Amazon.com Product Description

Though not a power user's dream rig, the petite Sharp Actius PC-AV18 Notebook PC is instead designed for those who need a conveniently portable light-duty mobile solution that won't break the bank. Exceedingly compact at a mere 11.1 by 9.4 by 1.04 inches and 3.89 lbs. (4.33 lbs with optical drive), the Actius PC-AV18 fits comfortably in a briefcase and even some handbags, and is ready for virtually any situation and environment.

Driven by a low voltage mobile AMD Athlon XP-M processor 1800+ running at 1.533 GHz and 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to 768 MB), the Actius PC-MV14 will easily handle most standard 2D tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, Internet surfing, contact management, and basic graphic design. However, it is not recommended for sophisticated business apps, high-end 2D graphics or complex multitasking. The system's integrated S3 Graphics ProSavage 8 video accelerator features just 32 MB of shared (not dedicated) memory, and is therefore adequate for older 3D games and midlevel 3D graphics and animation, but not for more advanced 3D tasks.

The unit's 40 GB hard disk sports lots of space for basic files and programs, but not quite enough for true multimedia mavens. Sharp has also included an adept optical drive that supports both CD playing and burning and DVD playing, thus allowing you to listen to audio discs, backup your data to digital media, and watch your favorite movies on the fold-open 12.1-inch active matrix display. DVD writing is not supported.

For such a small and affordable unit, the Actius PC-AV18 is very well connected. Communication options include a 100Base-TX/10Base-T LAN port for fast network interaction and a 56K modem for dial-up environments. Other amenities include a pair of fast USB 2.0 ports for data streaming with external devices such as scanners and digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for downloading from digital camcorders), a touch-sensitive control pad with Intelli-wheel feature, an SPDIF audio out jack for high-quality digital sound, and a single mono speaker.

Estimated battery life is average at 2.9 hours with the included standard battery. With an optional second battery, that figure jumps to a commendable 5.8 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Smallest with a CDRW/DVD and inexpensive but...
I purchased this laptop in April of 2004. My goal was to find the smallest and lightest laptop with a CDRW/DVD for the best price. My search led me to the Sharp AV18 and it met my needs well. I was able to forgive the slow speed since I knew ahead of time that the processor was slightly dated. The screen is great and I can live with the keyboard's slightly smaller size.

What makes me slightly sour is the fact that Sharp's support is completely nonexistent. First off, good luck in finding the web support area for this laptop. When you think you've found it, you haven't. Although the main sharp website lulls you into to thinking you are at the main support area for their laptops, a quick google tells me otherwise. I found the real support site by accident (It's listed only as an IP address and not a name). This is dumb. But what makes matters worse is that the support area only has a few FAQ's that are VERY basic and a few files that are already found on the 3rd CD that comes with the laptop. What? No updates? No new bios's? No new drivers? NOPE, just the same exact versions that came with the CD. This laptop is over a year old yet Sharp has done zero to correct some of the bugs in the Bios as well as provide the latest and greatest drivers. On top of that, my experience with calling in to support has been less than stellar. Yes, they answered the phone right away but all of my questions were "beyond what they could provide". Dare to ask about the Mini-PCI slot on the back or the card that is in there (It's the win-modem by the way. Information courtesy of the FCC's site) and you'll get rebuffed quickly. In fact, they don't want you to know anything about the laptop. Just use it the way we tell you to and don't ask questions.

To be fair, I have been satisfied with the laptop and I love the size and weight. I just wish it was a Toshiba or IBM as I have learned to appreciate a good support website and a willingness to help me with my questions.

Great little machine, I bought two.
After much shopping, this had all of the latest features that I wanted at the right price. Very reliable and I find myself using a computer much more now with the portability it gives. With the weight down to about 4 lbs., 40 Gb drive, USB 2.0 and a well thought out list of software utilities already loaded, it is the best computer I have ever owned. Nice build and rugged. I carry it room to room at home and on my camping trips. Great for downloading images from your digital cameras, even to edit my mini DV videos. Though the keyboard is a little awkward, I just plug in a keyboard and mouse at the USB to solve that when I have a lot of typing to do. If not available at Amazon, there are other sources that give good prices if you shop around.

great little computer
I'm very happy with this computer,, I love it
great little machine for the money and it's light!!!!!!

Nice, Light Machine at a Great Price
My Sharp PC-AV18 is a nice little machine. Good performance, reliable (so far), decent features, and light as all get out. Overall, it seems well built, although one could justly accuse the keyboard of being a bit on the flimsy side. What sold me, however, was the price. Sony charges about twice as much for a comparable unit! If you are looking for a light laptop that won't deplete your bank account, you should check this one out. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Are you shopping on a budget for a new home office desktop computer that can double as a gamer’s delight? Do you already own a monitor and speakers or prefer to choose them separately? If you answered "yes" to any or all of these questions, the Compaq Presario 6320US might be the perfect match for your pocketbook and performance needs.

The Presario 6320’s AMD Athlon XP 2000+ chip offers cost-effective 1.67 GHz clock speed processing crunch that’s easily powers a wide range of productivity and multimedia applications and 3-D games. The tower system’s cavernous 60 GB hard drive offers plentiful application and data file storage, and its 256 MB of 133 MHz DDR SDRAM--expandable to 1 GB--lets you run several applications simultaneously. Its built-in ProSavage DDR KM266 graphics chip and combined 128 KB of L1 primary and 256 KB of L2 secondary cache memory shore up a powerful system nerve center capable of smoothly running and displaying virtually any software.

Separate CD-RW (40x/32x/10x) and DVD (16x) drives deliver speedy data and audio recording and playback, and smooth, error-free movie viewing. Expansion slots in the 14.5-by-16.6-by-6.9-inch Presario 6320 tower include two 5.25-inch bays, an external 3.5-inch bay, two internal 3.5-inch bays (one available), and three PCI slots (two available).

