Best Buy lets out the WiDi-enabled Sony Vaio S a week early

Looks like everyone who picked up the Push2TV a bit early can finally put the adapter to good use. We received a handful of tips that certain Best Buys were selling their Intel Wireless Display-compatible "Blue Label 2.0" laptops a bit early -- nowhere near us, unfortunately -- and now comes pictorial proof from the forums of Notebook Review. This 13.3-inch Sony Vaio S was allegedly caught wearing a $1,049.99 sticker and housing a 2.26MHz Core i5 with integrated graphics -- no NVIDIA GPU here, and we gotta figure that's hurting the displayed Windows Experience Rating. The official launch of the Best Buy-customized Vaio S is next week, along with a number of other WiDi-enabled laptops.

[michaspi Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:34AM]

>2.26MHz Core i5

I bet the battery life on this thing is crazy long.

[viiu Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:39AM]

@michaspi I'm sure the Vaio would beat my TI-89 though

[Kirtay Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:39AM]

@michaspi:
I didn't know they went that fast.
Damn.

[ultim8f8 Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:50AM]

@michaspi

I agree. That's a pretty rockin' processor you got thar.

[Rossgadget Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:38AM]

@michaspi

So are the Windows Experience Ratings for processors out of 1,000?

[Stoichiometry Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:05AM]

@Rossgadget

The highest score for the Experience Index in Windows 7 is 7.9. So that processor is pretty fast.

[DougieBear Posted Jan 14th 2010 3:59AM]

@Stoichiometry

Indeed

[fourthletter Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:55PM]

@michaspi

My E2140 Pentium Dual Core (£35 a year ago) overclocked on air (without extra juice) to 3Ghz manages 6.4 in the Windows experience index so not seeing a huge reason to upgrade yet.

[Bandit5317 Posted Jan 14th 2010 4:14PM]

@fourthletter

The Windows Experience Rating doesn't scale like that. My Phenom II X4 manages a 7.4 @ 3.8Ghz. However, it gets a 7.3 @3.2Ghz. A 600Mhz boost on all four cores and it only gets an extra .1 of a point. The closer your score gets to 7.9, the more processing power you need to achieve a higher score.

[Rossgadget Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:27PM]

@michaspi

2.26 MHz is SLOOWWWWW people. Slower on the order of around 1,000 times that of a 2.26 GHz processor (what was supposed to have been written in the writeup).

Hence, the "So are the Windows Experience Ratings for processors out of 1,000?" remark.

Didn't think I'd have to spell that one out for you but, well, looks like you're all a bit tired today (or a few weeks ago).

[Blackwheel Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:34AM]

"with integrated graphics -- no NVIDIA GPU here"

May I ask why?

[dcoke Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:03AM]

@Blackwheel i agree why do laptop companies insist on sub par integrated graphics?

[jon Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:33AM]

@dcoke

Because 90% of the market has no use for discrete GPUs.

You're a niche consumer, get used to it.

[Rossgadget Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:41AM]

@Blackwheel

I'm pretty sure Intel would answer with something like... "Ion is overkill"

[dcoke Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:49AM]

@jon i really don't care since all I need to do is be able to run photoshop and visual studio. I was just wondring (especially with the advent of HD streaming videos.)

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 14th 2010 3:30AM]

@Blackwheel Z-series has the decent discrete GPU. Product differentiation really.

[jon Posted Jan 14th 2010 4:40AM]

@dcoke

Ah, got ya.

Look at some of the reviews, Arrandale's IGP can handle 2 1080p streams at once. It even does games at about 80% of Ion can manage.

For anyone besides gamers, the days of shitty Intel graphics are over.

[ScienceProUSAcom Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:41AM]

4.5 for integrated isn't too shabby. As long as it's better than the X4500 this is an improvement.

[Paul Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:00AM]

@ScienceProUSAcom
What's the score of the old integrated graphics to compare with this? I don't have Vista so I have no frame of reference.

[Air2ground Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:53AM]

@Paul That's WAY higher than my 8400M GS that scores a 2.9 for graphics. That's with a DOX optimized driver and Powermizer off too :(

[revoltracers Posted Jan 14th 2010 5:24AM]

@Air2ground My GMA 950 is 3.2 YOU FAIL

[doublsh0t Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:45AM]

ROFL this is my laptop, my desk, my photos, all the specs I released on NotebookReview forums. Never thought I'd be on the front of Engadget!

[Special Agent Steve Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:47AM]

@doublsh0t
I love that Windows 7 theme. I usually keep it on that just for the interesting factor. Great job !

[BigJayDogg3 Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:56AM]

@doublsh0t

@doublsh0t

Just trying to find out if I'm abnormal.

Have you gotten the urge to upgrade from the Z-2300? I got mine, and a JUST under a year later (this Dec.) I upgraded to a receiver and bookshelves. The Z-2300 is good, and will serve most fairly well, but for me all it did was make me want more. So I ask, did you ever get the urge to upgrade to a "higher quality" system?

[doublsh0t Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:04AM]

@BigJayDogg3

Yeah, I know what you mean, and I would probably be in the same boat as you but I'm living in an apartment building so these are suiting me just fine keeping my neighbors in due consideration ;) how do you like your higher-end replacements in comparison?

