Sony VAIO SE Now Available Discussion

The Sony VAIO SE 15.5-inch multimedia notebook is now available. It features a 1080p screen, backlit keyboard, weighs 4.4 lbs, and is under an inch thin.

Read the full content of this Article: Sony VAIO SE Now Available

Related Articles:

• New Sony VAIO Z Ultraportable Revealed
• Sony VAIO Y (YB) Review
• Sony VAIO F Review
• Sony Announces the VAIO S Series Notebook Line
• Sony VAIO EC Review
• Sony VAIO EA Review

 

I like it, but all I really want to know is what the contrast ratio is and how it compares to the Z. I have seen pics of the viewing angles and it looks way better than the SA, and Samsung Series 7(at least the Best Buy model), & is pretty much Z levels of viewing angles.

 

Here is Engadget review of the SE:
Sony VAIO S Series review (15-inch) -- Engadget
They liked the screen in particular however provided no measurements.

The anti-glare coating is a huge bonus.

 

Laptop Mag also loved the screen:

Though they don't have hard numbers for contrast or brightness. And they tore into the audio quality (like Engadget did), so we know that these two reviews aren't just empty praise for everything that comes their way.

Sony VAIO S 15-inch (VPCSE16FX/B) Laptop Review | Laptop Reviews at LAPTOP Magazine

 

Charles you mean the SE, not the SA. I saw the pics showing the SE viewing angles and they looked very good, and the Laptop mag makes it sound like color gamut should be over 60%. I know the TT has something high around 88%+ and the gen MBP(15in CD) I had was around 68%, wasn't it? I guess the straight answer is to compare it to my TT in person. Thanks

 

Doesn't look like anyone has hard numbers for the screen, unfortunately. However I am more than pleased to see 1920x1080 as the only available resolution.

I'd wager most notebook screens are around 60-70% gamut. The notebook with the highest-gamut screen I tested recently was the Dell XPS 15z, which had a beautiful 15.6" 1080p panel; it might have been a tad oversaturated. Probably was around the 85-90% mark.

 

Never seen that particular model, only seen the XPS 15 at Best Buy and thought it was acceptable. Is the 15z glossy?

 

Yes, glossy screen. Here's our review:
Dell XPS 15z Review
Nice laptop but the keyboard sucks.

 

I really like this notebook, but I don't like the HD 6630M (DDR3 memory) that is in this notebook...the Samsung 7 series has a 6750M with GDDR5 memory and thus alot faster.

 

For roughly the same price point (just over $1000), the Vaio SE offers a much better screen and significantly less weight, but the Samsung offers a faster CPU and GPU. You decide for you what's more important for you. Both are really, really good packages, but with different emphases.

 

I have been looking for several months for a notebook for photo editing and have found most have really bad screens due to viewing angles and color/contrast issues. I saw the Vaio SE at Fry's yesterday and have to say the screen is stunning in viewing angles and appears to have great color/contrast/black values. I'll probably get one but will wait to see what notebookcheck.net has to say about it. I've also seen the Samsung 7 Chronos and the Sony SE has it beat hands down. The panel on the 7 also has unacceptable flex, to the point that the cover will bow inward.

 

If you think the screen is stunning in person then why are you waiting to see what notebookcheck says about it? Your oubjective opinion of the screen is much more important than tests isn't it?

 

This.

Also, unless Photo Dave really needs portability, he should check out the Vaio F (2D). Same price as the SE, heavier and shorter battery life, but the screen is another step up: from "great" to "unbelievable." (Also good sound and better performance, but it doesn't sound like that'd matter as much to Photo Dave).

 

My brief view of the SE wouldn't compare to a color space/black value etc. professional review. I purchased a Dell 17R in April and promptly returned it after realizing I didn't do my home work. The SE appears to me to have a screen very similar to the VAIO F 3D screen in viewing angles and the other aspects. And yes, I'm looking for portability, and after looking at the VAIO F 2D I really didn't like the construction and design of it.

 

The fact that it doesn't support SATA-3 disappoints me though...

