Micro PC Talk Wiki - Recently Updated Pageshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/pageSearch/updatedRecently Updated Pages on http://micropctalk.wetpaint.comen-usinfo@wetpaint.comThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:36:48 CDTThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:36:48 CDTwetpaint.com60Micro PC Talk Wikihttp://image.wetpaint.com/wiki/logo/image/1uoswkHbk1TE56MhPZRqCgQ==7654http://micropctalk.wetpaint.comCaseshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Caseskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/CasesupdatesThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:36:48 CDT

VAIO® Leather Protection Case VGP-CCUX1
Carry your VAIO® UX Series notebook computer in style while protecting it from nicks and scratches with the VGP-CCUX1 carrying case.

  • Designed specifically for the UX Series Micro PC
  • Slim and sleek design is made of genuine leather to provide extra protection



Designed specifically for the VAIO® UX Series Micro PC, the VGP-CCUX1 case securely holds your UX computer and battery in place while protecting it from scratches. Ideal for the commuter or constant traveler, this stylish case is available in black and constructed of genuine leather to provide extra protection.

Designed specifically for the UX Series Micro PC
Slim and sleek design is made of genuine leather to provide extra protection
Case fits UX Micro PC using standard battery or large capacity battery
Color: Black

Pocketables.net review by Jenn K. Lee - http://www.pocketables.net/2007/01/review_sony_vai.html
_______________________________________________________________

VAIO® Compact Carrying Case VGP-CCB3
Keep your VAIO® notebook protected from scratches and spills with the VGP-CCB3 compact carrying case. This sturdy, yet lightweight case is perfect for work or school.

  • Compatible with Notebook PCs up to 13.3”
  • Protect your PC from scratches and spills
  • Durable nylon material

Constructed of a durable nylon material, the slim VGP-CCB3 carrying case is perfect for all of your mobile needs. Boasting a casual look and detachable shoulder strap, this case is the ideal solution for the office or school campus. A roomy front pocket holds additional peripherals, such memory sticks, CDs, mobile phones and your MP3 player. The VGP-CCB3 securely holds your VAIO® notebook computer in place while protecting it from scratches. This lightweight bag is designed for use with notebooks up to 13.3” and compatible with UX, TX, C and SZ Series notebooks.
Compatible with UX, TX, C and SZ series notebooks.
This sturdy, yet lightweight case is made of durable nylon material.
This case is perfect for the office or for the school campus.
Front pocket fits additional peripherals.

_______________________________________________________________

Leather Case for VAIO Type UX






  • Contains 1 CF card slot and 1 stylus slot.
  • Forstandard battery version
  • Opens and closes with magnetic studs, for ease of use
  • White stitch finishing, making this case look more beautiful


Purchasing Information -



Large Capacity Battery Version Available - http://www.pdair.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=10900000_2300000_11000002&products_id=4592

_______________________________________________________________

Leather Jacket for VAIO UX






More luxury and comfort for greatest mobile PC in the world!
Genuine leather case for VAIO UX! Beautiful cowhide protects your PC from shocks and scracthes, and makes it less slippery. This case make it easier to bring it to business meetings by making its appearance much more bearutiful and luxurious.

Easy to attach! Metal clips holds device firmly
Metal clips wrapped with leather hold top and bottom of device. Most of main features are kept enabled, including keys on left and right, I/O port, AC/DC power port, fingerprint sensor, camera, slided screen and keyboard!

Works as a stand!
You can stand a device with the case! Please attach the removable card pocket unit in reverse direction to make a triangle figure. The case will stand without cradle, and it will expand possibility on your ubiquitous computer life.

Purchasing Information -



Large Capacity Battery Version Available - http://xigma.jp/en/06/type_u/ux50/index.html

_______________________________________________________________


http://www.thepouch.com/sony-ux280p.html

HANDHELD STYLE CASE: The Pouch Inc. has designed a handheld carrying case that fits the UX280 like an expensive glove. There's a spear-in locking buckle on the back that will secure the case to a belt or purse strap. In this configuration, the factory-direct price is $29.95 in handsome, Basic Black. If you prefer a belt clip instead, we'll attach a high-quality spring-steel belt clip for $1.00. For an additional $2.00 we will custom-make your case for the VAIO UX280P in your choice of one of our eye-catching colors - an exlusive offer available only from The Pouch.


NOTEBOOK STYLE CASE: If you prefer that the Pouch protective case for your Sony VAIO UX280P be made in the unique Pouch shoulder-carried Notebook Style, the price in Basic Black is $49.95. The Pouch has better ergonomics - is more comfortable to carry in line with your body and less likely to strike objects or other persons in crowded situations. There's a pocket on the back, perfect for securing small accessories. A sturdy web shoulder strap with shoulder pad is included. Again, for just $2.00 more, we will custom make it one of the colors displayed above.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Something inconspicuous and with room for all the gubbins we end up carrying along. Some are French websites, so email them and they may surrender one to you for free. (sorry, I had to)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


]]>Batterieshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Batterieskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/BatteriesThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:32:33 CDTVAIO® Large Capacity Battery VGP-BPL6
Small and compact like the UX, it fits conveniently on the side of your VAIO UX Micro PC, without weighing you down.

  • Compatible with UX Series Micro PC
  • Get up to 1.5 times the battery life of the standard battery.
  • 0.48 lbs. (approximate, main unit only)

The VAIO® Large Capacity Battery frees you from the confines of your desk so you can take your work or entertainment with you.
Compatible with UX Series Micro PC.
Get up to 5 - 9.52 hours of battery life with the extended UX battery.

