The super-green Sony VAIO W Mini Notebook

[Crispy]

Hi there. I’m Ben Rudolph, and I’m a PC Evangelist (read: hardware nerd) here in the Windows group. Starting today, I’m going to be covering everything related to the big, beautiful world of Windows PCs. I’ll dig in deeper into who I am and what to expect from me and my posts in the next few days, but wanted to say a quick hello now so I could get posting. These killer PCs aren’t going to write about themselves!
Anyway, today is Earth Day, so I thought it would be a perfect time to talk about green PCs. You’ve already seen our interview with Jeff Omelchuk of the Green Electronics Council where he talks about all of the work Microsoft and our partners are doing to make PCs green to buy and green to own. But today I wanted to take the green concept a step further and talk about a PC that’s green in an unconventional way.


Full read: A quick introduction, and the super-green Sony VAIO W Mini Notebook - Windows Experience Blog - The Windows Blog

 

[Lee]

Earth Day; darn another year, and again I forgot.

 

[hkancyr]

I picked up a VPCW211AX last month primarily because of the screen res. I gave my "not too old" Asus 1009he mini to my father. I wanted to install my Canon software in the Asus and it wouldn't install in a PC with less than 1024x768 screen res. That low res has always been a thorn in my side, you know, scrolling around on web pages was getting old. This new Sony has that problem beat, but has other problems. The glossy screen is not what I would have chosen, the "green" top collects greasy hand prints like you wouldn't believe and they don't wipe off easily either. Sony's intrusive software controls things you wouldn't expect. The big ass (on this small laptop) battery reduces how far the top can open (140 deg. vs. 180,) looks ugly but provides airflow on a hard surface. Upgrading the memory required more of a teardown than you would normally expect, it's not just a little door.

Windows 7 starter was in here for about 20 minutes before I got Home premium, I thought the update would take several hours but Starter must include software for all versions, because the upgrade went in very quickly. I had no idea that this was a green computer and I guess that is the way it should be. I have gotten more than 9 hours battery life by reducing power settings and lowering screen brightness, shutting off the wireless. The screen still looked great at the reduced brightness BTW.

Once I figured out Sony's grand plan (software), I really like this thing. The fact that it is "green" makes no difference at all to me, it reads ebooks and lets me stick my photos and movies into it when I'm on the road, and has a hires screen that makes this mini much more user friendly than your run of the mill netbooks.

 

[Adamd]

hkancyr please push enter sometimes. Makes reading posts so much easier!!!


Thank you for next time!!

 

[hkancyr]

Sorry about that, I didn't realize how long it got to be.