Earlier today Shira walked into my office with a pleasant surprise: she had bought me the Sony Vaio VGN-SR520G/B laptop I had been eyeing. She knows how long I can dwell on a decision like this, so she doesn't even bother getting me involved in this kind of purchase.
So far, everything I've heard about the laptop seems to pan out: it's lightweight, has a beautiful screen, isn't cluttered with trialware, and has an overall clean feel to it. The main downside appears to be the battery life - which it reported as having 2-3hrs of, instead of the store promised 6.
Personally, I'm finding the keyboard to be quite usable. I like how they have fewer physical keys, yet have spread them out generously. I'm also digging this SD card slot.
With an hour or so of minor web surfing under my belt, I guess it's safe to say I would recommend this laptop. Though I'm eager to get my development tools on it to see how it really performs.
I found my list of essential software to be handy to getting the laptop setup. I figured I might as well update the list with my current list of essentials, and surprisingly, the list got smaller not larger.
The laptop comes with Windows 7, and so far, I'm cool with that. I'd actually like to find some tutorials on what's new in Windows 7, as I'd like to actually make use of the newest goodies, rather than to rely on the same tricks I've been using since Windows 95 (yes, I'm looking at you Alt-Tab). Heck, I found the Windows Key + Arrow Keys repositions in the current window on the screen, which might be handy. Yeah, I've got plenty to learn.
Anyone have any Windows 7 tutorials they'd like to suggest? Or perhaps tools I should consider installing?
I have bought sony VGN-SR520G too 1 month ago.
ReplyDeleteI have similar problem with battery. Windows 7 shows only 2-3 hours. I have supposition about that.
If you look information about this laptop on the site Sony.com, you will see what they show 5-6 hours for Celeron processor. However we have Core 2 Duo processor, because I think we have only 2-3 hour. Otherwise the laptop very good! How you wrote
I think if you worked with Windows 95, you don't need tutorials for Windows 7 :)
Thank you for trips Win+Arrows
PaHa -
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting thought about how the battery life is quoted with a different processor. Maybe that does explain the wide difference in the quoted versus actual battery life.
And yes, you're right - you don't need a tutorial to use Windows 7. It's just that if you want to take advantage of the new features it has, it's worth taking the time to learn about them.
I have also a sony vaio vgn-sr520g/b and I have a problem with speakers. It's not a problem with the driver sound because it is installed and it says "this device is working properly". Speakers didn't work from the begining! Much to my suprise, if I put my headphones in, it works. So it must be a problem with the hardware, not with the software. Does anybody else have the same problem?
ReplyDeleteI haven't had any problems with the speakers (yet). I'm amazed at the poor quality, but they do work properly.
ReplyDeleteBut, at the end of the day, the audio isn't enough of a detractor to really matter.
the info. in the box shows there's a bigger battery out there..maybe that's where they get the 6 hrs. life from?
ReplyDeleteHi, Stelian I don't have problem with sound, try reinstall driver if don't help, definitely hardware problem. I had similar problem, only contrariwise, sound don't work in headphones
ReplyDeleteHi, What about info and battery do you say?
I'm getting one also, but the thing is that it has only 2 USB ports, right?
ReplyDeleteThat's not so good :/
I could be wrong, but a quick search for this model at sony.com VGN-SR520G/B came up empty.
ReplyDeleteStill looking for any info from Sony.
Is this a closeout ? Dropped Line? Hmmmm
Nah that's false. I have one and got it for christmas. Last night there was lightning and I had to disconnect the plug. It lasted so long on the option: "POWER SAVER". Went on it at 7.55PM, shut it down at 10.25PM, and during that period, I was watching a movie [Epic Movie], and just as i was shutting down, the power setting showed me 45%, around 1 hour 40 mins left.
ReplyDeleteBesides, Macintoshes say they lasst approximately 6 hours and yet they only last 3.5 hours. You get that everywhere. Maybe the testers had the display shut down and timed it from that, but in reality it lasts over 4 hours.
my calculation showed that for every 2.5 mins, the power supply goes down by 1%.
So you get like 4 hours. This laptop owns.
FURTHERMORE: With the lighning, my mother's computer got burned and brother's computer got problems. I AM CURRENTLY USING MINE WHICH IS STILL WORKING OK!!! I tell ya: this lappy was built for war :D
not work fn with F5 and F6, windows 7 pro 64 please helpme!!!!
ReplyDeleteGaston -
ReplyDeleteI see no reason why the F5 or F6 key should stop working.
On the external keyboard I use, I have to first click F-lock to make the F keys work.
But other than that, I really don't have much to offer.
I does not include HDMI !!!
ReplyDeletealso Fn + F5, F6, F4, F3 does not work.
next time apple Mac