Pocketables.net review by Jenn K. Lee - Extended Battery Review (Part 1) / Extended Battery Review (Part 2)

]]>AC Adaptershttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/AC+Adapterskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/AC+AdaptersThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:31:50 CDTSony VAIO® UX AC Adapter VGP-AC16V7

Enlarge
Pick up a spare adapter so you can have one at home and one at work.

  • Designed exclusively for use with the VAIO® UX Series Micro PC
  • Have one for work and one at home
  • 0.4 lbs

Get a spare AC adapter so you can keep one at home and one in the office. This eliminates the need to pack your AC adapter every time you leave the office or your home. Designed exclusively for use with the VAIO® UX Series Micro PC.
Designed exclusively for use with the VAIO® UX Series Micro PC
Dimensions: 3.44" (W) x 2.33" (H) x 0.86" (D)
Weight: 0.4 lbs. (Approx.)
Color: black


]]>Stylushttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Styluskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/StylusThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:28:15 CDT
VAIO® Stylus VGP-ST1


 Enlarge
Keep an extra stylus in your briefcase, car home or office.

  • Compatible with UX Series Micro PC
  • Includes two stylus for your convenience

Don’t get caught without one. Use your stylus for quick and easy input into your VAIO® UX Micro PC.
Compatible with UX Series Micro PC
Includes two stylus for your convenience


]]>Optical Driveshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Optical+Driveskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Optical+Driveslink and pic updateThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:24:33 CDT
VAIO® Optical Drive VGP-DDRW4

Enlarge
Backup all your media on DVD with this small external drive. You'll never have to worry about losing sensitive data and important media again.

  • DVD+R double layer technology/ DVD±RW drive
  • Compatible with UX Series Micro PC

With DVD±R Double Layer, you can burn up to 4 hours of MPEG-2 video, or up to 8.5GB of data on a single (double layer) disc.
DVD+R Double Layer Technology: Store up to 4 hours of DVD video or up to 8.5GB of data on a single sided disc with 2 information layers.
Compatible with UX Series Micro PC


]]>Keyboardshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Keyboardskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Keyboardspic and link updateThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:21:12 CDT
Bluetooth® Keyboard VGP-XTBTUEI


 Enlarge
Portability meets versatility with the VGP-XTBTUE Stowaway Bluetooth® keyboard. Connect your Bluetooth enabled devices in seconds with this portable, collapsible device.

  • Bluetooth® keyboard with carrying case and detachable UX stand*
  • 100% full size keyboard for touch-typing
  • Lightweight design

Cut the cords and take your keyboard wherever you go with the VGP-XTBTUE Stowaway Bluetooth® keyboard. This lightweight, foldable, QWERTY keyboard is the perfect solution for travelers and PDA users. Since this keyboard is Bluetooth enabled, you can connect almost any Bluetooth device14, allowing you write notes and e-mails from virtually anywhere. The VGP-XTBTUE keyboard comes equipped with rubber grip pads to prevent the device from slipping while typing, and includes a detachable UX stand*, a zippered case and two AAA batteries.
Hassle free - Bluetooth® technology removes the need for wires
Write email and notes easily
Includes carrying case & detachable UX stand*
Sleek, award winning design
100% full size keyboard for touch-typing
Truly universal - works with almost all Bluetooth® enabled devices
Rugged polycarbonate construction for years of use

*"detachable UX stand" - Stand is not actually designed for the UX. It is a generic stand, meaning it was designed to hold various devices. The UX does not clip into the stand in any way, at best it leans against it. It does provide a good angle for viewing the UX's screen as long as you get it in the proper position.

-Benz145

]]>GPShttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/GPSkawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/GPSThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:18:09 CDT
VAIO® Bluetooth® GPS Receiver VGP-BGU1

Enlarge
For use with your Bluetooth® enabled UX Micro PC.

  • Compatible with UX Series Micro PC
  • Includes AC Adapter and Belt Strap

Enjoy the freedom of wireless navigation with Sony's Bluetooth® GPS Receiver.
Compatible with UX Series Micro PC.
Compact and stylish design.
Provides high performance of positioning accuracy.

]]>External Driveshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/External+Driveskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/External+DrivesThu, 27 Mar 2008 12:16:16 CDT Western Digital Passport
Since the UX doesn't come with tons of hard drive space, I did some research and decided to get a Western Digital Passport. The reason I chose this out of the plethora of devices is because it is small and sleek looking( good for on the go usage), the model I got on Ebay only cost me $120(250 GB Passport!), and best of all it is powered by the USB connected to the UX.


There are many variations of the Passports and the storage capacity can go up to 320GB. That's more than enough storage for most people. I only have the essentials on my UX and everything else like, music, movies, pictures, XP installs are on my passport. Click on the big picture to check out the direct link to Western Digital to learn more about it, but if I were you I would buy it from Ebay or another 3rd party seller.


]]>Replacing a broken UX casehttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Replacing+a+broken+UX+caseYeggsterhttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Replacing+a+broken+UX+caseCorrected my spelling and grammar a bit :)Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:51:58 CDT
Not a pretty site for UX owners to see :(

The VGN-UX180P was dropped by it's previous owner and has the severe crack in the bottom left corner shown here.

Be careful guys :) A dropped UX can crack easily this one also had additional damage, the case was cracked around the mouse buttons and the top right case mounting screw point(near the Duo Memory Stick) was also broken and loose inside the computer

Inside the case the SIM card face plate had a slightly bent steel screw mount and the plastic mounting tab was also broken.

Surprisingly the UX worked almost perfectly just a sticky "left click" mouse button and the sharp edges for the crack to deal with.

I should mention the seller was upfront about the cracks and honest to deal with he said that's why he was selling it and I got a GREAT deal too, everyone should be so great to deal with.
.




