Sony Selling VAIO PC Business

And splitting its TV arm into a separate company (what's the difference between the 2?)

http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/06/sony-sells-vaio/

Argh and I "just" bought a VAIO too. (why is VAIO in caps?) Although it wasn't that great, especially the build quality. At least it had num, caps and scroll lock indicator lights. Ok for my next computer I'm going to demand the following indicator lights:

• Power supplied
• Charging
• Computer on
• Standby
• HDD activity
• Num/caps/scroll lock

They're small things, but useful and I believe a good indicator of the company's attention to detail.

Sony Vaio Screen Spoilt

Well, so much for liking the screen.

There are red dots appearing on the screen. They don't appear on external screens. They disappear if you close the screen slightly.

The build quality of this laptop is terrible. If you pick it up from opposite corners, you can feel the  body warp.

Sony Vaio SVS15116GGB

a.k.a. "15.5 inch VAIO S Series 15 (Black)"

There doesn't seem to be many articles on this laptop. Maybe there are too many models of laptops to review. So, hopefully this post will be useful to someone. My G580 post is quite popular (compared to my other posts), probably for this reason.

So, the S series is Vaio's Mobile/Business category's more powerful line, with the Z series being highly portable and the T series for Ultrabooks. The S series has 3 x 13" and 1 x 15" models (varies by country). From what I can tell, the model number can be broken down into:

• SV - Sony Vaio
• S - S series
• 15 - 15"
• 116GGB - model code

Killer features

• Full HD (1920x1080) screen - when looking for laptops, I found most 15" laptops only had 1366x768 screens. This was the only resolution in Lenovo's entire 15" lineup! In comparison, my MBP's 1440x900 seems high resolution, even 3 years later.
• Apparently, the screen is IPS as well
• Metal body (some say it's magnesium alloy)
• Only 2 kg - lighter than the Retina MBP - even though it has an optical drive!
• 23.9 mm thick - thinner than the MBP at 24.1 mm! Retina MBP is still thinner though
• Dual (Nvidia Optimus) graphics
• Comes with Photoshop Elements 10 and MS Office starter (Word and Excel)

Other features

• Windows 7 Professional
• Core i7 3612QM
• 12 GB of DDR3 1333 MHz RAM
• GeForce 640M LE (Light Edition) with 2 GB DDR3
• Backlit keyboard (this seems very common on Vaios - even the "normal" E series has them)
• Sleep and charge (also common)
• Fingerprint reader

Observations

• Packaging isn't as nice as Apple's, but I think it's more practical (see the notches at the top and bottom to lift the laptop out)
• Airflow seems to be like the Retina MBP's, with air intakes on the left and exhaust at the back.
• LCD doesn't show the "ripples" when you press it as easily as the G580, but still easier than the MBP.
• I think the MBP is heavier because of the full glass front. The Dell XPS 14 is heavier than the 14z (both Ultrabooks), even though the 14z has an optical drive while the XPS 14 does not, probably for this reason.
• Software also has a function to not fully charge the battery, to increase battery cycles, like the G580. Unlike the G580, this gives 2 options - charge to 50% or 80%. Manual does not recommend operating without the battery.
• Comes with lots of Sony software. I wouldn't say it's "bloatware", since they aren't trial versions, but some don't seem very useful (there's one that just seems to be a program launcher? And one to play music, movies and pictures, like OS X's Front Row, and one that tries to import files when you connect your camera).

• Power adapter is just a normal 100W adapter, but it has an LED on the "brick", which should help with troubleshooting. It comes with 3 countries' power cords, which is nice.
• Comes with reinstallation DVDs for Win 32-bit, but you still have to burn your own for 64-bit.
• Maybe 1920x1080 is too high resolution for 15", normal text is VERY small. I'm now using it at 150%, but it makes windows and icons look blurry.
• Every place says it's a 15.5" screen, but I put a 15.6" (344.5x193 mm) screen protector on it and it fit perfectly. (15.4" is 16:10, the old ratio, 15.6" is 16:9, the new ratio, also used in 720 and 1080 i or p)

Screen test. Bottom right is a bit purple, otherwise the colour looks uniform.

