How to Do Everything with Your Sony Vaio (How to Do Everything) -

This book is penned by the laptop editor at CNET and claims to help the VAIO owner “discover all the treasures” of Sony’s VAIO line of desktops and laptops. Published a year ago, it’s already sorely out of date: almost all the models covered in the book have been discontinued and replaced. In particular, the new VAIO media-centric desktops have gone the way of Windows XP Media Center Edition, which is not covered in this book. And if you are looking to buy a VAIO, this book is way too old and has nothing you can really use.

Even if you have one of the computers mentioned in this book (i.e., models released between 2003 and mid-2004), don’t expect model-specific coverage, except a chapter devoted to the camera-equipped TR-series. (Sidenote: it’s a sign of how really screwed up Sony is as a company, that they discontinued this truly ingenious ultraportable notebook.) All other materials in this book are very basic and superficial, from how to check e-mail to how to import video using DVGate. Things that a VAIO owner really wants to know, like how to replace memory or hard disk and how to trouble-shoot a non-working wi-fi connection, are mentioned only in passing.

One last annoyance of the book is the author constantly tells you to do research online on your own. Damn, I thought I bought this book so I could skip that step, especially as the Internet is littered with junky advice. While many other “How to Do Everything” books are thick, this one is only 280 pages, attesting to the dearth of information it contains. And there’s very little information that you can use to enhance your VAIO experience. In the end, it’s just easier and cheaper if you just explore the VAIO yourself.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment

As an initial owner of the first series of the Sony VAIOs to hit the shelves the experience of the learning curve that these hybrid PC/Laptops have always required being “on the cutting edge” have always made utilizing all their “bell & whistles” a definite challenge.
This book is a real gift to anyone that have faced the challenge of really trying to get the most of their VAIO experience.
Sony has over that last several years been marketing the VAIO line as “Digital Studios” again being one of the first manufacturers to add components like DVD-RW opticals, Minidisc Recorders, and their Tivo like component called Gigpocket…etc.
This book in very easy to follow guidelines walks you step by step through “the experience” to make these high end machines behave and produce the results that you were expecting when you became sold on the VAIO concept.

I personally have been continuing to work with the VAIO challenged for years now since my early first system and actually run a Sony VAIO Forum Support site VAIO Village: http://www.vaiovillage.com and was asked to submit a Community Voice insiders sidebar for this book and can highly recommend the many solutions that Tom’s book help address.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment

By 

Alan Funk (Brooklyn, NY) –

  

WOW!!!!!! Years ago when I bought my first Sony VAIO I sure could have used a book such as this to explain in laymans terms all the features that these computers have to offer. I now feel much more confident in tackling these programs with the help from, “How to Do Everything with Your Sony Vaio”. Because of this book I’m definitely going to consider another Sony VAIO computer for my next purchase and use this book as my bible. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment