Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio PCG-NV170P offers an elegant combination of form, functionality, and connectivity. It's an all-in-one mobile entertainment PC with loads of extras.This model features a battery-saving 1.6 GHz Mobile Pentium 4 processor, large 15-inch screen, 30 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, and a combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 30 GB hard drive certainly feels small in comparison with the 60 to 80 GB drives found in many of today's contemporary notebooks. However, it should offer ample of space for your important documents and productivity software applications
• Processor: The 1.6 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor (which is at the low end for this offering) will not cater to your need for speed, but it is serviceable for the budget minded.Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when its not needed, thus conserving battery life. It has a front-side bus (FSB) of 400 MHz and a 512 KB L2 cache.
• Memory: This notebook has 256 MB of pre-installed memory (DDR SDRAM), which is calling out for more power right out of the gate. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to a small 512 MB total (2 x 256 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD-RW drive has 16x write, 10x rewrite, and 24x read speeds. The DVD-ROM has an 8x playback speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This PCG-NV170P model has a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including both USB and FireWire:

• 3 USB ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 Memory Stick slot (Memory Stick Pro compatible)

Preloaded System and Software
This PCG-NV170P notebook comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), and DVgate (digital video). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money and Encarta,InterVideo WinDVD, and Norton Internet Security Center (with 90-day subscription).

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.69 x 13.24 x 10.9 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 7.5 pounds, the PCG-NV170P is bit larger than other notebooks in its range. It's best used as a desktop replacement while offering portability when you need it.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers an average battery life range of 2.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-NV170P notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor, and 90 days of phone support. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

For those who settle for nothing but state-of-the-art performance, Sony offers the fully loaded Vaio GRV680 notebook. Measuring 1.8 by 14 by 11.8 inches and tipping the scales at 8.1 pounds (with one battery) or 8.7 pounds (with battery and optical drive), the Vaio GRV680 isn’t the smallest notebook on the market. But it is one of the fastest and certainly one of the most versatile.

Sporting a commanding 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB of Level 2 cache, a 400 MHz bus, and 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory, the Vaio GRV680 is built to blast through any computing situation. Sony has complemented the system’s powerful engine with an impressive 64 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 video acceleration chipset to make quick work of graphics-intensive 3-D applications and all but the most demanding 3-D games. The unit’s integrated 60 GB hard disk offers plenty of room to store important files and programs, and its detachable DVD+/DVD-RW/CD-RW combo drive allows you to turn home videos into DVDs, watch the latest Hollywood releases, burn and play audio CDs, and back up data.

Multimedia enthusiasts in particular will appreciate the system’s massive 16-inch SXGA TFT viewing screen (1,280 x 1,024 resolution) and integrated stereo speakers. Other desirable amenities include a Memory Stick media slot, three USB ports, and a fast IEEE 1394 port for data transfers from peripherals such as digital camcorders. The unit delivers 1.5 to 3.5 hours of battery life with one battery attached and 3 to 7 hours with an optional second battery installed in its multipurpose bay.

The Vaio GRV680 is preloaded with a wide variety of software, including Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Money 2003, Adobe Premiere LE, and a broad array of audio, video, and photo utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very provincial product for a "supposedly" global brand
I wish I had bought a Toshiba instead of the Vaio. That's what I was planning to do. But at the last minute I was lured by Sony's DVD burner. As it turns out, I bought the Vaio in the USA, but many features are rendered useless in Europe, where I live most of the year. Plug and play drivers don't work for simple accesories like a USB mouse !?! The Vaio can't find the drivers even for a SONY digital camcorder. So I'm not using the DVD burner. Nor can it find the drivers for my HP printer. The Sony technical support tried to help, but couldn't resolve my problems. They told me that the machine was designed to work in the USA, but not in Europe. How bogus an excuse is that? Also, the warranty is only good in the USA. Pretty lame for a supposedly global brand.

Lack of Wi-Fi is a major drawback, and Sony recognized that and apparently tried to remedy this by offering free PCMCIA Wi-Fi cards for a limited time. Unfortunately, I bought my Vaio ONE DAY after this offer expired. I sent Sony a note asking them to send me the card even though I missed the date by one day. Did they? No. Hard to understand why you would recognize that you have a major design flaw... but recognize it for only a limited time...

The Vaio is fast and works very well for other basic applications. Also, I did get a Bluetooth USB adapter to work (after having to return a PCMCIA Bluetooth adapter which did NOT work) almost to my surprise. However, the people at Sony really blew it with this customer. Don't expect me to buy another Vaio. I think I'll go with Toshiba.

Definitely one of the best laptops i've used
Awesome machine. It has a huge, clear, bright display, good resolution, a comfortable keyboard, decent sound output, a powerful processor, plenty of RAM and HD space, one of the best ethernet cards around. Definitely recommend it.

I have yet to try to install Linux on it. Seems like there's not much information about it's compatibility, and some devices are unlikely to work, like the modem and power management, but driver support for Sony is coming along nicely.

Weight and battery life are issues to consider: if you're looking for a laptop you can use comfortably on a long flight, forget it unless you buy a power port adapter - on mine, batteries last for around an hour and a half with normal use.

Fast Pig, Great for the uncertain Desktop Convert
This thing is fast, its Gigantic, its Hot, its a desktop processor with a laptop fan, Its loudish, and its not super portable.
Why is this good? Because it acts like a desktop too. If you have it plugged in and want all of the performance, youll have it. If you want to bring it somewhere, and plug it in, youll have it. If you want to roam in the park, unfettered by worldly concerns, specifically wifi and plugs, you dont got it.
The software package is interesting, but weird, all sony all the time, but you can change that, from all that software left on your desktop.
If you have any question about the desktop replacement computer, see this machine, it defines the genre.

Sony VAIO PCG-GRV670 Notebook(2.6 P4,512 RAM,40GB)
I must apologize,I gave the 'Sony VAIO PCG-GRV670 Notebook' a bad review. I just got a replacement,and guess what? It can play hard core games like 'Medieval: Total War','Shogun: Total War'. I really feel bad about the review,but please,buy this 'Laptop',you'll never need a 'desktop' again. All I can say is the 'Sony VAIO PCG-GRV670 Notebook'(Windows XP Home Edition),'Intel P4 2.6GHz Processor w/400MHz,512MB DDR RAM Memory,40GB Harddrive,ATI Radeon 9000(64MB of dedicated video memory),8X DVD ROM Drive,will get you 'in' and 'out' of the 'Total War' game series with a smile on your face,I guarantee you that! On 'Medieval:Total War',I've played battles,campaigns,and etc.,no crashing and no freeze-ups,no problems period. With an SXGA 16' screen,you get superior screen resolution for those demanding 3-D games. Some helpful advise,don't upgrade your '512MB DDR RAM Memory',because these games can't handle that much memory,anything like '1024MB DDR RAM Memory' or higher will 'crash' the game,its just too much memory for those games. P.S., this 'Sony VAIO PCG-GRV670 Notebook' has an 'AV Output',means you can hook-up booming speakers (I-Trigue 2.1 3300-Creative) that will shake your house roof off,great 'laptop',ready for 'Rome:Total War'.....

An excellent compact, desktop, you can take with you.
The key to this machine is understanding what it is. It is a compact footprint desktop with a built in UPS. If you think of it that way you will be very happy with it. If you're out to buy a kick butt gaming laptop so that you can frag your way from Los Angeles to New York, don't get this machine.

This machine has a lot going for it, very nice 3D performance, very nice ergonomics, clear bright screen, zippy P4 performance, and you can burn your own DVDs on it. All very nice. Ports are somewhat limited (3 USB + ethernet + firewire + parallel and VGA) but you get back your serial port of you buy the port replicator. For a limited time Sony is giving away WiFi cards if you send them a copy of your reciept and serial #.

Sony now offers this notebook with WinXP pro (the GRV680P) and you should get that as its the same price ... and XP Pro gives you some nice server like features. The not so nice part is that clearly this machine will be orphaned quickly. I say this because soon the only laptops worth buying will have WiFi built in, systems without it will become like laptops without Ethernet two years ago.

The software was somewhat thrown together as well. The built in CD-burning application (drag & drop CD) works, but if you try to use the "built in" XP software for dealing with writable CD's it doesn't work. Other issues arise when you try to use it as a portable machine.

First, the machine draws 100 watts. That means you can't really power it from an airplane power socket without blowing the circuit breaker. Second, the second battery (needed if you want to have long run time) requires that you remove the DVD drive. That means no games while you are "mobile." However, if you get a piece of code that "emulates" a CDROM drive using a disk image on the hard drive you can get by, and the generous hard drive makes that practical. It also weighs a ton with two batteries in it so if you're going to do this get the Sony VAIO back pack to carry the thing. Holding it over your shoulder will give you back pains.

There is a slot for a memory stick. That's great if you're into memory sticks but of little use to those who have cameras with CF slots or USB disk drives.

