This introductory course will allow participants to gain basic knowledge about Sony VAIO notebooks. Participants will learn about the visions behind VAIO notebooks; learn the basics of managing a VAIO via VAIO Control Center and Recovery Center; gain an overview of the different fun, productive software that is available on VAIO.

Who Should Attend:
Limited seats available. Please register for confirmation.

Duration:
2 Hour(s) 00 Minute(s)
Fee:
Course is valued at : RM 150
Sony Style Member Fee : RM Free
Sony Card Member Fee : RM Free
Sony Workshop Relevant Product Owners Fee : RM Free
Availability:
(Select the date you wish to attend)
Sony Workshop - Berjaya Times Square

Tutorial:
Enable VT on InsydeH20 BIOS EFI way for VAIO or any supported notebook.
Credits goes to: Bernhard Froemel

As we all know, current Intel Core 2 Duo on mobile notebook do support Virtualization Technology (VT) but unfortunately it has been disabled by Sony in BIOS. VT is useful for running virtual machine and also its let the user to use Windows XP Mode for coming Windows 7.

I got the method from Enable VT for InsydeH20 based VAIO, the EFI way.

Just a reminder, the method is critical as for any mistake may brick the BIOS. So follow the guideline properly.

I will just summarize the method and share with you guys the way I'm doing on my VAIO Z.
Anyway, lets started.

1. First of all ensure that you are using latest BIOS available from Sony website. In my case, Ive to get the BIOS updated, so Ive updated to latest version namely R2168M3.
2. Download the EFI file from the link above or here: http://luna.vmars.tuwien.ac.at/%7Efroemel/...efi/BOOTX64.EFI and place the files in formatted FAT32 USB Thumbdrive inside    BOOT folder which is inside the EFI folder. Create the folder first if you haven't done yet  The file path should have looks like this: \EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI
3. Go into your BIOS (pressing F2). Make External Drive as first priority in boot priority, and save setting in BIOS.
4. Plug in USB drive, restart. There will be menu stating below:
> Welcome to GRUB!
>
> Entering rescue mode...
> error: file not found
> grub rescue>
5. After that, type: setup_var
   Press enter, and you will see the license text and the warning etc. See at the bottom line, and ensure the GUID match the expected GUID.
6. Then type: setup_var 0x25a , (notes: value 0x25a enable advance menu in BIOS which let you access the VT option.)
   Check if its at 0x00 (Default), if its not at this value, do not continue.
7. Next, type: setup_var 0x25a 0x1
8. Verify the value of 0x25a, it should read as 0x01
9. ctrl + alt + del, remove the USB drive after that.
10. Access BIOS by pressing F2. Go to advanced option and select Enable for Intel VT option. Save and exit BIOS.
11. Done.

Worked BIOS version so far:
1. R2168M3
2. R3052M3
3. R3054M3
3. R4040M3

Check with Securable to know if VT is enable in your machine. Download Securable here: http://www.grc.com/securable.htm
If the result is YES or Locked ON, congratulations, you've just enable VT on your notebook.

Tips
Credits: Backstage Sony Team

Sony XBRITE™ Technology

Sony® XBRITE™ Technology

What do you look for when shopping for a new computer? You may consider processor power, memory, and hard disk space. If you're into gaming or photo or video editing, chances are you pay closer attention to graphics processing. If you're shopping for a notebook, size, weight, and battery life may take precedence.

But what about the display? You no doubt consider screen size, and may even glance at resolution, but how much thought do you give to the quality of the display? If you're like the rest of us, the answer is probably "not much." After all, one display is as good as the next, right?

Wrong.

The truth is, not all displays are created equal. An inferior display can result in uneven brightness, poor color reproduction, narrow viewing angles, and unwanted glare. A good display, on the other hand, can enhance your computing experience with bright, vivid colors, ultra-sharp resolution, and minimal glare.

As a leading developer in HD (high definition) technology, Sony® knows a thing or two about what goes into a truly great display. That expertise and know-how backs XBRITE™ LCD technology, which is built into every VAIO® PC.

This tutorial will explore what makes XBRITE technology so special as well as help you understand how it can enhance your computing experience.

What Makes XBRITE™ Technology Special?

XBRITE™ LCD technology enhances display performance in four key areas:

# Brightness: XBRITE LCDs utilize cutting-edge backlight technologies to ensure even light distribution across the entire screen. This helps produce richer, more pronounced images. Select Sony® VAIO® PC models even feature advanced LED (light emitting diode) backlights, which offer higher brightness while consuming less battery power.
# Clarity: XBRITE LCDs employ two technologies to help ensure crystal-clear viewing. A glare filter reduces the refraction, or scattering, of outgoing light, while a special anti-reflective coating minimizes the reflection of ambient light without sacrificing brightness or definition. The end result is razor-sharp definition that makes everything look better, from spreadsheets and presentations to digital photos and high-definition movies.
# Viewing Angle: Due to their ability to minimize glare and reflection, XBRITE LCDs also boast wide viewing angles, making it easier to share what's on your screen with friends, family, or co-workers.
# Color Saturation: In addition to outstanding brightness, high clarity, and wide viewing angles, XBRITE LCDs also feature brilliant color saturation, up to 100 percent in certain Sony® VAIO® PC models, allowing you to enjoy vibrant, true-to-life color across all shades and hues.