Here's the new case fresh from ebay! Another great seller to deal with (laptopaid) it's from an oddball model of UX that was made in limited quantities the (I think after the 180) it's called the VGN-UX230P ... for interest here's the specs

The UX180 has 1.2 GHz U1400 CPU, 512MB of memory w/ 30GB HDD
The UX230 has 1.06GHz U1300 CPU, 512MB of memory w/ 30GB HDD

At any rate the cases are identical and that's all I needed :)

All we have to do it swap the cases!

 .


The seller obviously came across a few of the computers and disassembled them for parts (he repairs ALL types of laptops)

He wisely kept the all the screws to sell and I thought for an extra few bucks that was a GREAT investment ... as it happened I stripped the Phillips head out of one of the Harddrive screws and was glad to have a fresh one for reassembly,

I also dropped a few screws of course ... I found them easily but it was less stressful knowing I didn't have to sweat it if gremlins got a couple of the ones I dropped.

Virtually ALL the screws are in there pretty tight ... if you plan on taking your apart get the RIGHT screw driver (I suggest a good computer store) and push in fairly hard while backing them out.
.

OK now we are starting to tear this baby down!

I would not likely have tried this without the handy factory Confidential tear down instructions I found (of course) at MicroPCTalk.com just have a look at the site, it's the first sticky in "Hardware" a couple guys have it archived as Sony changes her links all the time.

In this shot we have 6 screws out, The black ones are all the same size and come from the 4 corners .. the silver one is under the STYLUS under the secret trap door.

The short one is under the battery, Note the Stylus, mouse pointer pad,and battery are all out at this point too, I just left the WWAN antenna on.
.

Sorry this image is fuzzy :( .. but I wanted to add a caution and this is the best picture I have.
In the tear down manual it says to just lift off the case... but the manual is written for international models that have a CF Card reader rather than a WWAN and SIM card.
Before lifting off the case you have to reach in with something not-too-sharp and carefully work the sticky tape off the antenna wire.
It's not as easy as it sounds, don't force anything and it will go fine though.

With that worked off you can now lift the case ... I just left the antenna wire on as it's not obvious how to remove it and it does not get in the way much ... but the case will be dangling by thew wire so don't pick it up without supporting it
.




Here's what it looks like with the case off ... that's the harddrive with the "Caution" label on it , lots of parts have sticky tape on them for attaching and insulation, remove it carefully as it will have to be put back on.
Be VERY careful WHERE you put screws down... I had a narrow escape where I almost put the UX down on top of a screw ... remember that's the LCD screen there you do NOT want it rolling around on sharp screw heads.

Pull off the tape as it says in the manual, watch that thin ribbon cable on the harddrive it's fragile.
.


Next takeout the harddrive screws and the metal frame that holds it in, the cushions that hold it are kind of sticky and you have to wiggle and pry it a bit .. as always be careful!
There's one screw in the WLAN (wifi) card it plugs into a standard PCI Express Mini Card slot.

Tale out the SIM card if you haven't already and the wifi antenna cover and the tiny microphone.
I won't repeat all the stuff from the manual as you really need to read it, but there are some tiny coaxial plug to come off the WLAN and the ones up to the wifi antennas.

AND more tape to save!
.


Now the Motherboard can be removed.
Again not as easy as it seems in the instructions, the connector is difficult to see as it looks just like a plain ribbon cable or curcut board.
The trick is first it to tilt up the wifi end of the board, then move it forward a bit THEN lift up the yellow power connector end so it clears the case ... DON'T pry the case as it is fragile especially when not attached to the heavier bottom half
Once it's free tilt it up like in the instructions and disconnect the while plug that's UP under the ribbon cable ..

... see the next picture for a bit better shot of the connector.
.




.
It's not really hidden but it's difficult to identify, in the foreground I'm holding the ribbon cable and the white connector in the blurry background would be above it.
Just gently work it off.
.
Here's an overall shot with the old and new cases at the bottom of the picture. The Motherboard is still attached to the back case by the WWAN coaxial cable.

The Motherboard would not normally need to be disassembled any further for this procedure but I have a picture of some of the inner damage in the next shot and further disassembly to repair it.
.






Circled in Red here is a little hard to see but that screw mount for the WWAN is bent about 20° to the right in this shot, luckily the circut board it self was not broken.
I took the WWAN card out and set it aside ... and then bent the steel screw mount back into position with pliers.
Circled in Blue is the broken WWAN module / SIMM card face plate tab .. I glued it back together with crazy glue.
.
.


Here's a Reverse Angle of the Screw mount with the WWAN Modual removed .. thats an alignment pin in front of it that also goes in to a hole in the circuit board.
.




Here's a shot of it all straightened up and more importantly a close up look at the UX's RAM Chips we would not normally get to see ...8 chips = 1 GIG of RAM
This should settle the question of "Is it possible to upgrade the RAM in a UX" questions :)
I can't see risking de-soldering eight, (like what, 1 million leg) RAM chips for a ram upgrade! the heat would probably fry a dozen other components too.
If you've ever seen a 30 foot long 10 ton wave soldering machine working you'd know why they get the connections so neat.
.
Here's a shot of the other side of the motherboard ... check out that HUGE copper plumbing!!
You KNOW it's got to be for the heatsinc ... but I couldn't see (or take enough time to learn) how exactly it hooks up to the processor ... the end we see on the left is rigged up to the fan's heatsinc. Here on the Wiki you can see this part in action in the UX Componetn pictures section.
The fan needed a good blow out too it was pretty dusty ... if your UX is overheating it might need the fan cleaned out!

