Official Sony SB/SA/SC/SD Series Owners' Thread

[xSDMx]

Thanks for the pictures.

I ended up finding the "Marware Orca Sportfolio 13"; the sleeve is a perfect fit for the SA + slice.

[kman79]

Hello,

I hope you guys don't mind me asking a question about the SA3. In the market for a new laptop and I have my mind set on either the SA3 or the Lenovo T420s.

My main priority finding one that has the longest battery life. Which leads me to my question, approximately how much real-world battery life are you guys getting from the laptop with the Slice Battery in use?

Two more questions, sorry.

- Does the SA3 use regular sized SSDs (2.5 inch, 9.5mm)
- I almost always do a clean install of Windows after purchasing a new laptop, are all drivers available to download from Sony without having to use Bloated Utilities?

Any help with this is greatly appreciated, thank you.

[ptrkhh]

Hello,

I hope you guys don't mind me asking a question about the SA3. In the market for a new laptop and I have my mind set on either the SA3 or the Lenovo T420s.

My main priority finding one that has the longest battery life. Which leads me to my question, approximately how much real-world battery life are you guys getting from the laptop with the Slice Battery in use?

Around 4-5 hours with Battery Care disabled (Battery Care stops the charging at 50% or 80% and it helps to reduce the battery degradation), if you mostly leave it idle, you can get 6 hours but it is very rare condition that can't be met in most everyday usage.
I usually got 3-4 hours with Battery Care enabled (80%).
Battery Slice doubles.
If you want an extremely long battery life you can get the latest Acer Aspire TimelineX, it really has 8 hours battery life, double the SA, or the same as SA with battery slice.

- I almost always do a clean install of Windows after purchasing a new laptop, are all drivers available to download from Sony without having to use Bloated Utilities?

Yes, all required drivers are available, but no Sony extras provided like the "VAIO Movie Story", "Media Gallery", and "PMB/Picture Motion Browser".
Here's the driver download page for my VPCSA2FGX

[ptrkhh]

My SA comes with most Sony software stripped out because it is the Microsoft Signature version.
But I want the VAIO Movie Story.
So, I copied a set of SB's recovery DVD (3 DVDs), but when I started, it showed "The Recovery Disc is not valid for this system".

Any solution to bypass that and proceed to the VAIO Movie Story installation?

[Megol]

Hello,

I hope you guys don't mind me asking a question about the SA3. In the market for a new laptop and I have my mind set on either the SA3 or the Lenovo T420s.

My main priority finding one that has the longest battery life. Which leads me to my question, approximately how much real-world battery life are you guys getting from the laptop with the Slice Battery in use?

Can't help you with that... Haven't even done a test of the normal battery yet

Two more questions, sorry.

- Does the SA3 use regular sized SSDs (2.5 inch, 9.5mm)

Nope. It uses a special form factor and a special connection. It's possible to replace it with a standard HDD or SSD however then the connection cable have to be replaced.
Models with HDD as standard can be replaced with a normal SSD.

- I almost always do a clean install of Windows after purchasing a new laptop, are all drivers available to download from Sony without having to use Bloated Utilities?

I haven't done a (real) clean install but As far as I know all drivers are available.

[jeremyshaw]

Sony used a teeny stinkin battery on this laptop (for reference, it is less than 5% higher capacity than a 13" Macbook Air 2011 battery), so don't expect magic battery life. That being said, I get ~4 hours of office/web with battery care @80%. Can get ~7:30 hours with the slice battery under same settings & conditions.


As the above users said, the normal HDD option can be replaced with a normal SSD. The Sony provided SSD (at least the 256GB and higher options) use a custom PCB with a different bracket - so it's tough to replace the higher end Sony SSDs, at least, with a normal 2.5" SSD (9.5mm will fit, though).

And since I have done it many times, yes, all the drivers are avalible at the Vaio Support site. Software, most of the default sony ones exist, though I am unsure of larger items, like BluRay player software.

[kman79]

I appreciate the replies everyone

What is the consensus on the build quality on the SA3? How does it feel during use? Does it feel solid and well made?

The reason why I ask is because I travel heavy all day and it'll be stuffed in a bag with a couple of thick nursing books.

Which leads to another question, is there a hard case that you guys can recommend that fits with the slice battery attached?

Thanks again for the replies

[jeremyshaw]

IMO, the SA3 is better built than the SA2. No more play in the STAMINA/SPEED switch, the hinge is much more resistive, with less of the (deliberately engineered, IMO) 70-110 degree hinge play, and the screen seems ever so slightly better (eyeballing them at frys - they had an old Silver SA2 out on the refurb, next to a new Black SA3).

[pizdets17]

I still can't get the fn+ keys to work even after installing/reinstalling control center. All it does is get me to the windows power options.. And the fans sound like they will take off and can't get two finger scrolling to work..I am starting to miss my mac...

[Sxooter]

IMO, the SA3 is better built than the SA2. No more play in the STAMINA/SPEED switch, the hinge is much more resistive, with less of the (deliberately engineered, IMO) 70-110 degree hinge play

Agreed, it's a very solid little machine, and also the keyboard is top notch. If sony had put in real page up / page down keys it would be perfect.