Features

• Holds up to 10,000 songs
• Up to 12 hours continuous backup with rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery
• Innovative Click Wheel makes navigation easier
• Synchs up with your PC efforllessly with the included USB 2.0 and Firewire cables
• 1 year limited hardware warranty with 1 year toll-free 24x7x365 phone support

Features

• 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable

Reviews (196)

Small But Powerful
The iPod mini is built from the ground up as a portable device for people with fast-paced lives. It's small and lightweight physical dimensions are perfectly suited to be being placed in a pants or shirt pocket without being a burden.

But don't let its light weight fool you into thinking the iPod mini is a pushover. The 4GB hard drive (3.7 GB actual) can hold about 1,000 songs - enough to last almost three full days. The installed software includes four games; a calendar; a notepad; a contact database; a clock; backlight with timer; an alarm clock; and the abilities to customize the main menu; create playlists; and rate songs. All this is in addition to being able to be used as an external hard drive!

However, the most revolutionary aspect of the iPod mini (aside from it's size and weight) is its control interface. Incorporating the 'Menu', 'Pause/Play', 'Forward' and 'Back' buttons directly to the touch sensitive scroll wheel not only creates simplicity from a design standpoint, but form a user one as well. Accessing these controls is a breeze. Thankfully the touch wheel is designed well enough that accidental pressing of a control is unlikely to occur since you have to press down a bit to activate the button. I'd actually like to see the entire iPod line adopt this interface.

Some people complain that the iPod mini is only slightly cheaper than the 20 GB iPod and offers a lot less storage space. But what you loose in storage space you gain in portability. It is also important to consider that compared to other players of its size and weight, the iPod mini offers much more storage space, many more features, and a better music jukebox in iTunes 4.0.

I want to carry the most music I can in the smallest possible device that offers the best interface and features. For me, that device is unquestionably the iPod mini. If you have similar demands of a portable music device, the iPod mini is sure to become a permanent accessory to your lifestyle.

Small in Size not in Functionality
The iPod mini is built from the ground up as a portable device for people with fast-paced lives. It's small and lightweight physical dimensions are perfectly suited to be being placed in a pants or shirt pocket without being a burden.

But don't let its light weight fool you into thinking the iPod mini is a pushover. The 4GB hard drive (3.7 GB actual) can hold about 1,000 songs - enough to last almost three full days. The installed software includes four games; calendar; notepad; contact database; clock; backlight with timer; alarm clock; and the abilities to customize the main menu; create playlists; and rate songs. All this is in addition to being able to be used as an external hard drive.

However, the most revolutionary aspect of the iPod mini (aside from it's size and weight) is its control interface. Incorporating the 'Menu', 'Pause/Play', 'Forward' and 'Back' buttons directly to the touch sensitive scroll wheel not only creates simplicity from a design standpoint, but form a user one as well. Accessing these controls is a breeze. Thankfully the touch wheel is designed well enough that accidental pressing of a control is unlikely to occur since you have to press down a bit to activate the button. I'd actually like to see the entire iPod line adopt this interface.

Some people complain that the iPod mini is only slightly cheaper than the 20 GB iPod and offers a lot less storage space. But what you loose in storage space you gain in portability. It is also important to consider that compared to other players of its size and weight, the iPod mini offers much more storage space, many more features, and a better music jukebox in iTunes 4.0.

I want to carry the most music I can in the smallest possible device that offers the best interface and features. For me, that device is unquestionably the iPod mini. If you have similar demands of a portable music device, the iPod mini is sure to become a permanent accessory to your lifestyle.

SO CuTE
The funny thing is some people waited for over 3 months to get their mini ipod's, 5 days before christmas my mom went to target to get started on her christmas shopping, and she got the last blue one! The mini ipod is the cuttest thing i have ever gotten in my life, and one of the best gifts! my sister who has a dell music player and for the same price got 9,000 songs laughed at me! grated dell has a better deal, but who really needs 9,000 songs? the mini ipod is light weight so when i go running or i am working out i can't even feel it. although the battery life isn't what it says to be the ipod is still wonderful!

Amazing!
I got my pink ipod mini about a week ago as sort of a pre-Christmas present. Anyway I love it. With the itunes cards which target also sells it is really easy to download music. I would like to suggest that anyone who does get a ipod mini should get an ipod dock, not a mini ipod dock. The mini ipod's are not plastic on the outside like the regular ipods. The ipod mini's have a brushed metal outer case and if you use the ipod mini with the ipod mini dock, your beautiful new ipod will get all scratched up on the front. I hope this helps anyone thinking of buying one of the ipods or mini ipods.

Mini Ipod..definately worth it.
When I first saw the mini Ipods i feel in love with the different colors. I decided to ask for one for my birthday, I got it. I have fallen in love with it. At first I wanted a regular Ipod, but the regular ones hold a TON of music, and since I get bored with songs easily, having a smaller one would make more sense considering my CD collection is quite small since I usually just listen to music on the computer. And when you think about, 1,000 songs.. that is A LOT of songs. You can also just delete the songs you don't want anymore and put new ones on it.

I must say me being a 14-year old girl and being absolutely obsessed with the color pink also persuaded me in asking for a pink mini Ipod. White is just boring.. to me that is. This review probably isn't very helpful, but mini Ipod all the way. ... Read more

Features

• Genuine HP quality ink
• 2 black ink cartridges
• 84 ml ink volume, 42 ml per cartridge
• Pigment-based formula for denser fade-resistant results
• Simple to install

Amazon.com Product Description

Taking DVD and home-video entertainment to new heights, the Toshiba RD-XS52 combines a topnotch DVD player with a DVD-R/DVD-RAM optical-media recorder and a hard-disk drive (HDD) with a stunning storage capacity of 160 GB. Whether you're watching the latest DVD movie releases in your home theater, recording your favorite TV programming, or archiving home movies and other videos to long-lasting DVD, the RD-XS52 is your ticket to world-class entertainment. And did we mention that the unit spins your homemade CDs filled with JPEG image files or MP3 and WMA music tracks?

The RD-XS52's HDD lets you store around 135 hours of audio/video programming, ample room for time-shifting your viewing and keeping a fair amount of "must-watch-soon" content at the ready. Imagine the contents of a fleet of 30 VHS tapes, all recorded in 6-hour/EP mode, available at once and with easy navigation, no fast-forwarding or rewinding, and in much higher resolution.