All that being said, if you are someone who has a small home office, or a desk that you use for both writing and email. Or you are a student who wants to be able to use their computer in the library or the dorm without all the cabling hassle. This is the machine for you. It is completely capable of running all of todays applications (from games, to spreadsheets, to databases) and it offers excellent data storage capacity and connectivity. Like many (most?) portables today it does not come with a floppy but it will read/write CDR's and CD-RWs, as well as DVDs (send a video this year a christmas rather than a letter!) and the fact that everything was designed to work together means no annoying driver/motherboard/OS compatability issues to deal with. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's new K series of VAIO portable computers is an ideal solution for those who can't financially justify an absolute state-of-the-art ultra-lightweight notebook but don't want to be saddled with a bulky, sluggish bargain-basement offering. This model, the VAIO PCG-K17, is the top of the line K series model and thusly delivers exceptional Sony performance and amenities at a competitive price point. Sporting oodles of storage space, scorching fast processing and the advanced functionality of DVD burning and wireless communication, it is ready for most any situation and environment from school to home to office and any place in between.

Tastefully clad a two-tone paint scheme and reasonably diminutive at 7.3 pounds and 1.6 - 2.7 by 13 by 10.9 inches, the VAIO PCG-K17 is a stylish and comfortably portable unit. The system is driven by a high-end 3.06 GHz Pentium 4 processor and a capable alloent of 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory. The video card, an ATI Radeon IGP 345M, is not the pinnacle of 3-D gaming or 3-D animation performance, though it does support dual displays for those times when two monitors are necessary. Furthermore, the flip-open 15-inch XGA TFT display (1024 by 768 maximum resolution) brandishes Sony's new Xbrite technology for superior brightness, contrast and viewing angles than many other notebook displays.

For your data storage needs, the VAIO PCG-K17 offers a massive 80 GB hard disk and a DVD+RW/-RW/CD-RW combo drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive your data, watch your favorite DVD movies and record video footage to durable DVD media. The unit is equipped with a number of standard amenities, including an 86-key keyboard with electro-static touch pad, a Memory Stick PRO media slot for data transfers from external peripherals, one Type III or two Type I or Type II PC Card capability, and a pair of internal stereo speakers.

Connectivity options include an IEEE 1394 FireWire port for fast interaction with external devices such as digital camcorders, three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email, a high-speed RJ-45 LAN network connector, and integrated wireless LAN for cord-free network and e-communication access.

The impressive software bundle includes the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft's Works 7.0 productivity suite, Intuit's Quicken New User Edition financial center, and a wide range of Sony's own multimedia utilities. Estimated battery life is certainly satisfactory at 1.5 -- 3.5 hours per charge. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best at the price level
I found this Sony model on a 1 day sale at Fry's Electronics store. Liked very much, seemed to have all the features I wanted, quickly shopped on line and found their price was by far the lowest, so bought it and have been completely satisfied..flawless operation, the brightest display, that doesn't dim down when on battery operation, can't fault anything about this laptop and for the under $2000 class is easily the best performer... I paid a lot more for my previous laptop and the Sony PCG-K17 does it all for less money ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Loyal R505 owner
I've owned a Sony R505TL for about 2 years. During those 2 years, it has been through very heavy usage; you might even call it abuse.

My laptop is on about 12 hours per day. It gets tossed around in the car while I drive like a maniac; sits in 100+ degree temperatures while I'm in clients' offices; and gets banged around against walls and floors in an attache not made for laptops. Then I get home and abuse it some more.

Pros:
- Great to look at.
- Light and mobile.
- Takes abuse and doesn't complain.
- Developed using alien technology.

Cons:
- You can't make love to it.
- You can't eat it.
- It doesn't dispense cash.

Bad news: The R505TL finally died last week. Her demise can be blamed on idiot designers of wireless network PCMCIA cards. Why do those things stick out so much?! I accidentally swung my attache into a wall, cramming the protruding pc card into the slot, breaking the slot and shoving it into my laptops innards.

Good news: I'm getting another one! Just won the auction on eBay. This one's faster and newer. I'm also getting a Sony Vaio 802.11G card that DOESN'T protrude; this is the only 802.11G card on the market that's almost flush with a laptop's side.

The R505 has been replaced by the V505. They must have bought some new technology from the aliens. I'm sure it's also a good product, but I'll stick to R505's until I need something faster.

SONY Vaio R505DL
I absolutely love this machine. People are going to say that you probably could get a better machine for the same price, but if it's thin and light that you want, this is the computer to get. Naturally, you're going to sacrifice some things like a larger screen, faster processor, etc for the portability, and yes, it's a little pricey... But it's not pretending to be a desktop replacement, it's perfect if you're looking for something that won't break your back when you're traveling back and forth. Compared to other ultra-lights out there, the Sony definitely has more bang for the buck. Sometimes I have to check my bag to make sure the computer is still there - I'm used to lugging my old Dell around. I use it for law school and it suits my needs fine - the combo DVD/CDRW is a nice addition, and the sound and graphics are of course SONY's forte. Plus - you can't really see them in the description, but the laptop itself has all the network connections, so you don't need to take the docking station with you if you want to hop on the internet. The only flaw in this machine is the shallow keyboard, which is not a full size keyboard so they've also moved certain keys around, so you have to get used to typing on it. Other than that, this is a great machine for the price, and I've received dozens of compliments on its cool and sleek design. Perhaps not the most quantitative reason to get this machine, but it's an added bonus.

Lacks in the normal Sony style, bad quality
I have used Sony laptops since 1999 and tend to get a new one every few years giving the old one as a hand-me-down to someone else. I like Sony because they typically make the very lightest laptops available, the keyboards have a smooth action, and the design/style of the products are usually "cool" looking.

This laptop was an exception. Something about it is awkward and clunky. It's larger than my 3 previous Sony Vaio laptops, the edges are squared off, not rounded...in fact there's something very "square" about the entire product design!

The design is bad enough to hurt functionality, too, as there is a fan on the bottom of the computer which easily becomes obstructed if you use it outside of the docking case (where 100% of my use occurs).

Now about quality. In general, I had been really happy with Vaio quality, but this laptop is making me think twice. If you leave the computer on for a long time (a couple of weeks), the hard drive starts screaming. This is probably due to overheating. I have to turn off the computer and let it sit and cool, then turn it on again. The power cord connection was always loose in the machine so that I would have to wiggle the cord to ensure a connection. That connection would invariably disconnect from time to time during use, and I'd be on battery power without realizing it. Eventually, 1 year and 4 months after I bought the machine, the power connection failed altogether and would only connect sporadically. As I write this, the computer is at Sony for repair, and they seem to just want to send me an entire refurbished computer rather than diagnose and fix the problem. I've also found an article in today's (May 22, 2004) San Jose Mercury News (see the action line feature) in which another person ALSO had problem with the DC jack line. A reader wrote the paper to get help with Sony service because he kept seeing the problem over and over again. He says "When I plug in the AC/DC power cord, I have to hold the cord or move it around a little to get a good connection". This is exactly what happens with me, and I therefore think this is a general problem with the machine.

So, because of problems with the design, overheating, and quality, I cannot recommend that you buy this item.

To leave on a good note: the laptop IS really light. One of the lightest you'll find, with a keyboard that is large enough to actually use.

Don't buy
Rarely am I disappointed by a product to the point that I feel that I have to tell others not to buy something -- this is one of those instances.

1. The power management isn't. The software will not allow you disable powersave modes for anything other than your current session. Once the system is rebooted, the default scheme returns and you run the risk of the display going dark in the middle of a presentation.

2. The video card on the docking station is horrible. I like to "dock" my laptop, and bring up my display on my new LCD, then I can undock and go on my way with my documents -- the display to a flat panel screen is sorely lacking. Lack of color depth and resolution.

3. XP support is horrible -- there was no way to "export" your display out to the projector in XP by doing the "function-f7" sequence, you had to manually go through software and select that you wanted to export your display. One of the reasons I had to return to Win2K.

4. The standard install includes more junk that you'll never use -- AOL, Microsoft Network, etc. These applications would constantly pop up and ask you dumb questions. I understand that most new PCs come loaded with this kind of software, but most PCs allow you to reload the system from scratch with the bare-bones applications and build from there. If you go with Sony's build, get yourself the Autorun application from sysinternals.com and nuke these things. If you try to load your own software NOTHING will work.

5. Plugging a mouse into the docking station is less than responsive, the pointer skips around on the screen instead of smoothly moving like it's supposed to.

All in all, this laptop is junk, and at the price that Sony is selling these things it makes the insult that much worse. It's nice because it's light, but then again so is a Palm Pilot. I'd seriously get yourself something else from a company that has budgeted more money into Quality Control. I've really tried to work with this thing over the last year, it just keeps letting me down.

Super lightweight and compatible
I've used my Vaio R505 for 2 years and it hasn't dissapointed me in any way. The size and weight are the best part. I leave the docking station at work and carry around the laptop to client presentations and business trips. It fits in my slim tote bag so I don't have to lug around those big computer bags that weigh just as much as the laptops themselves. The memory stick slot makes it convenient to upload images from my Sony digital camera. If I were to buy another PC, it would be a Sony. But I've been dissapointed with the Windows OS and may convert to a Macintosh. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Some people are confirmed homebodies. Others answer the call of the road and travel light. For those who avoid full-time commitment to either mode of existence, there’s the Sony Vaio PCG-R505GL SuperSlim Pro notebook PC. At 4.3 pounds and about 1.3 inches thick, the R505GL offers a versatile blend of ultramobility and convenient all-in-one functionality when coupled with its included SlimDock docking station.

A 1.2 GHz Intel Pentium III-M processor provides high-performance power for a full range of productivity and multimedia software. A 30 GB hard drive offers ample data storage capacity, while 256 MB of RAM--expandable to 384 MB--ensures optimal performance for running multiple applications simultaneously.

