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

i tried to post at Apple Byte section but all of them are macbook fans, so their sure ask me to get a macbook rather than windows lappy...
so feel it is useless for asking them...

just feel to know have u all facing or faced any problem on vaio..
i saw in macbook thread, always see complaining and look for help for their macbook..

no problem. been using vaio for almost 3 years now. 
the reason why i link that thread is besides asking them, you can see the user feedback too. truth is, i even went through all the replies in that thread from post 1..so ive my own decision to stay with windows os notebook. i go alot of other thing to do. you can still learn about unix if care about using mac osx using virtual machine while windows as core for working and gaming

May i know is that i need to pay the extension warranty when i buy vaio or i can pay anytimes before my warranty dead in the first year?

It's upon purchase of your VAIO only. Pricing in the first page.

Just got Vaio SR36 (black) from Penang Pc Fair, added 2 years extended warranty.
Haven't done much yet, now making the recovery disc.

thank you...
if i bought the extension for 2 years and 1 year originally mean that i do to have 3 years warranty, am i right?

Great to see a v2. Proud owner of vgn-ar59gu here. Currently using it as a spare to my sager. Do add me in the list of vaio owners.

heyhey!!
im using vaio fw 23 b/g

bravo TS for this club vaio V2..

Wow, Sony Vaio, so stylish, I hope to get one too, but the price just too expensive, some more specs aren't that good if comparing the same price with other brands.

Actually can anyone tell me what's so special about Vaio ?

Nothing great about Sony. Its just whether you like the brand or not. As for me I am  a Sony man. So I go for it.  There are other brands with better specs (Toshiba/HP etc) and cheaper in price. Its just Vaio!

]1. Why should i choose Sony VAIO while there are a lot of laptops from different brand offer the same/higher specification with cheaper price?[/b]

1. Branding. : Yes, have to admit this. any Sony notebook will cost a lil bit expensive than the one with similar specs.
2. Quality. : I have experienced and honestly said that their notebook quality can be qualified from mediocre to elite. I'm satisfied with its built quality, its more sturdy than the Acer i used earlier if i want to compare them. Its always the best to play around with the notebooks at their store. This apply to any product you are going to buy.
3. Design : The notebook is design to have decent looks and it is always top-notch when Sony designing their notebook.
4. LCD: Beauitful LCD screen ever. period.

*Thanks to Miyabi for the useful info.

SR35G/B user here just upgraded to 4gb RAM

still getting the hang of Vista... I think my old Fujitsu was a pretty good workhorse too... still going strong after 4 years! now subjected to the tabletop on BT 24/7 haha

@blink,
I was in your shoes too - mac or vaio. In the end I still went with the Vaio coz my fujitsu's battery just can't stand it anymore and it is getting a little old. I needed a Windows based laptop since my programs are all windows based and I have alot of windows based related stuff - winMo phone, Palm, etc.

I'll probably get an iMac later for photo editing purposes but I feel my Vaio can do a pretty good job too

how much do you you pay for upgrading your 4gb ram?

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?

Upgrading RAM is not necessary to buy from Sony. It's very expensive. You can get almost half the price in LYP with the same type/brand of RAM.

I have been using the earliest model of SR (SR13GN) for a few months now and it has been going strong! Yes the Macbook Aluminum does have an LED backlit screen but its color is somewhat washed out. Its not as bright as well (and I was sure the settings were maxed). If you set the Macbook and Pro together, you'll see the difference. Put the SR next to it and you will see that the SR is just better.

I bought mine from Midvalley and the freebies weren't as much as it was a new model release. I did get a USB key though and some irrelevant accessories.

The recent PcFair promotion for SR is free MsOffice Home and Student Edition + bluetooth mouse +  laptop bag + Vaio Oversea Warranty 1 year.

I don't think you need 4GB for SR as it is just Vista 32bit.

ya, just like apple also charging few hundred higher than LYP...
May i know how many slot does SR series got?

---

Added on April 20, 2009, 11:13 am
Apple is smart, you hardly see macbook place beside a macbook pro in their shop....
so you cant even place both of the mac to compare it...

but duno what is the recently freebies...my friend bought FW series few months ago too, he gets backpack and a mouse....

Well, AFAIK windows 32bit is only able to use around 3.2GB out of 4GB. It's a limitation on the 32bit bus and Windows OS. Do a quick google and you'll see plenty of information on this.
That's why I said it's not really needed to upgraded to 4GB, because you don't get to fully utilized all of it. Upgrade to 3GB is more worth it.
Or get the top-end Z model which uses windows 64bit and doesn't have this limitation.

i m doing some 3D work for my study, so i thinking of upgrade to higher ram to make it smooth...any solution?

Yeah, a piece of 2GB DDR2 SODIMM is only around RM75-85 so its very cheap to do it yourself. Installation can be done on the spot and you get to test it before leaving/paying. Getting from Apple/Sony is just not within logic.

Regarding the Macbook Pro, yes... they usually place it far far away. Just take a glance and remember it and then move on to the other. You'll see the difference which is quite obvious. Unless you have some friends who happen to have both.