When you have programs you decide you want to keep, just offload them to DVD. Archiving is lickety-split: 24x normal speed when transferring from the HDD to a write-once DVD-R and 12x when burning to DVD-RAM. Time Slip recording/playback lets you begin watching a recording that's already in progress or pause a live recording and return to it later.

The EASY NAVI menu's user-friendly preview screen instantly gives you access to the recorder's key features and can be used to preview and access your content.

The RD-XS52 is also one of the first DVD recorders to offer an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) with upconversion capability from standard 480i resolution to high-definition 720p or 1080i--perfect for viewing your DVDs, camcorder footage, and television programs on a high-definition-equipped TV, now or in the future. HDMI provides a single-cable digital connection for the highest-quality interface between the DVD player and a compatible television, maintaining the digital audio and video signals until they reach the monitor. Other picture enhancements include 3D digital noise reduction (DNR), mosquito DNR, and block DNR.

Front-panel inputs accommodate VCRs and camcorders, including digital camcorders through an IEEE 1394/DV input. The digital-video input even includes controls for your camcorder to simplify the process of selecting and transferring the scenes you want. Other inputs include 3 each of composite- and S-video (1 each on the front panel) and an RF/antenna input on the rear panel.

For DVD recordings, you can create virtual titles on the hard drive--including menus and chapters with thumbnail images--then burn your programming to DVDs with high-quality MPEG-2 encoding (the DVD-Video standard). A convenient library function maintains an inventory of all your recorded content by disc or title so you can sort by date, time, or genre.

The RD-XS52offers broad flexibility, with both a hard drive that holds up to 135 hours of programming and the ability to record to DVD-RAM and DVD-R.

The RD-XS52 offers the flexibility of recording on DVD-RAM--perfect for instant chapter access and for multiple rerecordings--as well as on DVD-R, one of the most widely compatible DVD formats (great for sharing camcorder footage with loved ones). DVD-RAM offers double-sided recording (9.4 GB total storage), and the format is rewriteable, too.

Advanced timer programming lets you use the unit like you would a VCR, specifying a time and channel for recording, and built-in Gemstar VCR+ C3 greatly simplifies this. Significantly, this model gives you the option of recording audio in higher resolution than the MP3-like Dolby Digital 2.0. Choose from 3 separate formats, depending upon your desired quality and available disc space: Dolby Digital 1 (192 kbps), Dolby Digital 2 (384 kbps), and linear PCM (1,546 kbps).

For playback, ColorStream Pro progressive-scan component-video outputs (switchable between 480p and standard 480i) provide great color detail and high purity when connected to compatible televisions. The unit also has standard composite- and S-video outputs, with an RF coaxial output for passing tuner signals to an external device such as a VCR (the RF output does not pass a DVD or HDD signal). Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio output (Toslink optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

TheRD-XS52 records to two DVD types:

	DVD-RAM The most flexible of the recordable DVD formats when it comes to recording, editing, and playback. Even more, you can rerecord content approximately 100,000 times.
	DVD-R A write-once format perfect for sharing treasured video moments with virtually anyone who has a DVD-Video player.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder, DVD-RAM,audio/video interconnects, a universal remote control with television control capability, remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty information.

... Read more

Features

• DVD player with built-in 160 GB hard-disk drive (HDD) with DVR functionality--up to 135 hours of recording (in LP mode)
• Performs DVD-R and DVD-RAM recording; 32x transfer from HDD to DVD-R, 24x transfer from HDD to DVD-RAM
• Offers HDMI direct digital connection with an HD-ready TV, as well as ColorStream component-video, S-video, and composite-video outputs
• Plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, music CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs; offers scalable digital-audio recording (Dolby Digital or linear PCM)
• Measures 16.9 x 3 x 12.6 inches

Amazon.com Product Description

Video and audio buffs rejoice: Sony's 5-disc, DVP-NC875V/B changer handles all your DVD, CD, and Super Audio CD (SACD) needs--including playback of MP3 music and JPEG image CDs. The player gives you all the convenience of a carousel changer--continuous playback, play exchange--as well progressive-scan video outputs with Precision Cinema Progressive technology and cool enhancements like Sony's Precision Drive 3 system for playing damaged discs.

The DVP-NC875V/B plays just about any disc out there, from DVD-Video to DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW. And whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the DVP-NC875V/B stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs through Sony's Precision Cinema Progressive de-interlacer (scanning) with 3:2 pulldown processing. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

Precision Cinema Progressive technology uses a 12-bit video DAC (digital-to-analog converter) with high-bandwidth, 108 MHz processing to detect image changes at the pixel level, rather than at the level of whole scan lines. That makes this player's picture more faithful to the source--whether film or video--because it uses separate, optimized algorithms to handle different pixel behaviors. Separate algorithms are also used to process the moving and still parts of an image, resulting in sharp backgrounds with moving objects that are free from motion artifacts.

DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 reverse pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture. Composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television.

Depending on the disc, SACD music releases provide super high-fidelity multichannel and/or stereo sound. As an anti-piracy measure, the DVP-NC875V/B performs its own decoding of SACD signals, passing high-resolution analog, not digital, audio to your integrated amplifier or surround receiver. This means you'll need an audio/video receiver with multichannel analog-audio inputs to appreciate multichannel SACD releases. Built-in SACD bass management helps you tailor the output level of the ".1" LFE (low-frequency effects) channel to your system, as an appropriate level may differ from the output level appropriate for Dolby Digital and DTS surround mixes.

If you're not planning to use the SACD capability for multichannel programming, both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can also be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (1 each RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for simpler connection to a compatible receiver (multichannel analog and digital-audio interconnects are not supplied).

Precision Drive 3 provides a mechanism for reading DVDs that are in less than perfect condition, eliminating errors in playback due to imperfect, scratched, or warped discs.

As soon as you hook up the DVD player, a special Quick Setup screen appears ready to guide you through configuration, step by step, screen by screen. DVD resume memory kicks in whenever you stop a DVD. Later, when you come back to it, the player will pick up right where you left off before. The player holds resume points for an impressive 40 discs.