The docking station includes a DVD/CD-RW combination drive (24x/16x/10x CD-RW, 8x DVD) that enables users to view movies on DVD and burn DVD videos disks, listen to and burn CDs, and rapidly back up data.

A 12.1-inch XGA active-matrix TFT display and 32 MB of RAM offer sharp, bright images. An integrated 10/100Base-TX Ethernet LAN connector supports networking. The notebook includes a FireWire interface for high-speed digital video, audio, and data transfers, one Type II PC Card slot, two USB ports, a VGA interface, and an RJ-11 jack for the built-in V.92 modem.

Also included is a Memory Stick media slot for transferring data among compatible Sony products, and a Jog Dial control with a back button to simplify Web browsing and application controls. The notebook’s standard lithium-ion battery offers an estimated 4.5-hour run time, and an optional double-capacity battery offers up to 9 hours operation on a single charge.

Installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office, Quicken 2002, InterVideo WinDVD 2000, and Trend Micro PC-cillin. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Good for travel, reading docs & taking notes
As was mentioned before, this Sony is very high quality and has a tough magnesium case. Not a single bad pixel on the uniformly bright screen. It is light and thin enough to carry with one hand especially when you disconnect it from the dock.

I got this laptop so that I can write my status reports, fill out my timesheet and read eBooks while flying coach. I wanted a laptop that I could bring to meetings and classes to take notes. Sometimes I will use it to drive a projector when I lead training sessions. When I go into a datacenter, I will bring it with me so that I have product documentation at hand.

I don't need the docking station drives for any of those activities, thus I take full advantage of the light weight. Also, it is very quiet and small, so it doesn't distract others during meetings or classes.

This is NOT a desktop replacement computer since it is only a third as powerful as high-end desktops. Also, its screen and keyboard are a little too small to be comfortable using 8-10 hours a day. When I work at my desk and write documentation and presentations, I will prefer to have the Sony plugged into my 19" monitor, USB keyboard, USB mouse and Ethernet. When I want to play games, I'm going to use my desktop computer at home.

Tips:
Get the Kensington Optical PocketMouse Pro. It is a silver optical mouse with a USB cable that retracts into the mouse body for travel. It is very clever and comfortable and matches the laptop color. I'm not using a wireless mouse since the mouse batteries could die while I'm working.

Be sure click the 'lock' switch after you attach the laptop battery to get some peace of mind. I tend to use the battery as the carry handle.

Practice for a while with the right Shift key. I still haven't quite gotten the hang of it, but I compensate by using Caps Lock more often.

Sony's support website says to not use Nero CD Writer software until they get a bug fix in. It can harm your DVD/CD-RW drive.

True, touchpad buttons are hard to hit, but I never use them. I didn't use them on larger laptops either. It's easier to just tap the touchpad to perform button clicks. To drag something, tap twice and don't pick up your finger after the second tap. Also, the Sony has touchpad shortcuts to close windows (tap top-left corner and drag down-right) and scroll windows vertically (slide along right of touchpad) and scroll horizontally (slide along bottom).

The LCD is XGA, but contrary to what another reviewer said, VGA and SVGA will look fine and scale to full screen IF you get the latest Intel 830MG chipset graphics driver from Intel's website. There were a lot of bug fixes in Intel's latest driver and Sony's support site didn't have it yet. The new driver even updates the chipset to enable DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL support, if you get desperate for a game.

I plan on putting in a 512MB 144-pin 133MHz SoDIMM based on other reviewers' suggestions. That will bring the system up to 640MB. I read Intel's 830MG chipset documentation and it does look like it is supported.

I expect at some point I will get a wireless 802.11b PC card, but I don't have a need for it now.

My only complaint is that it doesn't include S-Video or TV-Out connectors. I know the 830MG supports it, so it was disappointing that Sony didn't include them. There are bi-directional FireWire to S-Video/NTSC/PAL/Stereo converters out there (tvone, Dazzle or Canopus)..., but I just wanted TV-out for watching a DVD on TV.

I'm very glad I purchased this machine.

time will tell
Bought one. Returned it because the floppy drive didn't work and the screen went on the fritz. Exchanged it for another one. Again the floppy drive doesn't work and the DVD-ROM drive won't open. I talked to Sony support and they claim they don't have hardware problems with the computer or its docking station (though they had in the past). Curious to know if others have had this problem too or if I am just spectacularly unlucky this year. I haven't yet decided whether or not to give Sony a third try on this machine. It's a pity since it seems like such a well designed laptop, if only it would work.
Another reviewer mentioned Sony's support. I agree that it is weak, especially relative to Dell and others. My desktop Sony had to go back. It came back (reset so all information was gone). They hadn't fixed the hardware; they had just re-run the setup discs. Gee, thanks Sony!

Keep Looking - CS is important!
Well I have just about had it with Sony.

First let me say that when you need support you are contributing to the outsourcing in the US.

Second, unless it's a simple problem these people have no clue what they are doing.

Third, you are put on hold forever!

When they finally figure out that they can't fix your problem they transfer you back to the US, where someone there tells you that the people you just spoke to have no clue.

The best you can expect at this point is to send the computer in for repair. Not a lot of fun,(three months new) because you are now without a computer for several weeks and all your data is at the hands of strangers.

Customer Service has to be one of the most important factors when buying a computer, Sony gets an F.

My next computer will be a Dell, providing they maintain the quality service in the US they have built their reputation on.

Here's a new motto for Sony Vaio
If you like getting the run-around, Sony is for you.

Great computer but has a glitch after 1.5 years
I am a graduate student and I absolutely love this computer. I have this exact model. It is light,portable and is great for word processing and web searching. I don't do anything more than that so this is probably a fancier computer than I really "need". I rarely use the docking station so I carry it without. However, I was very disappointed to find that one of my USB ports went out on me only a little after a year. Luckily I bought this computer at Best Buy and bought the 3 year performance plan which is WELL worth the money.

As with any large purchase make sure to make sure your bases are covered just in case anything happens. Aside from the USB glitch, I don't know where I would be without my computer--The newer r505 has no docking station, is slimmer and lighter...

Great machine but ...partitions
Just bought this machine and noticed right away that the Sony specs have this drive partitioned with the C drive being too small for practical purposes if you start loading any third party software on. The systems disks that come with the Vaio don't allow you to set re-set/format to simply have one, unpartitioned drive. SO...

Break out your old Windows 98 disks, format the hard drive to one big C drive and then load your own version of XP on it to upgrade. The speed diference is noticeable and makes a good machine even better.

Other than that, this is a great machine for the money. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

very poor tech support
I purchased this laptop July 2003. The primary use was for using voice recognition software to dictate science manuscripts. Because of a repetitive strain injury to my arms, I use voice dictation software to avoid typing. I was attracted to this model because it promised excellent recording capabilities which logically should mean that it would be good for voice recognition. (Some laptop manufacturers make models that have a lot of electronic noise, making voice recognition poor.)

The laptop met my expectations and had a very low electronic noise. The result was that I was able to dictate scientific manuscripts without many mistakes.

However I give the unit a one star rating because of the extremely poor or nonexistent technical support provided by the Company. Shortly after I purchased the unit I had some technical questions and went online to an address provided on my notebook. I then found that to send a note to Sony asking for help, I had to have a question for which Sony had already posted an answer. I know that sounds crazy, but that is the way the system that worked. I had to create a dummy problem by selecting from a pick list an issue that did not occur on my computer. I was then able to get to a screen from which I could post information about the actual problem. Technical support did solve the problem.

Today I left my computer on with Microsoft Windows running. When I returned after a few minutes, I had a blue screen of death. The computer was no longer in Windows and could no longer boot back to Windows. I had managed to obtain a telephone number for technical support when I had my earlier question.

to my astonishment technical support told me that I was not entitled any longer to technical support even though I have had the unit less than a year. I made 2 different calls. The different technicians both said the same. Technical support is provided only during the first year after a model line is introduced for sale. So it is actually possible I guess for someone to purchase a brand-new computer for which there is absolutely no technical support because the line was introduced a year or so ago.

Fortunately I had purchased an extended warranty from Circuit City and took the unit into a local store for shipment off to he a air center.

if you are thinking about purchasing any Sony computer beware of the technical support policy. This policy contrasts with the Unlimited support from computer makers such as Dell where telephone technical support is available as long as you have the computer. the one star rating for the unit is also based on the fact that it died after less than a year of use.

Fast ... but as far from reliable as you can get.
I've never had more problems with a laptop than this one. According to the specs, it's great-- a fast CPU, lots of RAM, a great video card and a huge hard disk, plus a DVD burner! And look at that screen! It MUST be good! .. too bad it isn't.

The CPU is fast-- but it's a Pentium 4 DESKTOP processor. Not only does it suck up the battery life, it produces obscene amounts of heat, making the fan stay on all the time. So, you can hear the machine across the room at all times.

The video card is incompatible with the latest drivers in most cases, and has huge incompatibilities with the latest games. Many won't even begin to run.

The DVD Drive can only burn at the most abysmally slow speeds. Writing a full DVD will take over 2 hours.

Battery life is horrendous. You can expect 45 minutes if all you are doing is word processing. If you raise the CPU usage above 20%, you can expect 30 minutes. If you use it to the absolute maximum, expect 20. This is on the lowest screen brightness, folks. You can't finish watching a DVD (Forget about burning one) on this machine. And Sony wants $300 for another one.

