Comments on: Sony Vaio FW Series: A Developer’s Review http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/ By Antonio Cangiano, Software Engineer & Technical Evangelist at IBM Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:23:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: JunePhillipines http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8856 JunePhillipines Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:05:16 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8856 hahahaha... the battery is an average of 2.15 Hours... I think it will reach 6 hours if you: 1. Turn off the connectivity such as wifi and bluetooth.. 2. Setting the power plan to Maximum Battery. 3. Lowering your screen brightness to the lowest level. etc.. hahahaha… the battery is an average of 2.15 Hours… I think it will reach 6 hours if you:

1. Turn off the connectivity such as wifi and bluetooth..

2. Setting the power plan to Maximum Battery.

3. Lowering your screen brightness to the lowest level.

etc..

]]> By: JunePhillipines http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8855 JunePhillipines Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:02:16 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8855 Sony FW have a DOLBY SOUND ROOM technology which is very fantastic and crisp... It also have Vaio Dolby Settings to create a virtual 5.1 Speakers out of your Vaio Sony FW have a DOLBY SOUND ROOM technology which is very fantastic and crisp… It also have Vaio Dolby Settings to create a virtual 5.1 Speakers out of your Vaio

]]> By: JunePhillipines http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8854 JunePhillipines Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:58:21 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8854 Excuse me JOsh... but for your info... Your macbook don't have a bluray player and a Full HD Screen... (and the fact that MAcbook also dont have HDMI... even the Pro editions) Excuse me JOsh… but for your info… Your macbook don’t have a bluray player and a Full HD Screen… (and the fact that MAcbook also dont have HDMI… even the Pro editions)

]]> By: Elizabeth http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8825 Elizabeth Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:09:18 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8825 Keys sticking on much-loved Sony Vaio FW15G, could I ask you sir how to find out the product number for the keyboard on these models so I can source a spare and replace the keyboard (if washing and compressed air do not work)? I like reading your reviews. Keys sticking on much-loved Sony Vaio FW15G, could I ask you sir how to find out the product number for the keyboard on these models so I can source a spare and replace the keyboard (if washing and compressed air do not work)? I like reading your reviews.

]]> By: Andrea http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8683 Andrea Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:08:53 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8683 Hi, I bought a VGN-FW5 too, great spec. but it has an annoying ticking sound, from reading around I think it's the hard drive. I sent it back to Sony twice to find out more but they did not even admit they could hear a sound, never mind giving a reason for it. Very disappointed with their service. Hi,

I bought a VGN-FW5 too, great spec. but it has an annoying ticking sound, from reading around I think it’s the hard drive. I sent it back to Sony twice to find out more but they did not even admit they could hear a sound, never mind giving a reason for it. Very disappointed with their service.

]]> By: Daniel http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8673 Daniel Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:30:36 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8673 Hey I love my sony Vaio FW, I purchased mine in October 2009, and since then its been in for repairs once because I was concerned about the delicate power socket casing.. they tightened it a bit but it still has a little play in it, I don't think (touch wood) it will become a real issue. Overall, I am quite satisfied with this laptops performance, I beleive its worth the money. Hey

I love my sony Vaio FW, I purchased mine in October 2009, and since then its been in for repairs once because I was concerned about the delicate power socket casing.. they tightened it a bit but it still has a little play in it, I don’t think (touch wood) it will become a real issue.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with this laptops performance, I beleive its worth the money.

]]> By: Dan http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8669 Dan Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:06:39 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8669 Thanks for the great review. I've also got an FW series Vaio and am also a developer. My 2 cents worth: In terms of emulation VirtualBox (free VirtualPC alternative) works brilliantly if you apply the BIOS update. On the plus side it's a brilliant screen and very quick. On the negative side I find the keys a bit spongy (yeah maybe nit-picking but I'm a developer) - I agree about the USB ports all being on the right hand side, but probably only an issue if you're tight on space. The build quality overall I find very average - The power port feels like it's just a matter of time before it needs fixing, and the components (battery, HDD, DVD) rattle around and just don't seem to 'fit'. Overall though can't complain, and off-topic Windows 7 is a huge improvement. When I first bought this I kind of wish I'd bought a MacBook Pro - but still a good laptop (until it breaks). Thanks for the great review. I’ve also got an FW series Vaio and am also a developer. My 2 cents worth: In terms of emulation VirtualBox (free VirtualPC alternative) works brilliantly if you apply the BIOS update. On the plus side it’s a brilliant screen and very quick. On the negative side I find the keys a bit spongy (yeah maybe nit-picking but I’m a developer) – I agree about the USB ports all being on the right hand side, but probably only an issue if you’re tight on space. The build quality overall I find very average – The power port feels like it’s just a matter of time before it needs fixing, and the components (battery, HDD, DVD) rattle around and just don’t seem to ‘fit’. Overall though can’t complain, and off-topic Windows 7 is a huge improvement. When I first bought this I kind of wish I’d bought a MacBook Pro – but still a good laptop (until it breaks).

]]> By: Marty http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8668 Marty Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:14:29 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8668 Hi, great blog very informative. brilliant in fact. Have been trying to find out how to increase my resolution options on my FW5, and at last you seem to know how! But the link to the patch software is now broken, can you advise where to get it and will this process still work with Win 7 64 bit, and will I have all the resolutions when cloning outputs. Thanks. Hi, great blog very informative. brilliant in fact.
Have been trying to find out how to increase my resolution options on my FW5, and at last you seem to know how! But the link to the patch software is now broken, can you advise where to get it and will this process still work with Win 7 64 bit, and will I have all the resolutions when cloning outputs.
Thanks.

