Here's my story about my issue with the Sony Vaio laptop. This story is not fictional and is all based on a true story. Beware, it's a long story.
TL : DR I'm mad.
Background info about the laptop
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium *–* CPU: Intel Core i5 M 520 2.40GHz (at 2400 MHz) *–* Memory usage: 4015 MB *–* Graphics: nVidia GeForce GT 330M (1920x1080x32bit 59Hz)
I bought this laptop in april 2009, for 1 300:- euros in Gothenburg, Sweden. It was working okay and all. Though I did complain about the graphic card being a twat from the very beginning.
The issue
Today is october, 2011. My laptop's graphic card has been a dick the entire trip.
Most of you don't know it but; Sony has its own program where you download their own drivers and update your computer with. Since the Windows OS is an OEM you're pretty much fucked without it. Unless you wanna pay 300 euros for a new OS (I'll come back to that).
*My graphic card drivers were always crashing when I was expanding the Windows Media Player 10 window (when a film was on). I've had BSOD's multiple times with the code "BAD_POOL_CALLER". This happened >from start<
I had always been looking for new drivers for the graphic card. However, the latest drivers for my graphic card that Sony offered me was March 2010 (drivers type 187).
Wait a minute. Today is October 2011, and the latest drivers are March 2010? Yeah, I'm not buying it.
So I went to Nvidia's own homepage to see if they still were updating my GT 330M drivers.
They were.
So, Nvidia is updating my graphic card drivers to be compatible for the Battlefield 3 Beta and Sony hasn't given a shit about it since March 2010?
Yeah....so I decided to download the Nvidia's drivers for my graphic card. The issues I had before (read green * above) was not present with their current updated driver. (driver type 280)
However, now Windows Media Player 10 did not work at all immediately when you opened a film. Youtube crashed immediately when you went to fullscreen. Ingame (like WoW) was missing graphics. However I never got BSOD's which was a relief.
So Sony's drivers were fucking my computer up. The new Nvidia ones were doing that aswell.
I decided to contact Sony Vaio's support and explained that "Sony Vaio had out-updated drivers so I downloaded Nvidia ones and they were fucking up."
Sony told me that since it's an OEM Windows OS I can't download Nvidia ones.
Now I'm not a genius in computers so I did not know that you can't download other graphic card drivers from any other place than Sony's program when you have an OEM Windows (thats what Sony told me).
So again, Sony drivers are fucking up. And I can't download the real Nvidia ones........yeah fuck it I'm calling Sony.
I talked with some swedish guy working for Sony Vaio Customer Support. And well, here is the conversation;
Calling Sony Vaio Support (Conversation)
Me: Yes Hi. I have a Sony Vaio laptop that I bought april 2009 and still using it today. I have an issue with my graphic card drivers. Apparently, you cannot install Nvidia's own drivers from their homepage is that correct?
Sony: Yes, that is correct.
Me: And your own drivers are very out-dated since March 2010.....any plans on updating them?
Sony: No, we have no intention of updating the model's graphic card you are currently using.
Me: You do know right that you need to update your drivers because technology and graphic is expanding every day?
Sony: Yes but because your model is old and because we haven't found any problems with our current drivers, we still have no intention of updating them.
Me: Old? I bought this laptop april 2009, it's almost 2½ years. And your last updated drivers were updated 11 months after I bought my computer. Are you saying that I could only use my laptop for 11 months? And about the issues, I've had those drivers crashing when I tried expanding the Windows Media Player 10 window and I've received BSOD's with "BAD_POOL_CALLER" several times which indicates something's wrong with the drivers.
Sony: Sorry but still have no plans of updating an old graphic card and about those issues are new to me. The drivers work as they are intended, or else there would be new drivers for your computer.
Me: If they were working as intended, I doubt Nvidia would still update the drivers. Your drivers are the type 187. Nvidia are up to 280. It sounds to me that you're the lazy ones. If Nvidia still is updating it, you should aswell.
Sony: Well, if you don't find the drivers pleasing you, you can always go buy a new copy of Windows 7 and install Nvidia's or have the current drivers.
Here's where I raged with an attitude
Me: Excuse me? Are you telling me that I'm only able to use my Sony Vaio computer for 11 months because you do not want to update your nvidia drivers. And then if it does not pleases me, you want me to spend 300 euros on a new damn copy of Windows? I bought this laptop for 1300 euros. I expect it to last several years. Without any working drivers, my computer is pretty much dead in the future.
I didn't sign any contract where it stood that I only could update my computer in a very limited short time (11 months). If Nvidia is still updating (repeated this several times) so should you. This model is not old and it's clearly built to play Battlefield 3 (its between minimum and recommended setup).
Sony: Sorry, but there is not much more we can tell you. I gave you the options. It's pretty much up to you to do whatever you want.
I said "Thank you for your help" with big sarcasm and hung up.
Summarizing my rage
Sony is refusing to update my computer which is 2½ years old. The last update was 11 months after I bought the computer.
I did not expect to use a computer which crash and BSOD and fuck up because it's drivers are out-dated. And I can't do anything about it since it's Sony OEM Windows. The only choice I have is to buy a new copy of Windows if I wanna update the drivers and Sony doesn't give a shit. They want me to spend more money on a new laptop or something.
This is NOT acceptable. You do not buy a computer for 1300 euros and then they shut down the update (WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ALL YEAH THEY DIDNT EVEN FREAKING INFORM ME THAT THEY WERE STOP UPDATING THE DRIVERS THEMSELVES) for my computer which I'm using both for socially surfing and gaming.
I've phoned the Customer Agency and explained everything in this post and they said it's really weird and unacceptable behaviour and that I should recall them this monday (since I was phoning them 5 minutes before they were closing).
Just wanted to inform you about this and that you should never trust Vaio computers, they'll screw you over.
Have any comment on this shit? Go ahead. I'm reporting/suing Sony to the Customer Agency for fucking me over like this.