The Presario 6320 includes a 10/100Base-T Fast Ethernet networking connection and a built-in 56K V.90 modem for dial-up access, as well as a Compaq PS/2 Internet keyboard and Compaq PS/2 scroller mouse. Connecting peripherals is easy via four built-in USB ports.

Installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 6.0, Microsoft Money 2002, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe, Intuit Quicken Financial Center/Quicken 2002 New User Edition, RecordNow powered by Veritas, InterVideo WinDVD SE, Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, Norton AntiVirus 2002 with six months of free upgrades, and two free Game Channel titles. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sporting fewer amenities than Sony's high-end mobile computers, yet easily robust enough to run most professional and entertainment software, the Vaio FXA59 notebook strikes a good balance between price and performance. Its convenient all-in-one design also makes it a great choice for those who appreciate true portability.

At 1.9 by 12.8 by 10.5 inches and 6.7 pounds (with battery) or 7.1 pounds (with battery and removable 3.5-inch floppy disk drive), the FXA59 is not an overly large notebook. Yet unlike some Sony portables, it is completely self-contained. A combination CD-RW/DVD drive (24x/8x/8x, 8x DVD) is built right into the unit, as is a spacious 30 GB hard drive. Furthermore, the floppy disk drive may be swapped at any time for an optional second battery.

The system is powered by a 1.3 GHz AMD Athlon XP 1500+ processor, a fast yet cost-effective chip featuring AMD's new QuantiSpeed architecture for improved performance, and PowerNow technology for extended battery life. Sony has paired this processor with 256 MB of SDRAM memory (expandable to 512 MB) and an 8 MB ATI Rage Mobility graphics chip. While its graphics processing speed isn't fast enough for the latest 3-D games, the FXA59 will capably handle anything from standard business applications to DVD movies, transmitting video signals to its large 1,400 x 1,050 15-inch XGA TFT display and audio to its integrated stereo speakers.

The FXA59 is outfitted with more external connections than most notebook users will ever need, including an i.Link IEEE 1394 jack for fast data uploads from devices such as digital camcorders, two USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, NTSC video-out and external monitor-out, parallel and serial "printer" ports, a microphone-in, and headphone jack. An internal V.90 modem delivers low-speed Web and e-mail access, and a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet interface supportshigh-speed surfing and LAN connectivity.

The system's keyboard section features a standard 86-key layout and an electrostatic touch pad. Sony has not included the handy Jog Dial control or Memory Stick media slot found on other models. Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Quicken 2002 New User Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and a broad range of audio, video, and still-image tools and utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

good for ordinary use
I bought this type laptop two months ago, most time it works good, but I found it has a very annoyed problem. If you watch DVD or listen to music and use Internet at the same time, internet can be very often disconnected automatically, sometime, machine even crashes. Actually I changed my machine, but this second machine has the same problem.

Too fast long battery life!
Sony has very good cosumer support.
This is my first Notebook from AMD, and I love it much faster from my old Penium 3 800Mhz.
Very long batter life too, up to 3 hours(without playing games)
Really sharp and crystal clear screen.
Runs fast cool and quiet, I will keep it for long time.
Cdr and DVD runs great, no complaind here.
Smart investment!
Highly recomand this one, I am sure you will't be sorry!

Excellent Overall Performance
First, the downside - the mouse can be flakey. Sometimes it acts as if the left side key is stuck. Other times, you have to tap it ten times to get it to react. Other that that, the only problem we've had has been that some DVD's latch up the WIN/DVD software.

But considering how much use our Vaio has had, we've been very happy. The CD burner has worked flawlessly. I use the Vaio to back up digital images while we're traveling. It's great to be able to burn a CD as backup before deleting the files off of the camera. The kids use it to watch movies and play games and they love the large, bright screen. The off-axis color and brightness are excellent.

This is my 4th laptop and finally, I have one that is fast enough for the applications I run. It's amazing what can be fit into such a small package. One warning: the shape and texture of the unit make it easy to drop when pulling it out of a briefcase. I haven't, but if you aren't careful, it could easily happen.

FXA the only computer you will ever need
A few months ago I bought my FXA49 laptop computer. I opened it up turned it on and it was set to go. compared to my other exsperences with computers this was amazing. the 1.2 GHZ was giving me acsess at what felt like instent speed. after installing my favroite programs i relize how much of a hard drive 30 GB2 really is. the dvd drive allows me to watch any dvd movie with great sucsses. the cd writers it just what it should be. the 512 megabyte memory is worth it to the byte. the battery power never seems to end aswel. the wait is good for leaveing it on your desk and better for carrying around it says seven but i never would notice. when it says thin it is if you cosider what you are geting. anouther impressive feature is the huge screen if you do the math one 15in screen is bigger than two 10in screens. every feature is worth it and for personal or bussness definately worth the money.
i hope you found this review helpful and get this laptop so you will be anouther witness to this wonderful product. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Laptop
Just bought it at the start of this semester and it is a great laptop. Very portable, I take it to school every day, and very powerful. It can run a lot of internet explorer, outlook, word, and excel windows at the same time as is out of the box. Very impressive, other computers usually become agonizingly slow with so many office applications running. One thing about this computer, the integrated scroll on the mouse pad is the greatest addition to a laptop ever. Once you use the scroll on this pad, you'll never want to go back to other laptops. my girlfriend got accustomed to it and now hates her Dell for not having it.

Terrific machine
I just purchased this HP Pavilion ze 1210 about a week ago, and everything is going great. This model is nice when you compare it with other brands such as Compaq, Dell, Gateway, ete. Also, I upgraded the memory to 512MB and that makes a great difference. I am satisfied with its speed, when I am running multiple programs and the LCD is clear when you watch DVD or playing Games. If you are looking for a portable laptop, this is the one of your best choices.