[icycoldicee Posted Jan 14th 2010 3:37AM]

@doublsh0t where can I get the background? I want it for my mac

[tinytom Posted Jan 14th 2010 4:48AM]

@icycoldicee The is the Selfridges Department Store In Birmingham, UK.. so...
http://images.google.co.uk/images?imgsz=l&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1GGLS_en-GBGB349GB349&tbo=1&um=1&sa=1&q=selfridges+birmingham+windows+7&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&start=0&imgtbs=z

[Mr Blurrycam Posted Jan 14th 2010 4:51AM]

@icycoldicee

It's part of the "Architecture" theme in Windows 7.

http://jefersonjs.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/img17.jpg

Or you can just search for "architecture img17" in Google Images.

[safe travels Posted Jan 14th 2010 5:36AM]

@tinytom
I hate htat building so much, I live in birmingham and anybody with half a brain here knows that the sole purpose of its existaence is as tourist bait... Stupid post modern architecture.. ugh

[DariaMorgendorffer Posted Jan 14th 2010 6:39AM]

@tinytom

yeah thats Brum's world famous Spotty Bum

Never thought I'd say that but I kinda miss the place now

[BigJayDogg3 Posted Jan 17th 2010 4:53PM]

@doublsh0t

Sorry, for some reason, Engadget is no longer notifying me of replies. :/

Anyway, I have the Pioneer 819, and a set of cheapo Sony bookshelves, and a Dayton sub, and the difference is day and night. I'd read online about how the 2300 has a lack of clarity in the higher ranges, and since I didn't have much to compare it to, I just wrote it off, but now I can definitely see where that comes from.

Granted, the set up I have now is biased to the low end, but even that compared to the Logitechs is greatly improved. I'm definitely enjoying what I have now. I'm not an audiophile (though I have a feeling finances are the only thing restricting me lol) but this set up just sounds so much cleaner than my old one did.

I won't lie though, the 2300s are extremely good for what they are (and their price point), just don't listen to anything higher end than that, and you'll be fine. ;-)

[JW Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:46AM]

F**K me I just bought an SR 2 months ago.

[ScienceProUSAcom Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:52AM]

@JW and so goes the world of tech :)

[jon Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:01AM]

Not bad, the slowest of the i5s scores a 6.6.

[Gregorian Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:11AM]

I like the WiDi idea. The ability to just zap whatever is on your laptop screen to the TV. Much simpler than dealing with cables or DLNA servers.

[Delta Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:28AM]

@Gregorian

Too bad its hilariously proprietary and only works on a tiny fraction of the processors out there.

[Steven Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:26AM]

What's WiDi?

[jon Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:35AM]

@Steven

Intel Wireless Display

http://www.intel.com/consumer/products/technology/wirelessdisplay.htm

[jmiller2032 Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:38AM]

I got mine tonight in Austin along with a Netgear Push2TV adapter. I actually went in hoping to score a Toshiba E205, but walked out with the Sony under my arm instead because the keyboard (the build quality in general actually) was so much better and it weighed less (4.4 lbs compared to 5.1). It's a great machine so far-- even without removing the bloatware it's nearly as fast as the i7 desktop I built! Windows 7 just doesn't get killed as much by it as Vista and XP did.

As for the WiDi device, the in store demo wasn't working at all, but I took a chance on it anyway. Video quality is acceptable, but not on par with an HDMI connection. Although Hulu was good, ripped DVDs (in H.264) seemed to lose some frames (although it wasn't choppy) and image quality, while HDTV from Windows Media Center was unwatchable. I LOVE the laptop, but unless Netgear comes out with improved firmware, the WiDi device is going back to Best Buy.

[unknown714 Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:45AM]

so are intel integrated graphics getting better because last time I tested out a machine with integrated graphics it got 2.0 tops on the windows 7 score

[BigJayDogg3 Posted Jan 14th 2010 1:58AM]

@unknown714

Mine has a 3.4.

I think they are getting better, but they definitely aren't a match for a quality discreet graphics card.

[brothaa Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:23PM]

@unknown714

well the 4500 gma is pretty decent in the first place

apparently in the new chips the 4500 got about a 50% boost, so its DEF going to be not bad.

probably play HL2 on medium with no problems.

[tonyprince Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:00AM]

jesus christ i thought engadget was losing it. i wasnt aware that WiDi is a term for smoething and i thought it was WiFi. Lol

[Patlex Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:20AM]

At the price the user paid for this, it should have included the optional nvidia GT310m gpu.

[jareth86 Posted Jan 14th 2010 2:31AM]

I'm so sick of not being able to find laptops with nvidia GPUs.

[Patlex Posted Jan 14th 2010 3:14AM]

@jareth86 It optional on this.

[hossmo Posted Jan 14th 2010 3:00AM]

TRUFAX: That's Future Systems (architect) and Arup's (engineers) Birmingham Selfridges working the desktop magic.

The cladding disks are made from Aluminium...is the Sony?

[williamlau05 Posted Jan 14th 2010 8:19AM]

@hossmo

I'm just proud to see the Selfridges Building of my homecity Birmingham in the photo!

[jon Posted Jan 14th 2010 4:43AM]

@maclinio

Eat shit and die.

[pika2000 Posted Jan 14th 2010 5:45AM]

I always find it funny that intel integrated graphics score higher in gaming then aero.

Another side, when will Microsoft lift the 5.9 limit on the ratings in Vista?