Testing the Engadget comments' colour problem. On this screen the comments show up as a different colour!

Likes

• SCREEN - IPS
• SCREEN - Full HD
• HARDWARE - bottom is flat and has no air intakes, like the MBP. Actually, it's more like the older (2008) unibody MBPs, where the back panel was separated into 2 for easy access to the battery and HDD.
• HARDWARE - proper indicators for HDD activity, caps lock, num lock and scroll lock!
• HARDWARE - fingerprint reader works quite well - I can swipe my finger quite fast and it still recognises
• KEYBOARD - keyboard doesn't have much flex it doesn't flex much around the G-H keys, but it flexes around the Enter key
• KEYBAORD - entire keyboard surface, from palm rest to between the keyboard keys, is one piece of metal
• SOFTWARE - there's a function to disable any startup programs, including those not by Sony

Dislikes

• SCREEN - quite flexible - if you open it from one corner, it twists
• SCREEN - if you press the LCD at the edges, a gap opens between it and the frame
• KEYBOARD - keys are "soft" - there's no feeling when a key has been pressed
• KEYBOARD - backlight has lots of light bleed around the edges of keys, unlike MBP's KEYBOARD - must enter Sony settings to turn on/off keyboard backlight, backlight cannot be adjusted
• HARDWARE - indicator lights don't seem to tell if the computer is off or asleep
• HARDWARE - USB ports too close together (G580 has 1 on 1 side and 2 on the other) 
• HARDWARE - power connector can move, feels weak 
• SOFTWARE - no function key to turn off wireless

Compared to MBP

• Cheaper
• Higher resolution screen
• IPS screen
• Lighter
• Thinner
• Numeric keypad
• HDMI and VGA ports
• Can buy power adapters of different brands (I think)
• HDD activity light
• Weaker construction
• Keyboard isn't as nice to type on
• Keyboard backlight not done very well
• No battery indicator

Update 30 Nov 12
And now the screen is broken. The build quality of this laptop is very poor.

Sony ICD-UX512F voice recorder

Included in package:

• ICD-UX512F
• Headphones
• Carrying Pouch
• AAA NiMH battery
• USB extension cable
• Software

Features:

• Best audio format is Linear PCM 44kHz/16bit, second is mp3 192kbps
• High sensitivity mic
• Noise cut
• Expandable memory
• Recordable FM radio
• Scene select recording
• Track marks
• Editing functions
• Speed control
• mp3/WMA/WAV/AAC playback

• Haven't really used this type of device before (except a microcassette recorder), so I'm not sure how useful it is
• Looks a bit like an iPod Shuffle, with a screen and a circle below it

• Came with an additional free case (2 in total)
• Case is not much use, not much protection
• It obstructs buttons and the USB connector
• Advantage is it can work as a stand

• Can use rechargeable or disposable AAA batteries (can charge rechargeables)
• Built-in USB port
• Backlight
• Sensitive mics - at least as sensitive as hearing, which isn't necessarily a good thing, there's actually a lot of background noise that we don't pay attention to, but you'll notice when playing back
• Fortunately, there's noise cut for playback
• Speed control for playback - I didn't think much of this, then I found it's very useful for listening to lectures, since you can still understand things at 150%, it saves you time
• Customisable recording "scenes", like profiles. You can set, say, Interview to whatever sensitivity and quality. Displays scene icon during recording.
• It has a "Low Cut Filter" which is supposed to remove wind noise during recording, but I haven't found it to work.
• Arrange files using the device itself
• Protect files - avoid accidental deletion
• Plays back file when confirming erasing, makes it easier to check which file you're erasing
• Even comes with USB extension cable, because the device may block USB ports
• But the extension cable only works with this device
• Doesn't display filename during recording

Sony CP-A2L USB Portable Power Supply

Looks like Sony's getting into the business of (portable, rechargeable, Li-ion battery packs). Reasons I got one:

• iPhone battery life seems to be shortening. Using it for a whole day out leaves uncomfortably little battery
• Might have to charge other iPhones
• Along with an iPad
• Useful on holiday

Reasons I got this specific one:

• 2 USB ports
• Cheap (it was on offer)

Tech specs:
Capacity: 3.6V, 4000 mAh = 14.4 Wh (yes, I know voltage isn't constant so this is an overestimate)
Charging time: 5 hours
Weight: 44.5g (meaasured, AC adapter, stated 45g). 146.7g (measured, battery pack, stated 145g)

Hardware

 When you first open the box, this is what you see. The top box contains the manuals and power cable.

