Another one! in Road Warriors, Notebooks & Distance

Another one! in Road Warriors, Notebooks & Distance http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20466351 en Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:31:57 EDT Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:31:57 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20653261 Nerdtalker : PeteC2

, yeah, trust me, they're generally very old and depreciated. Generally they're also only very slightly changed from the OEM drivers in that the necessary device_IDs are added in. A majority of the drivers on the page there support mobile GPUs, they just have functionality disabled because of the headaches it could cause for OEMs if customers started installing them.

People have been modding nVidia/ATI drivers to work with mobile GPUs forever. ;) I've been doing it for god knows how long, I remember when only a few people were doing it to squeeze a few more points out of their 3dmark scores, but now it's so commonplace. In fact, we have an FAQ here about it which I worked on a long time ago: »Notebook and Laptop FAQ »Where can I find videocard drivers for laptops? »laptopvideo2go.com/

Ironically, the newer nVidia drivers have better BD deblocking support than the OEM-bundled ones for my XPS, which are so terribly ancient they barely play COD4 without artifacts and weird glitchiness. It's really common practice now if you're serious about playing games on your "gaming" notebook. Nvidia does supply a few links to their drivers with the correct INFs for use with notebooks, but they're rare and only offered in Beta form.

dadkins

, I'll go give those a shot and see how they fare. I can already decode the 1080P .mkv files from ***cough*** "backups" of BD-ROMs ***/cough*** at under 30% CPU load, but I'd like to play some of my collection of BD-ROMS.
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I'm testing Gmail's spam filters: Broadbandreports1@gmail.com
Spam: 12900+ messages currently using 406 MB.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20653261 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:57:01 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20649710 PeteC2 : Good point on the video drivers. Unlike video drivers for desktop video cards, the drivers for notebook GPUs are generally best downloaded only through the notebook manufacturer, as they can be more product-specific. Even Nvidia recommends this on their site.
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20649710 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:31:53 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20649012 dadkins : Currently, there are three playback software choices:

Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 or 8 Ultra.
Intervideo/Corel WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray(WinDVD BD for VAIO from factory)
ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre.

*I* prefer PowerDVD 8 Ultra.
Less load on the machine overall.

BTW, I never try and upgrade drivers past what the Mfgr supplies.
Nothing but headaches - the supplied drivers/updates work.

Hope this helps! :)
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, it's been a while since I've been around these parts. Nice choice on the notebook, you've always been a big fan of the Vaios, and they're certainly some of the more attractive and stylish notebooks out there.

Not to hijack, but what app do you use to playback BD-ROMs anyhow? I've had a BluRay burner in my XPS M1730 since the first day I've had it, and I still haven't used it. I tried playing some stuff back with the included media direct thing (this crappy software dell provides) but I think since I used third party video drivers (newer than Dell's) it didn't like it, and I gave up. I'm just curious what you do. I feel guilty not using it! :O! :D
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I'm testing Gmail's spam filters: Broadbandreports1@gmail.com
Spam: 12900+ messages currently using 406 MB.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20647844 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:47:02 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20610541 dadkins : Sony, Blu-ray, magnesium cased & a $1688.95 pricetag.
Yeah! I suppose you're right! ;) :D

None of the Macs were up to par, or the Toshibas, or the HPs, or the Gateways, or...
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Think outside the Fox... Opera]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20610541 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:57:22 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20609806 amysheehan :
Another Sony fanatic :)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20609806 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 06:17:22 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572413 dadkins : Had a Compaq like that!
El Loco Suitcase! :huh:
30? 40lbs? They were portable desktops.
Aint going on your lap, that's for sure!

Yes, These are classified as a "Mobile Studio" - a step above desktop replacement.

I have 3 of them. ;)
Magnesium cased monsters.

Sure! I could have purchased *ANY* laptop made.
But I wanted something that had some hardware inside.
Not just a 3lb plastic box with a processor and a 12" screen. :huh:
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Think outside the Fox... Opera]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572413 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:11:12 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572182 PeteC2 :

said by dadkins

said by ninjatutle

:

Weight: 8.2 lbs

:o

Yep!
8 lbs is a rather easy task for a grown man. :p

Yep, 8.2 pounds is not "light", but after all, we are talking about a 17" screen lappy, which really is more in the desktop-replacement category, right?