The chipset is SiS, the cheapest out there; so don't expect reliability. This machine crashes more than anything I've used in my entire life. Nothing ever works as it should.

My machine had to be repaired twice now, and I need to bring it in tomorrow for MORE repairs. Here's a short list of what is wrong ..

- CPU fan nearly stopped. CPU overheated and crashed all the time.
- 802.11x card stopped working entirely.
- Speakers kept emitting bursts of deafening static.
- Constant squealing noise from the hard drive.
- 10 gb of the disk was unusable.
- The left mouse button jammed.
- One USB port was upside-down and didn't work at all.
- 30 minutes of battery life.
- Wired ethernet rarely worked for longer than a few hours. Had to reboot constantly to keep it connected.
- Most program crashed, especially games, even with the latest drivers, DirectX, and service packs.
- 8 keys fell off under normal use.
- Screen backlight began burning out; screen brightness would change at random and flash on and off.
- Battery cover fell off and could not be reattached.
- Most CDs could not be read. Drive takes over 30 seconds to spin up a disc for reading.
- DVD playback is jumpy. Tons of read errors.

Avoid this laptop. Get something that you can trust-- from a company you can trust.

Unbelievable poor quality poor support
I wish I had flushed so much money down the toilet. My laptop has so far experienced TWO severe problems sending the laptop to Vaio's support center. Useless to mention how much I spent struggling with the laptop trying to make it work. The laptop came back yesterday with new problems and they couldn't care less. My worst buy ever.
I also have a Toshiba laptop that I purchased for $1500 LESS that the Vaio. Ironically I am more satisfied with the cheaper Toshiba.

Blazing Fast!
This is a great toy for power graphic user!
Run multiple high graphic applications (CADs mainly) and along with live webcam in the background, the system handles them all with ease.
The mouse buttons are a little annoying for they are a litle noisy, especially if you work late in the room at nite.
Other than that this is not only a best desktop replacement but a very nice system with fully loaded, higher end technology.
However, don't count on this as a travelmate because it's a 9 lbs. toy, and you will have to get an extra large case to lugging it around. Any standard large case won't do for its irregular size.

Anyway, it's a Best Buy...for now!!! until there is another better Best in couple months down the ever changing tech road.

VAIO PCG-GRT170
Well, after having read some of the online reviews I'm surprised, that the reviewers failed to point out (or notice?) a significant performance issue with this model.
To begin with, I bought mine at Amazon in mid-July, and - having previously read the raw specs of this laptop over and over again comparing them to numerous other competitors' models - I eagerly anticipated the moment to finally un-box mine, fire it up, and dive right into my multimedia projects.
My first impression after having crancked it up was disappointment, as the laptop seemed to respond slower, than my older HP Omnibook 6100 with a 1.2Ghz CPU.
Having tweeked everything I could, and checked, then double checked, that the CPU was indeed running at 2.8Ghz I turned my attention to the hard drive. It turns out, that - at least at the time I bought mine - SONY chose to include the slowest 60GB HD then available on the market: a Hitachi/IBM drive with 2MB cache and 4200 RPM. Unfortunately, the specs of the drive, other than its capacity, are not disclosed in the technical details available online. Considering everything else, that's been thrown into this machine in the name of performance, being frugal on the hard drive is a crying shame.
At the cost of ($),- I bought and installed the flagship of the Hitachi/IBM notebook drive family, the 60GB 7200 (yes, that's seventy-two-hundred) RPM drive with 8MB cache. The machine is finally purring as it should have from day one, and crunches through multimedia applications from video editing to games, like an Apple Powerbook.
If your GRT170 came with a slower HD, you owe it to yourself to upgrade to get the most out of this otherwise excellent notebook PC. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

It wasn't so long ago that a portable computer offering this level or top-end speed and such a comprehensive selection of amenities would weigh more than a briefcase stuffed full of papers. But with the Sony VAIO PCG-GRT260G Notebook, you can have more goodies than a high-end desktop and all the speed you're ever likely to need in a package weighing a mere 7.5 pounds (9.1 pounds with optical drive) and measuring just 14.1 by 11.9 by 1.9 inches. It's not inexpensive, but the VAIO PCG-GRT260G is a stunningly capable machine.

Sporting a commanding 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB of Level 2 cache, a super-fast 533 MHz bus and 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 1024 MB), the VAIO PCG-GRT260G is built to blast through most any application. Sony has complemented the system's powerful "engine" with an impressive 64 MB nVidia GeForce FX Go 5600 3-D video accelerator to make quick work of graphics-intensive 3-D applications and all but the most demanding 3-D games. The unit's integrated 80 GB hard disk offers oodles of room to store important files and programs, and its detachable DVD+-RW/CD-RW combo drive allows you to turn home videos into DVDs, watch the latest Hollywood releases, burn and play audio CDs and backup data.

Multimedia enthusiasts will appreciate the system's massive 16.1-inch SXGA+ viewing screen (1400x1050 maximum resolution) and integrated stereo speakers. Other desirable amenities include a Memory Stick PRO media slot, three high-speed USB 2.0 ports, and a fast IEEE 1394 port for data transfers from peripherals such as digital camcorders. To communicate with the outside world, the unit features a 56K modem for low-speed Internet and email access, a 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet interface for high-speed connectivity, and a convenient IEEE 802.11b/802.11g wireless LAN. Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Sony's Giga Pocket personal video recording application (for simultaneous television viewing and video recording), and an expansive array of audio, video and photo utilities. Battery life is not one of the system's strong points -- it delivers 1.0 to 1.5 hours of usage with one battery attached and 2.0 to 3.0 hours with an optional second battery installed in the multi-purpose bay. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

disapointed
very disapointed by this computer, the hard drive is so slow, it's a drag.
I miss my old Dell.
If course, they never mention when you buy the Sony laptop that the disk is a slow RPM.
Stay away.
stephan.

the worst of the worst
when I first ordered this computer I thought that it was going to fit all of my needs. One of which is being able to carry it from place to place, which is not posible because it weighs in at just
under eleven pounds, and when you factor in the bag which you have to carry it in because you definitly dont want to break such an expensive computer it weighs about seventeen pounds. For your own satisfaction get another computer.

Another 'GRT 170' Vaio laptop again!
This is basically another 'GRT 170' laptop, except it's about $400 more for this model. With the '64MB of dedicated video memory', this thing should plow through any software like a 'German Panzer Tank'. Any 'laptop' or 'desktop', make sure it has 'dedicated video memory', not the cheap 'shared (integrated) video memory'. If you get 'shared', you'll be sorry. Again, this is a quality buy, a little on the expensive side, but the quality is there.

Absolutely the best notebook I've ever owned
This is an awesome notebook that brings the power and screen size/resolution of the desktop with me everywhere I go. I use it for video editing as well with incredible results. This is the laptop you'll want to buy if you're serious about the work you do while on the road. So far, after two months of ownership, I have yet to find anything that limits what I can do with this amazing notebook. Also an incredible gaming platform!! It's a little on the large size, but well worth the added size for what it's capable of doing.

The only concern that I had was the search for a notebook case. I wanted a backpack, and I eventually found one suitable for the notebook (16.1 inch screen size) from Amazon. Local stores here in Las Vegas didn't carry the size I needed.

Still, this is an outstanding notebook that blows away the other two I've owned. I'd highly recommend it!

This is an Awesome Laptop
This is the best Laptop ever, it features 2.80-GHz pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, and also comes with DVD+/RW/CD-RW Drive. All this is definately worth your money! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Though lacking a few of the higher-end features found in some Sony mobiles, the Vaio VX88P notebook is nevertheless an ideal choice for anyone who needs a truly portable solution for their everyday computing. At a mere 4.42 pounds, an inch high, and just 12.3 by 10.3 inches in diameter, the VX88P weighs significantly less than a typical briefcase and isn't much larger than aletter-size file folder. If you're always on the go, you'll appreciate the convenience such a small profile can bring.

Yet Sony has managed to fashion the featherweight VX88P with enough features for all but the most demanding applications. At the heart of the system lies an 850 MHz Mobile Intel Pentium III processor with 512 KB of Level 2 cache, 256 MB of SDRAM RAM (expandable to 384 MB), and an 11 MB Intel 815EM graphics chip. While this level of performance won't be enough to satisfy die-hard 3-D gamers or power users, it's more than enough for standard notebook purposes.

The VX88P features a number of data storage, transfer, and backup alternatives, including a sizable 30 GB hard drive, a Memory Stick media slot for Memory Stick or MagicGate media, and an optional 3.5-inch USB floppy disk drive. Its external i.Link CD-RW/DVD combo drive (24x/8x/4x, 8x DVD) allows you to archive files, record and play music CDs, and enjoy DVD movies. If you opt for the latter, you'll be doing so through the system's surprisingly large 14.1-inch XGA (1,024 x 768) TFT display and built-in stereo speakers.

No matter where you are, the VX88P ensures you'll never feel out of touch. Its integrated V.90 modem offers low-speed Web and e-mail access, its10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet interface provides high-speed surfing and LAN connectivity, and its long-lasting, lithium-ion battery provides up to 5.5 hours from a single charge. You can even go wireless with the integrated IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN. Other amenities include an i.Link IEEE 1394 jack for fast data uploads from devices such as digital camcorders, two USB ports forplug-and-play peripherals, a VGA output for external monitors, and stereo headphone jack and microphone-in connections.