ZE1210 needs bios upgrade to keep from freezing up
Our HP Pavilion kept freezing up. So did all the ones on the shelf at Best Buy. The technicians there were great. They found the BIOS upgrade info. When we searched HP's site there was nothing on freeze ups. They loaded it up, and when we get Microsoft to reregister Office we'll be hunky dorie. Kudos to Best Buy. Hands down to HP and Microsoft. If your HP ZE computer can't find a file on bootup you too have this issue.

great little laptop
This is an amazing laptop for the price. It has enough power to handle MS Visual Studio, Word, and Outlook at the same time without thinking twice. Though not a desktop replacement, this is about as good as it gets for desktop compliments. The size of this little beast is also impressive. It is just as portable, and a lot more useful, than the more expensive Sony models that are out there. Also, with the rebates that are available right now, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal on a computer.

Very Happy
I put a lot of effort and research into my laptop decision. I use this at my work as a part of a wireless network with my desktop computer. First, I needed to make a reasonable decision about what I really needed to get the job done and all the bells and whistles I would like to have. I bought this at a great price and had a rebate from the manufacturer and the store where I purchased it so I saved another 250. I feel that I was able to get a fast easy to use machine with plenty of memory and hard drive space for a great price. Second, was concerned about networking my desktop with Windows ME to the laptop with Windows XP but have had no problems. Third, the constuction and layout of this laptop/keyboard is excellent. The screen is great and well protected when closed. Please note the lack of a 3 1/4" floppy drive. Not a problem on a network but may be for some people - can always add one later for this great price. Finally, Wordperfect products preloaded instead of Word and Excell so I had to load some software. Also, a lot of internet conection and other junk loaded that needed to be removed (interfered with DSL in the wireless network). I guess I should have taken the time to decide on a standard windows version at the same time as I set this all up! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

All work and no play can make for a dull portable computer user. Finding an affordable PC that’s well equipped for both operating modes at home and on the road can be a challenge. But the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion ze4115 provides the solution. This notebook PC combines a powerful, relatively lightweight package with a combination DVD/CD-RW drive for enjoying the latest DVD blockbusters and making your own CDs and backups.

The ze4115’s AMD Athlon XP 1500+ processor easily provides the computing stamina to handle the gamut of productivity and multimedia computing tasks. At roughly 6.4 pounds and scarcely more than 1.5 inches thick, the ze4115 is a slim, light model featuring a 14.1-inch, active-matrix TFT display coupled with an ATI Mobility Radeon 4X AGP (including 3-D architecture for cutting-edge gaming). A DVD/CD-RW combination drive (24x/8x/8x, 8x DVD) nicely rounds out the package.

But it doesn’t end there. The ze4115 serves up healthy portions of memory and storage. Its 30 GB hard drive gobbles large application and data files, and its 256 MB of 266 MHz DDR SDRAM--expandable to a maximum of 1,024 MB--buzzes through any software. An integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45) connector makes it simple to network the ze4115. External ports include two USB inputs, a 25-pin parallel port, a serial connector, a PS/2 keyboard-mouse connector, and 15-pin VGA and S-video TV-out plugs. The notebook includes a 56K integrated modem with an RJ-11 connector.

Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, the HP RecordNow CD-RW recording utility, ArcSoft Funhouse and PhotoImpression editing tools, Corel WordPerfect and Quattro Pro productivity applications, Quicken Financial Center by Intuit, Encyclopedia Britannica Ready Reference, Wild Tangent 3-D games, Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, and Norton AntiVirus 2002 with a three-month live update. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Value
I recently purchased the Pavilion ze4115 and find it to be an excellent value for the money. If you're looking for a notebook that's small and lightweight, this may not be the unit for you as it's rather on the large size for a notebook. I don't travel much so portability wasn't an issue for me. The pros of the notebook include a great display which isn't hard on the eyes, a DVD player which overall offers a good quality picture, a CD burner which is easy to use, and a great sound system. The cons is the weight of the unit with a battery installed, the latch that locks the display to the case (at least on mine) isn't a tight fit, and there's a slight buzz when the fan starts. Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase and with the rebates that are available, it's definitely a good value. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compaq's Presario 732US notebook hits the sweet spot between price, performance, and features. A high-quality, 14.1-inch display, DVD/CD-RW combo drive, and built-in networking are just a few of this notebook's first-class features. It's ideal for students or families looking for a portable all-in-one system.

At 1.64 by 12.4 by 10.6 inches and 6.39 pounds, this Presario is about average in size and weight for a system with a built-in floppy drive. Its 14.1-inch TFT monitor, powered by the integrated Via Twister K graphics accelerator, delivers high-quality graphics and text at 1,024 x 768 resolution. Using the video-out connector, you can output those graphics to your TV. The system's JBL Pro Audio speakers with Bass Reflex provide excellent audio for listening to music or watching DVDs.

Processing power comes from AMD's 1.2 GHz Athlon CPU, which features PowerNow technology for maximizing battery life. The Athlon offers more than enough power for typical home applications like word processing, Web browsing, and multimedia applications. The system's generous 256 MB of memory lets multiple applications run simultaneously without slowing down. The 30 GB hard drive provides plenty of space for storing applications, digital photos, or music files. A DVD/CD-RW combo drive lets you watch DVDs or burn your own CDs.

The Presario 732US is outfitted with a complete array of connectivity options. An integrated 10/100 Ethernet adapter will connect you to broadband or your home network, and a 56K modem lets you dial up to the Internet. Two USB ports connect to peripherals like digital cameras or scanners, and a parallel port connects to legacy printers.

The system's keyboard section features a standard 88-key layout and a touch pad for cursor control. Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 6.0, Microsoft Money 2001, a one-year subscription to the Encarta Online Encyclopedia, Roxio's EZ CD Creator, and Norton AntiVirus 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

very nice! i like it
It's very easy to use and not so heavy. Good for students.