Reassembly is much easier and just the reverse of disassembly ... I rushed through it without taking any more pictures ... just remember to put all the tape back in place, it's there for a reason!
.
Circled in blue are three of the top mounting screw points of the old case in the red circle is where the fourth one broke off and fell in the case
I saved the old case just incase, you never know! ... the Duo chip reader is fine and the mouse buttons etc.
The mouse pointer controller itself is part of the motherboard ...
As I mentioned on the Forum I was all done about midnight or 1 pm and I did NOT even put the battery back in.. I went to bed and tried it the next morning so I would not stay up all night if it was messed up :) as we get old do we we also grow wise??? :)
In this comparison shot the only thing left is to change the model number (in the green rectangles) ... I might leave it as a faux VGN-UX230P as they are more rare ... what do you think? :)
BTW, the next morning? .... it worked GREAT the first try!!




]]>Modelshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Modelskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/ModelsTue, 26 Feb 2008 13:24:57 CST



Sony Vaio UX50


Country: Japan
Notable Features: Intel Core Solo U1300 1.06GHz, 512MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, CF Slot, 4.5" Color TFT Display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, Memorystick Duo Slot, WiFi a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, Fingerprint Scanner, Felica port, XP Home (Japanese)

Sony Vaio UX90


Country: Japan
Notable Features: "Custom Built":
Processor options: Intel Core Solo U1300 (1.033GHz) or U 1400 (1.20GHz)
RAM options: 512MB or 1GB RAM
Hard drive options: 30GB HDD or 40GB HDD
Standard: CF Slot, 4.5" Color TFT Display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, Memorystick Duo Slot, WiFi a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, Fingerprint Scanner, Felica port (on docking station)
Docking Station/Port Replicator is optional.
Japanese language version (could be ordered with English OS from third party vendors)
Now replaced by UX91 (see below)

Sony Vaio UX91NS/UX91S (flash)




Country: Japan
Notable Features: "Custom Built":
Casing color options: Black or Dark Blue (only on flash models -- HDD models are Silver)
Processor options: Celeron M433 (1.20GHz), Core Solo U1400 (1.20GHz), Core Solo U1500 (1.33GHz)
Boot drive options: 32GB Flash Memory Drive, 30GB HDD, 40GB HDD, or 60GB HDD.
Keyboard options: Japanese or English
Operating System options: Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate; XP Home, Pro.
Standard: 1GB RAM, CF Slot, 4.5" Color TFT Display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, Memorystick Duo Slot, WiFi a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, Fingerprint Scanner, Felica port (on docking station)
Docking Station/Port Replicator is optional.
Japanese language version (could be ordered with English OS from third party vendors)
Replaces UX90 (above)



Sony Vaio UX180P


Country: United States
Notable Features: Intel Core Solo U1400 1.2GHz, 512MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, 4.5" Color TFT Display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, Memorystick Duo Slot, built-in WAN (Cingular Edge), WiFi a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, Fingerprint Scanner, XP Professional




Sony Vaio UX17TP


Country: Taiwan
Notable Features: Intel Core Solo U1400 1.2GHz, 512MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, 4.5" Color TFT Display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, Memorystick Duo Slot, CF Slot, WiFi a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, Fingerprint Scanner, XP Professional (Chinese)







Sony Vaio UX390N


Country: United States
Notable Features: Intel Core Solo U1500 1.33GHz, 1GB RAM, 32GB Flash Memory Drive, 4.5" Color TFT Display, 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, Memorystick Duo Slot, built-in WAN (Cingular Edge), WiFi a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, Fingerprint Scanner, Windows Vista Business Edition

]]>Kawika's Portable Setuphttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Kawika%27s+Portable+Setupkawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Kawika%27s+Portable+SetupMon, 18 Feb 2008 12:04:29 CSTI liked Pyro's Setup, so I thought I would show how I travel with my UX.




This is the Sherpa from Swiss Gear. I got it at Best Buy for $30. It comes with one main compartment which is padded on all sides and a medium sized compartment in the front and a small zipper pocket. It also came with a small velcro accessory pouch that can go in the main compartment, but I took it out. It also comes with a grip on the top and a carrying strap if you choose to use it.



As I open it up, you can see that the font pouch holds the AC Adapter. The main pouch is just big enough to hold the docking station and clear holder, the UX itself and the mouse which sits on top the UX.





These two pictures are with the docking station out and then everything out of the bag.



Other then the fact that it can hold most of what I use, one of the coolest things is that it comes with an extra velcro pad which perfectly fits against the screen of the UX when placed inside. That was one of the biggest selling points for me.

Like I said, I found this bag at Best Buy in the camera bag section. I looked around at many different types and decided on this one, and I'm glad I did. The link for the Sherpa is Here or just click on the first picture.

-Kawika

















]]>Accessorieshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Accessorieskawika0http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/AccessoriesMon, 18 Feb 2008 11:59:22 CST

]]>UX Hardware Modshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/UX+Hardware+ModsYeggsterhttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/UX+Hardware+ModsMon, 17 Dec 2007 21:57:05 CST
  • Upgrading the UX Hard Drive
  • Softcore Hard Drive Mod (no soldering!)
  • Replacing the CF reader with USB Ports (non-US models)
  • Hardcore Hard Drive Mod (Soldering involved)
  • Flat UX Power Connector
  • Locating and removing WWAN card (US models only)
  • Modify Dock Shape
  • Modify Dock for an additional TOP MOUNT VGA port





    • ]]>    Dockshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/DocksYeggsterhttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/DocksMon, 17 Dec 2007 21:49:33 CSTSony VAIO® Port Replicator for UX Series Micro PC VGP-PRUX1
    Use an additional port replicator for your home or office.

    • Compatible with UX series Micro PC.
    • Ports: 4-pin i.LINK®interface5, 3 USB2.0, RJ45 Ethernet, VGA out, A/V out and DC in
    • Easily expand connectivity to your Micro PC


    With the UX series port replicator there is no need to plug and unplug your cables each time you are ready to work at your desk.
    Compatible with UX Series Micro PC
    Connect all your peripherals in one quick step


    ]]>    Dock Mod for right angle VGA inputhttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Dock+Mod+for+right+angle+VGA+inputYeggsterhttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Dock+Mod+for+right+angle+VGA+inputMon, 17 Dec 2007 21:40:37 CST

    I am getting ready to make a portable office for my UX280P.


