Sony SE Owners' Thread

[BigNerd]

Added this FAQ to the top because of the many repeat questions:
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1. How can I enable two finger scroll?

I also missed two finger scrolling and took a look in the registry and found the interesting entry "Visibility". Just change the default value of 8 to 0 to unhide the two finger scrolling option.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Synaptics\SynTPCpl\Controls\2Scrolling\2Two-Finger Scrolling]
"Visibility"=dword:00000000

2. Is the display IPS? How good is it?
We think so, and while it has great viewing angles, it also does not reproduce reds very well... they look orangish (aka OrangeGate). Forum member moralar posted a great entry showing the different angles and color reproduction:

Sony SE Owners' Thread

Additionally, VaioCanuck also posted an image comparing reds on different screens (turns out OrangeGate is not a new thing):

Sony SE Owners' Thread

3. How do I stop my screen from dimming periodically?
It's a power saving feature, to disable it:

When you are in Stamina mode (the switch on the top left). Find "Graphic Properties" in the Intel Graphics Tab under Advanced Settings in Screen Resolution.

Look for Power, select On Battery. You should see a box to uncheck for "Display Power Saving Technology".

4. Are there other video drivers to enable features that Sony may have nerfed?
User redmimic has been using one that seems to be okay:

I know now that you can't rotate the screen in Windows and it has been disabled by Sony. This is a feature that I was looking for and was disappointed to find out it's not there.

The custom Switchable Drivers found here work with the SE. I am using them and the new options have resulted in no problems. Just follow the instructions carefully and make restore points.

5. How can I improve the sound?
Enable the Dolby enhancements:

Go to the Sound icon in Control Panel. Select the Speaker/HP device, then click on Properties. Another window should pop up and you'll see a tab for Dolby where you can enable it.

6. How is the battery life?
On stamina mode, I and others have can do about 5.5+ hours, on speed, maybe 3-4 hours depending on what you are doing. The slice battery probably close to doubles that (I don't have one so I'm not sure).

7. What are the differences in the new models (Feb 2012 release)?
Not much other than internal CPU spec bumps. (need some more info here)



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Start of original post:

Hadn't been to Fry's in a while and lo and behold... VAIO SE awesomeness:









First impressions:

1. It's really thin... very similar to the other S series.

2. Screen looks really good.

3. Hardly any flex on the keyboard and palmrests... the screen however is a different story.

4. Only $999... which I feel is a better deal than the Dell XPS 15z and the upcoming Samsung Series 7 15.6".

I think I've found my "desktop" notebook.

UPDATE:

I actually ordered it from Amazon for $1079 (MSRP $1249). It was the silver i5, 6GB, 650 5400rpm HD, 1GB video, BluRay model. I did an unboxing video here:

http://www.bignerdblog.com/2011/10/u...reviewcom.html

[Mitlov]

Did you try out the speakers at all?

As for a "better deal" than the Series 7...different strokes for different folks. This offers 1080p and significantly less weight and, from initial impressions of each, perhaps a more solid case design. On the other hand, the Series 7 offers quad-core i7 and 6750M; this offers dual-core i5 (or dual-core i7 if you want to spend more) and a 6630M.

[BigNerd]

Yes "better deal" is relative... hence the "I feel" part... maybe I should have added "for me" also.

As for the speakers... sorry... I didn't get a chance to do anything other than run the Windows Experience test to see the different between Stamina and Speed mode. It got 4.7 and 5.3.

I'm not really liking the matte black... and will probably end up with the silver one. I also have a Sony Store in my area so I might go over there to check it out to see if they have it and if so, in any other colors... and I'll test the speakers too.

I do have to say that compared to my Dell 15z (which I returned), I'm liking this SE much better. While the 15z was fairly thin, it felt really heavy... the SE feels both thinner and lighter. I don't like the dedicated numpad (prefer the keyboard and trackpad to be centered to the screen) but at least it's better than the 13.3" S keyboards that don't have dedicate Home/End/Pg keys.

[Mitlov]

I agree as to the case color. At least based on pictures, the silver looks MUCH richer and more attractive than the black. I think black and silver are the only ones available for the US...there was a photo of a white one when the SE was first previewed, but I haven't seen that since. The white looked really nice.

Thanks for the feedback...as my sig indicates, I'm torn between an F2 and an SE, and will be buying in December.

[beaups]

There will be silver offered in the US.

[Mitlov]

And it's very, very handsome (pictures included):

Sony VAIO S Series review (15-inch) -- Engadget

[BigNerd]

@Mitlov

Your sig says you run an MBP... why are you switching over to a Win notebook?

I would like to try a white notebook (almost bought the F(?) in white until news of all these other FHD thin notebooks started popping up). I'm just worried it's going to get off-white really fast... hehe.

I saw a red/hotpink VAIO at the same Fry's... very interesting.

[BigNerd]

According to the sales guy, they've had the SE for at least a week... so I wonder why there haven't been any other threads about it (the Sammy Series 7 isn't even officially out at Best Buy and there were multiple people posting about seeing and buying it).

Or maybe they just got it today and he was uninformed.

[beaups]

^They would've just gotten it this week. Sony can't advertise these until Sunday.

[Mitlov]

@Mitlov

Your sig says you run an MBP... why are you switching over to a Win notebook?

I would like to try a white notebook (almost bought the F(?) in white until news of all these other FHD thin notebooks started popping up). I'm just worried it's going to get off-white really fast... hehe.

I saw a red/hotpink VAIO at the same Fry's... very interesting.

My MBP, which I've owned since 2008, is long in the tooth and worn out. There are several reasons why I'm going with a Windows machine for its replacement.

(1) Cost. To get an MBP capable of running Mass Effect III, it'd cost nearly $2500 ($2200 MBP 15 plus $190 copy of Windows 7). I can get a well-made Windows machine capable of running Mass Effect III for half the price. And price is an issue; I've got a lot less disposable income than I did three years ago.

(2) I really, really like Windows 7. I prefer it to OSX Snow Leopard (and especially Lion from what I've seen of Lion). When I got the MBP, new PC machines were shipping with Vista. I had a Vista-equipped Lenovo Ideapad Y710 for two weeks before shipping it back and getting the MBP. In 2008, I much preferred the Apple operating system to Windows. That's no longer the case.

(3) The MBP is not that great if you're using Windows regularly. The graphics aren't switchable (and the super-long battery life is part of what you're paying extra for with a Mac, right?). The multitouch track pad doesn't work nearly as well. And the 500 GB 7200 RPM HDD, which is already small compared to the 640 and 750 GB options on most PC machines, is even smaller once you factor in two partitions with two operating systems. I bought the MBP thinking it would be "the best of both worlds" with Boot Camp, but was very underwhelmed by the Boot Camp experience.