 

The screen looks great in terms of contrast, brightness and viewing angles but I think it's bad in colour reproduction. I put a red wallpaper on screen and it was more like orange. Even the 13" VAIO SB has better looking reds.
that probably means it's not really suitable for photo editing.

 

What color mode were you in? Go to Vaio Control Center and you have a choice between "do not apply color mode," "standard," "TV," "DVD," or "x.v.Color". The difference between "do not apply color mode" and any of the others is striking, and the differences between the other modes is noticeable. I think "do not apply color mode" would be the most accurate for photo editing, even though I don't think it's the "prettiest" for day-to-day use. And it doesn't ship in "do not apply color mode" mode, so you may not have had a chance to check it out in that mode.

 

Mitlov,
Thanks for that possible solution regarding color inaccuracy fix. I am seriously thinking about purchasing two of these laptops for me and my wife but wish someone who has the SE would confirm if this helps with the orange-like reds. Thanks again.

Gary

 

Mitlov,
I actually checked 2 samples of the SE in the Sony store and was that close to buying one but I read about the colour inaccuracy and decided to see if that's true before buying. I will try again with the vaio control centre. hopefully the problem gets fixed because it's the only thing stopping me from buying the SE.

 

I don't think this information applies to the SE; at least, I can't find these settings in the Vaio Control Center. The only "fix" I can find is to desaturate the reds by about -25 or so in the Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel; however, this makes all images look rather ashen, so I don't think it's an acceptable solution.

 

Is there a difference in colours between the integrated graphics and the Radeon 6630? Any difference?

 

Is there a 16.4" SE version coming?

 

Yeah, it's called the F

 

What about any other defects reported?

Some folks have said this one has a noisy fan. Is that true? What about keyboard? Anything else beside slightly less powerful CPU that's dragging this model down?

Thanks.

 

Also, where can you Sony VAIO SE? On Sony website, I am only seeing S model in black.

I am looking for metallic SE. Is it out in US?

 

Yes, it's out in the US. Go to the SE configurator; color is on page 2.

Customize 15.5" Laptop | VAIO S Series Configure-to-Order | VPCSE190X CTO | Sony USA

 

hi everyone,

I've owned a VAIO SE (i5, silver) for a little over a month and have very big concerns about this laptop:
- the ventilation fan is extremely noisy (think vacuum cleaner), and it is painful to listen to music through the speakers while the ventilation is on.
- the CPU runs extremely hot while playing 3D games or using Photoshop. I've used 3 different applications (Everest, Core Temp and Real Temp) and they show CPU temp around 90 degrees Celsius (52 degrees when running idle).

Sony's tech support says it's normal, but I am a bit concerned about this, and am currently looking for additional feedback.

If anyone has a similar VAIO (SE 15,5 inch, i5 Intel), could you tell me what temperature your CPU runs at?

Anyway, if anyone is thinking about buying this laptop, you should be thinking about the sound issue...

Thanks for your feedback.

 

hmmm.. when i was at the Sony store the guy was adamant that all Sony Vaio's run cool.. I guess either the guy didn't know his product or he was a liar

 

That's not lying, that's what's generally called puffery. "Running cool," like "being powerful," is totally subjective and relative. Does it run cool compared to Acer laptops with infamous overheating issues? Yes. Does it run cool compared to an Asus G74SX? No.

That's like a realtor telling you an apartment is "spacious." That's not a truth or a lie, that's just a matter of perspective.

Personally, I don't think 90 degrees from a thin-and-light laptop being forced to do the things you'd normally ask of a desktop replacement or mobile workstation is all that unreasonable. It's hot but not dangerously hot. The Vaio SE was meant to do that sort of stuff occasionally, but not all day. For occasional use, I wouldn't worry about 90 degrees. And if I was doing it continuously, I'd buy something more robust for the job.

 

ordered my own one.. hope this not will be a tragedy, i'm coming from a MB Air..

But i need a huge monitor and a nice battery life.

The only thing that let me think when i saw for the first time this notebook is the flexibility of the display. Is like a paper sheet, with excellent image quality.. but nothing similar a solid stuff.

Some owners can tell me some additional info about that?

 

Sony has issued a BIOS update to address the fan issue.

 

When?? Where?