SonyVaioVGN-FW180E

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Revision 1 as of 2008-10-29 06:01:14
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Editor: cpe-24-28-13-97
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Revision 2 as of 2008-10-29 06:12:48
Size: 7664
Editor: cpe-24-28-13-97
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  Contact: Dave Crooke   * Contact: Dave Crooke
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  Make: Sony   * Make: Sony
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  Brand: Vaio   * Brand: Vaio
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  Model: VGN-FW180E   * Model: VGN-FW180E
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  Website: http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product/VGN-FW180E/H   * Website: http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product/VGN-FW180E/H
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I'm using the Intrepid 8.10 amd64 Beta and installing updates pretty much daily. Some functionality goes in and out with every patch, but the general trend is one of improvement. *Note*: Intrepid is the first Ubuntu release to support the wireless chipset in this laptop, which is the new Intel Link 5100 (with 802.11n support) I'm using the Intrepid 8.10 amd64 Beta and installing updates pretty much daily. Some minor functionality goes in and out with every patch, and I've had to do a little manual intervention once with dpkg, but the general trend is one of rapid improvement - in general, I'm very impressed. *Note*: I went for the beta because Intrepid is the first Ubuntu release to support the wireless chipset in this laptop, which is the new Intel Link 5100 (with 802.11n support) ... this is because the first release of the Linux kernel to support this chipset is 2.6.27
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   * The system locks up if an external monitor (HDMI or VGA) is connected while X is running
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Something I feel I have to note Something I feel is worth noting is the converse - the surprising amount of stuff that DOES work, out of the box at that ... this is a new Sony model, and Sony is notorious (with me anyway) for using wierd and funky hardware that is not Linux friendly.

   * Widescreen display, VGA, and HDMI all work with Xorg autodetected settings, and are sensibly named in xrandr
   * Off-brand GigE, new wireless chipset
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*Meta-Bug*: these commands do not exist in Intrepid
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|| in Ubuntu 6.06 LTS || in Gutsy || in Hardy (current development) ||
|| Screen || Untested || GOOD || Much better || ||
|| Correct resolution? || Untested || NO || YES || ||
|| Intrepid Beta || TBA || TBA ||
|| TFT Screen || Almost perfect || GOOD || - || - ||
|| Correct resolution? || Yes || - || - || - ||

Current Issues

I'm using the Intrepid 8.10 amd64 Beta and installing updates pretty much daily. Some minor functionality goes in and out with every patch, and I've had to do a little manual intervention once with dpkg, but the general trend is one of rapid improvement - in general, I'm very impressed. *Note*: I went for the beta because Intrepid is the first Ubuntu release to support the wireless chipset in this laptop, which is the new Intel Link 5100 (with 802.11n support) ... this is because the first release of the Linux kernel to support this chipset is 2.6.27

The biggest issues are with power management:

  • The brightness controls do not work (Fn-F5 and Fn-F6) ... when the laptop is disconnected from AC, the Gnome brightness change popup appears, but the display remains at full brightness
  • The CPU runs pretty hot, 50C according to the Gnome CPU temp applet when the system is more or less idle. This is despite the system asserting that it has both cores clocked down to 800MHz. I suspect (but have no hard data) that scaling may not be working right. Should it be able to completely stop one of the cores?
  • The battery applet reports a predicted runtime of 75 mins while idling, which unfortunately appears correct. The standard battery is marketed as a 4 hour battery, which admittedly it probably isn't under Windows either, but I expect to get 2 to 2.5 hours

There are a few other, minor gremlins:

  • Suspend (to RAM) works, but occasionally the system will lock up on resume, or the wireless card will lock up
  • Hibernate (to swap) also generally works, but occasionally will lock up during the Hibernate
  • When headphones are plugged into the jack on the front of the laptop:
    • the speaker above the keyboard does not cut off as you'd expect. However, it can be turned off from the mixer software
    • only the left audio works on the headphones (at least in Skype)
  • The system locks up if an external monitor (HDMI or VGA) is connected while X is running

Something I feel is worth noting is the converse - the surprising amount of stuff that DOES work, out of the box at that ... this is a new Sony model, and Sony is notorious (with me anyway) for using wierd and funky hardware that is not Linux friendly.

