Sony :: FW 465 J/HInitial Review (with More In-depth Analysis To Come)
Jul 7, 2009
Just received my 465 J/H from JandR yesterday. Speedy shipping, as the site said that it ships in 3-5 business days and I received it 4 business days after ordering (though I live in CT, where shipping only takes 1 business day).
My initial impressions are as follows:
-While the shipping was fast from JandR, I was very disappointed to see that the package wasn't double-boxed. JandR did wrap the Sony box up in a rubber-sheet material and taped it up, providing a bit of protection, but would much rather have seen true double boxing with a couple extra layers of protection for the Sony box.
-After seeing a few finishes in person, I decided on the Titanium finish, which is a nice warm silver sheen. The black looked better on screen than in person, and the chocolate brown just wasn't my cup of tea, although the finish is actually the nicest of the three (very refined looking, just a little too dark for me). Overall build and finish quality of the computer is excellent.
-The weight of the FW is very surprising. While it is undoubtedly the lightest of the 16.4" laptops, it actually feels lighter than my old Dell D620. Maybe due to weight distribution (most of it is in the back, near the hinge, where the battery is) or overall unit shape, but either way it feels lighter than it looks...............
I have the latest drivers, freshly installed, but when I scan again the system, it says I need to install these (see image). I download them, I install, I reboot... and still uninstalled.
And I won't be happy with something like "don't worry, if your system is working, just ignore them". Because if that is the case, then for sure I can expect more things not taken care of, from Dell.
The Sony Vaio NW is a 15.5” widescreen notebook recently released onto the market. It’s a budget machine, but you get a big bang for your buck. Currently, there is not a Configure-to-Order option available; you have to select from preconfigured machines. Nonetheless, all the current configurations offer just about as much processing power as a relatively demanding user would want, with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, option for discrete graphics, etc. Consumers looking for an inexpensive 15” notebook with great features should give this a serious look, although those that require lengthy battery times might be turned off. In general though, this is a great multimedia machine.
There are several preconfigured options available on sonystyle.com, and other configs are available in retail stores such as Best Buy and Staples. Retail stores usually have cheaper versions but they come with integrated graphics, whereas online the configurations offered all have ATI discrete graphics.
My configuration:
Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 2.0GHz, 3MB L2 cache, FSB 1066MHz (Centrino 2) Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit (a free upgrade to Windows 7 is available) Splashtop Linux Browser for Instant-On access to the web 15.5” 1366x768 glossy widescreen display (WXGA).............
Weighing at 6+lbs, this general-purpose notebook is a good buy at around 700USD. The 15.4" screen of 1280x800 is stocked with an Intel Pentium dual Core, a 250GB hard disk drive and 3 GB of RAM. Pentium Dual Core? What is Sony thinking about in this computing age?
Regardless this is a good overall notebook that can be very attractive due to its low price. Having this system for over 3 months now, and I have nothing but praise for its quiet and smooth performance.
It is EPA Energy Star compliant with a Greenpeace policy rating of 4.0
Specifications:
Operating Systems: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Prenium 32 bits
Architecture: . Intel based . Mobile Intel GL40 Express, 1MB L2 Cache...................
I wanted to post the review of the VGN-Z890, but I cannot seem to put it in the review section, or maybe I am not suppose to? >< If that is the case feel free to delete this post moderators...
START REVIEW
Author: Naota Product: Sony Vaio VGN-Z890 Price: $1799 and up (depending customizations) Date: 11/11/2009 Rating: 4.25/5 Operating System Used in Review: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Edition Pros: High quality construction. Attractive, Successful Patented Hybrid Graphics System (requires no reboot), lightweight and slim design. DDR3 Memory, great battery life, HDMI Connectivity with Audio Transmission, Windows 7, Very Portable. Cons: Same outdated video card as previous VGN-Z790 model, highly priced. Lots of bloatware, slightly fragile design, quiet speakers.....................
I purchased the Sony VPCZ112GX/S from Best Buy online for $1729.
It has
2.4ghz i5 core cpu led back lit 13" 1600x900 screen 4 gigs of ram 330 geforce w/1 gig of ram 128 gig solid state hard drive Came with Windows 7 but also came with a Windows XP downgrade CD
weighs like 3 pounds....