The unit's control center features a standard keyboard, a convenient center Jog Dial with back button, and an electrostatic touch pad. Pre-installed software includes the Microsoft Windows XP Professional operating system, Quicken 2002 New User Edition, a bevy of audio-video software, and several helpful online tools. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Awesome Laptop - Great Portability
I waited a long time to finally purchase a laptop. I am a Sony fan and each my last three personal desktops have been Sony. At 850 Mhz you may think slow, but I will tell you that I find it to be just as fast as my new Sony PCG-752, 2.0 mhz! The portability makes it easy to transport, the memory stick makes it easy to upload my photos from my Sony-P9 camera and also share files with other, non-Sony PCs by us an optional USB memory stick reader. I do not miss the 3.5 disk drive and the portable, non-powered CD-RW/DVD drive is great and fast! The battery life is great. The bundled battery life offers a 5 hour life for standard usage, but varies when using the wireless LAN and when adjusting the brightness of the screen. I don't want to forget to mention the built in wireless LAN - it's fast and easy. The software bundle is one of Sony's best features. They stock their standard systems with multimedia software that will give you great advantages over equivelant Gateway's or Dell's. Needless to say, I am very happy with my purchase and recommend it to anyone looking for mobility with awesome power. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio GRT160 notebook PC is designed for the semi-mobile professional, and it's a great choice for a desktop PC replacement. It offers a 15-inch screenincludes the XBRITE technology that make jump off the screen. This model also features a 2.66 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a combo DVD+/-RRW and CD-RW drive, and a 32 MB Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go video/graphics card. It also offers wi-fi (802.11b) connectivity.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors.
• Processor: The 2.66 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor offers enough speed for your work today, and it is at the top range of speeds for this processor. It has a rather fast front-side bus (FSB) of 533 MHz and a 512 KB L2 cache.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 1x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 2x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x. For CDs, it has a 16x write/8x rewrite/24x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This PCG-GRT160 model model has an integrated wireless LAN that connects using the 802.11b wireless standard, which is not exactly in step with the latest in wireless networking--54g, or 802.11g. You get a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including both high-speed USB 2.0 and FireWire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 Memory Stick slot (Memory Stick Pro compatible)

Preloaded System and Software
This PCG-GRT100 notebook comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), and DVgate (digital video). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money and Encarta,InterVideo WinDVD, and Norton Internet Security Center (with 90-day subscription).

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 2.0 x 12.9 x 10.7 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 7.9 pounds, the PCG-GRT100 is bit larger than other notebooks in its range. It's best used as a desktop replacement while offering portability when you need it.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers an average battery life range of 1.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-GRT160 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor, and 90 days of phone support. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Descriptions

Although it isn't the smallest mobile computer in Sony's notebook lineup, the VAIO PCG-FRV27 is nevertheless extremely powerful and very nicely equipped. Distinguished from its slightly less pricey sibling, the VAIO PCG-FRV25, by virtue of its DVD writing capabilities, the VAIO PCG-FRV27 is a wise and flexible choice for those who don't require the latest example of micro-miniaturization.

By today's ever-decreasing standards, the 13 by 10.8 by 2.26 inches, 7.72 pound VAIO PCG-FRV27 is of slightly above-average size. It is, however, more powerful than many desktops. Featuring a muscular 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB Level 2 cache, a 533 MHz system bus, 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 1024 MB) and a 64 MB ATI Radeon IGP 345M graphics chipset, the unit will quickly carve through most any task it is given, including many 3-D games and applications.

Sony has fitted the system with an adequate 40 GB hard disk and a versatile CD-RW/DVD-R drive, the latter of which allows you to burn and listen to audio CDs, backup important files to either CD or DVD, archive and enjoy your home movies on DVD, and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. To enhance your activities, the VAIO PCG-FRV27 features a large 15-inch XGA TFT display capable of 1024x768 resolution and a pair of integrated stereo speakers with surround-sound imaging.

Other desirable amenities include an internal V.90 modem for low-speed e-communications, an Ethernet interface for high-speed connectivity, headphone and microphone ports, and an 86-key QWERTY keyboard with electro-static touchpad. Home movie and digital picture buffs will appreciate the unit's two high-speed USB 2.0 ports and single IEEE 1394 interface, through which they can quickly transfer video and still images.

Sony has pre-installed an impressive variety of software, including Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Money 2003, Microsoft Works 7.0, and a broad array of audio, video and photo utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Not quite.
Sony has always made quirky computers, not bad mind you but their products remind me of Saabs. Anyway, this one is certainly a powerhouse, with a bigger processor than most home systems today, coupled with a mediocre sized hard drive (especially when one considers this PC is designed to be a media center, with its very good graphics and CD & DVD burner) and a very crisp display.
The drawbacks here are important:
1) The 2.66 P4 processor is not ideal for mobile use. It throws off a lot of heat and it uses batteries recklessly.
2) The addition of another battery is a pretty steep investment, and in true Sony style, it's proprietary, so make that check out to S O N Y.
3) The weight of this machine is a killer if you're traveling, especially through huge airports where your flight is almost guaranteed to land at the gate farthest from civilization.
4) The absence of an integrated wireless modem these days is unforgivable. Wireless is commonplace, especially for travelers & students (airports, hotels, convention centers, schools, libraries, etc.), and in the next few years it will be virtually ubiquitous.
Anyway, it's not a bad computer, but I think it firmly meets the needs of no particular market segment. I have no doubt that today's buyer can do better at Dell or Gateway, or, for the traveler on a budget, at Averatec.

Good Desktop Replacement
Great computer. I had trouble with the cd drive but the retailer exchanged for a new one. A friend with the same computer had the exact same problem bought at the same place at nearly the same time. Maybe just a bad lot. Since then its been great.

A Workhorse!
It was with some scepticism that I bought Sony FRV27, more swayed in its favour by the solid brand name. But I have had no difficulty in setting it thru its paces. It is fast, the display is excellent, and a well laid out keyboard and its ports. A tad bit heavy and with an extremely poor battery life. The charger is a bit too heavy particularly when you have to lug it around. The bundled software for making DVDs' is intuitive and easy to work with. You dont miss Nero too much. It could have done with an Infrared port and a S-video out for TV output. But all in all a wonderful package and a joy to work with.

Great Computer Few Problems
This is a great computer. Very Fast can play a few games that ask for a 3d card. The Dvd burner is a great plus so is the included software such as works and Age of Empires 2. Sony offers many great media software titles. This is my 2nd sony Viao my other one is 5 years old and still works. I haven't ever had a problem with anything sony. I have a cd player thats over 12 years old and it is still working. Ok the bad about this computer. 1. It's heavy 2. Bad Bad Bad Batery life only last maybe an hour and another battery costs 245.00 so this isn't for travelers. Also sony sections their hard drive in two sections that dosent add up to 40 gb more like 37. Besides these problems this is a great computer just get reddy to lug the brick sized power converter with you.

Nice laptop, bad bad battery life.
I really like this laptop, but the battery life is very very poor. I get about an hours worth of use out of it.

If I do any file copies, the battery immediately moves to 50% the rest of the laptop is just fine. I like the 64mb of video.

But how can you watch a DVD in 1 hour when the battery is just going to die???? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you crave the ultimate in computing portability, Sony's SRX77/N notebook may very well be the answer. Tipping the scales at a featherweight 2.76 pounds, the SRX77/N is no heavier than a typical purse. Just 1.1 by 10.2 by 7.7 inches, it's slim enough to fit inside one. But make no mistake: Sony's smallest notebook is as powerful as it is convenient.

Driving the SRX77/N is the capable yet cost-effective Intel Pentium III processor, featuring an 800 MHz clock speed and a generous 512 KB of Level 2 cache for enhanced performance during complex computing situations. Sony has paired this processor with 128 MB of RAM--more than enough to minimize the workload on the integrated 20 GB hard drive--and an 11 MB Intel 815EM graphics chip. While the SRX77/N won't efficiently run today's most demanding 3-D games and programs, it will quite easily handle most typical business and entertainment applications.

When you open the system's ultrathin magnesium alloy case, you'll find several surprisingly sophisticated amenities inside, including an 87-key keyboard, an electrostatic touch pad and Jog Dial control, a pair of stereo speakers, and a reasonably sized 10.4-inch (1,024 x 768) TFT LCD viewing screen. Sony has included a number of device and connectivity ports on either side, including a MagicGate Memory Stick slot for easy transfer of digital images and other data, an IEEE 1394 interface for high-speed digital video, microphone/audio-in and headphone-out ports, a PC card slot, a USB port for plug-and-play peripherals, and a 2.4 GHz 802.11b connect interface for wireless LAN. An integrated V.90 modem provides low-speed Internet access, and a 10/100 Ethernet port permits high-speed surfing.

Due to its ultracompact size, the SRX77/N does have certain limitations. It is not, for example, equipped with internal floppy disk or DVD drives. Yet for many notebook users, particularly those who won't consistently use such devices, this is a small price to pay for such an incredible level of portability.