Besides, 8.2 pounds? Hell, remember the KayPro II? (I hate to admit, but I do) Now there was a "man-sized" portable (almost wrote "laptop"! :o) The two (state-of-the-art) 5 1/4" floppy drives weighed in at around 8lbs, themselves!
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]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572182 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:42:04 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572108 dadkins :

said by ninjatutle

:

Weight: 8.2 lbs

:o

Yep!
8 lbs is a rather easy task for a grown man. :p
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Think outside the Fox... Opera]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572108 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:17:47 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20571715 ninjatutle : Weight: 8.2 lbs

:o]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20571715 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:17 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20529690 dadkins : LOL! Wow!
8.60MB/sec BD rips! :)

50GB BD being ripped.

Boogie!

]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20529690 Fri, 23 May 2008 14:46:53 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20513115 dadkins : Sitting here surfing, hovered over the Power icon...
2 hours left @ 75% battery running on wireless.
Standard battery.

Not Earth shattering, but not bad, eh?
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]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20513115 Tue, 20 May 2008 16:15:32 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20506773 dadkins :

said by jstack

:

Didn't you just buy a 17" Viao with blu-ray last year? What happened to that one?

Running fine... also have another 17" non-Blu-ray VAIO sitting on the desk. :o

More = Better... right? :D

@ $1688.99, it is alot less expensive than the model I REALLY wanted($3299)... eh.

LOL!
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Think outside the Fox... Opera]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20506773 Mon, 19 May 2008 14:43:52 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20503323 jstack : Didn't you just buy a 17" Viao with blu-ray last year? What happened to that one?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20503323 Sun, 18 May 2008 20:02:47 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20484357 dadkins : I just wanted you to see that sprayed-on touchpad... ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20484357 Wed, 14 May 2008 22:22:05 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20482202 PeteC2 :

said by dadkins

:

Thanks Pete! :)

You HAVE TO go see the Toshiba(I think it was t a Toshiba) lineup, just for that odd touchpad...
That one touchpad is spraypainted on!!! I swear!
I had to stand there and look at it for a few myself... freaky! :hmm:

I don't know, maybe it is just me, but for the most part, I really just do not particularly like the design of the Toshiba notebooks...probably they are just as good as the others. I am sure that part of my reaction is because we had so many issues with Toshibas when we used to have them at work.
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20482202 Wed, 14 May 2008 15:49:50 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20475944 dadkins : Thanks Pete! :)

You HAVE TO go see the Toshiba(I think it was t a Toshiba) lineup, just for that odd touchpad...
That one touchpad is spraypainted on!!! I swear!
I had to stand there and look at it for a few myself... freaky! :hmm:
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Think outside the Fox... Opera]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20475944 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:29:32 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20474332 PeteC2 : I am no Best Buy fan, but what the heck...if the price is right...besides, I never go for any of the store warrantys anyway, I am more concerned with the manufacturer. I don't find really decent "service" at any of the electronics stores. I am like you...I got the money...I want the product, I am not so patient with "delayed gratification"!...

I agree that the 17" screen HPs have a peculiar placement on the touch pad...I am not so great with that, though never using one of those models I can't say if it would be an issue or not.

Although I am sure Toshibas probably are no better/worse than most other models, I just can't warm up to 'em, design-wise particularly.

The only video memory to concern yourself with, IMHO, is the dedicated vide memory...any shared memory past that is such slow access as to be of little/no value.

Historically Ive preferred the Alps touchpads, but my HP has Synaptics, and it has been just fine...for a touchpad, I prefer mice anyway.

Gateways seem to be an all right budget machine, but IMHO no match for Sony, Dell, or HP

I am fine with integrated graphics...but I am not a gamer...if I was, then I'd definitely go for a discrete video card.
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20474332 Tue, 13 May 2008 09:16:18 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20472490 dadkins : HP, the touchpad was too far to the left.
The Toshiba, the touchpad looked like it was sprayed on, LITERALLY!
The Gateways... eh.
Apple was never a consideration.
The CR VAIOs were integrated graphics... pass.
FZ, they only had one... $1099(I belive) and rather sparse on specs.

This one had a BD ROM combo drive, and had the best "Bang for Buck" of all that were on display.
This is Best Buy we're talking about here. :hmm: LOL!

