The new A Series Notebook.....................

[JoeB.]

To all of those new A Series owners... please post any information about the new notebooks.

has keyboard material improved
how is the chasis build.....
what is the actual battery time
etc. etc.

thanks for any info

Joe

[MPMC]

I have had my A series since the end of may. I must say that all things considered it is by far the best lap top I have used.

The build quality is much improved from the old systems, although the DVD drive opens when you try to move the system (very annoying). The keyboard like most laptops is of pretty poor quality, but I do not consider this to be a major problem.

The battery life is about 5 hours!!!!!! (while mainly using photo editing) I was expecting about 2-3 which is what you get when viewing DVD's. I was very shocked the first time I tried this. The system was set for best battery life except for the screen which was set quite bright.

The biggest plus is the screen, I was sceptical about the shiny screen since it obviously is more reflective than the traditional matt surface, but this is easily forgotten with the much more vibrant colours and DVD performance. If only they could make the same quality screen with the matt surface.

The major problem is the fan. When I first got the machine it was totally silent. Now the fan works from the moment I press the power button. It is kind of annoying especially with the minimal advice from vaio link on how to solve the problem.

[pdimenza]

Hi I have the Vaio A197VP and it's a blast!

The quality of contruction is quite good, it has a graphite/magnesium finish body, however, it's just the look, cause to the touch is plain old plastic.

I don't have problems with the DVD when moving the system, but I have some when writing DVDs and CDs. It doesn't work with Ahead Nero and even with the bundled software takes 9 cds to burn 6 (3 fail to burn).

My last notebook was a Pentium III so the batery now seems infinite (not 5 hours but 3,5 using mostly developing tools).

The high point of this notebook is, no questions about it, the TFT. You get use to work at 1900x1200 pretty fast and the clearness of the screen is outstanding. :smileygrin:

[kee-lo_]

Thanks for the feedback guys, much appriciated.

Considering getting one some time next year.

[JoeB.]

hi,

did anybody do a benchmark of any kind yet on the A-series???

[Crusty]

I got the Vaio VGN-A115B for about two weaks now. I only miss the bluetooth in my laptop, but i will come over that :P.

Furthur on i have no really complaint. A friend of mine ( dell user) is very jalous on my screen. I can't blame him. It's very very nice :D. I still don't understand all the mess about the keyboard. It will be a private opniong but i think the vaio keyboard types much better than a other kind of keyboard. A lot of people complain about mine, but i found it better typing than a Asus, Dell or a other brand. The burner works perfect. So does the wireless. And the battery last about 4 hours i think. Including on and off switching. So the battery is very fine.

Till now i found this a wordy follower of my first FX-701

[JoeB.]

hi crusty,

the problem with the keyboard is after you use it for a while it looks like you had some very greasy french-fries while typing a letter.
it nother words the material slicks out very very fast... dell keyboards don't do this that fast.

the TFT is the best on the market

Joe

[kee-lo_]

Yeah they go shiny
The TFTs are amazing though

[Crusty]

Yeahh i agree on the keyboard. My Fx had the same, but i didn't really matter, I still find it a better typin keyboard than a Acer or Asus.

And yeahh the TFT is very !!.
Gonna test it this weak on battery lastings. I think it will go about 3 hours playing full screen dvd.

PS the intel wireless is much better than my old USB wifi

[OldHolborn]

I've just taken delivery of my a197xp. What a beast!

In the box was a wireless mouse, that doesn't seem to connect. Any hints?