Other playback features include 10-second instant replay, DVD/CD Text display (with applicable discs), a digital video enhancer, digital video EQ (equalization), custom parental control memory for 40 discs, as well as Advanced SmoothScan and SmoothSlow Modes.

What's in the Box
DVD player, remote control, 2 AA remote batteries, a stereo analog audio/composite-video interconnect, a user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• 5-disc carousel DVD changer with playback support for DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, stereo/multichannel SACD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD, and JPEG CD
• Precision Cinema Progressive video output renders seamless, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs
• Precision Drive 3 with Dynamic Tilt Compensation improves readability of damaged discs
• 12-bit video DAC with 108 MHz processing for pristine video (through component-video, S-video, and composite-video outputs)
• Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel digital surround decoding and output (for use with compatible AV receivers and speaker systems)

Product Description

SONY NH-AAAB4E, RECHARGEABLE AAA NIMH BATTERIES ... Read more

Features

• 900mAh
• Ideal for digital products
• High capacity -- lasts 3 times longer than alkaline
• Designed for use with Sony’s advanced power charge
• 4 Pack

Amazon.com Product Description

Spin your commercial CDs, your homemade music CDs of almost any stripe with Sony's versatile, full-circle D-NS505 S2 Sports-styled Walkman portable CD player. Designed for rugged outdoor use, the player features active control playback operation so you can make changes to your program literally while you're on the run. Sony's "h.ear" clip-on headphones are designed for streamlined comfort.

Skip-Free G-Protection technology boosts the laser pickup's shock protection to minimize read errors that would otherwise interrupt your music, providing quick recovery from both horizontal and vertical shocks. The D-NS505's water-resistant body and heat-resistant lid helps protect it against the elements, with rubber gaskets, bushings, and splash-resistant seals that help keep out water, moisture, and dirt.

Playback options include 32-track programming, repeat (track, disc, or program), random play, and--thanks to Sony's great work in DSP efficiency--more than 75 hours of ATRAC3plus CD or more than 50 hours of audio CD playback from 2 AA batteries (not included).

The D-NS505's 2-line dot-matrix display is built right into its handstrap, offering full ID3 tag recognition, and bookmark playback (which lets you program your favorite songs from multiple CDs and play them back at the touch of a button). CD Text support displays artist and title information with compatible commercial audio CDs.

The player comes bundled with Sony's SonicStage CD Simple Burner software. Compatible with ID3 tagging and most CD burners, this application transfers songs from CDs or MP3 music files from your PC's hard drive and burns them to recordable CDs using ATRAC3plus compression.

ATRAC3plus is a high-quality audio-compression technology that reduces the size of digital audio files while preserving much of a track's original sound quality (similar in concept to MP3 or Dolby Digital sound formats). With ATRAC3plus, music can be burned and compressed at 132, 105, 66, 64, or even 48 kbps (kilobits per second), letting you select the right balance between fidelity and storage space (you'll get around 490 songs per disc at 48 kbps).

Digital Mega Bass Sound boosts your music's low end without high clarity and low distortion, and there's also a built-in equalizer with 3 preset curves and 1 customizable setting. Sony's automatic volume limiter system (AVLS) conserves batteries--and guards your hearing--by capping your listening level at either of two settings. You can hook the player up with your home system through an optional analog stereo "Y" interconnect.

The player also works with an optional AC/DC 4.5V power adapter (AC-E45HG or -E45A).

What's in the Box
CD player, ear clip-on stereo headphones, CD-ROM (SonicStage software), a user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• Portable S2 Sports CD player compatible with MP3 files and Sony's ATRAC3plus compression technology; 2-line display with ID3 tag recognition
• 2-line dot-matrix display built into the handstrap offers full ID3 tag recognition, and bookmark playback
• Includes SonicStage CD Simple Burner software to facilitate ATRAC3plus CD burning from MP3 files and from other CDs
• Skip-free G-Protection technology eliminates or reduces skipping; active control playback operation simplifies active use
• More than 75 hours extended playback with 2 AA batteries (not included) for ATRAC recordings and over 50 hours continuous audio CD playback

Features

• Add special effects, transitions, titles, and music to your home movies for Hollywood-style results
• Zoom, rotate, and pan across photos to create dynamic slideshows
• Make your own DVDs complete with multiple menus, buttons, and links
• Commemorate special events such as weddings and anniversaries
• Create exciting, professional-looking business presentations

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's amazingly powerful and affordable STR-DE897 delivers rich, clear sound for your movies and music--from the latest surround-sound movie formats to the latest high-resolution audio sources. The receiver pumps out 110 watts per channel across 7 main channels (left, right, center, left/right mid surround, and left/right rear surround) and has a dedicated subwoofer output for an eighth (the ".1" low-frequency effects channel). The receiver performs everything from Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES/Neo:6 surround decoding to Dolby Pro Logic II processing (creating 5.1 channels from 2), also offering 5.1/7.1-channel analog inputs to handle music from Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio.

You get conveniences, too, like multi-room outputs that come with independent source switching, so you can listen to a DVD in the living room while someone else is listening to a CD in the kitchen. The supplied Remote Commander remote control comes preprogrammed for a range of devices, and it also learns new commands and has the ability to perform limited macro commands.

The receiver includes an FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and a host of video inputs--5 composite-video, 3 S-video, and 2 component-video--to simplify switching between components and your television. The component-video inputs accommodate wide-bandwidth (80 MHz) high-definition signals and work well with 480p signals such as those from progressive-scan DVD players, while composite-video inputs are upconverted to S-video quality. A set of front-panel audio/video inputs includes an optical digital-audio input and facilitates spontaneous hookups with camcorders, gaming consoles, MP3 players, and minidisc player/recorders.

There's even a phono input for your once or future turntable--yes, they still make 'em and, yes, your vinyl will sound as good or better than ever. The unit's 3 stereo and 1 set of multichannel analog audio inputs simplify hookup of, for instance, a cassette deck, a VCR, and a high-resolution audio device that decodes formats like SACD and DVD-Audio. A total of 6 assignable digital-audio inputs (4 optical and 2 coaxial) accept bitstream feeds from DVD players, CD players, and other digital devices, while a single optical digital-audio out channels sound to a CD or minidisc recorder.