Bad Power Supply
I loved this laptop when I first got it a little over 1 year ago. For the Price, it seemed unbeatable! However, I had to send it back to Compaq to fix the power supply, as it wasn't getting power. I'm not exactly sure what they did to fix it, however, it worked for about 3 months, and now, it has the same symptoms. I am one who has a desktop backup computer, however, I still miss my laptop. I used to have an old P166 Compaq desktop that is still kicking, however, I would not buy this laptop again. Good Luck!

Maybe try something else. . .
I have this one, and have read the reviews of the similar models, where people state they have all sorts of problems. My went back twice after repeated failures and reloading of the operating stytem until, both times, the thing couldn't even make it through the bios routine and had to go in for service. The second time, after I became Their Worst Nightmare, the motherboard was replaced. Now I think it's fine, but I wouldn't buy it or a similar Compaq again.

Even this one was an overheater, until yesterday, when I checked the CPU usage stats (control-alt-del, then the process tab) and discovered that the program for Net Waiting--moh.exe--takes up ALL the unused processor time ALL the time. As soon as I shut it down the fan went off. Now when it does come on, it's only half-speed and no longer blows my coffee cup off the table. So much for Net Waiting!

Great Notebook, Better than my sony vaio
I just bought this notebook last week and I love it. Its better than the sony vaio that I had. The speakers are much better than the vaio notbooks. In a word, the JBL speakers are KILLER. I listen to music and watch movies on my notebook when I'm on the road and with these speaker I really don't have to hook up any external speakers to them although if you do you'd better get ready for some serious home theater sound quality. AWSOME! This computer is light at only a little over 6 pounds. I haven't had any major problems with this unit either. It doesn't get that hot. It gets warm but not hot, and I''ve had it on all day working on it and downloading program and os updates. Unlike some reviews I saw regarding this product that said that it would crash when it got too hot, or that there was a "design" flaw with the cooling system. Here's a tip for those reviewer's, DON'T BLOCK THE VENTS ON THE NOTEBOOK OR YOUR ASKING FOR TROUBLE. There are 4 or 5 of them. Keep them clear. This notebook is a great buy and if in the future I decide to upgrade in another 5 years or so I'll probably purchase another Compaq.

great notebook, but not for a programmer
its great piece of work. dvd and cdwriter are quick and smooth. i tried to install win98 or nt workstation but i cant. i need a sql server destop installation but i cant do it with a xp home(neither xp pro). but this presario works fine for my dad and brother who works with office and internet.

buy is you need comodity and portability. but not for a desktop replace. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

HP's Pavilion ze4315us Notebook PC is a sensibly designed and very affordably priced mobile solution that's ready for most typical business, personal, and leisure tasks. However, it simply isn't fast or capable enough to handle the wide variety of high-end applications most folks tend to run on their workhorse PC, so we can't recommend it as a desktop replacement machine.

At 12.96 by 10.72 by 1.57 inches, the Pavilion ze4315us is a bit larger than some of the alternatives. It is conveniently lightweight though, at a mere 7.25 pounds. Inside, HP has installed a capable yet cost-effective 1.67 GHz Mobile AMD Athlon XP Processor 2000+ with PowerNow Technology, 256 MB of DDR SDRAM memory, and an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) memory. This is an ample power plant for a mobile machine, though it shouldn't be expected to efficiently drive most high-end 3D games, animation packages or other ultra-complex applications.

The unit features an adequate 40 GB hard disk, and a DVD+CD-RW combo drive that will allow you to listen to and burn music CDs, backup your data to CD and play the latest movies. DVD burning is not supported. The system's crisp 15-inch XGA TFT display supports images of 1024x768 resolution, and its integrated 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio chipset and on-board Altec-Lansing speakers ensure your sound is accurately delivered.

Controlling the Pavilion ze5270 is a snap. The unit features a full size 88-key keyboard with embedded numeric keypad, a Touch Pad with on/off button, and a dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad. Other amenities include two USB 1.1 ports for plug and play peripherals, an S-Video TV-out, an RJ-45 Ethernet jack for fast network and Internet interaction, and a built-in 56K modem for low-speed e-communication. The system does not include an IEEE 1394 FireWire port. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

pile of junk
The only thing worse is the HP ze 5270 I originally bought a HP Pavillion ZE 5270 after 6 months it died and HP will not honor their warranty. The hard drive crashed which by the way is mfg. by Toshiba. I had purchased 12 various Toshiba and compaq laptops for our company only to have all of them crash within one year requiring reformatting and partitioning of the HDD's.

Great.... but watch out for the screen
This a great laptop for the everyday user, DVD's run great, processor is working fine and the price is superb.... the only glitch was that I got a burnt pixel that keeps me reminding that I spent 1000 dollars on it.... and HP warranty doesn't cover it!!!! That would deserve 3.5 stars (but I gave 4 to round it up)
Anyway, I guess I'm just unlucky since overall it is a great machine. I would certainly recommend it for the price/quality ratio you'll get.

Great computer at a great price
I set out to get the cheapest name brand notebook I could find. I always thought HP had really good quality desktops, so I decided to try their notebooks. I was suprised that they were the cheapest as well. The Athlon processor works great, and since it's a mobile version, it runs fast and stays cool. The fan only comes on when doing CPU intensive tasks. The memory is in 1 chip which makes adding more memory very easy. The screen is outstanding, very bright and crisp. I can't say anything bad about this notebook. If you're looking for a good powerful notebook and the lowest price, this is it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you’re an aspiring filmmaker on a budget looking for a high-performance mobile computer that doubles as a portable digital video-editing system, the Sony Vaio FXA63 notebook PC will deliver the goods on location or in your home office.

The notebook PC’s all-in-one design includes an i.Link interface that serves as a high-speed FireWire conduit for connecting with devices such as camcorders. The FXA63 includes software for creating full-motion digital movies complete with a full complement of visual effects and audio.

