Sony VAIO A17 Dothan Powered Notebook - Page 4

Damn that sucks That is a great looking laptop. Once again I will wait untill one of these companies gets it right and makes a decent laptop with a good video card in it.

bluetooth?

Anyone know if ALL the A190's have Bluetooth? It's very unclear. If you BTO an A190, it is listed as included. However, the "ready to order" $2799 model does not list it. Further, there doesn't seem to be a way to customize the notebook to remove bluetooth.

What's up?

And Sony considers this a step forward??



I would rather buy a '92 Trinitron than a new Wega. Their stuff is complete **** now, and instead of reworking their designs, they jack up the prices on crap products.

And people think Powerbooks are expensive...

I agree, the website is very vague and lacking info. Did you see their wireless mouse option? Click on the details to that and it tells you they / "we will install" the receiver inside your laptop so you can enjoy wirless mouse. Really? That's total bs, it's a bluetooth mouse using the BT that is already inside the laptop. And where's the picture of the mouse? Sony makes lots of funky things you may not want, like a mouse that is dome shaped.

And the $350 AV Dock, it doesn't say that it includes 2 speakers. Does it or doesn't it? It supposedly has a digital amp, but how does one hook up the speakers?

And the dock also has both VGA and DVI out, do they both work simultanously and independently? Can you get all 3 displays running at the same time?

What speed is the DVDRW? Can anyone let me know, am I able to buy a laptop DVDRW and stick it in any laptop including the Sony? Are the interfaces the same or do I need a bracket, much like how it works on 2.5" harddrive for laptops?

All these questions (except for BT, which I assumed is in all of them) I have emailed to them, and expect an answer manana, which I will post here.

I'm not sure about the other questions for sure, but the speeds of the DVD burner are listed.

• Optical Drive Speeds
DVD-ROM - 8x MAX read; DVD-R - 4x MAX
read/MAX write; DVD-RW - 2x MAX
read/MAX write; DVD+R - 4x MAX read/2.4x
MAX write; DVD+RW - 2x MAX read/MAX
write

I'm almost certain you can't put just any laptop drive in there. Some machines have removable optical drives, but this doesn't seem to be one of them. Even those with removable optical drives are usuaully such that you have to buy IBM's drive to go into a Thinkpad, HP's drive to go into an omnibook, etc.

Did you see this PDF of the "ready to ship" model?

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershopro...tions/a190.pdf

Here's a URL for the BTO series specs:

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershopro...tions/a170.pdf

This seems to suggest that the speakers and a remote definitely come with the dock.

thxs plswdth for the pdf links.

There seems to be two power adapters, why is that? Does the AV Dock come with one (I've asked in email to them)? By the look of the specs, I guess not.

Anyone know a link to performance comparison between the Pentium M's (both B and D) and Celeron M's against the desktop Northwood P4s?

From what I can see, one gives 6.1Amps and is 1.6lb, and another gives 4.1Amps and is 0.9lb. I will put my bets on the smaller one being designed to power the notebook only (on the go), and the heavier for the notebook+dock. It comes with the heavier one.

optional one:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...=NB_PCGAAC19V3
included one:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...=AC_PCGAAC19V7

Please post what you find out about the dvi/vga outputs! What email address did you email btw? I want to email about the bluetooth.

The A190 "ready to ship" model is exactly how I would spec it out if it includes bluetooth, and I would *much* rather get it from somewhere else rather than build to order at the Sonystyle.com site. I've heard bad stuff about sonystyle.com policies, speed, etc,... but beyond that I'd rather order somewhere that I can save the $200+ hidden sales tax they charge.

I'm also really curious about the bluetooth mouse that you can add on the BTO site....I wonder if it's just like their RF wireless mouse they sell? I can find no record of any Sony wireless mouse besides the Japan only dome one and the mirrored bottom US one, and both are RF.

My Q&A with sony:

Question:

Customer - 05/17/2004 06:16 PM
I'd like to know on your LAPTOP model number VGN-A170 (A series 17" WUXGA
laptops)

1) Is the laptop dual monitor(independent viewing) capable?
2) Does the $350 "AV Dock" port replicator include a power adapter.
3) The $350 "AV Dock" port replicator has a VGA out and a DVI out, are they both
usable at the same time? Can I display independly 3 displays (one on the laptop,
one on VGA, and one on DVI) at the same time?
4) Does the $350 "AV Dock" include speakers, and what is its spec.
5) Is the $350 "AV Dock" port replicator TV Tuner PAL or NTSC only standard?
6) What is the recording speed of the DVDRW drive.


Answer:

Response (Brent) - 05/18/2004 01:03 AM
Thank you for contacting us with your query regarding the Sony VAIO Notebooks.

I am glad to know that you are interested in the A series of Sony VAIO
Notebooks.

The customizable notebooks the VGN-A130/A130P CTO VGN-A170/A170P CTO A Series
VAIO Notebooks from Sony A series has ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 Graphics
Processing Unit which supports Dual Display.