]]> By: Geek http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8664 Geek Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:52:18 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8664 Hi Antonio, i own this same model that you reviewed & it's just great. I would like to know how to partition the drive for fresh install of windows 7? Also, sometimes the brightness function keys (Fn - F5) stop working. Like i see only 1 square when trying to either lower or increase the brightness using the combination keys. Any ideas on both? TIA Hi Antonio,
i own this same model that you reviewed & it’s just great. I would like to know how to partition the drive for fresh install of windows 7? Also, sometimes the brightness function keys (Fn – F5) stop working. Like i see only 1 square when trying to either lower or increase the brightness using the combination keys. Any ideas on both?
TIA

]]> By: Mark Shepherd http://programmingzen.com/2009/02/16/review-of-the-sony-vaio-fw-series/#comment-8656 Mark Shepherd Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:52:54 +0000 http://antoniocangiano.com/?p=565#comment-8656 Hey Antonio: Awesome review. Wish I had seen this while I was researching my new Sony VAIO FW590 CTO I got 2 days before New Year's 2010! :) My laptop has a lot of the features that your unit has, large HD (with good RPMs), but no Blu-Ray. Though it is not a big issue for me, I'm surprised there is no fan-control software for these units as yet. With my older Dell Latitude laptops I could download the Diefer apps and be able to have all sorts of crazy fan control and management at my command - it's kind of ridiculous that I can only likely get similar capabilities for my new Sony in Linux. :P As to the whole Virtualization/VT thing, all I have to say is: It is NOT a big deal to run Virtual Machines using these laptops. My laptop's CPU chip doesn't even SUPPORT VT and it runs all sorts of crazy OS configurations in Sun VirtualBox NO PROBLEM, and in some cases (like with Windows XP) runs it even BETTER THAN VMWARE does! As to the bilingual labeling on your keyboard, it's a shame you didn't spend the couple of extra bucks on a CTO. Mine was shipped (2 days early, and with free expedited shipping over the holidays!) from San Diego, USA, and the keys were labeled 100% all in English, which was perfectly fine by me. Also, for those of you Sony laptop fans thinking of shelling out $1500+ CDN on one of these beauties: consider strongly getting a 2ND YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY on it - it typically only comes with ONE YEAR in many countries, like Canada, where I am at. Anyway, like you, a few key things led me to purchasing this laptop, notably: -Wanted decent multi-OS (Windows, Linux, etc) support out of the box -Wanted good graphics and multimedia playback. Not many laptops provide this - my CTO has a Radeon 45xx class 1GB discrete card. -Another deal breaker for me was a decent sized screen - not many units have this. -finally, getting a chiclet-style keyboard was a big issue for me. There are VERY FEW laptops that have this - Macs have it, HP Envy's have it, and some ASUS netbooks and laptops have it, but they are few and far between, so this is icing on the cake - I have NO time for keyboard cleaning and maintenance, I just want to get a treated cloth, wipe, and go. Great comments on this thread! :) Hey Antonio:

Awesome review.

Wish I had seen this while I was researching my new Sony VAIO FW590 CTO I got 2 days before New Year’s 2010! :)

My laptop has a lot of the features that your unit has, large HD (with good RPMs), but no Blu-Ray.

Though it is not a big issue for me, I’m surprised there is no fan-control software for these units as yet.

With my older Dell Latitude laptops I could download the Diefer apps and be able to have all sorts of crazy fan control and management at my command – it’s kind of ridiculous that I can only likely get similar capabilities for my new Sony in Linux. :P

As to the whole Virtualization/VT thing, all I have to say is:

It is NOT a big deal to run Virtual Machines using these laptops.

My laptop’s CPU chip doesn’t even SUPPORT VT and it runs all sorts of crazy OS configurations in Sun VirtualBox NO PROBLEM, and in some cases (like with Windows XP) runs it even BETTER THAN VMWARE does!

As to the bilingual labeling on your keyboard, it’s a shame you didn’t spend the couple of extra bucks on a CTO.

Mine was shipped (2 days early, and with free expedited shipping over the holidays!) from San Diego, USA, and the keys were labeled 100% all in English, which was perfectly fine by me.

Also, for those of you Sony laptop fans thinking of shelling out $1500+ CDN on one of these beauties: consider strongly getting a 2ND YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY on it – it typically only comes with ONE YEAR in many countries, like Canada, where I am at.

Anyway, like you, a few key things led me to purchasing this laptop, notably:

-Wanted decent multi-OS (Windows, Linux, etc) support out of the box
-Wanted good graphics and multimedia playback. Not many laptops provide this – my CTO has a Radeon 45xx class 1GB discrete card.
-Another deal breaker for me was a decent sized screen – not many units have this.
-finally, getting a chiclet-style keyboard was a big issue for me.

There are VERY FEW laptops that have this – Macs have it, HP Envy’s have it, and some ASUS netbooks and laptops have it, but they are few and far between, so this is icing on the cake – I have NO time for keyboard cleaning and maintenance, I just want to get a treated cloth, wipe, and go.

Great comments on this thread! :)

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