It was between this and a Macbook Pro and I'm VERY happy I went with the Sony over the Macbook Pro. Macbooks are nice on the outside but this machine is just EVERYTHING I could possibly want from a laptop at a great price. Runs games great, screen is amazing, decent battery life. I just couldn't say enough good things about the laptop. If anyone is interested in buying one and has questions just ask me, but I'll save you the run around...
I looked at 30+ different laptops, read tons of reviews and this was by far the best overall machine for the money hands down.
I have the European Black version with Core i3 and HD graphics called VPCS11X9E.
I ordered the VAIO S as soon as it was released in Denmark, I actually wanted the Z, but it's too expensive for me, I did some changes to my VAIO S to get at least some of the screen quality from the Z to my S (read below):
1. Great build quality, no flex anywhere.
2. It's basically silent during surfing and light office work. The fan will turn on only under stress.
3. Keyboard is excellent. It's actually the best keyboard I have ever used, I love it. Makes me want to write more than I should.
4. Lots of connections, HDMI, VGA, Card Reader, 3 USB, everything I need.
5. Integrated DVD-drive, few 13" actually have this.
6. The screen is by default not very good, but I did 2 things that really helped a lot. First I purchased a Vikuiti ARMR200 screen protector , which turns the VAIO S glossy screen into a matte screen. Second (and even more important), I calibrated the screen using Spyder3 Elite from Datacolor (download my current calibration below). After this, the screen is excellent, the viewing angles are still not that good, but at least the screen is good enough for me to my webwork with proper colors, I would have prefered a little higher resolution, 1440x900 pixels would have been perfect.
7. I also have the matching dockingstation called VGP-PRS10, again great build quality and I really like the idea of not having to plug in all the cables when working from the desk, just note that the HD graphics version that I have, does not support DVI out on the dockingstation, don't ask me why.
8. Btw, after re-installing Windows and doing a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate, the notebook is blazing fast, I have no speed issues at all, amazing.
I'm trying to avoid doing useful work, so I thought that I'd type in a quick review for the more discriminating / demanding buyers out there.
My strongest biases: like quiet computing, must have a great keyboard (good feel, no weird key placement, good key travel), must have a good screen (no grain, not too much bleed,
good color accuracy, good black levels), high-res screen, good touchpad/touchstick, good quality speakers, card reader slot, bang for the buck, light weight ( You can't really notice it, and if you really must have 800, then just auto-hide the taskbar :> If you already autohide the taskbar, autohide the status bar in firefox
this is just a quick review of my new Sony FW455 notebook. I bought it recently after a couple months ago my HP DV7 fried its motherboard, after two days of ownership.
Specs:
Colour: Brown OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64bit Screen: 16.4" glossy 1600x900 Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 2.1GHz Memory: 4GB DDR2 RAM Hard Drive: 320GB 7200RPM Optical Drive: DVD read/write, Bluray read Graphics: ATI mobility 4650 1GB DDR3 A/B/G/N series wireless, Bluetooth, webcam, 6 cell battery............
The good:3.06 Dual Core CPU (Probably best for a notebook PC, performs better than quads IMO)1GB GPU (Mobile Radeon HD 4650) /Almost impossible to get a 1GB GPU on other brands with this price.
I have a problem with the GPU (see "the bad" below) but other than that, can play 3D intensive games like Crysis/Crysis Warhead in "Gamer 4xAA" settings without any problem (well until the PC crashes...).
High resolution screen (1920*1080 on a 16.4" / 134 PPI) Again, a no-brainer for that price.Price: Paid 134K JPY (approx $1400). Similar configuration costs over $2K in Dell, and has 512MB GPU.....
Disclaimer: If I am breaking any forum rules by posting links of ebay or my flickr site, I apologize in advance. I am also in no way affiliated with this user selling the item and do not take any form/type of credit from the seller. I am simply a customer on ebay reviewing a product I have purchased.
After reviewing a lot of complaints about the chassy/keyboard/wrist-rest scratching the screen, I simply had to get a screen protector for this really expensive investment. I've purchased all kinds of screen protectors from ebay and only found one that does not burden me with negatives. I wanted to make it seem as though there is NO screen protector on my screen. So I purchased the below and boy was I surprised.