Digital Cinema Sound System is a group of exclusive Sony algorithms (the receiver offers 13 total) that represent a total re-thinking of home theater sound based on careful measurements of movie-production dubbing stages in Hollywood. Cinema Studio EX modes offer greater apparent distance from listener to screen and a full array of 10 additional virtual surround speakers.

Sound Field Link applies the last-selected sound field to an input whenever you select the input. For example, if you select STADIUM for the CD input, change to a different input, then return to CD, the receiver will automatically apply the STADIUM sound field.

Finally, Auto Channel Grouping helps integrate 5.1- and 6.1-channel programs with your 7.1-channel system. When a 5.1-channel mix is present, Auto Channel Grouping will route the discrete information for surround left/right directly to surround left/right outputs while adding a new surround back left/right channel. When 6.1-channel mix is detected, Auto Channel Grouping will route the discrete information for surround left/right directly to surround left/right output while the sixth channel is duplicated by both surround back channels (left/right).

What's in the Box
Receiver, remote control (model RM-PG413), remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty/registration information. ... Read more

Features

• 7.1-channel audio/video surround receiver with 30 radio presets, HD video switching, and 110 watts per channel x 7
• Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES/Neo:6, and Dolby Pro Logic II surround processing for lifelike, exciting audio from any source
• 7.1-/5.1-channel analog audio inputs accommodate high-resolution multichannel formats like SACD and DVD-Audio
• 6 digital-audio inputs, 1 digital output; includes phono input for turntable and preprogrammed/learning Remote Commander remote control
• Measures 16.9 x 6.2 x 14.6 inches (W x H x D)

Product Description

Experience the new design of CD Radio Cassette Recorders with the CFD-S350SILVER. The Wide Convex Speakers provide a wider sound range for fuller sound stage. The all new Chassis Design gives the recorder a whole new look and feel with an updated front panel. For great sound, the CFD-S350SILVER has a Mega Bass Sound System providing rich, deep bass tones. Pre-program and playback up to 20 tracks on a CD in any order with the RMS Programming feature. Listen to CDs, Radio, or Cassettes at their best with the CFD-S350SILVER CD Radio Cassette Recorder. Clear Display for Easy Reading and Control: Large easy-to-read display makes track identification easy from any angle. 10-Key Remote Commander Remote Control: Provides convenient, one-button access to preset AM/FM stations or tracks of CD player. All New Chassis Design: Represents high quality and power with a new look in portable entertainment with an updated front panel. Digital AM/FM Stereo Tuner: Provides the most accurate drift-free tuning of AM and FM radio stations and lets you choose from the wide variety of talk shows and music programs, with the added enjoyment of stereo sound. Slim Remote Control: Gives convenient remote access to Function, CD operation, Radio operation and Volume control. Wide Convex Speakers: New speaker design allows the sound to be dispersed over a wider area for a fuller sound stage. Mega Bass Sound System: Produces rich, deep, bass tones for more powerful overall sound. CD-R/RW Playback Compatibility1: Plays all CD-R/RW discs burned either in a PC or a home recording deck. Create custom mixes from your existing music collection and always have the right music at hand. 20 Track RMS Programming: Can pre-program up to 20 tracks on a CD to play back in any order. CD Play Modes (Program/Shuffle/Repeat) : Lets you hear tracks in multiple modes; in sequence as recorded, in program (RMS) order, all tr ... Read more

Features

• Includes slim 10-key remote control; measures 16.3 x 6.45 x 10.12 inches (W x H x D)
• Portable boombox with CD player, cassette deck, and digital AM/FM tuner
• Compatible with audio CD, CD-R, and CD-RW formats
• Wide Stage convex speakers provide rich bass and crisp highs
• 20-track programming, shuffle and repeat modes, and synchro CD/cassette dubbing

Reviews (2)

Mega Bass doesn't make a difference
I had my old Sony Boombox for 11 years & it finally gave out.I saw this one; it looked nice and had all the same basics as my old one.I needed a simple player & this one fit the bill.Many others look too "space age" to me.

When I got it, I put in a CD and it didn't sound like it had much bass.I turned on the Mega Bass & it didn't sound any different.At least with my old Sony you could tell when the Mega Bass was on.Because of the lack of bass I think it's an OK player.

I took my children to a local play gym/arcade, and they had the Sony CFD-F10 there.It sounded great!Sad to say, it makes me wish I did a little more comparing, the extra $10-$15 dollars seems worth it.

Excellent Item
I found this to be of very high quality. The bass is too good and sound clarity is very good too. ... Read more

Features

• 8-megapixel 4-color Super HAD CCD captures enough detail to make 22x16-inch prints
• 7x optical zoom with a Carl Zeiss T* lens system(28 - 200mm, 35mm equivalent); 14x precision digital zoom
• Captures images in both raw and TIFF modes; MPEG movie; advanced accessory shoe
• Stores images on either Sony Memory Stick media or Microdrive
• Powered by InfoLithium M battery (included with AC adapter/in-camera charger)

Reviews (62)

If it sounds too good to be true...........It probably is!
Being a dedicated fan of Sony Digital cameras for the past 6 years, I was dying to get my hands on the new DSC-F828. From all of the specs. I read prior to it's release I was pummped to go online and buy this camera. In fact as soon as they hit the site I bought one!!!! I could'nt wait for it to be delivered the next day and start reading about it and using it over the Christmas holiday vacation week. Much to my surprise I was very disapointed with some classic action shots I took during my ski trip. The white background of the snowy mountains with the sun reflecting off the snow generated the most hideous looking purple flares accross the photo. When I went to read the reviews at all of the well respected Digital Photo websites I quickly found out I was not alone in my observations. Plus I learned that the defects were running deeper than I thought possible.

To be fair the camera is extremely well built and very user friendly. I does take very good pictures. But just don't expect to use it in backlit or bright areas. I wanted so badly to keep this camera and over look the problems. But I did'nt want to be part of a cruel joke that Sony was trying to pull on it's loyal customer base.

Bottom line, I sent it back and received a refund. Sony definitely rushed this bad boy to market way to quickly. Be very carful and do your home work before [buying] this camera. There are several better alternatives available for the same or less $$$.