Your SRX77/N will arrive with pre-installed versions of the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, Quicken 2002, Microsoft Word 2002, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and a broad range of audio, video, and still-image tools and utilities. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With the stylish VAIO R505 SuperSlim Pro series, you get the best of both worlds. Inside this incredibly small notebook is an exceptionally powerful PC. With its striking design and enhanced functionality, the R505 provides plenty of performance and versatility. It is specifically designed for mobile professionals expecting the best in functionality and durability. It features a 2.0 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, Windows 2000 operating system, 40 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The 2.0 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor (which is at the low end for this offering) will not cater to your need for speed, but it is serviceable for the budget minded.Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when its not needed, thus conserving battery life. It has a front-side bus (FSB) of 133 MHz.
• Memory: This notebook has 256 MB of pre-installed memory (DDR SDRAM), which is calling out for more power right out of the gate. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to a small 384 MB total (1 x 256 MB, 1 x 128 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This PCG-R505DSK model model has an integrated wireless LAN that connects using the 802.11b wireless standard, which is not exactly in step with the latest in wireless networking--54g, or 802.11g. It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems)

Preloaded System and Software
This PCG-R505DSK comes with the Windows 2000 operating system--which is outdated in the world of XP--and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents).

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.34 x 11 x 9.4 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 6.8 pounds, the PCG-R505DSK is nicely portable

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers an average battery life range of 3.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-R505DSP notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor, and 90 days of phone support. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Far from the smallest mobile computer in Sony's notebook lineup, the VAIO PCG-FRV28 Laptop is nevertheless extremely powerful and nicely equipped. If size and ease of portability are not overriding factors, the capable VAIO PCG-FRV28 is a wise and cost-effective choice.

By today's ever-decreasing standards, the VAIO PCV-FRV28 is slightly larger than average at 13 by 10.8 by 2.26 inches and 7.7 pounds. It is, however, more powerful than many desktops. Featuring a brawny 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB Level 2 cache, a 533 MHz system bus, 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 1024 MB) and a 64 MB ATI Radeon IGP 345M graphics chipset, the unit will quickly carve through most any task it is given, including many 3-D games and applications.

Sony has fitted the system with an adequate 40 GB hard disk and an internal CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, backup important files and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. You can even record DVDs, although the DVD burning mechanism runs at single-speed and is therefore not especially quick. You'll monitor your activities on a large 15-inch XGA TFT display capable of 1024 by 768 resolution.

Other amenities include an internal V.90 modem for low-speed e-communications, an Ethernet interface for high-speed connectivity, headphone and microphone ports, an 86-key QWERTY keyboard with electro-static touchpad, and a pair of stereo speakers with surround-sound imaging. Home movie and digital picture buffs in particular will appreciate the unit's trio of high-speed USB 2.0 ports and single IEEE 1394 interface, through which they can quickly transfer large amounts of data from external devices such as camcorders, digital cameras, scanners and external drives.

Sony has pre-installed an impressive variety of software, including Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Money 2003, Microsoft Works 7.0, and a broad array of audio, video and photo utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

terrible service and bad laptop
It was the most terrible experience to own this one.
Soon the keyboard started falling and the connection cord had problems as it got loosened up.
After couple of months i had trouble closing the laptop as the screren would remain on.
When I got to the service folks they refused to admit any problems and tried to push every thing on me. the battery drains in just 45 minutes. the laptops starts tomake lout fan noice after couple of months.
GUys this is a terrible the whole customer service from best buy was rude. I wud just say u buy this product and pray that it turns out ok the whole service warranty etc is to drain further money out of you.

Would give 5 stars but battery life is very limited.
Sony has superbly designed this desktop replacement with beautiful cover design and great speed performance. The Sony FRV28 is fine choice for any laptop enthusiast.

The good: Blazing fast performance, 15-inch, crystal clear display; includes Memory Stick Slot for digital photos transfer; 3 USB 2.0 ports, CD/DVD player/writer (DVD writer uses - R format)

The bad: Battery life is very limited. I have tested and while Playing DVD battery lasts for about 45 - 50 minutes. Working non-stop with applications without playing DVD will extend battery life to about 90 minutes

Sony's awesome 15.-inch, display will have you watching DVD movies all night. You have to be plugged in to AC power outlet because unfortunately battery won't last long. The lack of integrated wireless connectivity is no big deal. I just added Netgear MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card for about $38 (after rebate) from Amazon and I was flying on my DSL internet with the speed of light.

What I like the most about this laptop is a Memory Stick slot. I don't need those cables anymore to transfer photos from my digital Sony Cybershot DSC F717 camera.

Sony's laptop comes with 512 RAM memory. Video takes 64 MB ( it can be adjusted in BIOS to use less memory for Video) but there is plenty memory left even for transferring Videos. Maximum video resolution that can be used is 1024 by 768 pixels which is great for this size of display. I have on my desktop PC 17" Viewsonic LCD with 1280x1024 optimum resolution and sometimes it is very hard to read small print on web pages where you cannot change the text size. On the left hand side there is a video jack which lets you connect your laptop to a TV.

Sony included variety of software for CD and DVD burning, Microsoft Works 7.0 and other applications.

In conclusion, I would say this is a great laptop worth every penny. Hope this review will help anyone considering buying this laptop. If you have any questions regarding this review feel free to email me at johndoethe1@bellsouth.net

Good Business Notebook, but pretty much nothing else.
P>If you need to bring your work home, this is the notebook for you. But, if you're looking for a more whole experience including watching movies, playing games, and listening to music, etc..., then this Notebook is not for you.
I bought it a week ago from (a local store), but ended up returning it because it was a "barebone" system in that it has a blazing fast processor, bus speed, and memory; but that's about all it has!

Don't get me wrong. Sony Notebooks are excellent in quality. About 6 months ago, i bought the 505BX (12.1") display, and it was a great performer as well.

But the problem here is that this FRV26 has no Wireless Internet, which is becoming so important these days. Also, it has Shared Video Memory which takes from your 512 MB of memory, leaving you with 448 MB of main memory.

Also, it has no memory stick slot, no floppy drive, and WORST OF ALL, a horrible graphics set with only 1024 X 760 resolution which, although common, is more suitable for a child.

Basically, they stripped it of every bell and whistle to offer it for a cheap(price). It's a good deal, again, if you need business performance, otherwise.... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With the stylish VAIO V505 SuperSlim Pro series, you get the best of both worlds. Inside this incredibly small notebook is an exceptionally powerful PC. With its striking design and enhanced functionality, the V505 provides plenty of performance and versatility. It is specifically designed for mobile professionals expecting the best in functionality and durability. It features a 2.0 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, Windows XP Pro operating system, 40 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The 2.0 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor (which is at the low end for this offering) will not cater to your need for speed, but it is serviceable for the budget minded.Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when its not needed, thus conserving battery life. It has a front-side bus (FSB) of 133 MHz.
• Memory: The 256 MB of built-in memory (DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. It has an 8x write, 4x rewrite, and 24x read speed for CDs, and an 8x playback speed for DVDs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This PCG-V505BC1 model model has an integrated wireless LAN that connects using the 802.11b wireless standard, which is not exactly in step with the latest in wireless networking--54g, or 802.11g. It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems). And it offers 2 USB 2.0 ports and 1 i.Link (FireWire) port for connecting your digital camcorder.

Preloaded System and Software
This PCG-V505DC1PZ notebook comes with the Windows XP Professional operating system (which adds Microsoft's IIS Web server, back-up and recovery utilities, Remote Desktop, and other enhanced business features), and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents).

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.34 x 11 x 9.4 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 6.8 pounds, the PCG-R505DSK is nicely portable

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers an average battery life range of 1.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-V505BC1 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor, and 90 days of phone support. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

One of Sony’s fastest notebooks ever, the Vaio PCG-GRX670 incorporates most everything you could want in a state-of-the-art desktop computer, but in a portable package. Distinguished from the top-of-the-line model of the GRX series--the GRX690--only by virtue of its smaller hard drive (40 GB rather than 60), the GRX670 is otherwise a powerful machine ready to take care of virtually all your business and entertainment needs.

At 8 pounds and 14 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches, the GRX670 is slightly larger than some Sony portables. There is, however, good reason for that extra size. Sony has equipped the unit with an enormous 16.1-inch, high-resolution 1,600 x 1,200 UXGA TFT display (the same viewing area as most 17-inch PC monitors). It has included a combination DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can watch the latest motion pictures, burn home movies onto digital media, record and play music compilations, listen to retail CDs, and back up and archive your important files and data.

Sporting a 2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB of Level 2 cache, a 400 MHz bus, and 512 MB of DDR SDRAM, the GRX670 is built for speed. Sony has complemented the system’s powerful engine with a 32 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 video accelerator to make quick work of all but the most graphics-intensive 3-D applications and games.

Sony has packed the system with high-end amenities, including a Memory Stick media slot for Memory Stick or MagicGate media, an i.Link IEEE 1394 interface for fast data uploads from devices such as digital camcorders, three USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, a TV-out, parallel port, and headphone jack. To ensure you keep in touch wherever you go, the GRX670 features an internal V.90 modem and a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet interface. Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and an enormous array of business and multimedia utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Sony Vaio GRX 670 is simply great
To bring home the first notebook of my life, I have looked at Dell I 8200, IBM thinkpads A31, Compaqs and Gateways and I ended up getting VAIO GRX 670. ... after rebates there are not too many notebooks out there with a 16.1 inch display and DVD RW drive. The VAIO looks cool and display is awesome for watching movies or playing games. For running applications as a programmer there is plenty of oomph provided with P4-M 2G processor and 512 MB ram. Another important thing is we can upgrade this to 1GB RAM if it is not good enough for running a memory intensive application such as an Application Server for example. The only negative point is the video card is not the latest ATI 9000 but it has the older leader ATI 7500 with 32 MB which should meet all the video demands unless you are a real intensive gamer who plays games that are written using the features enhanced by the ATI 9000 card which costs another 140 dollars more.