(I removed the ebay link, just to avoid breaking forum rules, so instead, search "Anti-Glare Screen Protector 13.1 SONY VAIO Z Series")
I purchased two of these. Because if I screw up with one, i'll have a backup. Fortunately for me, I was able to put this one my screen with only ONE tiny bubble, which is on the corner of my screen. Everything was flushed and fit perfectly...
HP Pavilion dm4 Review - A Review of the HP Pavilion dm4
Basically, it runs cool AND has great battery life, which is fantastic to here. I think HP finally turned their ship around. I had their previous 14in machines and they all suffered from crap battery life and very high temperatures. To hear that the machines run very cool and get 5 hours of battery life on the standard 6-cell battery is really great.
This bodes well for their other systems, as all HP designs seem to mimic one another. If one model has heat/battery issues, they all do, as I've read of similar horror stories in the DV6000 and what not.
They got 5 hours of battery life with the 6-cell, i5-520, and Intel graphics. That's really phenomenal as far as I'm concerned. They offer switchable ATI graphics, so you can opt for discrete graphics and still get the 5 hours...
Inspiron 1520 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache) Genuine Windows ® Vista Home Basic Edition System Color Spring Green Memory FREE! 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz LCD Panel High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1440x900) Video Card 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8600M GT Hard Drive 160G 7200RPM SATA HDD Network Card and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem Combo or DVD+RW Drive CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive) Sound Card Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™HD Software Edition Wireless Networking Cards Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card Camera Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) I chose Security with Value, Plus,or Premium Warranty Bundle Battery Options 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell) Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options DellCare Plus Doms Camera Module Spring Green color w/ 2.0M pixel Camera Processor Branding Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor Labels Windows Vista™ Basic
This isn't a full review but I wanted to post my thoughts after a few days with the Studio XPS 16. Maybe this will help others considering this notebook among others to make a decision.
I ordered it from the Outlet, $1149 for SXPS 16 with P8600, 1GB ATI 4670, RGBLED screen, 500gb drive, Intel 5300 wifi, DVD/RW. I got the 9 cell for additional $80.
This seemed like too good a deal to pass up, particularly since it was "previously ordered new" rather than refurbished or scratch/dent .....
Finally i got new XPS M1530 as a replacement today, with the following configuration:
Intel C2D T8100 2GHZ @ 800MHZ FSB, 3MB L2 3GB Samsung @667 MHZ Ram 1280x800 Samsung WXGA screen 250gb WD@5400 rpm Nvidia 8600GT @DDR3 intel(R) 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini-Card Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio Software Tuxedo Black LCD display with Integrated 2.0 mega pixel web cam 6cell Battery Vista HP SP1 McAfee(R) Security Center(TM) – 30 days trial CompleteCover/ CompleteCover Guard Technical Guide include 1-year XPS Premier Service with 1-year CompleteCover #1 Year Complete Cover Accidental Damage Protection 1 Year Priority PC User 24x7 Support (Round-The-Clock Technical Assistance) # Year 1 Standard POW
i received this afternoon, i inspected thoroughly later in i did format and installed vista Ultimate with SP1, then installed all the necessary drivers also installed DELL MD 4.
PROS i ran 3dmark 06 soon after installation of all drivers, i got score of 4671 next thing i noticed the temperature its idles between 57-60c when i ran 3dmark 06 the max temp reached was 82c. the HD is 250gb WD@5400rpm, the drive is so quieter
Everything is perfect except 2 issues, one is DVD drive makes lot of noise while reading dvds, and little bit bulge near the XPS |M1530 logo not visible tho, also the cover over the speakers on the lest part of hinge has come up, also not visible much
This time what i noticed is my dvd writer makes noise continously while reading the dvd, i did noticed the noise while installing vista, also during installation of drivers and other software DVD. and the noise is pretty loud and annoying.
Except those im overall satisfied with my new system, im feeling good, i guess the noise from my dvd writer may soon disappear, if not, need to be replace the DVD writer.
i havent ran much benchmarking tools except 3dmark06, yet to test few games later in.
The XPS M1330 is the second Dell laptop I've owned. The Inspiron 9400 put me off buying another Dell - for the wrong reasons really. I didn't want another high end laptop with poor battery life, and at just over �1000, the XPS M1330 seemed like a good choice. At 13.3" it's portable and packed with features....
