SZ38GP newbie here. Questions:

1) Is it recommended to create backup DVDs?
2) WinDVD has region lock and will not allow region change after a few uses. Any recommendations for this!?
3) As this is my first SONY lappie, is transferring pictures from my T50 camera a matter of plugging in the memory stick duo; or do I need to install drivers etc. Same with my W800 phone... can I just plug in the MS Duo?
4) As the battery is Li-Ion, I have the impression that there are no memory effects(?). Do I need to fully charge and discharge for the first few times?

Hi ezinger,
THANKS!!!

1) Regarding the hidden partition, what happens if Windows doesnt even boot. How to restore then? My previous lappie, a Compaq crashed twice and lucky for the restore CD, I managed to get it up and running again.
2) Oh... windows media player can play dvd liao arr?
3) COOL
4) COOL!!!

I finally got around today to play with my SZ38. Spent the whole morning updating softwares etc. I SERIOUSLY hate Norton Antivirus... too messy with so much updates to go through.

I'm facing a problem now. Most if not all of my applications (Sonicstage and gracenote, Windows Media Player, Adobe etc) all fails to connect to the internet for registration etc... whereas, here I am surfing on IE. Whats going on?! The error is internet connection could not be found but I'm online and can surf using IE.

Hope someone can help. Is it something to do with my antivirus? Cause Sonicstage says Failed to open socket... what the hell does that mean!?

Hey thanks ezinger!! I knew Norton was the culprit. ANyway, after a reboot and installing some (well, alot!) of updates, its all running smoothly now. Thanks for the suggestions for the antivirus. How does those compare to a free one like say AVG?

ezinger, thats real cool.. do let us know how it handles Vista. I was very tempted to wait as per my previous post, but the idea of having Vista incompatibility with some of my required softwares put me off. Anyway, I'm very happy & satisfied with my SZ38 now. Works so well with all my other Sony peripherals.

I read somewhere sometime ago that some VAIOs have a certain software which enables the user to watch DVDs or listen to music WITHOUT even booting Windows up... just by powering on the lappie.

Does anyone know which software this is and whether its available in all VAIOs distributed in Msia!?

C series made in china. FE in Japan. You decide.

szeping, what is that? I did a search on that model number oso nothing wan!?

Arrr.... the LA series; here in UK is very popular!!! Damn cool looking. But for me, the ultimate is the XL series la. Get that one, connect to Bravia LCD TV, kaotims my whole home entertainment man!!!

Guys, as a user of the SZ38GP for couple of months, I can say its the best laptop I've user used!!! Heating problems? Nope. In fact, the fan and CPU can be set to Adaptive to suit performance also lah...

I've ran some engineering software on it... and even with my 2GB RAM and 100% CPU running continuously for about 6 hours, it was alrite. You can here even set the fan to quiet - apparently will slow the system down a little, but man... the fan is silent. No sound whatsoever.

If u doing 'normal' stuff like word processing or only surfing, the SZ doesnt get hot on the knees...

All in all, a laptop I would definitely recommend!

---

Added on March 25, 2007, 7:44 amHaha...how on earth did you guess?!!!

Me everything also Sony larrr.... Bravia TV, DVD player, Mini Hi-fi, car stereo, Walkmans, MD Recorder, PS2, PSP, T50 Cybershot.....

This post has been edited by Twin_Sparx: Mar 25 2007, 07:44 AM

jason, EVERYTHING you buy depends on some degree of luck. If you think about it, laptops are sold on a daily basis, and just because some new owners found heating or some other problems, don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole damn bunch!

Ensure you buy from a good source and register your product. I've emailed SONY a couple of times enquiring some things about my lappie (Sonicstage help etc) and I've always received good response. I think their service is second to none.

Seriously, dont think so much. I was doing research for couple of months, deciding between Dell XPS or Fujitsu.... before finally biting the the bullet and gettin the SZ. As I'm working in UK now, even my British colleagues were impressed at its looks, performance and weight....not forgetting the price I paid for it too. (The SZ38GP was and is still going for 1799 pounds!!! Almost RM12+k)

Haha, that was why I quickly grab SZ38 before SZ48 came out. I specifically DID not want Vista... why bother with a new OS when I'm getting the last revision (hopefully) and matured XP Professional!

Oh, you work with MATLab too!? Cool piece of software... although I find MathCAD more powerful now for solving ODEs and other math problems. Of course, MATLAB can do simulink and other control system problems la.

Aisey... Dell got layan warranty claims due to accidental drops meh!? In fact, any manufacture dare to do so meh!?

Warranty can extend no problem. Pay more only lorrr.... hehheh

Fren, tat wan they call warranty... but in reality, its insurance larrr

'Misuse' probably means dropping it (accident or not), spilling water on the keyboard, holding the laptop by the LCD screen... I could go on, but basically common sense lorrrrr....

What express upgrade is this?

alucard, is it true that the Vista upgrade option doesn't upgrade the OS entirely to Vista, but somewhere inbetween XP & Vista? And how are the procedures are like? (Just curious, not that I'll ever be wasting time with Vista! )

What kind of driver you looking for?

ezinger, only me & you with SZ arrr? Hahaha!!

Err.... why are you looking for your nvidia drivers? Is it due to your vista upgrade. Me old fashion ... refuse to upgrade yet. XP Pro is good enough for all my apps.