    I will be using a #1400 Pelican Case for the UX and added extras (more on that in another article)


    The first thing I needed was a Right Angle VGA Adaptor or Right Angle VGA cable, neither was available locally and I was too impatient to order one and wait.


    So I decided to add a second (TOP MOUNT) VGA port to the UX's dock

    Dissembling the Dock (Port Replicator) is easy check other article here and on the MicroPCtalk.com forums for more info .. once the screws and circuit board were out I measured for clearances and was ready to get started


    I put the circuit board in the holder and used a straight pin and continuity tester to carefully check the pin out configuration


    The row of soldiered pins is where I have to connect my second VGP port wires. Determining the pin out configuration was complicated by the fact many pins have a common connection when the unit is not powered and one pin out can equal several of the soldiered pins when using the continuity tester.

    After some trial and error and hesitant dry run testing I finally found the pattern of the pin out .... the VGA plug itself is numbered on the face (look closely and you can see it on yours) but the pin out did not seem to have a pattern until I was almost done .. here is the results tested and confirmed.

    Can you see the pattern (top is the same as the picture to the left BTW).

    NOTE! ... I have no way of knowing if every UX Dock is wired the same use this as a guide only and test your own carefully.






    Here's a picture of my work sheet, I wore down the eraser and I sharpened the pencil a few times doing this :)




    Here's a shot of the wires soldiered in place it's very pain staking work if (like me) you are not accustom to it. Some wires get touched by accident with the hot iron and have to be re-soldiered several times

    In this picture I had hooked up the external monitor to test the wiring. Very scary as I assume a incorrectly connected wire could damage the Dock or even the UX itself?? :(
    Here you can see I applied a liberal coat of low temperature hot melt glue in and around all the pins and wires to stabilize and insulate them.

    All the internal stock wiring is reconnected and all back together ... the dock base and metal shielding plate had to be cut to make room for the wire bundle ... it cuts easily with snips for the steel and side cutters for the plastic .. also the existing VGA anchoring plate (it's a fairly heavy steel bracket) had to be left out for clearance. From the outside and bottom of the dock none of the cut out plastic is visable.

    The new VGA plug was threaded through 3/4" hole drilled in the dock and pop riveted in place.. and the open gap filled with some hot melt glue .. not pretty but it will keep loose bits from rolling into the dock and shorting something out :) After the pictures I painted the glue filler with black marker and it looks a bit better.

    TECH NOTE: I had a question and to answer all the pictures in this article were taken with a Sony Ericsson W810i Camera Phone set on Macro with additional lighting when needed provided by a Mini-Mag Flashlight

    One more to keep the balance :) here it is in use works great and offers more clearance than a Right Angle adaptor and cost was effectively zero , the VGA plug I used BTW was from my parts bin .. an old connector from a computer that used an on board video card.

    Just a note for anyone who decides to but a right Angle Adaptor instead of cutting up their Dock :) Make sure you get the correct type .. the more popular one points DOWN on the UX Dock (and cannot be used of course) and a right angle CABLE typically points to the left blocking use of the USB ports.


    Lastly be very careful if you try this Mod at home!!! like all hardware mods this can be dangerous. Myself I had a spare dock to work with ... but even so I assume an incorrectly wired VGA port can permanently damage the UX computer itself, so be very careful and be prepared to take the risks involvled.


    ]]>    Installing Macintosh OSX 10.5 (Leopard)http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Installing+Macintosh+OSX+10.5+%28Leopard%29MeanSquarehttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Installing+Macintosh+OSX+10.5+%28Leopard%29added some picturesTue, 20 Nov 2007 07:55:06 CSTWhen Apple announced that all Macintosh computers made from then on would be Intel processor-based, there was a great deal of excitement from people who already owned Intel-based machines. Unfortunately for us, Apple decided to lock the operating system so that it would only run on Apple IDed hardware. Fortunately for us, some very smart people have figured out how to circumvent that lock and allow us to install OSX on our Intel machines. Most of the information you'll see below comes directly from the OSx86 Project and it is on the shoulders of those giants that I'm standing upon. What I've done is to take that information and gear it specifically to the Sony UX handtop platform.

    What you'll need:

    In order to install OSX on your UX, you'll need the following items:
    • An official version of OSX 10.5 (Leopard). You can get thathere. It's only $129.
    • The VAIO UX (naturally) (While you should be able to install OSX on a 512MB RAM model, you'll probably prefer running it on a 1GB RAM model.)
    • USB 2.0 Optical DVD Drive. You can find some model suggestions and some other useful information inthis thread.
    • Jas' hacked OSX Tiger image file: 10.4.8 JaS AMD-Intel-SSE2-SSE3 with pp1 and ppf2. I can't tell you where to get this, but a little Google work should deliver that information. "Wait!", I hear you saying"Why do I need Tiger if I'm installing Leopard?" The reason is simple (and annoying, but true): The retail version of OSX Leopard assumes you'll be installing it to a system with Mac OSX already on it. As a result, it doesn't install the boot-loader at all. You need the Tiger install to install the boot-loader so your Leopard install will actually boot.
      We'll also use Tiger to create the disk image files we need for the installation process.
    • A USB stick drive (with at least 40MB of space) to store...
    • The Leopard9A581 (GM) Patch. You'll find the links to get this patch here. You'll also notice that much of the early part of this procedure is there as well. Thanks to BrazilMac and the folks at OSx86 for doing the hard part. The patch contains three folders (files, leopatch, and resources) and two shell scripts (9a581-patch.sh and 9a581PostPatch.sh). You'll need to take the files from this patch and place them on a USB stick. Put the scripts and folders in the root directory of the USB stick and name it PATCHER.
    • A printed copy of the contents of the 9a581PostPatch.sh file.
    • Two blank DVDs. (One for the Tiger installaton and one for a patched version of Leopard.)
    • Lots of patience, a very careful hand, and your favorite caffeinated beverage :)