I have heard that SONY's warranty does not cover the screen so to be on the safe side I have bought the extended warranty. By the way Sony has provided a lot of cool software for buring DVD's and making movies and the memory stick is a plus if you own other SONY products. The performance has been great when watching a movie or running multiple applications simultaneously. I do not see any need to ugprade the memory to 1GB.

Overall there are so many choices out there but I could not find one that has everything I am looking for in the price range. In the end after looking at this VAIO I I have fallen for it :-) I think this is a good long term desktop replacement.

SONY GRX670 Review
I've had this machine since Saturday and I can't keep my hands off of it. This is a truly amazing laptop with the combination of beautiful screen, 2 gigahertz P4 processor and writable DVD drive. I have had various Sony desktops in the past, but this is my first laptop. The screen is beautiful, very bright and sharp. I was looking for a machine to play around with making DVDs of MPEGs from my digital camera and analog VHS tapes that I have all over the place. The new Sony Click-to-DVD software is very easy and reliable. My only negative comment on it is that it hides some of the statistics and error results from you. If there is a problem, it doesn't tell you much, although I realize that it is meant to be very consumer friendly and part of this depends on NOT telling the user all the technical details of codec used etc. The new Toshiba DVD-RW drive is a bit slower than other DVD writers out there (only 1x write speed for DVD compared to 2.4 for most others and 4x for the newest ones), but, it is the only game in town for a laptop machine. It too, is very reliable. I have sucessfully burned data and DVD-video onto Memorex DVD-RW, Memorex DVD-R and Panasonic DVD-R media over the weekend. I am very happy with the 2 gigahertz P4. High processor speed is almost essential for video processing where it can take hours to encode a DVD. Last night I was writing to a DVD-RW (data), surfing and encoding another DVD with Adobe Premiere LE (included with the machine) and still performance was workable, given that the CPU was working over 90%. I was thinking about upgrading from the included 512 meg ram to a full gig, but I don't even think I need to do that. Sony's new Drag'n Drop cd/dvd writing software works very well for writing data to DVD-R and DVD-RW disks (works for CD-R and CD-RW, although I haven't tried that yet.) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Weighing in at a barely there 2.2 pounds and sporting a super-slim yet durable 1.2-by-9.9-by-6-inch magnesium alloy case, the Vaio C1MW PictureBook is considerably smaller than an average notebook. Nonetheless, this sleek offering from Sony is a powerful and truly versatile digital workhorse.

Driven by an 867 MHz low-heat Crusoe processor with 512 KB of Level 2 cache, and sporting 256 MB of RAM, the C1MW is ready to handle most any standard notebook application. Its 30 GB hard drive is roomy enough for all your mobile programs, including the pre-installed editions of Microsoft Windows XP, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Word 2002, and RealNetworks Real Entertainment suite. And its 8 MB ATI Mobility Radeon-M graphics chip will capably display all but the most graphically intense games and entertainment software on the system's big and bright 8.9-inch UW-SXGA TFT viewing screen.

The C1MW features many perks of larger notebooks, including an 86-key keyboard, a stick-type pointing device with scroll function and jog dial, a single USB jack, an integrated microphone, V.90 modem, and stereo speakers. Due to its diminutive size the unit features several external accessories, including a port replicator box with VGA-out and 10/100 Ethernet connections, an AV-out for viewing and recording digital images from a DVD player or VCR, and an additional USB jack. Its CD-ROM drive is also external and therefore somewhat less convenient than a comparable internal unit, but that's one of the few concessions you'll have to make for this level of portability.

The PictureBook is not just a computer--it's a video recorder too. Using its concealed 180-degree-rotating Motion Eye CCD camera, you'll capture all your favorite or important moments as still images or MPEG2 mini-movies. Furthermore, the C1MW allows you to quickly and easily store and transfer your digital image and data files to a desktop computer or other device via its MagicGate Memory Stick slot. Sony has also enclosed a variety of multimedia applications to make managing your personal video environment even easier.

Ideal for those who require maximum mobility, the Sony Vaio C1MW PictureBook is proof that good things do indeed come in very small packages. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonder toy with Sony Fallacies
I got this device mainly for it's lightweight and compact design for use on business trips and vacations overseas. The features that I think are nice are bluetooth, firewire port, and memory stick slot. It also has two USB ports, 100 Base-T Ethernet, modem, and Wi-Fi (using extended I/O adapter and Wi-Fi PC Card). The camera is fun too.

The annoying thing about this and other VIAOs is that is comes pre-installed with an avalanche of useless software whose shortcuts blind the view of the desktop. These programs make the system performance come to a crawl and make the OS unstable.

There is only a restore CD to re-install the same unstable and sloth-like configuration. I managed though to install WinXP Pro on another partition that I created using PartitionMagic, and got substantial performance gains, but at the expense of some features like the camera.

Some might complain about the choice of processor by Sony, but I manage fine for web development (Apache web server, mySQL, Tomcat, Mozilla, DreamWeaver, Flash), shell, WSH, and perl scripting (Cygwin, ActiveState, Komodo), and programming with .Net, C++, and Java (Eclipse, CodeWarrior, jEdit). I also use it to do reports and presentations for college using Office documents with OpenOffice. It's not a speed demon by any means, but without the junk that Sony bundles, the performance is adequate.

A novelty, not for serious users
Sporting a Crusoe TM5800 CPU, this super small super light notebook is bound for the dust heap of computing history. The Crusoe CPU was a novel idea: build a low power CPU from scratch and have it "emulate" a true Intel CPU. The sad reality is that the peformance is very poor and the compatiblity just isn't there with all software.

You would be much better off buying an Compaq Ipaq or similar Xscale based hand held computer. Software is being written for Xscale computers by the truckloads and it uses less power than the Crusoe. Or go for a PIII-M notebook.

Sadly Transmeta (the company that makes the Crusoe CPU) has failed to make very many of them, and is not expected to last much longer. Hopefully the brilliant ideas they created will live on in a company able to bring them to market in the kind of numbers that make software developers take notice and write stable apps for it.

reneesmith505
reneesmith505
u sounds like an inexperienced user. most problems u described can be easily resolved.

Problems ...
After extensive research, I selected the picturebook for its light wight and features (built in digital camera/video cam & the cd-rw/dvd player). While I love the size, the items on the screen are SO tiny. Second, the system seems really slow. Also, I had problems including this Windows XP onto my home network because Microsoft doesn't include the cd and you can't burn a network disk to a cd but only a memory stick, which I don't have. Even the network setup floppy from another machine doesn't work with my other computer that has Windows 2000. Finally, the cd player doesn't work, and Sony wants me to return the computer for repair. I think I am just going to return the system. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Not good
Bought it in Sep 2002. It has been very disappointing. THe keys falling apart. The cd drive door broke. Keys getting stuck etc. Was not at all happy with the model.

Pricey and not worth it
its pretty pricey at the price, and 2nd is the ram they give you is maxed out meaning 512 is the maximum ram it can handle in total. the processor itself is stuck on 1.6 meaning it cannot go any higher or lower then the 1.6ghz they provided, its a pretty dissapointing thing in total so my rating is very poor since the fixed processor means that if you short it out its VERY pricey to replace

Sony laptops are worry free
I work on my computers daily. Sony laptops are exactly what you want. Turn it on, work, turn it off. No problems. Cool!

You would be crazy to buy anything but this laptop!!!!!!
I love it, I have a compaq presario laptop which was fine, but limited in memory w, max 196mb. But my sony came with 512mb of memory, I never dreamed of having that much, programs never lock up, I am on the internet everyday, thats my full time job, I have an online store, so I have to monitor sales and get orders out, it stays cool, I can sit it on my lap all day, and never gets to hot. I have heard of the sony data into and ten grx560 getting hot by a reviewer, I don't know I don't own one, but the 550 is great for movies, music, large games, I have spiderman the movie which uses over 1 gig to load and the graphics are spectacular with the 32 meg video card, I would recommend this to anyone, don't care for windows xp, too many bugs butsony really give you your moneys worth with the software package ... . Now go and get yours!!! NOW!!!!

THE BEST #1 SONY GRX550
I went through three lapetops in a month in a half it being the most scarest purchase in my life they were falling apart walking out the door on my fourth try I chose the GRX550 by SONY IT will not be beat! better graphics,speed,512mbram @ much more.I would mention teck support but I have had NO need for it not 1 proublem in 3 months. Thank you sony the grx550 is #1 please dont stop building this modle ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Featuring Intel’s exciting new Centrino technology and desirable amenities such as DVD playing and wireless communications, the Sony VAIO PCG-V505DX Notebook is a perfect match for those who need a lightweight machine that transports easily and is powerful and versatile enough for typical mobile tasks and a variety of environments.

What is Centrino? It’s an Intel-developed technology built upon a triad of three interconnected elements -- an Intel Pentium M CPU (with 1 full GB of Level 2 cache), an Intel 855 chipset, and a cord-free network connection – that work hand-in-hand to keep your notebook lightweight, wirelessly connected, power efficient, and faster than its rated CPU speed might indicate. The power section of the VAIO PCG-V505DX Notebook includes a midlevel 1.4 GHz Pentium M processor, 512 MB of DDR SDRAM (expandable to a whopping 2 GB), and a surprisingly capable ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphics chipset with 32 MB dedicated video memory. Though the unit can’t be recommended for high-end 3-D design and games or harsh business multitasking situations, it will handle most everything else.