  • Widescreen display, VGA, and HDMI all work with Xorg autodetected settings, and are sensibly named in xrandr
  • Off-brand GigE, new wireless chipset

System Info

*Meta-Bug*: these commands do not exist in Intrepid

system-manufacturer: ACER

system-product-name: ASPIRE 7520

system-version: V1.10

Hardware details

Screen & Monitors

Device

Works?

Bug #

Intrepid Beta

TBA

TBA

TFT Screen

Almost perfect

GOOD

-

-

Correct resolution?

Yes

-

-

-

Correct refresh rate?

Untested

NO

NO

3D Acceleration

Untested

Untested

Untested

External monitor works?

Untested

Untested

Untested

External monitor - mirrors

Untested

Untested

Untested

External monitor - extend desktop

Untested

Untested

Untested

Power Management

Battery detected?

Untested

YES

YES

Hibernates?

Untested

YES

YES

Suspend

Untested

YES

YES

Dim monitor on battery

Untested

Untested

Untested

Blank monitor on inactivity

Untested

Untested

Untested

Lid Close

Untested

Untested

Untested

Cpu frequency scaling

Untested

Untested

Untested

Sound

Sound works?

Untested

YES

YES

Correct volume?

Untested

YES

YES

Hardware volume switch

Untested

YES

YES

Headphone jack

Untested

YES

Untested

Mic jack

Untested

NO

Untested

Networking

Wired NIC

Untested

YES

YES

Wireless NIC

Untested

YES

YES

PCMCIA NIC

Untested

Untested

Untested

Firewire

Untested

Untested

Untested

Bluetooth

Untested

Untested

Untested

Modem

Untested

Untested

Untested

Infrared

Untested

Untested

Untested

Touchpad & Mice

Touchpad

Untested

YES

YES

Touchpad - Doubletap = double click

Untested

YES

YES

Touchpad - Scroll down side

Untested

YES

YES

External mouse - USB

Untested

YES

YES

External mouse - Serial

Untested

Untested

Untested

Docking Station/Port Replicator

AC through replicator

Untested

Untested

Untested

USB

Untested

Untested

Untested

Serial

Untested

Untested

Untested

Parallel

Untested

Untested

Untested

External Monitor - VGA

Untested

Untested

Untested

External Monitor - DVI

Untested

Untested

Untested

Modem

Untested

Untested

Untested

NIC

Untested

Untested

Untested

PS/2

Untested

Untested

Untested

Additional Hardware

Fingerprint reader

Untested

Untested

Untested

CD/DVD drive

Untested

YES

YES

PCMCIA cards

Untested

Untested

Untested

Parallel Ports

Untested

Untested

Untested

Card reader(s)

Untested

Untested

Untested

Function and other keys

Fn key

Operation

Keycode

Works?

Bug #

in Ubuntu 6.06 LTS

in Gutsy

in Hardy (current development)

+ Space

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ Esc

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F1

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F2

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F3

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F4

Hibernate

Untested

Untested

YES

+ F5

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F6

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F7

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F8

MUTE

Untested

Untested

YES

+ F9

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F10

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F11

Untested

Untested

Untested

+ F12

Untested

Untested

Untested

Other special keys

Key

Operation

Keycode

Works?

Bug #

in Ubuntu 6.06 LTS

in Gutsy

in Hardy (current development)

Windows key + E

open all workspace

Untested

YES

YES

Notes


CategoryLaptop

LaptopTestingTeam/SonyVaioVGN-FW180E (last edited 2008-10-29 07:28:14 by cpe-24-28-13-97)