First - what's the top white box? That's the AC adapter. It's 100-240V to 4.1V. I'm not sure how this design is better, except it doesn't use proprietary cables.

Charging

• 5 hours is a bit long to charge
• AC adapter got worryingly hot at first, then cooled off. I think it charges faster when there's less power remaining, so the adapter gets hotter.
• Adapter also makes a sound during charging
• Cannot use USB ports while charging! It would have been nice for this to double as an AC-USB adapter as well. I guess they don't want to encourage people to leave this charging (the instructions say to turn off the power when full)

• The connection on the battery pack is on a circuit board. It's hidden behind the green door. I'm worried something may touch the contacts and short the battery.
• Hey, what about using USB connectors to charge? That way, the adapter can double as a USB power supply.

Use

• Can charge iPad and iPhone at the same time! Yes, it has the intelligence to charge the iPad.
• Turns off automatically if you unplug the device. Supposed to turn off if the device is full as well (untested) 
• Reminder: iPhone 4 battery capacity = 5.25 WH, iPad 2 = 25 WH, so this should be able to charge 2 iPhone 4, but can't fully charge an iPad 2

Indicator light
This is my hierarchy of indicator lights, from best to worst:

1. Shows amount charged when charging and time left to charge. Indicates (not shuts off) when full. (MacBook)
2. Shows amount charged when charging. Indicates when full. (iOS devices, Kensington battery pack)
3. Shows amount charged when charging. Shuts off indicator when full.
4. Shows when charging (not amount). Indicates when full. (Kindle, Oral-B toothbrush, Nikon D50 charger)
5. Shows when charging. Shuts off when full.
6. ???

The CP-A2L is at 5, which is the bare minimum of charging indicators.

Compared to Energizer XP4001

The Energizer XP4001 is the most suitable to compare this product with, since both are 4000 mAh and can charge 2 devices at once. In fact, I was considering this before I got the CP-A2L.

• Although both are 4000 mAh, the XP4001 is at 5 V while the CP-A2L is at 3.6 V. This means the XP4001 has 20 Wh, or 139% the capacity of the CP-A2L. You could also say the CP-A2L has 72% the capacity of the XP4001. I wonder if Sony reduced the voltage to increase the mAh, since that's what people compare?
• XP4001 recharge time is 4 hours
• XP4001 is 150 g
• XP4001 output up to 1.5 A
• XP4001 includes tips for a few devices and coiled cables, which should be easier to use on-the-go. The tips are useful since several devices don't come with USB charging cables.
• XP4001 is $80 at the cheapest, CP-A2L half the price at $40.
• XP4001 uses the standard adapter where the bulk is at the plug and there's a thin cable to the device. This might not last as long if the cable frays.
• Both claimed rechargeable for 500 cycles
• XP4001 has 3 year warranty, CP-A2L says it has a warranty but doesn't specify how long
• XP4001 may have more safety mechanisms. At least they both have temperature protection.
• XP4001 may come charged (CP-A2L does not)

Update 7 Jan 12

I was thinking about how I use this, and I think the thing I'll look for in my next battery pack is charging speed. If you're on the go, you may only have a few minutes to charge your batteries. It would be nice to get as much power as you can.

Update 28 Jun 13
After using this for a while, I noticed it doesn't charge devices as fast as other battery packs. I suspect it can only output 0.5 A on each USB port, which is considered low. It also has the double problems of using a proprietary power supply and charging slowly (only 1 A charge current and 4.1 V). I mean, if you're going to charge slowly, at least use a USB supply so I don't have to bring an extra adapter. If you need a special adapter to do what every battery pack does, what's the point? As a result I do not recommend this battery pack.