Hi guys. I plan to get a VAIO. But indecisive on E series or CW series. My budget is below RM4000. ANy advantages between the two? Heard Sony updated its line-up too, should I be waiting a bit ? Thanks!

Well, i got the SB16FG black.. Swell machine.. Sign me up as an owner
Razor thin, can fight Macbook for performance and looks anytime.. I think the LCD panel can slice a person's neck leh..
trying to get Crysis 2 to try its performance.. Running PS is smooth..

Specs say it got one 4gb RAM, so will be getting another 4 Gb RAM (hopefully similar model and brand) so it can run as pair. Heard it will be better as a pair too.

Only grip is the HDD is only 320 Gb 5400rpm. Why not give 7200rpm model, hai...
And the ports all on the right side only, even with the power inset, kensington lock.. so crammed..
Anyone know how to change the HDD? The manual does not show where the HDD is or whether we can change it DIY..

This one is a S series SB16FG? ok.. looks easy enough, but how do you transfer the hidden partitions that contain the VAIO Recovery files?
Thanks ya!


Fan arr.. Ok loh, cos i used to own an Acer Travelmate 4000 (with 64mb 9700Radeon - can play Half Life 2 and Fear!!)
Compared to that it is ok lor. Fan sounds like a jet engine, and I like jets, so ok for me. And I play games with Seinhesser earphones so cannot hear outside sounds lah, but not try it yet.
It kinda build up slowly if you are doing HDD strenuous activities like streaming video while copying files and installing PS CS5 then becomes like zzzznng zzzng zzzng like a jet, not too distracting to me.

Oh, while at it, the vents are all on the right of user, so the aluminium of keyboard and trackpad feels little bit warm on right and veli cool on left. Nvr had heat issues yet cos still trying to get Crysis 2 to try. I hope I can run it and not waste my money.

Actually that touchpad not as nice as the one on my gf's CW series (hers more exp than mine!!). But my gf says maybe after it sucks more of my "oil" from my fingers it glide better.

I bought this model cos got offer for My Sony members on that SonyStyle online shop (free SOny bluetooth mouse and that expensive Sony bag)= that's about RM600 worth of goods, and u know Sony never give any free stuff when u buy from its Shops!! The promo ending soon and u guys better hurry if wan..

I cannot give full review cos I still uninstalling those trials software and installing mine, setting up my image editing tools, transferring my data from my acer. BTW, I am still writing this on my Acer, leaving the sweet baby at home.. will give my views again later lah, got work..

Thanks. Better I wait then, maybe later SSD price drop further then I change.

Like that kah? Good to know. I did already burn the recovery disk.

I'll get get some videos as soon as I finish setting it up the way I like.

Wow, many same kaki on SB series.. But much more powerful ya.. haha..
I just tried Crysis 2 (with a fan-made detail graphic settings mod). Everything almost lowest settings (which is "high" in Crysis 2 terminology), ran pretty smooth and gorgeous. But cannot compare to extreme settings on better PCs lah.. Still better looking than Fallout3.

I played till 4th chapter, only thing choppy is the in-between mini movie cut-scenes, not the in game cut-scenes.. Firefight is smooth once u get a better gun with better scope, initial is crap, hard to aim..

I played with earphones, but when i take them off, Wow! the fan is quite loud, but in a nice way. Like I said previously, sounds like a jet engine.. The back and right upper end of keyboard is quite warm->hot.. But it cools super quick when I exit the game, the fan almost start to wind down immediately after u stop those CPU+RAM+Graphic+HDD intensive things.

So my overall perspective is, fan is not a problem. U have to listen to an Acer's fan then u can appreciate Sony's fan is better..

And my Windows Exp Index: was better than zze121, dunno y..




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That explains it! And BTW, first time i played Crysis 2 i forgot to change back to ATI from Intel graphics, damn the game was slightly choppy.

and sorry i hav no idea what's a Cougar, except as a mountain lion in US and an older woman who wants younger men.

Nothing weird with my comp, I tried HDMI to TV, burning DVDs, games, PS CS5, Lightroom, MS Office 2007, streaming videos, watching videos on VLC, no prob yet.. Is it you mean hardware conflicts? I thought those are a past problem with Windows 98?

Cheers, and enjoy ur VAIO!

Update:
Oh, I googled the cougars.. Hai.. that problem detected in Macbooks about sandy bridge? It affects multiple SATA users. Laptop mana boleh guna multiple SATA device? at most is dual SATA SSD raid 0 and a DVD drive. I heard it affects only when paired up to 4 or 5 SATA drives only got problem under heavy load..

This post has been edited by lonewolfchua: Apr 4 2011, 10:31 AM

best to go bak to Sony service.. u get bak good quality screens. Still under warranty?

Sony VAIO BIOS update for SB16xx SB18XX and SB19xx of the newest S series. Do check your VAIO Update programme. Supposedly help solve the loud fan issue.

I oledi patched the Bios, no problem..

Well I can safely say battery is away from the heat epicentre for the SB series. It is nearest to the user, immediately below the palm rest and touchpad. The heat from HDD, RAM, CPU and GPU is drawn towards the back, under the LCD. So the heat not affect the battery much I think. Cos I played Crysis 2 and the aluminium only got warm, and most heat is at the back, and VAIO is doing good job cooling. But I do use a CoolerMaster, so maybe it helps too.

On another matter, anyone else thinks that the touchpad "sucks" a bit compared to CW series? My friend's CW touchpad is a very nice to use.

U have to look out for promo at SonyStyle online shop. There's where I bought my SB16 with free Ori Sony Bag, Sony Bluetooth mouse and a silly mystery gift. But those two Sony products worth RM500-600 liao...
RIght now I think is middle of cycle of refresh, cos in US already announced replacement models for the SB. I think is SA or something.

But anyway, buy the SB, it is a really nice machine, not perfect but very nice..

Vaio S series is worth it. Just don't compare with Acer/Dell/HP/Asus/Lenovo lah based on price.. Except of course Alienware..
And please don't compare to a Mac, if you're thinking Mac, you're posting in the wrong thread.

The keyboard is nice, the construction is very nice. Backlight keyboards so useful in the dark. If you peel off all those stupid stickers (showing AMD, Intel, Win7) then your lappy becomes super classy.

I own the SB16, can play Crysis2, Fallout3. So performance wise no prob lah. But fan noise is loud under stress. Does it bother you? It not bother me cos I use headphones for games. And your right palm will get warm cos HDD and processors and RAM are below it. if you play FPS then lagi no prob cos your left hand only touching the keyboard as your right is for fragging and headshots!

But the lappie cools very effectively to the back under the LCD.

Found a review by Engadget for anyone interested in buying the SB series.
Engadget Vaio SB

Noise? what noise? I hear no damn thing.. Oops! I'm on earphones.

Normal if doing CPU intensive things on the SB. But hey, at least you know it is venting out heat very effectively to the back, not on the sides which will heat up your palm (like some Acer models).

Be happy with your SB, I know I am..

No warranty, just try DIY or can send to Sony Service (they charge a lot though).

On a different note guys and gals.
There are various updates on the Vaio Update for the SB series, but it seems there is a BIOS update to improve "Thermal management". Maybe less annoying fan issue?
Check and update your SB guys and gals!