Not one of the best, THE best digital camera to date
I have owned the DSC-505, DSC-505V, F707 and F717. I also have the Contax TVS digital, a Sony DSC-V1 and a Nikon D100. I don't know what the reviewers who mention the purple fringing and high noise are talking about. I have done very in depth comparisons with the Contax, the D100 and the old F717 and see nothing but brilliant performance! I spent the holidays at the Grand Canyon and shot several GB's worth on the F828 and the results are nothing short of AMAZING. I have even printed some 42" x 60" posters on our HP DJ800ps plotter which look so good that friends are constantly asking for copies for themselves. The manual 7x zoom is a HUGE improvement over the 5x electronic zoom of the f717. Of course the quality of the Zeiss T lens is nothing short of extraordinary. The fact that the camera can use CF cards as well as the MS is also quite a step forward for Sony. The build quality is first rate. One cannot possibly go wrong with this camera. Take my advice and consider the negative reviews as nothing more than sour grapes (probably from folks who can't afford the upgrade and don't want to see others who can have such a fantastic tool)! This camera is so impressive I bought a second one for the family!
But don't take my word for it check out images taken with the f828 (Steve's Digicam site has quite a few) and see for yourself what nonsense some of these reviewers are spewing.

I love it =)
I was apprehensive about this camera due to the talk of purple and other 'problems'. I've been using this camera now (july) since May and I've not had any weirdness or problems.
I was close to buying the Rebel-- but I went with the sony---
1. I now use this camera for video & stills-- No juggling two camera-- which is impossible anyway being a mom with 2 kids! result is that I'm taking way more video and more pictures than previously
2. great quality. i do blow up pictures and I needed the 8mp-- I do use the 5mp setting mostly
3. the macro is just awesome. i've taken some great close up pictures with this camera
4. I love the way I can combine media and flip between compact flash and sony stick.

soo-- no problems here =)

HIGH TECH. AT REASONABLE PRICE!!!
I have owened this camera for approx.one month and have taken at least 250 shots +. The only bad photos out of the bunch were due non- auto program and my own incompetance. There is some noise factor @ 800 ISO but is easily corrected with "Neat Image ".
Purple fringing DOES NOT exist on this camera. I have blown up 8 1/2 X 11 pictures and zoomed to the max and saw nothing. I believe Sony corrected the problem with firmware early on, but, the myth goes on.

THIS IS A GREAT CAMERA
I BOUGHT THE SONY DSCF707 AND WAS VERY PLEASED WITH ITS PERFORMANCE. I BOUGHT THE DSCF828 TO UPGRADE TO A 8 MEGA PIXEL CAMERA. THE 828 IS A GREAT CAMERA. IT HAS NOT FAILED ME ONCE. IT HAS MANY GOOD FEATURES AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE 28-200 LENS. I REALLY LIKE HAVING A WIDER ANGLE LENS FOR TAKING PICTURES IN CRAMPED SPACES. THE OTHER IS THE CAPABILITY TO TAKE PHOTOS AT ISO 64. I LEAVE THE CAMERA AT THIS SETTING AND ADJUST THE EV TO GET THE LIGHT I NEED TO TAKE A GOOD PHOTO. I HAVE TAKEN NATURE, PORTRAIT, AND FAMILY PICTURES WITH THIS CAMERA AND THE PHOTOS SHOW DEEP RICH COLORS WITH FINE GRAIN. THE ONLY REASON I DID NOT GIVE IT 5 STARS IS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE AUTO ZOOM. I HAVE HAD NO PURPLE FRINGING. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SHOOT INTO THE SUN YOU WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PURPLE FRINGING EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU BUY IT, YOU WON'T BE SORRY, YOU'LL BE PLEASED. ... Read more

Product Description

Memory Stick® USB Reader/Writer MSAC-US30With a sleek new design, this adapter can be used for reading and writing to and from your Memory Stick® media and Memory Stick Duo media (without a Duo adapter) via USB port.It is an ideal addition for anyone interested in lightning fast transfers of up to 480 Mbps for your images, sounds, data and text. Also includes a 1-meter cable for desktop operation, and even has MagicGate Memory Stick media compatibility. ... Read more

Features

• Transfers data at speeds up to 480Mb per second
• Lightweight and compact
• Memory Stick USB Adapter
• Easily access Memory Stick media and Memory Stick Duo media
• Connects via high speed USB 2.0 interface

Reviews (2)

Compatible with all MS cards; nice to have for PSP
I bought the MSAC-US30 Memory Stick reader because it's the one specified in the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) manual.It's the only reader that's completely compatible with all Memory Stick and Memory Stick Duo media.

The term "Memory Stick" by itself refers to the original Memory Stick flash memory card made by Sony (and a handful other manufacturers like Lexar, Sandisk and TDK)."Memory Stick Duo" is the second generation of Memory Stick, and it's much smaller than the original Memory Stick.Within each generation (MS and MS Duo), there's the standard media and the "PRO" media, which has faster speeds and is better suited for high-speed video devices, i.e., most of us (including PSP owners) don't need the PRO line of MS or MS Duo.To further complicate things, some Memory Sticks (original or Duo) feature the so-called MagicGate technology, which is a copy-protection scheme used only by Sony.

Ok, so this reader is the only one that can read all these Sony-proprietary Memory Stick formats.(The only other USB reader I know of that can read Memory Stick Duo is the Sandisk 12-in-1 reader, but that one has poor quality, slow speed and is not MagicGate compatible.)Which Memory Stick should you get?Here's my take:

1) If you plan to store Sony's ATRAC3 or ATRAC3Plus encoded music files (i.e., those ripped from CDs using Sony's SonicStage software, or those bought at Sony's Connect Music Store), you must use a MagicGate Memory Stick.

2) If you plan to use flash memory in the latest Sony camcorders or the Playstation Portable (PSP), you must buy a Memory Stick Duo card.(Think of MS Duo as Sony's answer to Secure Digital, whereas the original-sized MS competes with CompactFlash.)

3) If you use something that requires high-speed access (e.g., certain Sony digital cameras and camcorders), you should get a Memory Stick or Memory Stick Duo that's PRO-designated.

I know this is all very confusing, and it took me a while to figure out.In fact, the story doesn't end here; users of older Memory Stick cards know some of them used two separate memory chips inside a singular MS card.Anyway, e-mail me gadgester @t hotmail if you have any questions.

