with the purchase but there are things here and there that they should improve and this post is meant to be that way. Macbook pro has the same prob but they fixed by giving a software that you can lower or higher the sensitivity.

I"M HAPPY TO BE A VAIO FAN!!! YOU GUYS TOTALLY GOT ME WRONG>

 

Yeah, I was surprised both Speed and Wolf04 jumped on you, phoebusvh. I know the title is kind of misleading and you did use the angry expression , but if some one only has dissatisfactions at the microphone and the backlit keyboard about a laptop, I'd say that's a happy camper -- in this age of cost-down quality, that's pretty rare, and a really disgruntled user would have much longer list and much more serious trouble.

 

i totally understand where your coming from, i mean, we love our sony laptops, but theres always personal user idea's that we have that we think could make sony laptops a bit better . like other members have said, backlit isnt a necessity but it should be an option that sony should be able to give, i dont know about other companies as much but i know the dell studio 15 has an option to have backlit keyboard or not, becuz i know some users say having backlit makes the keyboard feel less less sturdy or what not. but an option would be awesome

im still deciding between the FW and the Del SXPS 16
the thing is that the XPS16 has the beautiful RGBLED screen, better graphics and backlit keyboard
but also has very very very horrible heat problems, to the point where its extremly hot and even the palmrest and touchpad is too hot to touch. and that glossy full on body is o_0.
FW has 2nd to top screen after the RGBLED i guess for the 1080p and really good graphics card 2nd or 3rd best after the card in the XPS16, and the best is the BEAUTIFUL COOLING SYSTEM, and thats what matters most in my books, so i mean i would love to go for the XPS 16 but im leaning more towards the FW series becuz its more sofisticated and still have class and style. and im loving the chocolate brown colour and i think sony beats apple anyday. so my point is, even if we could go elsewhere, nothing beats sony .

P.S. about the mic prob, i agree with other members since its suppose pick up sound directly INFRONT of a the mic it would most likely only pic up sound from the user or a person right or left to the user, as its used for a voice/video conferencing thing , you can buy a better external mic for your laptop but for the type and quailty of mic that can mic up sounds in a seminar, im gonna say its gonna be quite expensive then your usual mic just a opinion. sorry for the long comment i get carried away sometimes

P.P.S This is totally my opinion and i think that some users might agree, that since Dell has a big majority of the market their slacking off a bit in some area's, just because you been given a warranty for X years doesn't mean it should be used often, most dell users say dell has the best warranty, after few week i had a MB problem then they came and fixed it and then my GPU died they changed again, and the tech forgot to close it properly so he replaced my housing. my brother had his MB changed 4 times in a 1 week period and housing changed twice and DVD drive at least 2 times in the same period. that just seems sad, not something to be happy about.as far as i know Sony has really good customer service, 20 in like a million comps malfuntion or isnt designed properly, happens to all companies,everyone makes mistakes, but just becuz it happens sometimes doesnt mean you should let it happen. sorry for the rant just had to get it out

 

I've owned several VAIOs over the years and I would have to agree the mic locations leave a lot to be desired, but I wouldn't have any faith in a built in microphone anyway. If I really wanted to record something I would buy a mic I could point as the source.

I don't care about keyboard back-lighting. I don't use my computers in the dark because it makes me feel like a loser.

 

Keyboard back-lighting would increase the weight and thickness of the laptop. Sony is known for its ultra portability. Their laptops are lighter and thinner than other laptops in the same class. I wouldn't want to sacrifice portability for something that I don't use.

 

I don't really know what this hype about back-lit keyboards is. Having no idea at first, and hearing that the apple lappies have them, I checked them out.

YOU CALL THAT BACKLIT KEYS????

More like, the edges of the keys are lit up - I was expecting the actual lettering on the keyboard to be lit, like Logitech's backlit keyboard (the thin black one which costs about $80US)!! !! Some marketing gimmick, I'd say...

Personally, I think an LED per key would use up less power than just lighting the edges of the key (but not sure myself - correct me if wrong).
I do work alot during the night, and wouldn't mind having backlit - but apple's example makes me think otherwise...

In addition, the mic is soley designed for video calling - some other brands like ASUS have their mics smack-bang next to the webcam - a tell-tale sign of what the mic is designed for. But maybe also for the occasional voice command. But NOT for recording people's voices in large rooms (maybe a small meeting...?)