Measuring a mere 10.9 by 9.5 by 1.3 inches and tipping the scales at just 4.4 lbs., the VAIO PCG-V505DX Notebook is easy to carry and easy to use. Yet this level of portability doesn’t come at the expense of creature comforts. Apart from an unexpectedly large 60 GB hard disk and a CD-RW/DVD combo drive through which you can burn audio and data CDs and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters, the unit also features a 12.1-inch XGA TFT display capable of 1024 by 768 resolution, integrated stereo speakers, and three levels of communication -- a V.90 modem, 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet, and an Intel PRO Wireless 2100 Network Connection for those times when you just can’t plug in.

Other perks include a high-speed IEEE 1394 port for high-speed interaction with external peripherals such as digital camcorders, a pair of fast USB 2.0 ports, a Memory Stick media slot and an electro-static touch pad. The impressive bundled software package includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Money 2004, Microsoft epic Age of Empires II game, and a broad array of multimedia utilities. Maximum battery life is estimated at 2.5 to an amazing 6.5 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

HORRIBLE SUPPORT FROM SONY
I purchased this laptop at the end of November 2003. I liked the laptop - lightweight, good battery life (for what I need), compatiable for wireless internet - quick - keyboard takes a little getting used to, but not bad once you get started. I was very happy with my purchase.

At the beginning of January I accidently picked up this laptop by the screen. Apparently this caused a VERY LARGE THUMB PRINT ON THE LCD SCREEN. So words of advice, never EVER touch the screen.

In the middle of January I set my laptop down. When I came back it would no longer go on. I called Sony help on a call that lasted 3 hours. WE TRIED NUMEROUS THINGS TO GET THE COMPUTER TO WORK AGAIN WITH NO AVAIL. I WAS TRANSFERRED TO ABOUT 5 PEOPLE DURING THIS CALL. FINALLY THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WAS THE SHIP THE COMPUTER TO SONY FOR REPAIR IN CALIFORNIA. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS. So off the computer went to California. Since the computer was ONLY 2 MONTHS old they said whatever was wrong would be covered under warranty.

WELL HERE IS WHERE THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS........Remember the THUMB PRINT I told you about from touching the LCD screen. They were trying to charge me $795.00 to replace the LCD screen and would not do any repairs until I agreed to pay the $795.00 for the replacement of the LCD screen. Not that I particullary like having a thumb print on my LCD screen, I like even less having to pay $795.00 after just purchasing the computer in November for $1,799.00. Touching the LCD screen SHOULD NOT CAUSE SUCH A THING. I had a DELL laptop for 4 years and touched it on many occasions and NEVER EVER had a problem. Not once did the DELL stop working for no reason or break because I touched the LCD screen.

After 2 weeks of fighting with SONY........probably a GOOD 15 hours total on the phone, it was finally decided that they would NOT FIX THE LCD SCREEN, but they would get the computer to start working again. It has yet to be explained to me WHY the COMPUTER STOPPED WORKING IN THE 1st place.

That was covered under warranty and my computer is now back 2 weeks later up and running. I can put up with a thumb print I guess. But words of advice NEVER EVER TOUCH YOUR LCD SCREEN. IT IS VERY SENSATIVE. AND SONY CUSTOMER SUPPORT HAS TO BE THE WORST I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH IN MY LIFE. I probably spoke with about 20 people during this time and only one girl by the name of WENDY provided me any CUSTOMER SUPPORT.

Although I do like this computer, I would not recommend it. A computer should not stop working for no reason after 2 months and an LCD Screen should not leave an imprint after touching it. The customer support is terrible. If I had it to do all over again I would go back to a DELL which caused me no problems in the 4 years I had it. It was just time to upgrade to a largeer, quicker, newer version. The weight of this computer and style is what led me to this. Really, its not worth it compared to the aggreviation that I have experienced and the lack of customer support.

Small, sexy and built like a tank. 4½ Stars
This new laptop replaces a Toshiba A15-S127 that we bought 3 months ago and one that died 4 weeks later when the LCD screen cracked. This one still confuses my wife and me given that the thing spent most of its time in its carry case and it bore absolutely no external damage on the laptop's shell. To add insult to injury the store we bought it from wanted to charge us literally 2/3rds the cost of the thing to repair it, manufacturer's warranty be dammed, I guess. Suffice it to say that we won't be buying Toshiba products again nor shopping at this store (who's name, by the way, rhymes with Stomp Youse Say), ever again. I would have reviewed the S127, but what's the point? We hardly had it long enough to get to know it.

When Sony began producing computers, I was less than impressed. Yet another big name producing very shiny products that look great while using second rate parts that deliver underwhelming performance. That was several years ago and while I still don't care for big name brand PCs, they are still good machines. Even though I build my PCs from parts I choose, I can't build a lap top, and after the Toshiba debacle, anything would have been an improvement. Truth to tell, I didn't really like the Toshiba from the start, but my wife wanted something cheap to take to work and use it to learn Spanish, practice her mathematics and watch the occasional movie, and the Toshiba did a fair job at all of those things. The Sony PCG-505DX is a vast improvement in every category, though it was twice the price.

The 505 features a 1.5 Ghz Pentium 4 Centrino processor- possibly the most important consideration when buying a laptop these days. The CPU scales its speed and processing ability to conserve power and extend the usability of the lap top. With the full charge the 505 will run for nearly 5 hours when doing things like word processing. Obviously, the more things you do, the shorter the battery life will be. The Vaio also sports a whopping 512 mb of RAM, an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 with 16 mb of its own RAM, (a lot of laptops video RAM is actually shared with system RAM and performance takes a real hit), a 400 Mhz FSB, an 11 mb IEEE 802.11b 'Wi-fi' wireless network adapter, 1 PC-MCIA slot, 2 USB + 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire ports, CD-RW & DVD player combo drive, Network and modem ports, VGA port, and a Sony memory stick slot. All of this is packed into a very small and very attractive box,. The casing also has a lot of polished aluminum, which will no doubt enhance the durability and life of the computer.

Though the S127 was fully 600 Mhz faster, the 505 out performs it every category- it boots faster, loads programs faster, and came with much better software pre-installed. I actually plan to keep all of Sony's own music and video programs, which is odd as I usually spend the first day or so with any laptop I have owned blowing out all the junk and promotional software that comes with them. About the only things I removed was AOL and that really terrible office package known as Microsoft Works. Everything else will stay. Sony also wisely partitioned the 60 Gb hard drive to make mirroring the drive much easier. (What they didn't include was a system restore CD or DVD and instead require you to make your own. If you want to do this, make sure your have a stack of CD-Rs handy, because it will take 9 of them).

The 505 is actually pretty much the same size as my old 486 Compaq Aero, which itself was a dynamite little machine. I love the Vaio's design and feel- it's sturdy, incredibly well made and given the luck we have had with our other Sony products, I suspect this little beauty will be around for a long time. About the only real complaints I have about it is the speakers sound terrible, but then again, this is a laptop and a general gripe about laptop keyboards in general- I just can't get comfortable with any of them. This is the best laptop I have ever owned in both performance and build quality. The screen image quality is great, the keys and controls intuitive, I only wish we had bought this first instead of the Toshiba.

Overpriced Garbage
Sony specializes in making the cheapest possible products, giving them a snazzy exterior and then overcharging by an outrageous margin. Part of this strategy of ripping off a gullible public is to spend almost no money on support. For example, the SCREEN is not covered under the warrany. That is a full 50% or more of the value of the computer. This flimsy product with a poorly designed, akward keyboard, showed a crack in the screen within a few months of very light use (I am a Mac user mostly). This was without travel or injury of any kind. Guess what, warrantly doesnt cover this, because it couldnt be defective, cause its a Sony! I have had Sony camcorders, TVs, you name it. EVERY ONE WAS FLIMSY AND DEFECTIVE. That is the sony way.
Support America. Dont buy Sony! Support honesty, dont buy Sony!

fine for me but...
After months of looking for a laptop, i finally chose this one.
The size won me over and so far its performance has been wonderful.
The keyboard is a little small but it gets a little taking used to, as does the extremely small shift key.
My main problem with the computer is that the casing got scratched up about 3 days after i got it and i just put it into a regular bag. I'm so dissapointed because one of its strongest appeals was its look.

Notebook died twice in 4 months
I bought this notebook in December 2003 because I was attracted by its sleek and shiny design, and thought I could trust a Sony product. Looks are certainly deceiving. Two months later, I left the notebook idle for 5 minutes while I attended to something else, and when I returned and touched the touchpad to activate it, the whole thing shut down and wouldn't start up again. Sony Support told me to take out the battery, hold down the power button, etc., but nothing worked so it was sent in for repair and I received it 4 working days later. A month and a half later, in mid-March, I touched the touchpad to move the mouse and the notebook died again!! It was completely unresponsive to any attempts to revive it. I am incredulous at the quality of this product. Sony should really get its act together. If there's one thing I have learned from using this product, it is to constantly backup my files. When the notebook was working, it worked beautifully, but it's intolerable to have to send it in for repair every couple of weeks. I would strongly urge prospective buyers to consider other laptops, e.g. the IBM X40. ... Read more