Great Idea!
Ok, so I go into Best Buy to buy this thing which I bought for my son and have no idea what it does. So when I get it home, he takes his Memory Stick from his camera and sricks it into the reader. He has to do a project for school so he saves his project onto the stick, takes it to school, prints it out, and he gets it. Good idea if you don't want to spend huge $$$ for flash drives. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This stylish and versatile player lets you store up to 45 hours ofdigital music and bring it with you on a single, skip-free, 1 GB Hi-MDMiniDisc. The Walkman is compatible with MP3, WMA, WAV, and ATRAC3 audio and ATRAC3plus audio formats, and when you want to record, theUSB connection delivers burn rates at up to 100x for your MP3s and CDs. A handy Jog Dial provideseasy navigation, and Music Management software lets you group your tunes and customize yourplaying environment.

The player's 3-line LCD display provides album, artist and song titleinformation on a clean, single screen. You can even store data from your computer, such as documentsand presentations, on this player via its USB interface. The player comes with headphones, but notthe single AA battery, which you'll need to take the device away from your computer.

NOTE: The MZNH600D's recording features and bundled software arenot compatible with the Mac OS operating system.

What's in the Box:
Sony MZNH600D Hi-MD Mini Disc Walkman, headphones, SonicStage software CD-ROM with MD simple burner application, USB cable ... Read more

Features

• Store 45 hours of music on a Hi-MD MiniDisc
• Record your MP3s or CDs at up to 100x speed
• Skip-Free G-Protection technology
• Easy jog dial navigation

• Reviews (6)

  very good sony!
  i bought this player a few days ago and it is awesome. i curently already had sonic stage 2.0 version on my computer and over 3,000 songs in my library. all i had to do is install the new software so that my hi md player would be recognized by the 2.0 software. it was very simple to do. then i just started transfering all the music that i wanted onto the 1gb mini disc. i did not finish cuz the storage is enormous. so then i just went on and played the song that were in it already. you can always go back and transfer more if you want to or try to fill the disc in one day if you have the time. the only thing is where do i go to buy more blank 1gb minidiscs? sony.com has them for $6.99 a piece but they do not ship to p.o. boxes. so for now i can use the 80 min minidiscs which can store 13.5 hours of music which is incredible cuz the other minidiscs players can only hold 5 hours and the sound is not as good as the hi-md player is a lot better. if you are looking for something not too expensive and do not want to be limited to memory card players or skipping hard drive players, go with this sony. you wont regret it!

  Simply Amazing
  Very easy to use, works great, nice small package that is light and easy to take with you while working out or whatever. Easy to navigate, nice to have the 1GB storage, and is backwards with the cheaper smaller MD. Big thimbs up!

  Buy it
  This is a fantastic device. I love the fact that you can transfer music from your cd right onto the MD player without converting it to an MP3 (or similar file) first. Not to mention that Sony's proprietary ATRAC files have been proven to sound better than MP3s that take up more memory. The transfer rate is actually suprisingly fast. 1GB of disk space is more than enough to fill your head with tons of songs. Not to mention that the player is infinitely expandable since you CAN buy more disks. I bought this player on June 31st 2004 and was able to buy extra 1GB disks right from www.sony.com (no problem with availability either... and they shipped it to me overnight for the same cost as ground shipping). So ignore the hype about availability or lack there of and dive on in on machine. You won't regret it.

  Good but Pointless
  This is a great player. Its compact and well designed. Sounds loud enough through headphones, and the menus are easy to use. Single battery lasts more than 25 hours and it uses computer power while downloading. The player comes with a 1GB disc which hold up to 45 hours of music. Sony seems to think 1 disc is all you'll ever need. There is no point in buying this player because 1GB discs are NOT available and Sony doesnt bother to say when they will be. All they say is that one comes with the player.
  Also note that you cant be in a hurry with this player - it can take about 12 hours of downloading from your computer to fill the disc with music.

  Awesome player AND portable drive
  The player is on par with Sony's excellent track of Minidisc players. The new 1 Gig discs are awesome! They can take up to 45 hours of music. 7 hours if you are using the best quality.

  The player increases the capacity of regular 5 hour Minidiscs to 13 hours! So you can more than double the capacity of your old dics.

  Battery life is awesome. 30 hours or so with HD discs and 50 with older ones.

  Best part for me, the player can be used as a portable drive! Only using HD media, you plug the player to your PC using the USB cable, and voila! You have a 1GB drive ready to use without installing any drivers! Just works! Best part, no adapter needed for the player when it's connected. The player takes power from the USB cable and does not use your battery while connected to the PC.

  Overall, this player is awesome! I love it! Go get one :) ... Read more

Product Description

Easily share multi-function productivity using built-in networking.

The HP Officejet 7210 All-in-One Printer, Fax, Scanner, Copier has the advantages you need to put more speed, versatility and color into your business communications. Make a professional impression with color printing up to 4800-optimized dpi and laser-quality black text, or add 6-ink color for photos with finer detail. Print and copy with breakthrough performance up to 30 ppm black and 20 ppm color, and boost your productivity with built-in networking for print, fax, copy, scan and memory card sharing with multiple PCs. Enhanced paper-handling with a 50-page auto document feeder and optional automatic duplexer. Enjoy precision copying, powerful black and color faxing, outstanding 2400 x 4800-dpi optical resolution scans, plus printing photos without a PC using memory card slots, an HP Photo Proof Sheet or front USB with PictBridge-enabled cameras. Then organize, enhance and fix digital photos with HP Image Zone Software, andand print long-lasting photos that resist fading for generations.