As the VGN-A170/A170P CTO A Series VAIO Notebook is a customizable model so you
can opt for the AV Dock/Port Replicator if u want to increase the capabilities
of the Notebooks.

The AV Dock/Port Replicator plugs in to the Port Replicator interface of the A
series notebooks which has a power connector in built in the interface so you
don’t need to power it externally so there is no power adaptor is required.

The specification of the AV Dock/Port Replicator that is a configurable
accessory is: -

AV Entertainment Dock w/Speakers (2) & Remote Control including:

DC in, Four USB 2.0 ports, Monitor (VGA) port, VHF/UHF TV port, S-Video in/out,
DVI-D, RJ-45 Ethernet, Printer port, Optical out, Line in (RCA Pin), Line out
(RCA Pin), Dock Connector Wireless optical mouse (PCGA-WMS5/S) 5-in-1 Memory
Card Adapter (VGP-MCA10).

The AV Dock/Port Replicator is having a VGA, DVI-D port so its possible to use
more than one display simultaneously.

The AV Dock/Port Replicator is having speakers supplied and the TV tuner is NTSC
only capable.

The DVD RW drive is also configurable and the Specifications are: -

DVD±RW/CD-RW
CD Read (24x MAX), CD-R Write (16x MAX)
CD-RW Read (10x MAX), CD-RW Write (8x MAX)
DVD Read (8x MAX), DVD-R Write (4x MAX)
DVD-RW Read (2x MAX), DVD-RW Write (2x MAX)
DVD+R Read (4x MAX), DVD+R Write (2.4x MAX)
DVD+RW Read (2x MAX), DVD+RW Write (2xMAX)

----------------------------------------------

I don't know why Brent is saying the machine has a ATI9200, shouldn't it be 9700? The power brick, I think what that translates to is that you can power the replicator with the laptop if the laptop is connected to the power brick. Does this make sense? I guess, if the power plug is to the side of the laptop. But then there is the DC in on the AV dock isn't there? Maybe either one will do. As to the triple display config, he didn't answer. Simultanous display does not mean independent display. I would guess the ATI 9200/9700 are only dual display capable, so would assume the AV Dock would output the second display twice (on VGA and DVI). I didn't ask how the speakers would connect, it would be nice to be able to use non Sony speakers. All the AV Dock pics do not show the right side the dock, but I certainly hope the digital amp is not built right into the speakers itself, which looks like it may be the case (since we have the complete AV Dock 1/o spec). To contact Sony, on the upper right side of the product page, click on 'live help' and navigate. I tried 'live chat' under 'live help' that required a browser plugin that crashes my XP Pro.

I think my assumption of the ability to use 3rd party optical drives is on the money. All you need to do is reuse the interface/caddy just as you would with a laptop hard drive. Read the descriptions on these Ebay items, they all indicate you should be able to do a swap, provided you have the interface/caddy which you can rip from the old optical drive.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...480507735&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...481511151&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...481538015&rd=1

That's true for many laptops--the problem is, it's MUCH more difficult for some. Some laptops let you easily take out the optical drive with a switch on the laptop. For others, like my current Vaio Tr2b, you would have to dissasemble the whole thing in order to replace it, voiding the warranty of course.

I contacted Insight.com (a big reseller) about the A series and specifically about their extended warranty service for Vaio that they sell. I've been hesitating on Sonys for a while b/c their service has a terrible reputation. But these guys will sell (for a few hundred bucks) Accidental Damage protection and Next Day On Site service... so now I'm tempted.

Anyone with Sony service stories?

Does anyone know if the hard drive in the S-Type is easily accessible, or if the whole unit has to be disassembled to get at it?

It's great news that Sony are using 2.5" drives in the S-Type because that means it is possible to replace the HD later on with a Hitachi 7k60.

15" VGN-A130 has a 9200 64MB

17" VGN-A170 has a 9700 64MB

17" VGN-A190 has a 9700 64MB

No one knows yet, but I'm sure someone will figure it out.

Im all over the S type if/when it hits the states . Knowing its comeing gives me some time to skimp on my spending and save that 2.5 grand ill need for my new baby!Hmm maybe ill put in some overtime at work...

So, anyone know any good Sony resellers?Can I only order one of the configured models from Sony?

Anyone find out about the bluetooth yet? (should be shipping any day now, too) Sony never replied to my email.

The bluetooth only comes on the 17" widescreen models.

what good is bluetooth?

i know its like a superduper infra-red... but really what does it offer that makes it so necessary

i mean its not like wifi...

This should help:http://computer.howstuffworks.com/bluetooth.htm

Did you miss the earlier parts of the threads? Are you *Certain* it comes on ALL 17" models? The PDF specifications suggest otherwise--they suggest the "ready to ship" version of the 17" A series, the VGN-A190, does not include bluetooth. Further, it seems to suggest bluetooth is only included on the BTO models. (VGN-A170)

Sorry about that,I didnt notice that. I was assuming that if the custom 17" models had the bluetooth the ready to ship 17" models would have bluetooth aswell. Hmm I guess I didnt look at it carefully. Sorry.