    Optional, but very helpful:

    • The docking station. You can do this with just the UX, but the docking station has additional USB ports that allow you to use the external DVD reader at the same time as you use an external keyboard and mouse and/or a USB stick. Speaking of that...
    • An external keyboard and mouse. You can either use USB-connected versions or PS2 versions with a USB-PS2 adapter. This makes typing and on-screen work a lot easier. Likewise...
    • An external display. One of the nice things about OSX 10.5 is that it enables the external display very early in the installation process so you can move windows to the external display for more easy reading.

    Before you begin:

    Before you attempt this procedure, you should read through it at least once to know what you're getting yourself into. The whole procedure will take about three hours, so block off at least that much time to get it done. Finally, make sure your UX is update with the latest BIOS before beginning. This is specifically to make sure OSX can use the maximum shared RAM for graphics.

    You'll also want to decide whether you want to keep your Windows install or go completely "native" and install OSX alone. There are some important considerations:
    1. At this point, there isn't any way to update the BIOS under Mac OSX. If you want to retain that capability, you'll either need Windows on a bootable external drive or set up a separate partion for OSX and keep your Windows partition intact.
    2. There is a limited amount of hard-drive real-estate. Two OS installs can take up a good deal of it, leaving very little for applications and data.
    3. It's a whole lot easier to go back if you keep your Windows partition.
    4. Once you start running OSX, you may never want to go back :) (but you can always delete the Windows partition later)
    5. You might have some software that doesn't have an OSX counterpart. If you keep your Windows partition, you can run Parallels or VMWare and run Windows "inside" of OSX to run those apps.

    For the purposes of this guide, I'll assume that you want to install OSX on your main partition but I'll note where you'll need to do things a bit differently if that's not the case.

    If you decide to keep your Windows partition, you'll need to set up a separate partition. Here's how you do that with Diskpart, a disk partition program which is built into Windows:
    Run a Command Prompt window and type diskpart at the prompt. Then type the following commands:
    • select disk 0 (Select the first (and only) hard disk drive)
    • list partition (you should see 1 partition)
    • create partition primary size=16000 id=af
      size is the space to allocate for the partition (you could use the whole free space)
      id=af is the OSX-compatible (HFS+) partition format
    • list partition (you should see 2 partitions now)
    • select partition 2 (this is the partition you've just created)
    • active (set this partition toboot first)
    • exit (quit Diskpart)
    Reboot your UX.

    WithinBIOS setup, check that you have enabled the LCD Stretch option as well as the External Optical USB DVD Drive as first primary device for boot.
    (Thanks to Sev7en for the Diskpart commands.)

    Now we're ready to install Tiger.

    Install the patched version of "Tiger":

    Create a DVD from the JAS hacked Tiger image using your favorite .ISO buring software. I recommend Active ISO Burner. Insert the newly created disk into the Optical drive and boot your UX. If you're installing on your primary partition, when the Welcome Screen appears, choose Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and format your main partition for HFS+ format. This will erase everything on your UX. You should also name your partition something appropriate. I named mine "Leopard". Once the format is complete, exit the Disk Utility.

    Follow the prompts to set up Tiger on your UX. Be sure to "Customize" the installation. Don't add the additional fonts or X11. Do add the support for Intel processors (and not the AMD support).

    Once the Tiger installation is done, reboot and make sure your UX boots into Tiger. If it doesn't, something went wrong and you'll need to fix it before proceding.

    Along with Tiger, you've also installed the "Darwin" boot-loader. That's important, because Leopard doesn't install the boot-loader and your OSux won't boot without it.

    If we were keeping Tiger as our OS, this would be the time when we updated some drivers, tweaked some settings, and made more of the hardware in the UX work under OSX. As it is, we only need to be able to access the DVD burner and the USB stick (if you're using one). Also, if you're using an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, these also should work without fiddling.

    Now we're ready to prepare the Leopard installation.

    Preparing the patched Leopard DVD:

    First put the retail Leopard DVD into your DVD drive. The install window will pop up. Close it. After the "Mac OS X Install DVD" icon appears on your desktop, open Disk Utility(Open your hard-drive icon, open the Applications folder, open the Utilities Folder, then double-click the Disk Utility icon.) select the retail Leopard DVD from the items in the left panel, and tap the "+New Image" icon. When the dialog box appears, change the image format to "read/write", the location to your Desktop (so it's easier to find), and change the name of the image file to "osx-leopard106" (which is the name the patch script expects to find). Click the Save button and you'll create a Mac OS X Install.dmg (DMG=Disk iMaGe) file to be patched. Take a break. This takes a while.

    Remove the retail Leopard DVD (right-click or click-and-hold on the desktop icon and select "Eject..." from the menu) and place your PATCHER DVD or USB Stick in the UX. After it's icon appears on the desktop open it, select all of the contents and copy them to your desktop. (You'll copy the three folders and two files mentioned in "What you'll need" above.) Once they're copied, double-click on the 9a581-patch.sh file to edit it. You'll need to edit the APDIR= and DMG= lines to match the user you set up under Tiger. In my case, the first line reads "APDIR=/Users/meansquare/Desktop". Once you've edited both lines, close and save the modified file.