... Read more

Features

• Built-in 802.3 Ethernet, USB, and PictBridge interfaces; PC and Mac compatible
• Produces color prints, copies, scans, and faxes
• Up to 30 ppm print speed, up to 4,800 x 1,200 dpi resolution
• Up to 30 cpm black, 20 cpm color; reduces and enlarges 25 to 400%
• 2,400 x 4,800 dpi scan resolution, 48-bit color

Reviews (1)

great product (once installed)
This printer is realy great, had problems with windows install for complete install,HP techies walked me thru proceedures and in the end everything workes great ... Read more

Product Description

Sony (Personal Audio) (MZ-RH10) Mini Disc Walkman Digital Musi ... Read more

Features

• USB connectivity for 100x, high-speed file copying
• Skip-Free G-Protection technology for uninterrupted playback
• Six-line EL (organic electroluminescence) screen for data display
• Huge song and data storage capacity with one GB Hi-MD disc
• Excellent recording and digitizing capabilities with mic input and line-in jack

Reviews (2)

HI-MD...
A couple negative things: if you use manual recording levels frequently.. it won't remember your settings once you power it off. That is a kind of stupid oversight but in most cases, manual recording isn't really needed. Secondly, I don't get sony's need for you to have to push 2 buttons to activate record mode.. My old Sharp MD would automatically go into rec standby after you pushed the record button.. the mz-rh10 immediately starts recording.. you have to push play + record + pause if you want to go into standby. What is up with that Sony?
As a player, I love it. The display really is perfect.. very clear, very bright. Navigation is easy with the roller button and makes editing quick and painless. As a data storage unit it's great. Just plug it in and instantly it's recognised as a removable drive.. plug and play simplicity AND it's powered by the USB port so even if you're out of juice it'll work for you.
The sound is perfect and it has an EQ that allows you to save presets if you are looking for something specific soundwise.
So although the negatives may seem like big deals, they really aren't. It's Hi Def digital amp comes through with beautiful sounding recordings, it's awesome looking, and it's fast.. so I personally feel like the positives outweigh the negatives.

Finally Sony has an IPOD Killer
I have always liked Sony's Minidisc format. Convenient and easily organized into collections. When my old one got stolen I looked at all the MP3s, IPODS etc, but all seem to have deficits- I dont need 4 million songs (are there 4 million songs?) The other big problem for my aging eyes are the displays. Too hard to read- but this display is Lucious!!! And despite other complaints the Sonic Stage 3.0 works fine (you just have to restart your computer 2 or 3 times during the install) You slap in the cd- it goes to the web and gets all the album info and diplays it in Electro Luminescent Splendor. Sound quality on highest quailty WAV is excellent, the compressed ATRAC 3 is less so, but I did get 45 songs on a 1 gig disk and still had 1/2 he disk free!!! The wav format is about 13-14 songs on 1 disk- to me the quality is worth it. This unit rocks!!! Get good head phones. Also the removeable rechargeable battery (hear that Apple?) is excellent with a backup power attachment that uses 1 AA battery so you are never stuck. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The HP DeskJet 6540 color inkjet printer offers versatile performance and connectivity and a sleek-looking low-profile design. Get fast 30 ppm black printing or up to 20 ppm in color or sharp resolutions that are fine enough even for detailed photos.

The 6540 produces crisp 1,200 dpi resolution in black, up to 4,800 optimized dpi in color. The standard four-color printing yields high-quality prints, or for your finest creations you can choose six-color printing (requires HP 99 photo print cartridge, sold separately). The 6540 also offers the choice of printing photos with or without borders on a variety of media types and sizes, and includes HP photo printing software for easy task management and image editing. An optional duplexing accessory is available for two-sided documents.

The HP 6540 offers versatile connectivity. It features two USB ports, one in the back and one in the front. An optional external print server and optional 802.11b wireless accessory are supported for further expansion. The unit is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
HP Deskjet 6540 printer, HP 96 black ink cartridge (C8767W), HP 97 tri-color ink cartridge (C9363W), HP Photo Printing software (Windows only), Printer software (Windows and Macintosh), User's guide on CD-ROM, setup poster, reference guide, power supply, power cord; printer cable not included; HP 99 photo inkjet cartridge not included ... Read more

Features

• Up to 30 ppm black, 20 ppm in color
• Up to 1,200 dpi black resolution, 4,800 optimized dpi color
• HP PhotoREt III technology, PhotoREt IV with optional photo cartridge
• Optional printer server and wireless port, optional duplexing
• 2 USB ports including 1 in front; PC and Mac compatible

Product Description

Includes Sony CFD-S300 CD Radio Cassette Recorder Boombox AC Power Cord Remote Control. ... Read more

Features

• Audio CD-R/CD-RW playback compatibility, 20-track programming, and Mega Bass low-end enhancement
• CD, cassette, and radio boombox with CD-cassette synchro dubbing
• 2.3 per channel x 2, with two 4-inch speakers
• Slim, basic-function remote control simplifies listening
• Offers 10 front-panel direct-access buttons for tuner and CD; 20 FM and 10 AM station presets; drift-free digital PLL tuning

Reviews (5)

Great Product for the Price
This is a great product. The price is awesome. I was looking for something to play my old cassettes and still be able to pop in a CD. It has great sound, even with some really old teaching tapes I listen to. It's not that compact, but it's very light and very portable.I would definitely recommend this product.

Very Nice Boombox!
I was looking for a cheap boombox for my office, and I really did not want to spend much money. I was looking for a boombox that had: CD, AM/FM Radio (digital tuning), and Cassette player. I originally bought Sylvania SRCD4400 for $39.00 + tax. But I quickly returned it and payed extra $20.00 for this Sony boombox and I love it.
1. The design of the boombox is sleek and easy to use. All the buttons are easily recognized and clearly marked (not so with the Sylvania!). The silver color is very nice, looks more expensive than it really is.
2. The sound is clear and booming. I was impressed with the reception of AM/FM radio stations -- the reception was clear! (Not so with the Sylvania model, couldn't get some of my favorite AM stations!). It is true however, as other reviewers said, Bass "mega bass" sound could be deeper. So if you like bass sound a lot, then this model may not be for you.
3. The remote control is easy to use. It has all the buttons you need to access the boombox. (Not so with the Sylvania model, no power button). HOWEVER, if you have thick fingers like me then you might have little trouble pressing the buttons. Remote control is slender and buttons are small. But it works well.

Overall, I am very happy with the boombox. I recommend to everyone who looks for inexpensive and quality boombox.

a piece
things a piece of junk for a modern boombox.the buttons arent nicely laid out and the cd player can hardly play cd-r's without skipping.it would also be nice if the tape player had autoreverse.only thing i liked was the cosmetics and the price.it looks somewhat classy compared to the other boomboxes out there.most new personal stereos look like they were dropped off from planet mars.

pretty good...
I bought this unit so that I could have something descent to put in my newly remodeled room. It works as expected, although I would have liked something a little more compact, and the remote is a nice feature too (even if it is really dinky looking). My only other complaint is that The Bass could be a little deeper, and the sound could be a little louder, but I'd definatly recommend this unit to anyone interested in a quality boombox on a low budget...