The FXA63’s 1.4 GHz Mobile AMD Athlon XP 1600+ processor cranks out plentiful power for propelling multimedia and productivity software. Its ATI Rage Mobility M1 graphics card, combined with 8 MB of video RAM and a 14.1-inch XGA active-matrix TFT display, enable you to view sharp, clear images. A built-in DVD-ROM/CD-RW combination drive makes it easy and convenient to watch DVD movies, listen to and make CDs, and rapidly back up data.

A 30 GB hard drive offers abundant space for storing data and multimedia files, and the FXA63’s 256 MB of SDRAM--expandable to 512 MB--lets you run multiple applications smoothly. An integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN connector makes networking easy. The FXA63 supports two Type I PC Cards or one Type II or III card. It also includes a parallel and serial port, an NTSC-out interface, and two USB ports.

The 6.7-pound, 12.8-by-10.5-by-1.5-inch FXA63 includes a built-in V.90 modem, and its floppy drive can be swapped out for a second battery that doubles the system’s estimated three-hour battery life.

Installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Quicken 2002, and Trend Micro PC-cillin. Also included are Sony DVgate and MovieShaker software for capturing and editing full-motion digital video footage and creating movies that use transitions and other effects. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

One headache after another...
I bought this computer one year ago and have lost an unacceptable amount of time trying to fix its many problems. First, VAIOs are known for having DVD sound problems. Mine was no exception. Second, this VAIO does not operate properly with many common programs, especially Adobe Photoshop(it shuts itself off in the middle of work). Third, the battery life is so low as to be an embarrassment. Fourth problem with the VAIO = NOT ENOUGH MEMORY - thinking I wouldn't need more than a 20 gig hardrive was a big mistake! Shop around for your next laptop and DON'T buy a Sony VAIO. You will be sorry.

Does more than the competition.
I read of peoples problems with other brands of computers all of the time. I personally love my PCG-FXA63 Vaio and would recommend it to anyone. The only problems I have had were from human error(mine). The only drawback of this system is hard drive space, but that can be replaced easily enough.

Buy one, you won't be sorry!

Not too shabby for the price
After many years ... well 2 years ... and much heartache, I 86-ed my Compaq Presario laptop, and bought the Vaio FXA63. Much to my surprise, this little box did everything I wanted. Game performance was fine, and I found the graphics to be quite acceptable. Love being able to put 2 batteries in it. Best of all: Solaris x86 runs on it like a dream. (Get the realtek driver and XFree86 drivers and away you go.) Snappy little box; envy of all my working friends (except those who upgraded to the FVR-28). Wish it had a bigger drive and DVD writer, but for a year ago it was awesome.

Its not a bad machine, but they do get better
I bought this expecting more, don't get me wrong it is a good notebook, but shop around. The hard drives are too small, the track pad is a pain in my ___, And I HATE Windows,(Microsoft in general) If this had 160GB drive(s) and RedHat Linux 9 I would love it....but..no!
Avoid Windows products at all costs, espically XP(nothing but 2000's bug fix's...if that!!) True computer nuts know what I mean. But if you are on a budget, and like Windows(ugggh) this is not a bad choice..like I said shop around and compare.

Amazing display but very poor hardware and support.
I purchase Sony Vaio and had high opinion regarding Sony products. But, I was very disappointed with this product. My hard disk was very noisy and I had to send it for repair, they replaced my hardware with refurbished parts and sent it back. When I received the Laptop, the keyboard was out of place and body had scratches on it and I had to send it back again. The technical support people at times are extremely rude that it is unbelievable, after request to call before they ship the item back they sent it right back without calling us. The letter it came back with had no clear explanation of what was fixed.

Even when I called back, after 35 mins of hold a very rude person replied my phone and this was not the first time I had experienced this with their technical support. I have spent lot of hours just rebuilding this laptop, waiting on phone and downtime when I had to ship for repair. I feel sorry for buying this product.

The display is amazing but that is about it, rest of the hardware is okay and you will have many incompatibly issues with this laptop. I would rather buy a Dell or Toshiba but never again another Sony Laptop

. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compaq’s Presario 900 notebook series includes an impressive variety of models offering a full range of performance and features. The entry-level Presario 905US combines affordable computing power and multimedia features likely to entice value-minded road warriors who are equally serious about their work, games, and digital movies and music.

The 905US’s 1.2 GHz AMD Athlon XP 1400+ processor delivers cost-effective performance for a range of productivity applications, games, and DVDs. A built-in 8x DVD-ROM drive allows users to enjoy movies and music, both of which sound great on the notebook’s integrated JBL Pro Performance Audio with Bass Reflex speakers.

The notebook’s 30 GB hard drive provides ample storage for data and downloads, while its 256 MB of memory--expandable to 1 GB--and 256 KB of on-chip L2 cache make it easy to run multiple applications without sacrificing performance. An ATI Radeon IGP integrated graphics card and 16 MB of shared video memory deliver resolution of up to 1,024 x 768 on the 905US’s integrated 14.1-inch TFT XGA display or up to 1,600 x 1,200 noninterlaced on an external monitor.

The 1.5-by-12.8-by-10.6-inch, 6.5-pound notebook includes an integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet port and 56K V.92 PCI modem. Expansion slots include one Type I/II PC Card slot with support for a 32-bit CardBus. The 905US also includes two USB 1.1 ports, a parallel SPP/ECP interface (DB25 connector), a PS2 mouse or keyboard port, an RJ-45 Ethernet jack and RJ-11 modem jack, an S-video TV-out port, and an external VGA monitor port.

Installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 6.0, Microsoft Money 2001, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe Encyclopedia (one-year subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and Norton AntiVirus 2002 on CD. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good starter laptop.
To begin with, it looks great. It's black & silver, sleek & reasonably svelte at 6.5 lbs. The HP genes are apparent in its design and the result is pleasing. The CPU is an adequate 1.2 Athalon XP; it's quite capable of most daily, non-graphics intense tasks, but not as good as an Intel P4. System memory also just adequate at 256 megs, though this can be doubled easily enough. The hard drive is a generous 30 gigs. A DVD player is included in a combination drive, but there is no CD burner offered. All the Compaq's connections are in the right place, though missing is any USB 2.0 port (too bad because if you want to add an external CD burner, the USB 2.0 protocol is the way to fly). Graphics are in line with the other components, with a 16 meg ATI card onboard (I am a fan of ATI graphics cards because they have been quite reliable over the long haul and because upgrading them from ATI's nice website is a snap) rendering a surprisingly sharp 14" display. Overall, this is a "good enough" basic machine made by a company that looks like it's here to stay.

COOL NOTEBOOK!
This small and light notebook runs very cool.
For a student or business, you wll not find a better deal than this.
Looks very attractive, also it is hard solid Notebook I had since Celeron.
Thanks Amazon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

watch out for that dial up
I love this computer, don't get me wrong,but connecting it to my home ethernet modem was a little bit of trouble. I connected it using the network port, but could NOT figure out how to turn the dial up off. Every time I tried to make a connection, it would not work. I finally had to call my internet company. Even though the plug is labeled network, it is for Ethernet ( I discovered that about 3 hours later.) Not a big problem though, now obviously I am using the laptop and plan on bringing it to college with me. I love the scroll pad and nothing is wrong with the computer. I bought it brand new and I would totally reccomend it. The battery last's long and the rest of the computer is easy to use :) ENJOY! :)

Overall satisfactory
I've owned it for 2 weeks and I'll probably keep it. It runs quite smoothly and I've found no BIG issues although I looked for them and I am not a novice. Some not-so-big issues though:

1. It has a dead pixel (a pixel on the screen which is always turqoise). Most people who saw it would return the laptop for an exchange but I am not disturbed enough to do that. I called HP's Customer Service and they told me they would only replace defective screens that have at least 7 dead pixels. A friend of mine had told me that Dell had the same policy so I was not surprised. The guy on the phone was helpful although he "registered" me as a owner without asking me first.

2. I've installed Linux on it and it works well now but I had the typical laptop problems: the "nousb" install option must be used to avoid keyboard freeze during installation; I had to deactivate pcmcia support which was freezing the boot (not fixed this yet b/c I don't need it); and, most frustrating, the ATI Radeon Mobility IGP 320M (U1) video card is virtually unknown by the kernel so I can't get any accelerated graphics in Linux... Actually the 'agpgart.o' kernel module won't load b/c the agp bridge is unknown. It looks like ATI/HP have not released the specs for this videocard yet thus there's no proper Linux support for it. It works with the generic "vesa" driver as well as with the "ati" and the "radeon" drivers, as a generic VESA. So it only ranks some 437fps when tested by glxgears - it should go to at least 550 for a "standard" Linux game like Chromium to run fine. Hopefully the ATI/HP drivers will come out soon!

Absolutely no issue in Windows except for the disk defragmentation program that always leaves some data in the upper part of the drive so that noone will be able to partition it to install Linux (for example). I thanked Microsoft for a wasted half an hour to figure it out and then run 'chkdsk /F' to fix the drive and partitioned it immediately after that.

The DVD/CDRW combo works fine, same for the Network and the PS/2 port with the classic Y-cable to accomodate both an external mouse and a keyboard. I haven't tried the wireless interface yet. The scroll pad doesn't look very subtle but it works.

This laptop has eight visible blue lights and a green one, so it may look like a Christmas tree to some more conservative people. Speaking of design, I don't like the metalic net covering the speakers, and the overall combination of silver and black with blue shades gets mixed reviews from my colleagues. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Some PC users simply don’t want or need the cutting-edge performance of a costly, top-of-the-line mobile computer. For them, Sony offers the Vaio PCG-FR130 notebook, a sensibly designed and affordable unit that’s powerful enough to operate most typical portable computing applications.

At the heart of the Vaio PCG-FR130 is a cost-effective yet muscular 1.67 GHz AMD Athlon XP 2000+ processor, which, when combined with the system’s adequate allotment of 256 MB of DDR SDRAM (expandable to 1,024 MB), delivers above-average power. An integrated 16 MB nVidia GeForce4 420 Go-V graphics chipset enhances the performance of 3-D video applications but is certainly not sufficient for serious gaming.

Measuring 13 by 10.8 by 1.7 to 2.1 inches and weighing just 7.2 pounds, the Vaio PCG-FR130 is smaller and more lightweight than many of today’s notebooks. Sony has equipped the unit with a sizable 40 GB hard disk and an internal CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, back up important files, and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. You’ll monitor your activities on a 14.1-inch XGA TFT display capable of 1,024 x 768 resolution.

Other desirable amenities include an internal V.90 modem for low-speed e-communications, a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet interface for high-speed connectivity, headphone and microphone ports, integrated stereo speakers, and an 86-key QWERTY keyboard with electrostatic touchpad. Home movie and digital picture buffs will appreciate the unit’s two high-speed USB 2.0 ports and single IEEE 1394 interface.

Sony has pre-installed an impressive variety of software, including Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Quicken 2002 New Users Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, and a broad array of audio, video, and photo utilities. Battery life for the Vaio PCG-FR130 is estimated at 2.5 to 3 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Problems with Alps Touch Pad
At first sight, the FR-130 laptop endears itself easily: solid build, decent styling, nice LCD screen, and a wealth of hardware and software extras to sweeten the deal. Perhaps too many free multimedia software that few need or use.

