A farewell review. Sony VAIO Flip (Fit A)

[connorpiper]

So, the VAIO is dead. I was going to review this after I had it for awhile, but this computer is discontinued!

My local BestBuy has tons of these Open Box, so they are somewhat easy to get still.

 

So Sony VAIO Flip 14 (Fit 14A) VAIOs last dying breath. 

 

 

My model had the Intel Core i3-4005U with Intel HD 4400, 4GB RAM, and a 500GB 5400PRM HDD.

I upgraded the HDD to an ADATA SX900 SSD, which made this a true ultrabook convertable. 

Sony also seems to have gone cheaper by using Toshiba instead of Hitachi as they used to.

 

 

The convertible part of this laptop is the best part. Sony wanted to throw the Lenovo Yoga off its throne, when in tablet mode, the Sony does not have it's keyboard on the bottom of the laptop, and the screen is at a slight angle, making drawing with the $40 Digitizer stylus much easier (something that the Yoga does not have) 

 

Here is a good view of the flipping mechanism.

 

And here is "Display" mode, very useful on an airplane if the person has the seat reclined in front of you.

 

And then tablet mode

 

 

Also, when in tablet mode, the volume control can be found around the back, when the laptop is open, the control is blocked. 

 

On the right side of the laptop, there is a power button, Gigabit Ethernet port, USB 3.0 Port, SD card slot, Headphone/microphone jack, and then the Right speaker slit.

 

On the left side there is the Power Supply jack, cooling fan exhaust (Intake is in the hinge) HDMI port, USB 3.0 (That can also charge devices when the laptop is off), and the left speaker slit.

 

The volume on the speakers is really good indoors and not that great in loud places, the speakers sound really nice, and can produce most sounds. (Some deep bass is just skimmed over)

 

The stylus works with the Included ArtRage program very well and the Included VAIO Paper is a very very good note taking program. The suite of VAIO classroom programs are also very good.

 

As usual the laptop comes with a version of Sonys Audio, Video and DVD editing software.

 

Startup with the SX900 is under 2 secs. And with the Toshiba HDD it was 15-35 secs.

 

The Laptop has a very nice feel with a great backlit keyboard, brushed metal, and a 1080p IPS display that blows off any 1080p laptop display I have seen. 

 

The Price of the laptop was $800 and the SSD was $70. Sony offered an upgrade that had a Core i5 and 8GB RAM with the same HDD for $920. But for $870, you could have a laptop that boots very fast and can open the entire Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus in under 8 secs.

 

This laptop is a great movie machine, with a great display, and all day battery life. The laptop will usually run cool in laptop and display mode. While getting a little hotter in tablet mode because of %50 less intake. 

 

The laptop is very thin while open

 

And a bit thick while closed, the display enclosure is very good quality, so the party piece won't be breaking soon, but making it like a tank using Japanese quality makes the display a bit thick and contributes about %60 of the total laptop weight. 

 

Accessories for this laptop included Digitizer Stylus ($40) Laser Bluetooth Mouse ($65) and a keyboard cover ($15, shown was the one from the 15" E Series, colors optional). Sony got rid of the wonderful sheet batteries for their ultrabook line. 

 

I hope you enjoyed!

 

Pros:

Great Starting Price, Best Display ever, Good Convertible, Nice design.

 

Cons:

The plastic bottom cover is low quality and sometimes creaks, and a screw fell out! Just in daily use.

And the wireless antenna in it is really crappy, speeds are fine, reception is not. 

Here is it versus my ASUS USB N-13

 

[flibberdipper]

Pretty good review. I like it.

 

Even though I really don't like VAIOs, since some of them are REALLY locked down, apparently. And I don't much care for Sony.

[connorpiper]

Pretty good review. I like it.

 

Even though I really don't like VAIOs, since some of them are REALLY locked down, apparently. And I don't much care for Sony.

 

I find them to have very little bloatware and are less locked down than Lenovos. 

[letsoverclock]

just asking are those opening/closing thin ethernet ports found in some ultrabooks durable?

[PrivateSamso]

Something everyone has to know:

 

Sony sold off its Vaio PC unit in February due to sluggish sales, but don't think that means Sony Vaio laptops aren't smoking hot. For the second time in 2014, a Sony PC model is at risk of overheating, smoking, catching on fire, and even melting.

This time around, the smoldering Vaio in question is the Flip PC with model number SVF11N13CXS. After four units malfunctioned in Asia, Sony has decided to recall the device, according to a notice on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website.

The Vaio Flip laptop-tablet convertible came in silver, black, and pink, had an 11.6-inch touch display, and was sold in stores nationwide and online for around $800 between February and April.

Anyone with a Vaio Flip should cease using it right now. From the CPSC notice:

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled personal computers, shut it down and unplug it; and contact Sony for instructions on how to arrange for an inspection free of charge to the consumer and a free repair or full refund of the computer’s purchase price.

Owners of the Vaio Flip are encouraged to contact Sony at 866-702-7669 to receive a free inspection of the device, followed by a free repair or full refund.

Sony's latest Flip out follows a similar warning in April, when Sony warned that the Sony Vaio Fit 11A was at risk of overheating. The Fit 11A's problem was a faulty battery. The CPSC notice did not say what the problem was with the Flip.

Sony's recall comes just as the Vaio brand is being reborn under new management. The investment firm that purchased Sony's PC business in April recently relaunched the Vaio brand targeting solely the Japanese market. The new Vaio company has yet to design its own PCs, so far reintroducing two Sony-designed Vaio models from 2013: the Fit 15Eand 11- and 13-inch Vaio Pro laptops.