OK
I do not own this model---(I have a Sony CDFS22) mine works fine Gets distorted at volume 10 (max) NO REMOTE!!! Works with copied CDs. You can use it with Batteries (9 "D"s) or A/c cord.(lose it, must use batt.s
OKfor places w/o plugs, not good elsewhere. no graph. eq. ... Read more

Features

• Play and record interlaced high-definition video at resolutions up to 1440 x 1080 for professional-quality video
• Three 1/3-inch-wide aspect ratio advanced HAD CCD imagers for enhanced color quality
• Professional-level MPEG2 video compression with the real-time HD Codec Engine
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 12x optical zoom
• Record at either 30 frames per second or, for a film-like feel, at 24 frames per second

Amazon.com Product Description

The ultimate digital audio/video recording device, Sony's versatile RDR-HX900 lets you record to a choice of formats (DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW) and even stores audio/video programming--everything from television shows to camcorder footage--on its internal 160 GB hard drive. Now you can record your TV programs to the hard drive using an advanced onscreen program guide and archive your favorite shows or movies to long-lasting DVD, dubbing at up to 24x normal speed (depending on your recordable media and your recording mode). There's even an IR blaster for satellite and cable-box control.

The RDR-HX900's compatibility with DVD+RW/+R and DVD-RW/-R discs gives you the widest selection of recording and viewing choices available. The recorder also incorporates several picture-improvement technologies, which you'll benefit from whether you're viewing from the HDD or creating enhanced DVD recordings.

An easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) grants easy recording from broadcast programs via off-air antenna, cable, or satellite receivers. When recording to the built-in hard-disk drive (HDD), you'll be able to record and store up to 204 hours--that's more than 8 straight days, mind you--of your favorite TV shows and movies.

The RDR-HX900 can record at HQ+ mode in the hard disk drive, which offers approximately 1.5 times greater resolution than the highest possible bit-rate recording on DVD. The HQ+ mode, along with Dynamic Variable Bit Rate, provide outstanding picture quality. It's especially beneficial when recording quick and complex-motion images or playback from the HDD.

The RDR-HX900 also provides hassle-free connection with compatible camcorders through its front panel i.Link interface (for DV/D8 connection and easy tape-to-disc content transfers). In addition to granting simple camcorder hook-ups, the i.Link (DV/D8) interface gives you operational control over the connected camcorder via the supplied Remote Commander remote control. You can even copy the entire contents of your DV or D8 tape by selecting the convenient 1-touch dubbing feature.

The recorder offers advanced editing features for content originating on camcorder tapes. The 2 basic options consist of either downloading the entire contents to a DVD disc and then editing the content in non-linear fashion right on the disc, or more traditional linear editing directly from tape.

The RDR-HX900 also features Time Base Correction, pre-frame noise reduction, and pre-video equalizer technologies that rebalance and equalize video content before it's recorded onto a DVD, improving the original source content even before the encoding process begins. In the output phase, the RDR-HX900 recorder combines frame noise reduction, block noise reduction, and video equalizer technologies to produce a rich and textured visual with minimal picture interference from background artifacts or distortion.

Finally, the recorder offers proprietary DVD playback technology called Precision Cinema Progressive, which incorporates Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion technology to augment and balance DVD-video elements. You'll need a high-definition or HD-ready television to appreciate this process. A 12-bit/108 MHz video D/A converter ensures exceptional picture quality for an unforgettable viewing experience, while audio decoding occurs at an amazing 192 kHz/24-bits.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder/player, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and an RF coaxial video cable. ... Read more

Features

• Universal DVD-R/DVD-RW, DVD+R/+RW recorder and player with built-in 160 GB hard-disk drive
• Record up to 5 hours of audio/video content per single-sided 4.7 GB DVD; record and store up to 204 hours/8.5 days of AV content on the HDD
• High-speed dubbing from HDD to DVD (up to 24x)
• Front-panel i.Link digital interface (DV/D8) provides simple, high-quality connection to camcorders
• Timer recording with advanced electronic program guide

Product Description

The Sony VAIO A Series Digital Studio PC is a premier notebook, designed to offer the cutting edge of technology and performance with incomparable style. The AV entertainment dock plugs you into a powerful TV tuner and personal video recorder, letting you watch and record your favorite shows. The 17" widescreen LCD display with XBRITE technology lets you enjoy crisp images and vivid colors. More than a PC, more than a TV, it's a feature packed multimedia solution. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great laptop if you're willing to spend the money.
I was planning on picking up a laptop at the end of 2004 or early in 2005, but learned about Intel's new mobile chips that feature more cache. So I waited and picked this up from Sony, which has the Intel M 750 at 1.86 Ghz and 2MB of cache. It also has Intel's 915PM chipset, which is Intel's better chipset for mobile applications. It has a great screen and plenty of power and memory.

I also like the fact it has a new 128mb video chip from ATI (X600) that supports PCI Express. This laptop has 1GB of memory, which I would recommend since 512MB is barely enough today. The hard drive also has plenty of space at 100GB and seems to be fast enough running at 5,400 rpm with SATA interface.

The Sony software for audio and video and editing seems pretty good and I haven't had any problems so far. One thing, I have Office Professional, so I deleted the lame 60-day Office trial package that came with the computer before I could fully access all the programs in my Pro suite.

One of the big selling points of the computer is its excellent 17" wide screen. Out of the box, it looks very good and I haven't even tried to optimize it yet. I'm thinking that the ErgoBright technology, while good for certain areas since it automatically adjusts brightness, compromises maximum picture quality. This feature could be defeated. Generally speaking, these types of auto adjustment features are best left inactive when viewing movies. I find this to be the case with widescreen TVs also. The docking station and speakers are also a plus. Sound from the speakers built into the laptop is only average. I haven't tried headphones yet or the speakers that come with the docking station and I can't yet vouch for the quality of the laptop's internal sound. However, I might pick up an Echo Indigo IO audio pc card. Laptop sound quality is generally average at best, and this add-on card could be a nice upgrade.

This computer is also very quiet, relatively speaking, which is very important to me since I don't like noisy computers. Overall, it is a well thought out design and Sony definitely didn't skimp on the components. ... Read more