    This is also the point where you should modify the "9a581PostPatch.sh" file. Double-click on 9a581PostPatch.sh and modify the "PATCH=..." line to point to the "leopatch" folder on your and the "LEO=..." line to point to where you installed Leopard. (In my case the lines read PATCH="/Volumes/PATCHER/leopatch/" and LEO="/Volumes/Leopard") Close and save the edited file and also copy the edited version back to your PATCHER USB stick. (We'll need it for later.)

    Open a Terminal Window (Open your hard-drive icon, open Applications, open Utilities, double-click Terminal). The "bash-3.2#" prompt will appear in the window. Type the command "sudo -s" and put in your password to approve "escalating to administrator level." Type "cd Desktop" to change directories to your desktop (where the patcher and disk images will reside). Now type "./9a581-patch.sh". The patch will execute. Take another break. This also takes some time. A "leopard.iso.cdr" file will appear on your desktop while this is happening. That's what the file the patch is creating which it will rename when it's done. If you get "prebinding errors" when the script is executing, don't worry. Those are OK. If you get other errors, check your editing on the script file and try the process again.

    When it's done, you'll have a "patched Leo_Patched_DVD.iso" file on your desktop. This is an DVD ISO image that we'll use to burn the patch Leopard install DVD.

    To burn the .iso onto a DVD, place a blank DVD into your DVD burner drive. Open the Disk Utility (as we did above) and select the DVD burner drive in the left panel. Click the "Burn" icon (at the top right) and browse to the Leo_Patched_DVD.iso file on your desktop. Once again, take a break while the image is burned.

    You can just leave the DVD in the drive for the next step, but at some point, you're going to want to label it so you can start at this point if you ever need to do a total OS reinstall.


    Installing Leopard:

    Begin by placing your patched Leopard DVD in the drive and booting your UX. Proceed through until you get screen with the heading Mac OSX will be installed on the "Leopard" Volume (or whatever you've named your volume) and the choices below include "Customize". Choose customize (see the picture above) and make sure that only "Essential System Software" is selected. (Additional Fonts, Language Translations, and X11 should all be un-checked.) (Those items were removed when we created our patched disk.) Here's what it should look like:


    Follow the prompts as usual from there to install Leopard.


    When the process completes, the system should re-boot. Don't let it boot into Leopard just yet. Instead, put either the Tiger or Leopard install disk back in and boot into it until you get to the "Welcome" screen (shown below):


    Select "Terminal" from the "Utilities" menu. The terminal window will open with the same "bash-3.2#" prompt you remember from the last time you used it.

    I ran into a problem at this point. For whatever reason, the terminal window from the Utilities menu would not let me run shell scripts. This is why I mentioned the printed copy of the "9a581PostPatch.sh" file in "What you'll need." (You can try it yourself by placing the PATCHER USB stick in a USB slot and changing the directory to the root of the stick (cd /Volumes/PATCHER/). Then issue the command "./9a581PostPatch.sh". If it works for you, great. Otherwise do the typing that follows:)

    In the terminal window, issue the following commands, one at a time:
    (If you named your "Leopard" volume something else when you formatted it, change the name in all references.)
    cd /Volumes/Leopard/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/
    rm -rf ossmgr.plist
    cd /Volumes/Leopard/
    rm -rf mach_kernel
    cp -R /Volumes/PATCHER/leopatch/mach_kernel mach_kernel
    chmod -R 644 mach_kernel
    chown -R root:wheel mach_kernel
    cd /Volumes/Leopard/System/Library/Extensions/
    (You may get a "not found" error on two of these "rm -rf" lines. Don't worry about it.)
    rm -rf AppleACPIPlatform.kext
    rm -rf AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext
    rm -rf ApplePS2Controller.kext
    rm -rf AppleSMBIOS.kext
    rm -rf dsmos.kext
    rm -rf IOATAFamily.kext
    rm -rf IOAHCIFamily.kext
    rm -rf AppleAC97Audio.kext
    rm -rf AppleAHCIPort.kext
    rm -rf AppleAzaliaAudio.kext
    rm -rf AppleVIA.kext
    rm -rf AppleVIAATA.kext
    rm -rf IOHDIXController.kext
    rm -rf IONetworkingFamily.kext
    rm -rf AppleHWSensor.kext
    cp -R /Volumes/PATCHER/leopatch/ext/*
    chmod -R 755 *
    chown -R root:wheel *
    reboot
    (That last line is actually a command.)
    Allow the system to reboot, this time let it go into Leopard. It should boot normally and you'll be greeted with an amazing first boot sequence (part of which you see below):


    After it gets down showing off, you'll be asked to set up a user and do some other specification and finally, you'll drop into the OSX 10.5 (Leopard) desktop.

    Hold your excitement for a little while longer. There are still a few things to do to get your UX working as well as possible. Here's what works without any further fiddling:
    • Built-in and external displays (including switching displays when you dock/undock)
    • USB ports (including high-speed USB 2.0)
    • Firewire
    • Touch screen
    • Built-in and USB-connected keyboards
    • Built-in track stick and mouse buttons and USB-connected mice
    • Bluetooth
    • Sound from the headphone jack (but not from the built-in speaker or in through the microphone)
    Here's what isn't working:
    • WiFi
    • wired Ethernet (but we'll fix that in a moment)
    • Special function buttons
    • Screen rotation
    • Cameras
    • Sleep and Hibernation (more about this in a moment)

    Making wired Ethernet work:

    The Mac OS already recognizes a number of built-in wired Ethernet adapter by Marvell, the same company that makes the one built into the UX. It just doesn't recognize the specific model. However, Sev7en discovered an easy fix for Tiger that also works for Leopard:

