The X505 works (fresh XP install) and is in very good condition. It operates completely silently (SSD). (Not sure if the batteries still hold a charge, though.)

I purchased the X505 from an importer of Japanese electronics; after finding the Japanese keyboard difficult to
use, I had Sony Service replace it with a US keyboard and install a 32GB Samsung SSD.

PCG-X505/P, US Keyboard, Pentium M, 512MB RAM, Original PCGA-BP505
Battery, AC Power Adapter. Reinitialized and zero’d 32GB SSD with a
fresh install of Microsoft Windows XP Professional (English) with VAIO
drivers and utilities.

32GB Samsung SSD (MCBOE32G8APR) (this is an ultra-thin SSD; a normal
SSD will not fit in the X505):
http://www.getpartsonline.com/mcboe32g8apr-0xa.html

Quantity 2, Original Toshiba MK2004GAL 20GB hard drives
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-MK2004GAL-internal-ATA-100-buffer/dp/B000LMH3IE

Sony DVD Drive PCGA-DVD1/A

Sony 3.5” Floppy Disk Drive PCGA-UFD1

Extra PCGA-BP505 Battery

Original accessories: USB Mouse, Wireless LAN PC Card, VGA and
Ethernet and Memory Stick Reader adapter/dongle, case for mouse and
VGA/Ethernet dongle, slim case for the X505, Japanese Windows XP
Recovery CDs (though an English version of XP is installed).

Original and unopened VAIO Micro-Fiber Cleaning Cloth

Original and unopened Sony VAIO Privacy Filter (PCGA-FL5)

All original manuals (in Japanese), English language service manual

Special screwdriver with tri-wing blade that fits the X505

Two spare mouse-stick caps

Original Japanese Keyboard

A picture is attached. Drop me a note if you are interested or would like more information or pictures. Willing to entertain any offers.

After much contemplation I have decided to sell my beloved VAIO X505/SP (the rare carbon fiber model). The SP model IMO this is the holy grail of the X505 series, due to the look of the carbon fiber throughout. It retailed for around $4000 when it first came out, and was the most expensive of the X505 series. I am a collector of VAIOs, and having owned the P, CP, and ZP models, the SP is still the most collectible and sought after due to its carbon fiber premium look. For a long time I couldn’t see myself ever selling such a beautiful machine, but life (and unfortunately the economy) changes and I think it’s time I let it go and hopefully someone can give it a good home as I have. I am thinking about selling it on eBay in the future, but I am going to try Craigslist first just to avoid the hassle of shipping and fees so that someone can get a good deal on this. If you are in or around the San Francisco Bay Area, please check out the details here:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/sys/2965846353.html

Feel free to make an offer.

Cheers everyone

Andrew

to leave my original sony battery ‘like new’, i mostly use two replacement batteries (2000mAh + 2200mAh).
they are a few years old and now running with low capacity (ca. 15 min running time), which - i think - is to be expected.

in the last weeks i ordered 2 new replacement batteries (2200mAh , ) from different suppliers.
both batteries didn’t work, showing the error code on led, impossible to charge them or even to power on the x505.

does anyone has made similar experiences ?

the strange thing is, that the new not working ‘error’ replacement ones look like the old replacement batteries (similar labels),
which work o.k. despite their low capacity.

i will now order and test a 2000mAh replacement battery (PSE Code : NSN017).
and i have discovered, that there is a new Denaq DQ-BP505-3 2400mAh battery out - but quite expensive shipping this to europe.

any suggestions, experiences or ratings are welcome.
a thank you in advance ....

michael

Please e-mail me at (jon (at) jonla.com) or PM me.

Thanks,
Jon

With Samsung SSD getting hard to find (last 32GB one I say on eBay was $300, some company wants $800(!) for 64GB version) I did some web searching and found two other options:

ZIF PATA SSD drive can be fitted to x505 as those Japanese sites prove (use translate.google.com):
http://www.mono-log.jp/archives/2008/09/x505_zero.php
http://weekly.ascii.jp/2008/07/post_65.html

The 48GB drive (no housing) is on sale on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220380592540

Guess other ZIF drives (with housing removed) should work too?

Anyone tried this?
any experience (speed tests) with Mitac, KingSpec or this one:

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=360143157185

Photoflash G-Monster 1.8” 50pin IDE should also fit:
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/j-dsolution/pf18t64g50ssdide/

This uses SDHC (6 of them?) internally, so with good quality.

If anyone is selling either one, I’d be happy to buy it.

Thanks.

Edit: I’ve managed to acquire those two parts. Please ignore.