Tip: Various XBRITE LCDs may employ any combination of these features but not necessarily all of them.

Four Levels of XBRITE™ Technology

Computers come in all shapes and sizes and serve all sorts of purposes, so why shouldn't their displays be tailored to match?

Sony® understands this, and has developed four levels of XBRITE™ optimized to match its wide range of VAIO® PCs.

# XBRITE-ECO™: Optimized for notebook PCs, XBRITE-ECO displays utilize efficient backlight technologies for stunning all-around performance, making them an ideal choice for typical users who rely on their PC for everyday tasks, such as work, e-mail, and surfing the Internet. Select XBRITE-ECO models even feature cutting-edge LED backlights for higher brightness and energy-efficiency.
# XBRITE-HiColor™: XBRITE-HiColor offers a step-up from XBRITE-ECO, with higher color saturation levels for greater color variation and a more vibrant picture. XBRITE-HiColor displays are a great choice for photographers, videographers, movie enthusiasts, or anyone else who requires high saturation and color accuracy.
# XBRITE-DuraView™: XBRITE-DuraView displays utilize LED backlighting for high brightness and 100 percent color saturation, and also feature a special hardcoating to help protect against scratches and other wear-and-tear, making them the ideal choice for mobile users.
# XBRITE-FullHD™: XBRITE-FullHD is the display of choice for power users who demand the absolute best in screen resolution. Available on select larger-screen notebooks and all-in-one PCs, XBRITE-FullHD displays feature Full HD 1080p resolution, perfect for enjoying Blu-ray Disc™ movies or editing home videos captured on one of today's HD camcorders.

Tip: XBRITE-ECO available on select VAIO SR, CS, CR, BZ, NS, NR, FW, AW, AR, and JS models.

Tip: XBRITE-HiColor available on select VAIO TZ, FW, and AR models.

Tip: XBRITE-DuraView available on select VAIO Z and TT models.

Tip: XBRITE-FullHD available on select VAIO FW, AW, and LV models.

Remember, Display Quality Matters

Display quality is often overlooked when shopping for a new PC, but the truth is that a high-quality display can go a long way toward improving your computing experience whether you're reviewing a presentation on a red-eye flight to New York, surfing the Internet at your favorite coffee shop, or editing video in your home office.

Sony® XBRITE™ LCD technology offers display performance that can make any task more enjoyable and easier to view. With high brightness, enhanced clarity, wide viewing angles, and brilliant color saturation, XBRITE LCDs are among the best money can buy. What's more, Sony offers four different levels of XBRITE calibrated to match a wide range of customer uses and preferences.

With so many options, you're sure to find the XBRITE LCD -- and VAIO PC -- that's best suited to your needs.

A [B]fully charged battery is being drained despite the computer is not turned on.
Answer:
Due to the following factors, the Li-ion battery power of the computer will always drain.

The proper running of Real-Time Clock (RTC) and CMOS consumes internal battery power.
Once the battery is inserted, the computer will not use the internal battery to run Real-Time Clock (RTC).
   
The power switch of the computer models after PC97 (※) is a soft switch.
The switch does not control the turn-on or turn-off of circuit directly, but sends turn on or off power signals to the controller of power manager to perform the operation.
When the computer is connected with the battery or power adapter, the controller managing power is usually in galvanical state which consumes power.

※  PC97 --- Microsoft recommend users to use the hardware specifications which can guarantee the proper running of Windows 95、Windows NT or more advanced Operating System.
   
Using microprocessor to send signals also consumes power.
VAIO battery is equipped with the microprocessor to check the battery state (the surplus capacity of battery, the current value when the battery is charged or discharged, the temperature of battery and so on).


As mentioned above, besides discharging automatically, the battery power is still drained no matter whether it is inserted in the computer or removed.
Therefore, the battery power is consumed even if the VAIO computer has been turned off.



    * Both the microprocessor of battery and the Power Management Controller are running on power though the required amount of power is small.
      For Li-ion batteries of video cameras or computers of other brands, the same amount of power will be drained when used in the same way.

    * For different models of VAIO notebook, the power consumption remains the same, disregarding the status of the computers. For different models of VAIO notebook in the same status, the discharged power quantity is basically the same in a specific period.
      Therefore, compared to computers with larger capacity batteries, computers with small capacity batteries may run for a shorter period of time.