    First, open a Terminal window (By now, you're familiar with that.) and type the following command:
    sudo nano /System/Library/Extensions/IONetworkingFamily.kext/Contents/
    PlugIns/AppleYukon.kext/Contents/Info.plist
    (all on one line)
    This will bring up the nano text editor with the Info.plist file loaded. Use the ^V to move down in the file until you find the following lines. (They're near the end.) If you go too far use ^Y to move up.
    <key>Yukon-88E8053</key>
    <dict>
    <key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
    <string>com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2</string>
    <key>EnableLowPwr</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
    <key>IOClass</key>
    <string>yukon2osx</string>
    <key>IOPCIPrimaryMatch</key>
    <string>0x436211ab</string>
    It's that last string that we need to change. The 11ab part is the Vendor ID (Yukon) and the 4362 is the Model ID. 4362 is the Yukon Gigabit Adapter 88E8053. We want to change it to 4351 (the Yukon Megabit Adapter 88E8036 in the UX). Simply use the arrow keys to move your cursor over to the 62, type 51 and delete twice to get rid of the 62. Now press ^O to save the updated file, return once to accept the file name as is, and then press ^X to exit. A little more work and we're done.

    You should find yourself back with the "bash-3.2#" prompt. Type in the following commands:
    sudo -s
    (type your password when prompted)
    chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/*.kext
    rm /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
    rm /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache
    kextcache -k /System/Library/Extensions/
    diskutil repairpermissions /
    reboot
    After you system reboots, OSX will recognize your wired Ethernet card and allow you a wired connection to the Internet and your local LAN if you have one.

    Fixing the TrackStick push-to-click:

    If you're using the built-in trackstick on the UX, you've undoubtedly already noticed that if you push just a little too much, it's as if you're holding the mouse button down. In fact, that's exactly what's happening. Fortunately, there's also a fix for that, thanks to dgarcia42. Now that you've got a working Ethernet connection, you can connect to the Internet and use the Safari web browser to download a new version of the ApplePS2Controller.kext file. It should default to downloading to the "Downloads" folder on your hard-drive. Once it's there, open a Terminal window (yet again) and issue the following commands:
    sudo -s(type in your password at the prompt)
    cd ~/Downloads
    unzip ApplePS2ControllerAndALPS.kext.zip cd /System/Library/Extensions
    mv ApplePS2Controller.kext OldPS2Controller.kext
    cp -R ~/Downloads/ApplePS2Controller.kext ApplePS2Controller.kext
    chown -R root:wheel *.kext
    rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
    rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache
    kextcache -k /System/Library/Extensions/
    diskutil repairpermissions / reboot
    After the system reboots, pressing your trackstick won't click for you.

    What's still not working:

    Unfortunately, that's about all you can fix at the moment. Sleep and hibernation don't work at all. It's a good idea to go into System Preferences and set sleep off so your UX won't do it automatically. If it does, you have to manually shut it off (by holding the power button up for over four seconds) and then restart. Fortunately, OSX boots very quickly compared to Windows (only about 20 seconds on a UX with an Solid State Drive). Get used to shutting down and booting up for now.

    WiFi is also still not working. There's a work-in-progress that's attempting to create support for built-in Intel WiFi cards, but the last time I tried it, it hung my machine. There are two other options: First, you could get an external USB WiFi card. Some folks have had success with the Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter. You can find the instructions for doing that here. The other option is voiding your warranty, opening your UX, and swapping the WiFi card for one that is supported by OSX. There's a discussion of this here, but so far no one's been brave enough to test it out.

    Likewise, the cameras, special buttons, screen rotation, and the built-in speaker and microphone are all non-functional under OSX... for now. dgarcia42 is starting to work on drivers and support software for these items. You can find out more (and cast your vote for what you think should take priority) here.

    A few more things:

    First of all, if you don't own a licensed copy of Tiger, now would be a good time to destroy that patched Tiger disk you made. It was only a means to an end and you're there now.

    Second, from time to time you may get a message that there are software updates available for your system. Do not install any kernel updates. Kernel updates will wreck the patches that allow you to run OSX on a non-Mac system. You can, however, install updates to applications and other items without fear.

    Finally, enjoy your "new Mac." :)

    ]]>    Miscellaneous+Hackshttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Miscellaneous%2BHacksMeanSquarehttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Miscellaneous%2BHacksadded link to Installing OSX pageFri, 16 Nov 2007 19:51:15 CST

    ]]>    Model Galleryhttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Model+GalleryBenz145http://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Model+GalleryThu, 08 Nov 2007 22:09:44 CST




    VGN-UX50, VGN-UX90S, VGN-UX180P, VGN-UX280P, VGN-UX17GP, VGN-UX380N




    Premium VGN-UX90S, VGN-UX91S, VGN-UX1XN




    VGN-UX90SSD, VGN-UX91S, VGN-UX390N









    ]]>    Enable Full Remote Desktop in Vistahttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Enable+Full+Remote+Desktop+in+VistaMeanSquarehttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Enable+Full+Remote+Desktop+in+VistaRenameSun, 30 Sep 2007 19:09:40 CDT
    If your UX came with Vista installed, you should have Vista Business. Business supports Remote Desktop, but it will close any current sessions when you log in remotely. If you installed Vista yourself, you may have opted for Vista Home Premium, which lacks the Remote Desktop capability entirely. The hack below gives full Remote Desktop capability for any system running Home Premium or above.

    To get full Remote Desktop functionality, you'll need to install a "hacked" version of the terminal server direct link library (termsvr.dll). The necessary files and instructions can be found onTony Chan's Blog site. The zip file you download contains the hacked termsvr.dll, a registry entry updater, and several batch files to automate the process on Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate. Remember to run the Command Prompt "as an Administrator" to apply the patch.

    ]]>    Interfacehttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/Interfacepyrojesterhttp://micropctalk.wetpaint.com/page/InterfaceSat, 01 Sep 2007 09:10:33 CDT






    ]]>