Restoring Sony's first VAIO laptop!

Sony's PCG-505 looks like a pretty typical late-90s laptop at first glance. But it actually had a big impact on the computer industry -- you probably just didn't realize it.

Sources:
"Trend-Setting Ultraportable," PC Magazine, December 1, 1998.
"Mainstream Notebooks," PC Magazine, August 1999.

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[CenterMass]

I would totally watch a whole episode of you just going through talking about all the weird and interesting variations of Sony Vaios. Theres so many of them it would be an awesome run down.

[veitjacob]

Even today the Sony design is still modern more than 20 years after their introduction.

[philathomas]

I loved this model of Sony Vaio, had a friend who had one and I was so jealous. Honestly, was in awe how much Sony was able to pack in such a small space, which at the time was sorta unique. Plus, love case color palette .

[volvo]

3:51 i love when laptops used to have the small "sleep" batteries in them so you could put the laptop to sleep and change out the external battery for a fresh one.

[marshallgs]

I have a 505 as well.
Yours won't boot with the battery installed because your internal 7.2V NiMH pack has gone bad/flat. You can find replacement packs, and solder them in (the connector will probably be corroded on the motherboard). Once you do that, it will always boot OK with the "dead" battery pack installed.
Also, I've been able to rebuild those PCGA-BP51 batteries, without ANY cosmetic damage! Further, I've reverse engineered the BMS EEPROM inside them and installed higher-capacity 18650 cells and the laptop will happily charge and use the larger capacity. It is quite tricky to take them apart though.

[nullcntext]

Watching this is like being 18 again. All the support I used to do back in the day right here. This is tech ASMR man. Such good stuff.

[andybuck]

Truly a ridiculous process— classic vintage computer tinkering. Excellent work as always.

[HelloSwiftful]

I'm noticing more and more American Youtubers using metric. Thank you for that.

[coleeau]

Just a quick note, this isn't actually the first vaio laptop. The first of the 505 series was the Japan only pcg-505. Before that though, the first laptop from Sony was the pcg-707 and pcg-705, a much more standard sized laptop.

In addition, make sure you remove that cmos battery! 2 out of my 3 vaios from the late 90s have experienced battery leak damage from a similar battery, and 2 Toshiba laptops have experienced battery damage from the exact same type of battery.

[jwaire]

Your tenacity is very impressive. I miss Sony’s signature Vaio designs and purple color. 😊

[Markimark]

You got lucky you were able to restore that needle in the haystack Sony VIAO computer! Despite Sony’s efforts with proprietary components that make it hard to find replacement parts, it’s working!

[TheSpongeFreak]

Sony's ability to pack in such extensive I/O in cramped spaces was remarkable throughout their entire scope of products, I absolutely love it. Not to mention their visual consistency is some of the strongest in the business.

[OldMan_PJ]

My memory of Sony Vaio computers in 1997 was that they were the only computer sold that never came in for repair or upgrade since they were fully loaded although they had the price tag to match.

[templet]

Wow honestly mind blowing how slim and modern that design is considering its rocking Windows 98. Sony engineers were crazy in those days making not only super compact devices but also serviceable. We need more of this now-a-days

[lpyibm]

First of all, huge thanks to all archivers that uploads things generously. You guys are such a hero, and I hope myself and everyone could be like you.
The 390e can actually be without the disk/disc drivers by simply swapping that ultrabay fx into a plastic frame that weighs nothing..
well it's still a thickpad even so.
i wonder if ThinkPad 240 is thicker than the sony or not.

[colinstu]

Loved this era of VAIO laptop! up thru/including the PIIIs.

[allenmovies]

I miss Vaio computers. They were always so sleek and feature packed

[hoedenbesteller]

Oh yes baby, I was the proud owner of the PCG-N505X which we could purchase while working at Sony Netherlands... This was MAD! A real headturner, supernice gadget.

[kazinwho]

I'm glad I don't have retro PC/laptop nostalgia, because that process you underwent to get that VAIO working was ridiculous. Great video!

[joetheman]

I used to have the 17 inch version of that crazy purple VAIO desktop monitor in that Sony advertisement in the beginning of the video. It was a beautiful Trinitron display with built in speakers and a "subwoofer" in the base. Damn thing was almost $700.00 when it was new. Looking back I can't believe I paid that much for it regardless of how nice it was. Had it for close to 10 years but it died on me one day. Turned it on, it went pop and I threw it out. If I knew then what I know now I could have attempted a repair but I had neither the patients or skills back then.