http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=cpu_VAIONotebookComputers_FJ_Series&Dept=computers

Available now. But Heavy. The Japanese version was mentioned in the T thead

http://www.siliconpopculture.com/sonytr/viewtopic.php?t=5281

yeah, it is yet another piece of shit delivered to you by Sony.

shit.like.no.other

[quote author=“Gilbert”]yeah, it is yet another piece of shit delivered to you by Sony.

shit.like.no.other

Can you qualify why you’re calling it that? Not that I agree or disagree…I’m just curious if you’ve already seen one in action.

For the size/weight of the system, it’s actually a pretty good deal for a Sony notebook and should appeal to a more value conscious crowd who don’t have super huge portable needs.

You do get a 100GB 5400RPM hard disk, acceptable standard memory configuration, a burn anything DVD burner, integrated camera and microphone, latest greatest chipset, xbrite screen, and choice of different colors.

Even at 5.3lbs. it’s way lighter than other notebooks of the size/class (many are 6-7lbs or more). I can verify that 5lbs. is way nicer and less noticeable than 7lbs.

I second Groovy. Color addition to FJ line is a plus and an appeal to a certain population. I am sure Sony does its homework in marketing research.

It certainly can be poor if the build quality is poor or if it has noise issues to begin with. However, it seems like a streamlined design. It probably won’t be interesting to most of the population here since we seem to be a more mobile crowd but for a “portable” desktop system or a student system, it seems pretty good.

Sony did research, Sony this and that, right and left. Brainwashed by Sony, that’s what it is. It is an overpriced ugly laptop, especially for a student. I’ve seen the japanese silver FJ. The fan sounds like my mothers old fridge. It turns on/off every 3 seconds. I guess the same problem as the TX. The battery is worse and last less than the S series and the keyboard is spongy, which some people might like. I prefer the clicky ones. The weight ... I render everything above 4lbs as unacceptable, but that’s me. It feels unsupported when holded by one of the edges. Nothing new on the block, just another POS.

[quote author=“Code”]Been noticing Gilbert’s comments keep being negative with some sort of attitude…nobody here is trying to prove to you specifically anything (whether they have been Sony-brainwashed or not), peeps here are just sharing factual info about notebooks. It could be a POS to you, for others it is an OK notebook.
Think positively in a general sense, Gilbert, your life will be easier.  :wink:

I am trying to be neutral   :o

Keep the balance between the sony freaks and the real world Sorry if they feel that way. Nothing negative implied. I still beleive the FJ is a piece of crap though. Can’t change that.

[quote author=“Gilbert”]I am trying to be neutral   :o

Glad you weren’t trying to be negative. Someone might have been injured!

[quote author=“Drachen”][quote author=“Gilbert”]I am trying to be neutral   :o

Glad you weren’t trying to be negative. Someone might have been injured!

[quote author=“Gilbert”]Sony did research, Sony this and that, right and left. Brainwashed by Sony, that’s what it is. It is an overpriced ugly laptop, especially for a student. I’ve seen the japanese silver FJ. The fan sounds like my mothers old fridge. It turns on/off every 3 seconds…I render everything above 4lbs as unacceptable, but that’s me. It feels unsupported when holded by one of the edges. Nothing new on the block, just another POS.

Thanks for the clarification of your assertion that it’s a piece of crap. Since you’ve fondled it then it’s certainly a shame.

It certainly may not be the prettiest notebook out there but it sure looks a lot better than many other notebooks out there made by other manufacturers. If you try to configure a Dell 600M (also 14” class notebook) similarly, it’s $1549 (vs. Sony’s $1599). So, to say it’s overpriced isn’t too true when you compare it to the low price leader. Add in the built-in camera and the microphone and it’s a decent deal.

So, it is a shame that the fan is loud. You’d figure that the larger chassis would allow them to put in a very capable cooling solution but I guess that’s not the case.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not supporting this notebook in any way and I’d never buy one for myself. I just think that in terms of what they’re offering hardware wise…it’s a good configuration though executed poorly.

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”][quote author=“Gilbert”]Sony did research, Sony this and that, right and left. Brainwashed by Sony, that’s what it is. It is an overpriced ugly laptop, especially for a student. I’ve seen the japanese silver FJ. The fan sounds like my mothers old fridge. It turns on/off every 3 seconds…I render everything above 4lbs as unacceptable, but that’s me. It feels unsupported when holded by one of the edges. Nothing new on the block, just another POS.

Thanks for the clarification of your assertion that it’s a piece of crap. Since you’ve fondled it then it’s certainly a shame.

It certainly may not be the prettiest notebook out there but it sure looks a lot better than many other notebooks out there made by other manufacturers. If you try to configure a Dell 600M (also 14” class notebook) similarly, it’s $1549 (vs. Sony’s $1599). So, to say it’s overpriced isn’t too true when you compare it to the low price leader. Add in the built-in camera and the microphone and it’s a decent deal.

So, it is a shame that the fan is loud. You’d figure that the larger chassis would allow them to put in a very capable cooling solution but I guess that’s not the case.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not supporting this notebook in any way and I’d never buy one for myself. I just think that in terms of what they’re offering hardware wise…it’s a good configuration though executed poorly.

The Dells are ... lets say worse, actually much worse. The good part is that you can get a 600m/700m for $700 to $800 if you follow anandtech/fatwallet/dealtime.

At $800 the Dells are much more appealing than the Sonys.

I think Sony is pushing the FJs to get some of Apple’s market share. We all know that it could be the crappiest powerbook, but some Mac phanatic will buy it just because its cool factor. Same here. We all remember the titanium models and the awesome wireless/bluetooth execution. :o People couldn’t get reception 3 feet away from the access point.

That’s beyond the point. I am a huge fan of quality products and I can praise Sony for ALL their TR models, T models and the first S models, although I don’t think they learn from their mistakes.

i believe all manufacturers roughly work on the same grounds. These being all their top of the range laptops [expensive ones] are well made and stable.

Sony, toshiba, IBM and others at the end of the day, if you go for their top of the range series then i dont think much can be flawed in any of them.

Now if you’re a budget conscious consumer, then thats where it is hard to pay good money and get a good laptop. Sony’s lower series FS isn’t too bad, though i hate Toshiba’s Sat Pro and im not actually sure if IBM have any lower range models …

i think this is a pattern that can be followed with most manufacturers. Apple included.

Since the TR/T/S/X series, Sony really hasn’t done anything new. also, they haven’t fixed known problems such as the fan noise even though it’s the number one complaint in recent models.  It should be something really easy for them to fix which is the most frustrating part.

Oddly enough, Lenovo’s latest widescreen ThinkPads look neat if you want something that big.

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]Since the TR/T/S/X series, Sony really hasn’t done anything new. also, they haven’t fixed known problems such as the fan noise even though it’s the number one complaint in recent models.  It should be something really easy for them to fix which is the most frustrating part.

Oddly enough, Lenovo’s latest widescreen ThinkPads look neat if you want something that big.

I am wondering if the Samsung X1 is any good…