Anybody have the Sony W series with large battery?

[bpk]

I'm wondering whether I'll be able to get close to the advertised 8 hours of battery life? At the store the sony rep gloomily told me that I shouldn't expect more than five, and yet online people have commented that they're getting seven. Does anybody have this laptop and can comment?

[ThisIsNot]

I don't have this overpriced netbook (it is not a laptop) but I can comment on the differences between advertised battery life numbers and real world results. Manufacturers often run a battery test application with bluetooth and wi-fi turned off, the screen brightness all the way down, possibly have the speakers turned off, no multi-tasking, etc. That is how they are able to achieve such high numbers; they don't really do anything with the netbook.

Surfing the internet over wi-fi, playing a video, etc. That will all consume more power. What are the people doing who claim they are getting 7 hours of battery life? The rep is probably right in that real world usage involving music and video along with surfing the internet over wi-fi (or wired ethernet) will get you 5 hours of usage. That is also likely with the screen brightness set to about 50%.

Eric made a post about their experience with real world battery life numbers not too long ago, I suggest you dig that up. My HP Mini 110 was rated for "over 6 hours" of usage. I can attain that 6 hours if I turn wi-fi off, have a Word processor running, and have the screen brightness all the way down. It isn't a fun experience. I normally get about 4.5 hours of real usage such as surfing the internet, playing HD videos (you need the appropriate hardware to do this, the Sony model doesn't), playing music in iTunes, etc. all at a screen brightness of 50%.

I have a terrible fault. I'm vain. Love the good looking Sony W. We look good together. Great design. I go to the store often to caress it. My fingers and toes are already being used on too many netbooks but the W is a looker and I am seriously tempted.

If you're looking too then you're not turned off by the price any more than I am. Let the other guys recommend netbooks that need $10 and $40 price hikes for colors and options that run the price up to $650. This computer looks good.

It's got draft N wi-fi, a high resolution screen, a good keyboard, a great company brand backing it and did I mention looks appeal. More involved to change the RAM but add a SSD and it would be sweet.

I have a couple of Asus netbooks, both with SSD. They're UGLY with capital letters. The way I use it is to turn it on in the morning and leave it on all day, sometimes working and sometimes sleep. I carry one in my briefcase and take it out as needed. How do you expect to use the W?

If you need to run video all day like some straw man concept suggests, the netbook comes with a power brick. If you carry it and use it as needed, the W should do good for you. I want one. Good for my image and I like that. LOL I'm so vain.

[bpk]

To be honest I'd just be using this netbook in the archives when I'm conducting research - so not multitasking and only Word would be open.

I guess my view is similar to the second poster: I absolutely love the look of this netbook and, unlike many others on the market, it doesn't feel like it's made of cheap plastic. That said, the massive battery bulge is pretty ugly. If I could get 7 hours out of it in Word I'd be ecstatic, but so far I've only found laptop magazine saying that while surfing over wifi and listening to music they got 6:53.

Originally Posted by bpk

To be honest I'd just be using this netbook in the archives when I'm conducting research - so not multitasking and only Word would be open.

You actually expect to *type* for up to seven hours at a time in the archives? Whoa, that's serious research. Of course there is down time selecting materials and actually reading them. Even ascetics sip mineral water and have to go to the John. No telling how much time you use up actually thinking during research.

You won't get seven hours. You absolutely *must* have backup going at the same time also. Any kind of malfunction or theft and you would lose too much. Either backup to a SD card (preferred) or to a USB drive which has to be powered and you lose some time from the battery. Run a scanner and that takes power down.

Are you sure you can't connect to a plug in the archives? A W is too good to pass up. Buy an extra battery.

[bpk]

Thanks again for the reply.

Are you sure that with wifi off and brightness all the way down I wouldn't get the 8 hours that Sony states the battery is capable of? And you make a good point about typing...I wouldn't be typing the whole time since, yes, I do have to retrieve and sift through the material...presumably I would have the lid closed during those moments.

Since you seem to be the only Sony enthusiast on this forum, I have a second question: does the battery bulge on the Sony bother you? I'm trying to live with it but it's so startling to see a tumour on what is essentially an otherwise beautiful netbook.

Essentially I have things narrowed down to the Toshiba NB-305 and the Sony. The Sony oozes style and feels like it's made of sturdy material. That said, the battery is ugly, the keyboard is a little small, and the battery life is average.

The Toshiba has a full-size keyboard and better battery life. What gives me pause, however, is that it feels a little cheap to hold...being made, I think of inexpensive plastic.

In a sense it's almost a question of style versus substance; I'm just trying to gauge if I can squeeze enough substance out of the Sony to justify going with it.

If you don't need wi-fi and bluetooth in your bat cave, you can turn them off. Some research sites have low light so you can turn down the screen brightness. The keyboard is the same as the P but recessed a little. Are you sure you don't want to use the power cord? If you are researching from open to close constantly using the computer the battery won't last. You have to work within your computer limitations and the battery is just not designed for that. Buy a spare.

I actually like the battery bulge as a practical matter. The cooling is easier when the back end is raised a little and the typing is easier than with the computer flat. My flat MacBook has two plastic erasers under the back end to raise it for cooling and typing. They're cheap and useful at school. Are you sure you don't want to use two batteries?

My family is visiting me right now and one of them has a Sony TT ultra-portable. She says she loves it. I do too. Sony Style.