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| Sony VAIO PCG-C1VN PictureBook for New Users |
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Last updated June 9th, 2004
Disclaimer: Use at own risk!
Why Get One | Memory Upgrades | Hard Drive Failure Info | Performance | Cases | USB | Tips
| Famous | Gallery
Enhancement Options for the C1V* Series PictureBooks
[TOP]
Why Get One
Why get something else: If you're considering a C1VN/M/E/J, you may want to consider getting something else for the following reasons:
1. The hard drive failure rate seems high; the newer models use a different drive. 2. If you want W2K, there are newer models with it already installed.
3. The newer models are faster, always an important consideration in something you can't upgrade. 4. Other portables have come out, so there might be a better
portable for your needs.
If you're still interested, why get one...
Silly reason 1: You're very open with your coworkers. :-) (around 3mb MPEG)
Silly reason 2: You have to go around the world with only 14kg. Check out Baxka (nice site)
The more serious reasons:
The Sony PictureBook is possibly the smallest usable portable computer available. It's so small that if size is not the
deciding factor in your choice of a laptop, there is certainly a less expensive/more fully-featured/more powerful/etc. laptop which
would meet your needs. Try the ThinkPad line from IBM (my employer).
If, however, you do want a portable computer that's actually portable -- stick it in a big coat pocket, fanny pack or handbag portable --
then there are few other options. You will have to accept some compromises: A single PCMCIA slot. A 1024-by-480 screen. A keyboard
barely large enough to use for touch typing (or not, depending on the size of your hands). No internal CD or Floppy drive.
But if you can live with the compromises, the VAIO PictureBook should not disappoint. You can see the specs here
of the current US model. Basically it has a processor about as fast as a 533MHz Celeron processor, 12GB hard drive, USB, monitor and TV out,
8MB of video memory, 112MB of usable RAM. It also has a still/video camera mounted in the top which can be rotated to look in front of the
computer or at the user. It comes with Windows Me, but I and others have installed Linux and some have installed Windows 2000 on it.
If you want to get a feel for how big it is, and there's not a store with one in your area, rent the movie Godzilla 2000. It has a
PictureBook (an earlier model, but still the same size) which gets extensive screentime. It also appears (in a much smaller part) in the
movie Charlie's Angels. You can also download and print the keyboard:
Dynamism has an Accurate printable PDF of a C1XE Keyboard Please download it only once so they don't yank the file.
[TOP]Memory UpgradesFebruary 11th, 2002
This is my limited understanding of memory upgrades for 600/667 MHz Crusoe PictureBooks. Caveat Emptor, etc.
You can go here I-O DATA's Sony notebook memory page to see what upgrades are available for what models. The C1VJ is the Japanese version of the C1VN.
It is my understanding that the 600/667 MHz Crusoe PictureBooks can use memory which will work in the C1XS model, but the reverse (converse?) may not be true.
The I-O Data part numbers are SNC1-64M, SNC1-128M, and SNC1-256M. This will yield (128+64-16=) 176mb, (128+128-16=) 240mb, and (128+256-16=) 368mb respectively after subtracting the 16mb the Crusoe uses for Code Morphing.
Kingston KSY-C1/128 is a 128mb upgrade (240mb actual).
Given how memory requirements keep growing, I recommend getting the largest available upgrade you can.
Searching on 'Sony picturebook' on ebay found listings of memory for sale.
That's all I know; no questions, please.
[TOP]Hard Drive Failure Info
There seems to be a common problem with C1VN, C1VE, C1VJ, C1VM series PictureBooks. They all
have the 12GB 9.5mm Hitachi DK23AA-12 hard drive
which seems prone to failure under some circumstances. This is a compilation of information from many sources. Thanks to everyone who contributed:
- If you have a later model, a model with a drive larger than 12GB, and/or a 667Mhz processor, your model does not have the problem.
- If your HD fails, if still under warranty, contact Sony; they may replace it for free.
- Long Time, No C:\ Most reports of HD failures have mentioned the failure is proceeded by using the drive for hours and hours (playing music all night, logging network activity, etc.). Thanks Chris, David, and everyone who shared failure details!
- Whirr, Scrape Scrape, Clunk Michael Dosser had his PictureBook HD fail. Hear it: (streaming) (download) courtesy of Michael. For comparison, IBM Support's Drive noises page.
- Diskant Early Warning Guylhem Aznar says one of the warning signs of pending HD failure is "hda: lost interrupt" messages in your (Linux) syslog. Thanks Guylhem!
[TOP]What About Performance?
- Darek Mihocka
and Lee Boynton have
independently determined that the 600MHz Crusoe processor benchmarks the same as
a 533MHz Celeron. In normal use it will vary between 300-533MHz based on many
factors. YMMV, especially if computing uphill in 4WD with a fully loaded
computer.
- The Great Internet Mersenne
Prime Search makes available software to find prime numbers (which
incidently makes a good benchmarking tool).
- PovBench
makes available a benchmark based on the POV-ray
software to create ray-traced images.
Think of the Intel PIII technology as steel, and the Crusoe's as aluminum.