NOTE: Sony has apparently opted for Synaptics touchpads as opposed to the Alps Touchpads that my other VAIOs have.
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Think outside the Fox... Opera]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20472490 Mon, 12 May 2008 21:19:46 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20472042 Hiker 2 : Ahh dadkins, still a dyed-in-the wool Sony man I see. Sweet machine. Enjoy it...]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20472042 Mon, 12 May 2008 19:54:56 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20469444 dadkins : Adam,
Bluray was just a default item in the build(non-custom - BestBuy).
Since there is a HDMI, connecting to a screen/HDTV is simple enough. :)

______________________________________

Pete,
Yes, I did look at a HP9xxx laptop... close in price.
The 8400 GT and screen res are acceptable for the price and whatever games I may throw at it - should do ok.
Specs state that card has 256MB dedicated with 1535MB total available graphics memory(Dynamically Allocated?)

'''Processor: NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GT GPU with Total Available
Graphics Memory of 1535MB (max.)*(14)
Video RAM: 256MB Dedicated Video Memory

*14. Total Available Graphics Memory refers to the new Windows Vista
classification of graphics memory, which is the total of Dedicated
Video Memory, System Video memory and Shared System Memory.
Shared System Memory varies depending on the operating condition
and system memory size.'''

That'll work! ;)

I'm not the ordering type, I hate waiting.
I could have ordered - anything really.
But...
Was near BB, had money, this was sitting there looking at me... you know how it goes. :o ;) :)

THANKS Guys! :)
David

EDIT: Oh yeah. sticker on box states that Vista SP1 is/was preinstalled at factory... Yay? :o :D

320GB HDD space - 160 x 2 - 2 actual HDDs, NO RAID.
C drive is separate from D drive.
CANNOT move space from C drive to D drive( I moved space on AR190 as it had 2 drives in RAID 0 and worked as a single drive).

Imaging the C drive(140GB Total, 8.xGB used for restore partition)) looks to be taking 11 minutes? Cool!
Storing C Image on D drive.
Hitachi Travelstar drives. :)

Factory crap...
Norton 360 Trial - gone!
QuickBooks Trial - gone!
MS Office Teacher/Student Trial - gone!
Napster - gone
Several AOL "goodies" - gone!
Corel PaintShop X2 - even Vista warned me that is was junk... gone!

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Think outside the Fox... Opera]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20469444 Mon, 12 May 2008 11:43:04 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467597 PeteC2 : I think that it is quite nice...a little high priced for the configuration, though not that much.

Just to point out a similar notebook in another brand:

HP 9700T, 17" screen

The more "base" configuration with the T8100 CPU, same ram, screen resolution, video card/memory, etc., can be had for about $1387, and if you bump up the specs, to a much better video card, w/512 video ram, up the system ram to 4gb, get the higher resolution LCD, then you get in the $1600 range...about the same as the Sony.

Now, that does not mean that there may not be other reasons to favor one over the other...and there are other brands with similar configurations...some more, and some less expensive.

Dadkins, it is a nice configuration for a desktop replacement, my biggest quibble would be the Nvidia 8400 video card. For not much more money, without a doubt the Nvidia 8600 is more capable, in a way, I would go for either integrated graphics, and save the moola, or go for the Nvidia 8600 (the 8800 really ups the cost), but that really is just a small quibble.

I have always liked the design of the sony notebooks, my wife has a Vaio 12.1" model (several years old now), and it has been very dependable.
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467597 Sun, 11 May 2008 22:55:23 EDT Re: Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467562 AdamB : Well it looks pretty good. Interesting though that you picked a Blu-ray drive with that resolution. I have no desire to go with Blu-ray yet, unless I were to use HDMI and hook it up to my TV.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467562 Sun, 11 May 2008 22:46:54 EDT Another one! http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20466351 dadkins : LOL!

Great deal(I think):
$1688.99
VGNAR730E/B

T8100 2.10GHz
3GB DDR2 PC2-5300
320GB HDD(160 x 2)
MATSHITA_BD-CMB_UJ-120(BD ROM Combo)
1440x900(I'll live)
Gigabit ethernet
HDMI
Intel Wireless 4965AGN (a, b, g, n(Draft))
nVidia GeForce 8400M GT

Yeah yeah, Vista Home Premium... :p ;) :D
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