Excellent performance, but poor portability from this Inspiron
Mobility be dammed. Weighing over 3Kg, the Dell Inspiron 17R is a back breaker. Double that with the low battery life and it’s clear this laptop is not for seekers of portability. Fortunately for Dell - and us - its desktop replacement credentials are brilliant.
The Inspiron 17R we had comes with a “peacock” blue case but you can choose tomato red or mars black. The peacock blue isn’t as garish as it sounds and actually has a nice chrome finish that looks good against the gun-metal insides – it just doesn’t look like it’s trying to imitate anything else.
* Blu-ray Drive * Good Performance * Software Installation Free Of Much Bloatware
Cons
* Exterior Shows Lots Of Fingerprints And Smudges * Display Can't Handle 1080p HD Video * 3D Graphics Best Suited For Casual Gaming
Description
* Intel Core i5-450M Dual Core Mobile Processor * 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 * 500GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive * Blu-ray Reader And Dual Layer DVD Burner Combo Drive * 17.3" WSXGA+ (1600x900) LED Backlit Display With 1.3 Megapixel Webcam * ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5470 Graphics With 1GB
Dell's Inspiron 17R is a slimmed down desktop replacement that provides a more compact and lightweight design. This high end model comes equipped with a higher resolution display and Blu-ray drive. At $1000, there are less expensive Blu-ray equipped systems or models with better graphics for gaming. It does a decent job of being a good general purpose desktop replacement without costing too much ...
* Excellent Storage Options * Hybrid Graphics Provides Good 3D Graphics * Wide Range of Peripheral Ports
Cons
* Very Heavy for 13.3-inch Laptop * System Runs Quite Hot
Description
* Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 Dual Core Mobile Processor * 4GB PC3-8500 DDR2 Memory * 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive * 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner * 13.3-inch WXGA (1280x800) Wide LCD With 2.0 Megapixel Webcam * NVIDIA GeForce 9500M Graphics With 256MB Memory and GeForce 9400M Integrated Graphics * Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless * Two USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire, HDMI, Display Port, ExpressCard/54, 8-in-1 Card Reader * 12.6" x 9.3" x 1.4" @ 4.9 lbs. * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, Works 9, McAfee Internet Security
Guide Review - Dell Studio XPS 13 13.3-inch Ultraportable Laptop PC
Mar 13 2009 - Dell's Studio XPS 13 is much more of a replacement for the XPS M1330 because of its improved features. Most notable of these is the hybrid graphics that combines a GeForce 9400M integrated graphics for light desktop work and a dedicated GeForce 9500M with 256MB when accelerated 3D graphics are needed. This gives it some good 3D performance that was lacking from other Dell 13.3-inch laptops.
Another surprise in the Studio XPS 13 is the storage options. The standard 320GB hard drive is spacious, but the 7200rpm spin rate provides it with a high level of performance. Those needing more space can always upgrade to the 500GB drive option. Solid state drives are also offered but are quite expensive. It would have been nice to see Dell offer a Blu-ray option as well.
Performance is very high thanks to the use of the Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 mobile processor and the 4GB of PC3-8500 DDR3 memory. This combined with the graphics actually gives it some performance levels that are equal to or at times higher than the XPS M1330. The problem is that all of these parts generate a lot of heat.
In what can only be considered a major design accident, Dell put one of the primary cooling ducts on the back side of the laptop. This duct can be blocked when the LCD panel is folded beyond a straight perpendicular position, something that many users do with laptops. Combine this with the aluminum bottom panel and this system can get very hot on the bottom where it should not be used on one's actual lap without some sort of cooling device.
The other downside is that the Studio XPS 13 is quite large and heavy for a 13.3-inch laptop. At nearly five pounds in weight, this is a system that is much more comparable to a 14.1-inch for portability.
HP Envy 15 (2nd Gen) Complete Review by dave.ladner I was recently a proud new owner of an HP Envy 15 (2nd Gen) about a week ago. This was a pretty big deal to me, as not only do I live in Canada and cannot order the 2nd Generation version yet, but I bought it through Ebay so was a little skeptical. I've categorized the laptop into some sections below and made some comments based on what I have experienced so far.
Take it as you will. Questions are welcome if you have them. *Please note: No pictures are currently attached because I am at work(oops!), but I can include them upon request if you'd like.