BUT 2 months after owning a brand new one, my FR-130 touch pad (made by Alps) goes crazy and starts acting on its own: it moves independently of your finger motion, clicks to open and close apps, or just does not move at all. Problem persists even after downloading the latest driver from Alps/Sony (July 2003).

A quick Google search for "Alps Touch Pad Problem" reveals that it is a generic problem affecting many owners across many Sony models.

Disgusted with the Touch Pad, I just attach an USB mouse and the latter seems to work ok. But once in a great while, the mouse acts up just like the touch pad! By uninstalling the touch pad driver and the mouse driver, and then rebooting, things return to normal ... until the next time. Fortunately, the mouse is more stable than the touch pad, so in between crises, you can still use your FR-130 if you don't mind using a mouse in lieu of the touch pad. Perhaps the intermittency is due to poor heat dissipation.

I think Sony and Alps stink to high heavens for not resolving that issue. Other than that, the FR-130 is a capable laptop for most needs. For those who needs a laptop to do video editing annd related multimedia chores, Sony is the leader. If you can close your eyes to its idiotic touch pad.

Solid budget desktop replacement notebook
Great deal for the money. The nVidia GeForce4Go 16meg video is a step up from the integrated video chipsets most budget laptops use, enough to play Quake 3 at 1024x768 res with full detail. The memory is easily upgradable, I added a second DIMM, both DIMM slots are unobstructed. Sony wisely divided the HD into two partitions, which allowed me to replace the second partition with Red Hat Linux without disturbing the factory WinXP Home installation. FYI, while I haven't been able to get power management to work under Linux, everything else that I've tried works. The only caveat is the 8 pound weight.

Note to Sony: I'd have purchased a more expensive notebook if an Athlon notebook with a larger screen, higher-end graphics chip, and what not had been available. I DO NOT BUY INTEL CHIPS! That said, it's probably just as well that I saved my money and went with this well-rounded desktop replacement.

This is a small information giving website
I did not like that they did not give a price for the Sony Vaio PCG-FR130. That is to bad for them because i was interested in buying that modle but i guess i will go to another competetor.

Really a 4 1/2 Star
Well, this was my first laptop purchase...it was definately a hard decision, but the Sony VAIO has impressed me in every area so far. For a laptop bought at a nationwide electronics store for under a thousand dollars, I don't think I could be more pleased. :)

This laptop beat the competition due to it's wealth of features. The USB 2.0 ports, the Firewire ports, and Word Perfect Office (399 value!) really sold me on this laptop. With the other laptops in the sub-1000 range, I was looking at USB 1.1, no firewire, and no productivity apps.

Also included are the roomy 40 GB HD as well as the 24x CD-RW. An adequate video card (I don't game) and a great sounding sound card (just put it through some headphones!) round out the machine.

I know that this review isn't very helpful...but I can run Photoshop, Office, browse the web, and be burning a CD all at once. The power is adequate for my needs...and I'd say for the needs of any student. I hook up a 10 dollar USB optical mouse and I'm good to go. Yes, it runs a little hot on the lap...but what laptop doesn't? If you want a cool-running laptop, be prepared to shell out an extra grand for Centrino.

Why does it not get 5 stars?

Once you load a non-Windows operating system, you void the warranty. Once you take it out of the country, you void the warranty (Go figure...it's a laptop!)... The last is more annoying than the first because I am going to school in the UK.

It also gets dinged for not having more RAM.

Other than that, it's a great little machine.

Great Quality, Great Price
I'm definately a computer fanatic, I build my desktops computers myself because I can never find a desktop that has exactly what I want. This is my second notebook, I've owned it for just two days and I'm very impressed. Compared with my previous notebook (brand of my previous notebook will remain nameless here) it's obvious the quality construction Sony uses to build its notebooks. VAIOs are advertised based on their stylishness, but they are also very sound, sturdy notebooks as well. All though it's not the top of the line by today's standards, I have yet to see any lacking in performance in any of the applications I use on a regular basis, and since it comes with an Nvidia graphics chip, I'm sure it will perform admirably on the games that I play as well.

The software package that came with it seems to contain more potentially useful apps than junk apps. I can't comment on the media apps bundled yet, they'll definately take a little time to learn since they look to be packed with features, definately more robust than I had expected.

The only dissapointment that I found is my new VAIO lacks a feature that was on my previous laptop: the ability to power up just the CD drive and use it as an oversized CD player. Although this isn't a big enough minus to count against the 5 star rating. Definately a great notebook! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Though slightly less than ideal for fans of 3-D gaming or video recording, Sony’s new Vaio PCV-RXA842 is otherwise a powerful yet affordable desktop solution that offers plenty of bang for the buck.

For the PCV-RXA842, Sony has incorporated a cost-effective 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400+ processor, 512 MB of PC-2100 DDR RAM (expandable to 1 full GB), and an integrated 32 MB nVidia nForce 220 IGP graphics accelerator. The system’s 80 GB hard drive is big enough for even the most extensive MP3 collection, and its internal CD-RW drive will burn best-of music compilations, backup and archive discs, and traditional audio CDs. Although the PCV-RXA842 won’t record DVD-format video discs unless you add a DVD burner, its built-in DVD player will allow you to watch your favorite movies.

The PCV-RXA842 offers numerous conveniences to enhance and simplify your day-to-day computing, including a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, a PS2 wheel mouse, four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug-and-play peripherals such as external CD drives and joysticks, and front and rear IEEE 1394 interfaces for easy DV camcorder connectivity. The included Vaio Smart keyboard features several handy one-touch multimedia and Internet buttons for instant access to common functions.