      ※  Besides the capacity of battery, other factors such as the aging degree or temperature will influence the time of totally discharging.




Please refer to the following example for comparison of computers with larger capacity batteries and computers with small capacity and the running time.

Suppose there are two computers with different types of batteries as follows.

    * Computer A: battery with 11.1V output voltage/4300mAh capacity
    * Computer B: battery with 11.1V output voltage/2000mAh capacity

Suppose the consumed quantity of power is 200mAH per day, what is surplus capacity of battery 10 days later?

    * Computer A ：4300 - 200 x 10 = 2300 (mAh) about 53%
    * Computer B ：2000 - 200 x 10 = 0 (mAh) 0%

Thus, computer B with small capacity of power finishes discharging first.[/B]

1. speedfamgirl - Z36GD/B
2. Arapan - Z36GD/J
3. hangy2k - Z27GD
4. Miyabi - Z12GN
5. adrian7386- Z56GG

1. hasratusaha - TT25GN

1. jasmine_09 - CW16FG

1. jacklsw86 - CS16
2. happy_she - CS16G/P
3. ryosuke - CS16G
4. Hoegaarden - CS16G/W
5. dollah_reader- CS36G/R
6. tim55 - CS36J/W
7. Kreet543 - CS36GJ/T

1. Gilthoniel - SR35/B
2. tgrrr - SR36/B
3. se7enhafiz - sr12G

1. tpl - P15G
2. edvpc - P25

1. 5uresh - FW33G
2. CrossX - FW35G
3. milosevens - FW23G
4. whis - FW33G
5. visioz - FW12G
6. ChrisD - FW43G
7. slanderesk - FW46GJ/B
8. presario316 - FW46GJ/B
9. DalphinuS - FW590
10. lethalyellow - VGN-FW56GF
11. shankar_dass93 - VGN-FW56GF

1. aza_360 - NS25G

1. NismoSTI - NW25GF
2. kencsgoo - VGN-NW25GF

1. Savlon

1. webwithoutwires - TP3G

1. webwithoutwires - SZ75GN

1. zippo86 - CR353/W

1. hibiki0104 - LJ25G

1. kirakun - AR59GU

1.EmperorMeng - C13/B
2. pristina - C16G

1. speedfamgirl - B66GP
2. Liquid_Snake02 - B66GP

Congratulations to Club VAIO version 2 thread!
good job also maxizanc

Currently I'm using the Z36GD black & older VGN-B66GP

Nice job maxizanc.
If everything goes well, there will be refresh SR series, equipped with ATI HD4570.

anyone using Vaio SR?
how is it go on?
Thinking of getting Vaio SR o Maccbok...Any suggestion?

Vaio SR user here! Has been very reliable ever since (which laptop isn't reliable anyway, hahaha!). Most importantly, it has met my expectations for a laptop. First it has the specifications (of course price is still expensive but it has come down a lot). Second its footprint is pretty small for a 13". Its LCD lid is thin and the entire weight is just 1.9kg (approx.). Even lighter than Macbook.

I was in the same position, choosing between the SR or the Macbook. I picked the SR because the LED backlit LCD screen is better. The color is a lot more contrasty (I think its a signature of Sony screens) than Macbook which tends to look washed out. Second, the SR is very cool during operation. Rarely it'll hit more than 44 Deg C. Operation is very silent too.

The Macbook however has a very attractive design and the construction is rock solid. However, I don't find any ventilation fans or holes on it so I guess it relies on the aluminum body for heat spreading. As a result, the underside is very hot to touch. Also I have heard a lot of bad things about Nvidia's IC packaging problems. So I decided that any laptop from now on should be ATI equipped. I know it doesn't happen on all Nvidia's products, but just to be sure.

which SR model r u using? VGN-SR35G or VGN-SR36G?
i think that macbook aluminum also LED backlit LCD screen...
ya..Macbook design get more catch, that the reason y i did thinking on buying a Macbook because attracted by it...

But VGN-SR35G is only using Mobile intel graphic media 4500 MHD...

did you get any freebies when buying?where did u buy?

get the VGN-SR36 if you care more for dedicated gpu. afterall, its nvidia integrated gpu in Macbook Alu, unless you opt for Macbook Pro.
i repost again this in previous thread before its closed:

i dont own neither the SR nor macbook, but i spent few minutes to do test run on the display model at Apple Store and SonyStyle Store, i can say that:
build quality wise, macbook (only for macbook alu and macbook pro) feels more sturdy and compact; while SR is mediocre at its best and light at less few grams than macbook.
its depend on your purpose. if you working with alot apps that rely on Windows, go for SR series. yes, you can still works with BootCamp, but save those hassles with something better. say you got to do some presentation or meeting, you have to buy the vga adapter too for macbook to connect to projector. gaming wise? absolutely no for macbook.

try take a peek on Apple user thread here, and ask their opinion too: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/873560

happy choosing