The new Vaio company is not connected to the models under Sony's latest recall.

 

 

Source-PCWorld

[connorpiper]

just asking are those opening/closing thin ethernet ports found in some ultrabooks durable?

 

I don't use mine tons, but when I opened the laptop to replace the HDD, I noticed that the parts were metal and screwed into the Motherboard. So I expect it not to break soon.

[connorpiper]

Something everyone has to know:

 

Sony sold off its Vaio PC unit in February due to sluggish sales, but don't think that means Sony Vaio laptops aren't smoking hot. For the second time in 2014, a Sony PC model is at risk of overheating, smoking, catching on fire, and even melting.

This time around, the smoldering Vaio in question is the Flip PC with model number SVF11N13CXS. After four units malfunctioned in Asia, Sony has decided to recall the device, according to a notice on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website.

The Vaio Flip laptop-tablet convertible came in silver, black, and pink, had an 11.6-inch touch display, and was sold in stores nationwide and online for around $800 between February and April.

Anyone with a Vaio Flip should cease using it right now. From the CPSC notice:

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled personal computers, shut it down and unplug it; and contact Sony for instructions on how to arrange for an inspection free of charge to the consumer and a free repair or full refund of the computer’s purchase price.

Owners of the Vaio Flip are encouraged to contact Sony at 866-702-7669 to receive a free inspection of the device, followed by a free repair or full refund.

Sony's latest Flip out follows a similar warning in April, when Sony warned that the Sony Vaio Fit 11A was at risk of overheating. The Fit 11A's problem was a faulty battery. The CPSC notice did not say what the problem was with the Flip.

Sony's recall comes just as the Vaio brand is being reborn under new management. The investment firm that purchased Sony's PC business in April recently relaunched the Vaio brand targeting solely the Japanese market. The new Vaio company has yet to design its own PCs, so far reintroducing two Sony-designed Vaio models from 2013: the Fit 15Eand 11- and 13-inch Vaio Pro laptops.

The new Vaio company is not connected to the models under Sony's latest recall.

 

 

Source-PCWorld

 

I did say that VAIO was dead.

I know, that was the 11.6" (As you said) model that was quickly designed for CES this year, so it's failure does not affect any sold model (FIT, FLIP, PRO). (Most 11.6" versions did not even appear in retail stores)

Also, the VAIO company is using all Sony Trademarked technology. 

[john.weland]

I have one sitting next to me right this second. I am updating it having just swapped out the 500GB mechanical for a 120GB SSD. My wife's been upset at this laptop since we bought it on clearance because even form a factory reset it likes to ramp up to insane loads and then lock up. I can't help but think it's due to the design of the case/cooling as there is an exhaust port but no intake that can be scene. My guess is it takes in from the keyboard and other areas where the case parts meet. I was going to just drop in a black SSD and install windows as OEM and clean, but because of their custom UEFI it doesn't like non-sony recovery media.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

[connorpiper]

I have one sitting next to me right this second. I am updating it having just swapped out the 500GB mechanical for a 120GB SSD. My wife's been upset at this laptop since we bought it on clearance because even form a factory reset it likes to ramp up to insane loads and then lock up. I can't help but think it's due to the design of the case/cooling as there is an exhaust port but no intake that can be scene. My guess is it takes in from the keyboard and other areas where the case parts meet. I was going to just drop in a black SSD and install windows as OEM and clean, but because of their custom UEFI it doesn't like non-sony recovery media.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

 

The problems with the wireless are uncorrectable. After moving on to another IPS ultrabook, it really makes you appreciate the display on that thing. 

I would suggest using the Windows 8.1 "Refresh or Re-install" features. My SSD really sped it up, that HDD is pretty terrible. 

The computer intakes through the back in the hinge. 

[Mew]

I have one sitting next to me right this second. I am updating it having just swapped out the 500GB mechanical for a 120GB SSD. My wife's been upset at this laptop since we bought it on clearance because even form a factory reset it likes to ramp up to insane loads and then lock up. I can't help but think it's due to the design of the case/cooling as there is an exhaust port but no intake that can be scene. My guess is it takes in from the keyboard and other areas where the case parts meet. I was going to just drop in a black SSD and install windows as OEM and clean, but because of their custom UEFI it doesn't like non-sony recovery media.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

You have to make an uefi usb which you can find in the tutorials or on eightforums.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2328-uefi-unified-extensible-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html

[john.weland]

The problems with the wireless are uncorrectable. After moving on to another IPS ultrabook, it really makes you appreciate the display on that thing. 

I would suggest using the Windows 8.1 "Refresh or Re-install" features. My SSD really sped it up, that HDD is pretty terrible. 

The computer intakes through the back in the hinge. 

 

 

You have to make an uefi usb which you can find in the tutorials or on eightforums.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2328-uefi-unified-extensible-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html

thanks guys. I got this installed and running on an SSD. Its only a 120GB so my wife has to be conscious of all the stuff she saves BUT its fast. It hasn't locked up yet though it does run HOT HOT HOT. As far as wireless goes there's gotta to be some pci-e card that can be had somewhere right? 

[connorpiper]

thanks guys. I got this installed and running on an SSD. Its only a 120GB so my wife has to be conscious of all the stuff she saves BUT its fast. It hasn't locked up yet though it does run HOT HOT HOT. As far as wireless goes there's gotta to be some pci-e card that can be had somewhere right? 

 

The card is fine, but the antenna was designed poorly and results in the bad reception. I used an External USB wireless adapter.