Can be used for a lot of the same things, but fundamentally different.
It didn't help perceptions of the Crusoe that the first time the public
came in contact with it was likely a much-abused demo model PictureBook running
Wini-Me (which tests have shown is slower than Win 98), or that benchmarks
made for PIII technology were used to test the Crusoe. Or that the HD is
relatively slow in the Crusoe PictureBooks.
Crusoe's been validated by the market; check out TransmetaZone
for pointers to all the notebook and server makers using it.
Of course, that's not the only opinion out there. Here's what Altavista's Babelfish made out of a
Japanese description of the Crusoe: "Crusoe (the clue Soviet Union) what? The Crusoe processor the Transmeta
corporation seriously considering the operation by electric power consumption low, with the CPU which was developed,
has the Intel corporation make CPU of the Pentium and the like and compatibility. As for the largest feature, is not
hard and it is to hold down electric power consumption substantially due to especially and the unique structure
which software give Intel corporation make CPU and compatibility." Hope that makes it clearer. :-)
[TOP]Cases
- UNIQLO sells the Utility shoulder bag
Thanks to Murtaza Gulamali; he recommends it for people in the UK due to its roomy size and great price.
- REI sells the Eagle Creek Padded Excursion Bag for USD45 (Item # 609781) (see picture here)
Thanks to Doug Bagley; he recommends it on his page
- cdProjects has a little STEEL case for CDs which will protect a PictureBook instead. Try CompUSA, BestBuy, etc.
- Case Logic sells the Koskin Deluxe CD Player Case for USD20 (Model # KSDM 2).
Thanks to Suzanne Baylor; she recommends it, noting it "is available at CompUSA for $20 and fits my brand new vaio, ac adapter, and portable CD perfectly."
- 'fritzz' pointed out these Japanese PictureBook cases/bags here, here, here, and here.
- Bram Stolk informs us of a leather Sony Vaio C1VE Case.
- Living Large: Pelican Case 1490 is recommended by Glenn Speight
Thanks to Glenn; he recommends it, noting it "it is made for large laptops. The c1vn fits perfectly in the lower areas meant for large laptop accessories. I
put my c1vn down there, cdrw52 in the other lower, other accessories in the side and have room on top for a expanding file case for papers. It is watertight and very cool." Be aware that
Pelican says their product guarantee "does not cover shark bite, bear attack, or children under the age of five."
Note: I'm going to make the Pelican case the first and last 'much larger than a PictureBook' case listed. It does sound useful for resisting the elements.
In the future, please only recommend cases which are PictureBook-sized *and* have some cool feature. Actually being a case meant for CDs is not a cool feature. :-)
Thanks for understanding.
[TOP]USB
I have successfully tested the following under Wini-Me and Linux:
- Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite (the kb is almost as big as the name)
- Logitech First Wheel Mouse (generic 3btn mouse under Linux)
- D-Link 4 Port USB Hub (DSB-H4)
- Hubert Samm notes he was able to get the Linksys USB100TX "USB" Ethernet adapter
working using the "pegasus" driver in 2.4.2
[TOP]Tips
- How to avoid problems with McAfee antivirus: Both the McAfee 5.13 and
the 5.15 antivirus engine 'upgrades' caused problems on my system; I recommend
you avoid them. Norton antivirus works just fine.
- How to secure the PictureBook with a cablelock: Remove the battery and
run a cable through the opening between the hinges. Thanks to Grant Tedaldi for
this tip.
[TOP]Famous People with C1V*s
"Famous" meaning well-known, head of a high-profile website/project/organization, that sort of thing.
Linus Torvalds
- Created not only Linux but also worked on the Transmeta processor powering the C1V* series.
Jay Beale
- Lead Developer of Bastille Linux Project and now Security Team Director for Linux-Mandrake.
Lee Boynton
- One of the original Oak/Java developers; see his resume.
James Hong
- According to this epinion, James Hong of AmIHotOrNot fame has one. He rates it a 4 out of 5.
Guylhem Aznar
- The Linux Documentation Project Chief coordinator.
Rusty Foster
- The kuro5hin.org "founder and code slave." User Info
Davey Winder
- With celebrity comes controversy...
Ivan Pope
- Received a report that Ivan Pope has one. Thanks for the tip, Maurice!
Others?
- Let me know who should also be on this list.
[TOP]Gallery
The Sony VAIO PCG-C1VN is a very small portable computer.
(The other portable is an IBM ThinkPad 760XL. The book is The Devil Soldier,
by Caleb Carr.)
Images of PictureBooks in TV/Films/Magazines/Etc.
Click on the small images below to see the full image.
First image copyright Apple Daily
Second image copyright Toho, Ltd.
Third image copyright Open
Fourth image copyright FOX Broadcasting Company; The Lone Gunmen website
Fifth image copyright Columbia TriStar Interactive; Charlie's Angels website
Sixth image copyright Paramount; Tomb Raider website
Seventh image copyright Fortune Magazine
Video: Enjoy! :-) (around 3mb MPEG)
Copyright
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