Sony asserts that the Vaio PCV-RXA842 will serve as a capable central hub for many years to come. Aside from its state-of-the-art USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 ports, the system features headphone and microphone ports, a line-in jack, parallel port, proprietary Memory Stick Media Slot, V.90 modem for low-speed Internet and e-mail, and a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet interface for high-speed Web surfing and LAN access. Sony has included a pair of stereo speakers but has not packaged the PCV-RXA842 with a viewing screen, allowing users to make their own selection from the numerous VGA and ultrathin LCD models on the market. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Poor quality graphics
The built in nVidia nForce 220IGP grahpics are very low quality and are not suitible for gaming or business grahpics (such as CAD). Of course for a hundred or two more you can buy a new video card and get good graphics. But then for that much money you could buy a faster system with better grahpics already installed and you don't have to deal with opening up your computer, installing a new card and messing with the graphics drivers. So the low price is deceptive. This system will cost you a lot more in the end.

Excellent value.
This is another excellent entry from Sony CE, again gaining high marks for its value. It features an Athalon (AMD) XP processor running at 2.0 GHz and offers 512 megs of very fast DDRAM. It also has 4 2.0-ready USB ports, a large 80 gig hard drive and a very good CD-R/W + DVD player. My only complaint is the lack of a true game-ready, 64 megs (or higher!) of video RAM. The included 32 meg Sony in-house, on-chip setup here just won't cut the mustard. There is, however, an open 4x AGP slot, so an upgrade can be bought and slid into place in 10 minutes without any fuss. In addition, there is no monitor included here, so that's another important expense to add. Nonetheless, it's a quality machine with lots of great features and it's one you'll probably be happy with for years to come. Having said that, I'd take the upgraded 850 model, which features a much better Intel Pentium 4 processor (running at 2.4 Ghz) for just a little bit more money. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Pavilion 735n Desktop PC may be an ideal fit for those who crave speed, but can't afford a big budget computer, and are willing to give up some of the perks of other, higher-priced HP Pavilions,.

For the Pavilion 735n, HP moves away from the more expensive Intel Pentium 4 processors found in many of its 700 series of Pavilions. That does not, however, mean substantially less power. Equipped with an AMD Athlon XP processor 2600+ running at a healthy 2.13 GHz, a generous 512 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory, and an Nvidia GeForce4 MX graphics card with 64 MB of dedicated video memory, the system is ready to run virtually any application currently on the market, though ardent gamers and 3-D artisans may wish to add a faster graphics card at a later date.

HP has clearly constructed the Pavilion 735n to meet the growing demands of those who need alternative methods of data storage and movement. Apart from its massive 80 GB Ultra DMA hard disk, the system sports a 3.5-inch diskette drive, a 48X CD-ROM drive and a DVD+RW drive-- the latter of which allows you to burn home movies to disc, create mixed music CDs and backup copious quantities of information. HP has also installed a full half-dozen ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals and two IEEE 1394 ports for high-speed links with external devices such as digital camcorders, scanners and drives.

The Pavilion 735n features a broad range of useful amenities, including a two-button PS/2 scrolling mouse, an HP Internet Command Center one-touch keyboard, a 10/100 Base-T networking interface for high-speed LAN and e-communication access and an internal 56K modem for low-speed connectivity. Pre-installed software includes the exceptionally versatile WordPerfect Productivity Pack and a variety of valuable multimedia utilities. It should be noted that the system does not include a monitor, thus allowing users to choose a custom model from the many brands and styles available today. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I think it was a bit over priced
I got this computer and about a month later I thought I payed to much. You can build the computer yourself for at least 100 bucks less. But other then that it is a high end computer.

Software on it was fine, no glitches, no faults it ran smooth and simple!

4 Stars

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX graphics with 64MB of memory
needed a computer that was inexpensive, but that had solid features. This computer is inexpensive and has superior features. Tons of memory, a huge hard drive, and a great video card. It plays the latest 3d games very smoothly even at high resolutions.Plus the dual cd drives make copying my music cd's much faster, and the 6in1 card reader makes it really easy to download my digital camera pictures in my computer. Downlaoding time and site access is unbelievable fast even with dail up connection which i have .. cd burning time iam burning cd in less then three mins.. u can play all the up to date games with no problem.i would recommend this tower.. I also bought the 15' hp flat panel lcd screen and same thing beutiful picture screen adjusts to view and the speakers that come with it are good ....
It's got all the right features at a very low price. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Some consumers don't mind paying a little extra for the privilege of owning the absolute latest state-of-the-art gear. For the rest of us, there's the Compaq Presario 6016US desktop. Fast and powerful, while just a notch or two removed from the cutting edge, the Presario 6016US is an affordable yet proficient machine that should handle all but the most demanding applications.

For the Presario 6016US, Compaq has selected a 1.53 GHz AMD Athlon XP processor with 256 KB of Level 2 cache. This speedy CPU is the brains of a capable processing engine that also features 512 MB of fast DDR DRAM (expandable to 1 GB) and an integrated 32 MB nVidia GeForce2 chip. The system bus speed is a reasonable 266 MHz. In plain English, the Presario 6016US is ready to run virtually any application currently on the market, although ardent gamers or animators may want to add a faster graphics card at a later date.

Sporting a respectable 60 GB hard disk, the unit offers plenty of onboard storage space for all your programs and files. It also features a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive for your smaller applications and a 24x (write) CD-RW drive through which you can record and play audio CDs and transfer and archive your data. Compaq has not included a monitor or speakers, allowing you to select such components separately or perhaps make use of your existing audio-video setup.

The Presario 6016US is packed with amenities to enhance your everyday computing, including six USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, a serial port and parallel "printer" port, an integrated 56K modem for basic Internet and e-mail access, two free PCI slots for future expansion, and a scroll wheel mouse. The system's Compaq Internet keyboard features several one-touch buttons for convenientaccess to various Internet and multimedia functions.

To help get you started, Compaq has pre-installed a variety of software applications, including Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft Money 2002, Microsoft Works 6.0, Quicken Financial Center/Quicken New User Edition, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe 2001, and plenty of Internet and multimedia tools and utilities. ... Read more