Appearance and Size The Envy 15 is, for lack of a better comparison, a Macbook Pro, with a different finish. The engraved lid and casing has a sort of weird feel to it at first, but once you get over it (an hour maybe) its pretty cool. Doesn't offer anything besides looks obviously, but it holds its own on those. The laptop is also very thing, like about an inch. Not much more. It weighs in at 5.1lbs on my scale, but I'm not sure how accurate that is as its a bathroom scale.................
I recently purchased an Asus UL80VT-A2 in search of the perfect thin and light laptop for me. Hardware-wise the Asus was great for my uses; the SU7300 did not feel underpowered and the Nvidia Geforce GT 210M was fine for light gaming; but the build quality was sub-par at best so I wanted to get something new. After shopping around for a while I was about to wait for the Envy 14 to come out but then Bing had 25% CB at HP so I decided to go with the dm4t. The ATI 5650, backlit keyboard, and higher resolution screen would have been welcome additions but they are additions that I can live without and that would have cost a lot more. This configuration ended up costing me $710 after BCB and even right now cost only $830 after taxes and BCB. One might say that I settled but after using this thing they would not feel that way.
Specifications: OS: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-430M Dual Core processor (2.26GHz, 3MB L2 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.53GHz RAM: 3GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) Hard drive: 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection Graphics: 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5450 switchable graphics Display: 14.0" diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768)............
Well, after having my macbook for over like 5 months already i would like to share my experiences and thoughts of all this.
This is not a complete review, just those points I feel are most important.
I'm not actually a switcher as i have other comps using Windows, but this is my first experience with mac.
Also i have to say that some of the points in this review will probably have a solution and I'd welcome if you answered it so this works both as a review and as a solution for my problems.
The reviewed macbook was a 13'' one.
Unboxing and first impressions:
Well, I don't think that unboxing and first impressions are actually that important but here we go... The packaging was good, compact and nice. The case where the macbook was has worked some times as a real case for keeping it safe, althougt i missed some kind of real case, maybe not a briefcase but at least a soft one............
From all the sub-notebooks that I have owned and tested, this macbook 3.1 stands out as a reliable mobile performer. Granted that it is Apple proprietaire piece of work, it lives up to the expectation of a fast, quiet, long-life battery performance.
The design is simply "Apple". The cleanliness in form and lines is still carrying Apple Trademark - simple and cool.
For the 1st Intel based Core Duo, Apple surprises many with a solid replacement of the iBook and PowerBook.
The lid is being held close by magnets instead of traditional latches, giving it a surprise and nice touch. The MagSafe power adapter eliminates the worriness of bad connection and ensures long working device.
Start up and shut down are amazingly fast. The macbook 3.1 is quiet and cool in performance, and with 5hrs plus of battery usage, this is truly portable.
The glossy screen offers bright pictures to video watching. Music enjoyment is particular good with the speakers behind the hinges and in the back - crisp and plenty loud for a notebook.
Since I've been fairly active here over the past few weeks in discussions about the relative merits of Macs in general and of mine in particular, I figured I would go ahead and give you all my version of a review. I've had my new Mac since Wednesday morning and have now done a little bit of everything on it: school work, gaming, web surfing, benchmarking. I thought I'd go ahead and share my experiences as they might be of interest to the community here. Both in terms of the performance of the machine, and in terms of Mac vs. PC, for anyone in the same place I was -- considering making the switch.
About me: I'm a PhD student in the sciences who needs a machine I can take to school on a daily basis and do some legitimate work on. This includes running MATLAB simulations and writing code, as well as standard PDF / email / web fare. I like games but rarely have time to play them. One of my hobbies is chess, and thus I'm interested in the raw performance of the CPU for chess analysis, especially in Windows (the only environment in which the strong engines run). I've been a PC guy for as long as I've been choosing my own computers, which dates to the time of 486s. I have a Dell desktop with an i7-920 running Windows 7.
I've recently had a lot of contact with Macs via my girlfriend and coworkers. In need of a laptop, I decided I wanted a MBP but of course wasn't going to get one with a C2D, so I waited for the update. When it arrived, I got one, and so here it is...............
Hey all hope you are fine I just bought an iPad 64GB Wi-Fi 3 days ago and wanted to write a review about it. Before i start,let me say that its the first Apple device that i bought(I have worked with a 27" iMac,iPod touch but I have never owned any Apple devices until now). So let's get started