Just my 2 cents worth...

 

huh? i thought it look something like this?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hermida/289233192

 

For me, its the accessories. They are all RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED!

 

WOW.
Now that is not something that I saw with the MacBook Pros here...
All I saw was some bright purple lights around the edges of the keys, not the actual keys being lit up... Maybe because it was a lower end MacBook Pro???

Anyways, that is the sort of thing I wouldn't mind having on the Z, so long as we have the ability of turning it off when we want to

 

I can touch type and i used to own a MBP and that came with backlight keys. Really for me it was more of a visual thing over a functional thing.

However, i can see that some people would benefit from having backlit keys. I think that Lenovo implement something a little different but many of their lines are pretty thin and thinner than some Sony's but albeit though a bit less powerful also.

Sony prices for the Z series is pretty extreme right now in the EU. £2,200/$3,507 for a laptop with not even a SSD drive or blu-ray drive is extreme. Prices have always been high in the EU but this is taking it to a different level. At those prices A 256 SSD drive and blu-ray drive should be standard. You can get some CTO cheaper from retailers but then you only have the option to go for a black lid.
The model with a 256GB SSD drive and blu-ray is £3,300/$5,261.
https://www.sonystyle.co.uk/SonySty...00002BC29B8F/48867705D6F90083E10080002BC29B85

Also, they need to work on the Z's fan issues and improve the build slightly.

This doesn't annoy me but i would like them to do something more with the G series and bring it back to the EU.

I'm happy though with my 2 current Sony laptops.

 

Your mic problem has easy fix. As others already explained the build in is for Skype kind of use. You need ext mic and contrary to what some say it wont cost you fortune. However dont buy the cheapest, no name kind. Look for the accecories for portable recording devices for 30-50$ you will get something what will serve you for years. I think the one I use came with Sony DAT, or even some older device also 10-15 years old. It is not that I am such Sony fan that I recommend the brand but because Sony was/is market leader in portable audio for past 30 years, you cant go wrong with accesory mic from Tascam, Fostex or other pro audio brands.
Regarding IBM/Lenovo solution, POS useless , weak good for nothing gimmick, worth 10 cents perhaps. Was one of the reasons ordered Thinkpad- big dissappointment not only with that ( main was horrible display, and my model was their top).

 

Just to join in:
Obviously every microphone on a laptop will record your typing.
Pretty obvious really - and yes, that microphone is for video calls or voice calls.
(Also because sound travels thorugh the actual casin to some extent)

So on that one - do some research previously - I don't tryto get architecture pictures with my mobile phone camera either, guess why.

__________________________
On the backlit keyboards - I don't see the point of one.
Also, its better for your eyes if you don't type in a 100% dark room.
What more, it only makes your keyboard more prone to failure.

Imgine a very light liquid spill on a conventional keybord - say half a teaspoon of water - you won't suffer much damage except if its in the corners - (Don't try!!) - if you have a backlit keyboard it'll be broken.

 

Haha believe me, the positioning of the VAIO mic isnt the worse ive seen.

Ive seen some pretty horrible positioning of Mics in HP laptops, lol. So horrible that.... when you are chatting you'd hear one of the following:
1. Typing
2. Hard-drive sounds
3. Rom Drive sounds.
4. Echoing.

I have seen many of them having the "hard-drive sounds" though. haha tick tick tick tick tick.

 

i was gonna say that if Sony included back-lit onto their VAIO's then it should somewhat be similar to the options etc.. is available on the Dell SXPS13-16. the FN + Right Arrow key is to control the brightness of the backlit keyboard, OFF--1---2. so 3 options i think most people just use 2 or just keep it off. and ive been on the dell threads before and i think(really not sure) one member said that he wanted to change the colour of the backlit LEDS and he found out that when he was getting a replacement from dell he asked to keep the original and he checked it out and said its like a reall thin sheet under the keyboard the LEDS are on there, so i dont think it would really add on weight. and they are using the same exact keyboards sony has been using and still are other than the ones available in chicklet style.

just a wild guess but ive always wondered why backlit keyboards arent as good on laptops as they are on desktop/gaming keyboards, why it shows more on the edges of the key then the letter on the key.
i think that what i said about the sheet LED, they cut it out so it goes around each key so each key functions with the little rubber top thingy under it, so they have to have the lights around it
just a guess, so dont critisize me for this