VGN-TXN27N/W - Couple of Qs.

Hello everyone! I just ordered a VGN-TXN27N/W yesterday and can't wait to get it.

I have a couple of questions though.

I was going to get the VGN-TXN29N, but it's $200 more and looks to be exactly the same as the VGN-TXN27N except for the color. Are there any differences b/w the two?

It uses a 1.8" 4200RPM hard drive right? Is it easy to access the hard drive or does getting to the hard drive require removing alot of other components?

It has two sticks of RAM. Is one of those soldered to the motherboard? Or can both sticks be removed and replaced? I plan on installing 4GB of RAM (even though it looks like only 3GB will be recognized) if both stock sticks are removable as that is supposedly the "sweet spot" for Vista.

Before I ordered, I called Sony and asked the CS agent what their dead pixel policy was. The agent said 3 close together or 5 total on the whole screen. I've read on various sites though that Sony is one of those companies that has that great zero dead pixel policy (just like Samsung). Who's right? The agent or the various sites I've read?

Finally, I plan on wiping the hard drive and installing Vista Ultimate or Home Premium. Will those drivers on Sony's site work with Ultimate or Home Premium? The drivers on Sony's site look to be for Vista Business which is what comes with the TXN27N.

Thanks for any help.

 

Anyone? Don't be shy now.

You only have to answer the ones you know!

 

The only difference between the TXN27N/W and TXN29N/L is the color, thats it. Can't see how it costs the most, though it lets you see the layers of carbon fiber on the lid. I have the slate blue cover on my broken TX790P and I personally would like the platinum color better, would sure as heck not spend an extra $200 for it!!!

Yes, its a 1.8" 4200 rpm hard drive and to get it, you'll have to unfortunately dissemble the notebook, its not like most notebooks where its accessible in a compartment below the notebook.

I'm jealous your able to afford this $2600+ notebook. : )
Of course, I just managed to snag an older TX750P for only $550 with an extra extended capacity battery, waitng for it to come on Wednesday and it'll serve me just fine with it mostly being similar to the TXN27N/W. You sure you want to spend that much on a TX??? You can save a lot of money getting a slightly older Vaio TX or another ultraportable but just my opinion.

Yes, only one ram slot is accessible. With all Vaio TXs here in North America except for the TXN17s, TXN19s, TXN27s and TXN29s, they have 512 megs built into the motherboard and Sony says you can add an extra gig to upgrade them to 1.5 gigs of ram max but the models mentioned before have 1 gig built into the motherboard so they can be upgraded to 2 gigs of ram max as Sony says though they already have 2 gigs of ram built in.

 

Thanks for the info.. That means, I won't have dual channel mode if I buy a 2GB stick of RAM to stick in there since they won't be the same capacity.

It's a shame the hard drive isn't more easily accessible. I'd like to be able to replace it with a solid state drive once their prices have gone down.

I guess I'll return it under their 30 day return policy if it doesn't perform to my expectations.

Anyone know anything about their dead pixel policy? Do they guarantee dead pixel free displays like Samsung or not? What about the Vista business drivers they have on their site? Will they work with Ultimate or Home Premium?

 

I know they do not guarantee it to be dead pixel free but I have read around a lot and have never ever heard of any Vaio TXs thus far having stuck/dead pixels. None I have ever looked at have ever had them, I know its not a guarantee but I wouldn't really worry for some reason about these models having them. I dunno if the drivers would work with those versions of Vista.

It is totally possible to upgrade the hard drive, its just harder than most notebooks.

 

^ how did you get it wiht such a deal

 

I however has probably not have good lucks with Sony's anything with LCDs, My sony LCD monitor suffers dead pixels and the two or three notebooks I bought from Sony also suffers 1 to many dead/stuck pixels (the last one was my SZ360) and my Mylo from Sony also suffers dead/stuck pixels. so I really have no faith on Sony's LCD, and from what I have always heard, Sony doesn't have zero dead/stuck pixel policy.
As a side note, I did bought my S series notebook with 0 dead pixels and my Sony Portable DVD player has 0 too, but then my Sony camcorders one has dead pixel on the viewfider another camcorder has a dead pixel on the CCD itself. so all in all, not very good ratios.

rahulnirmal, which older TX that I can buy that has Sprint's broadband? because I sure don't want Cingular's last century EDGE.

 

Went to my local Fry's today and they had a TXN27N/W and a TXN29N. The TXN29N is $200 more even with the exact same specs. as the TXN27N because the TXN29N comes with a really nice leather case and it has the "premium" carbon fiber lid vs. the TXN27N's standard carbon fiber lid and no leather case included. When I get my TXN27N, I'm not going to even open it. I'm just going to return it and pay the $200 difference to get a TXN29N.

 

Any TXN model has Sprint's EVDO broadband such as the TXN15P/B, TXN25N/B, etc, not ones like the TX750P, TX770P, etc. The TX850P has no WWAN modem or antenna at all.

Keep in mind that you can always get a PC card WWAN modem to add on to your laptop.