Of course you can always edit the driver string to not use/share your main RAM. There's also another reason we use 2+2=4GB of RAM. Symmetric dual-channel. Of course asymmetric dual-channel is supported but we know what goes on from there.
The only thing we can do is to make the machine as light-weighted as possible (in terms of software in background) and put in lots of RAM. The rest is your graphics and CPU, something that is not easily/readily changed.

yeah, nowadays ram is really cheap...upgrade to 4gb only cost around rm170...nice

sony is not look like dell that you can customize by your own....

Actually Dell's pricing for RAM also more expensive than getting your own. I guess only Dell can afford to allow customizations on customer level since they're basically controlling their own supply chain. Sony on the other than has a lot more products than just laptops so its better go standardize its products.

how much do you you pay for upgrading your 4gb ram?

hi guys, sorry for asking a noob question...
how long does Sony usually take to launch another a new model in previous year?1 year or 2 years?

Bump it up..

New variants within the same series or family is around 1 time per every quarter. The SR series is a good example. SR1x, then SR2x and now SR3x in less than a year. I believe FW is similar too. Nothing on CS though. The difference between these variants are very minor revision of the specification. Nothing to pull hair about.

A complete new model change however is around 1-2 years, somewhere around 18 months. An example would be the SZ series to SR series, FJ to FW series and C to CR and then CS series.

hi guys, sorry for asking a noob question...
how long does Sony usually take to launch another a new model in previous year?1 year or 2 years?

Bump it up..

Simetimes only 6 months.

when is the SR3X launch?
is it last year august?

An example would be the SZ series to SR series, FJ to FW series and C to CR and then CS series.

Last August? August 2008 was the launch of the first SR, the 12G and 13GN variants. The launch of the SR was parallel to the PC Fair 2008 and was also to usher the phase-off of the last variant of the SZ-series. By November-December 2008, we had the SR2x liao.

Again, no major change. Here are the list of changes from SR1x to SR3x

Just recently around March 2009 we had the SR3x variants.

The replacement of SZ is Z i think. and SR is just another new model of 13.3" VAIO.

---

Added on April 22, 2009, 10:22 pm
FW series as well.

Are you VAIO representative?

I think the Z was a new line in the Ultra Portable range but still remaining the 13.3" form factor. Its essential to bring VAIO's business range to the slightly more affordable level (where most customers can pay). So they had to split the SZ product level to cover the lower (SR) and higher (Z) range of that product level. Thats how they can bring down the price of business class VAIO to RM4-5k  while still maintain product flagship (one with top specifications and technology innovation) among other brands within the same range.

That give VAIO more room to compete by covering all of these market levels.
No lar bro. The context of we here are WE as consumer. Not the other we from Sony's perspective. Make no mistake ya! 

Yeah i'm really admire Z series. Quality design, Carbon fibre body, long battery life and LCD screen is superb. And also for your information. Z series has the highest resolution compared to other brand/model for 13" screen notebook.

Yeah, but I felt Sony should also introduce higher resolution for SR 13.3" cause 1280x800 is so not 2009. The resolution has been standard since a long long time ago! Even the FW has a higher resolution than standard. Other competitors also have more dense screens for 13 and 14" LCD offerings.

How's your Vaio P? Heard that its very slow. Pls comment.

I know that is nothing much to change from SR1X-SR2X-SR3X...
but wish that the next SR do to have a better graphic card for the SR35G cost rm4488

the Intel HD4500 is consider good enough, but its poor playing the current game. But if you concern about video and photoshopping, i believe it will do well. If you really need to get dedicated gpu, you can try take a look at FW. the lcd for FW is decent (
16.4" wide (WXGA++: 1600 x 900) TFT colour display (Clear Bright LCD [Rich Colour]), but the drawback is the batt power (about 2 hours for this notebook).

SR35G is another alternative notebook for business purposes.

I know that is nothing much to change from SR1X-SR2X-SR3X...
but wish that the next SR do to have a better graphic card for the SR35G cost rm4488

Wah, the forum really getting very interesting with all the useful discussions taking place. Analysis of the products are really good.

Yeah it would be great if they could upgrade the HD3470 to HD3650 or 46xx and then trickle down the HD3470 to the entry SR model. I think some models of the SR in the US and other parts of the world have a higher end ATI graphics.

Unfortunately, Sony traditionally sticks with a graphics model for the entire product cycle. But that can change though. By the way, bringing the HD3470 to the RM4488 SR could increase its price so we don't want that to happen.

because there is a new learner (me) keep on asking question...
so there is more and more answer, information popping out from the others..

---

Added on April 23, 2009, 10:36 am
no need to be high end, just installed nvidia geforce 9400 to SR35G is more than enough for me...haha

Just got my TT25GN just now. Almost 3 most after my TZ sold he he. Count me in D Club.

Wanted to ask about the extended warranty, my laptop is still under 1 year warranty, but now i would like to buy the extended warranty, can i do so?

Wanted to ask about the extended warranty, my laptop is still under 1 year warranty, but now i would like to buy the extended warranty, can i do so?

vaioP here...

finally you get that Vaio P

uh huh.. red one.. thinking whether to get the leather pouch or not.. rm488 le