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    Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N/X 13.3″ Laptop (2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Business)

    By admin | April 21, 2008

    Binding: Personal Computers
    ASIN: B0011NFE5Q
    Manufacturer: Sony
    Average Customer Review: (From 3 total reviews)
    List Price: $2,499.99
    Amazon Price: $2,249.00 (6 new available)
    Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 months (Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping)

     

    Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon web site at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.

     

     

    Features

    Accessories

    Editorial Reviews

    Product Description:
    The ultra-portable VAIO(R) SZ Premium notebook delivers an uncompromising blend of intelligent mobile design, cutting-edge performance and contemporary style. Easy to handle, this PC features a 13.3″ widescreen display with XBRITE(TM) LCD technology and LED backlight, embedded Sprint Mobile Broadband and sleek yet durable carbon-fiber casing for optimized mobility. And a next-generation hafnium-based Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor with 6MB L2 Cache and 4GB DDR2 RAM provides unparalleled performance, superior efficiency and enhanced multimedia power to facilitate longer battery life and maximum performance for your computing and entertainment endeavors. Whether at work or play, get more done in more places with the SZ Premium notebook. 13.3 WXGA (1280 x 800) razor thin LCD XBRITE(TM) Display with White LED back lighting Built-in Webcamera and Microphone NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS with 64MB Dedicated Video Memory with up to 1343MB shared DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 802.11A/B/G/N Sprint Mobile Broadband Service WWAN Integrated Bluetooth Fingerprint Reader 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet Built-in Memory Stick(R) Duo with MagicGate(TM) Card Reader 5-in-1 Memory Card Adaptor (MS, MS Pro, SD, XD, MMC) ExpressCard 34 Slot PCMCIA Slot 2 USB 2.0, Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, IEEE 1394, RJ-11 (Modem), RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 12.5 (W) x 9.3 (D) x 1.5(H) Approximate Unit Weight - 4.0lbs

    Amazon.com Product Description:
    The sleekly designed, lightweight Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N/X notebook PC delivers intelligent mobile design while placing a priority on usability and performance. Coolly contemporary, it features a cutting edge black carbon fiber case for a fashionable look, which also helps to bring the weight down to 4 pounds. (Carbon fiber, the same material used on jets and sports cars to keep them lightweight yet sturdy, is much stronger than the magnesium used on standard notebooks.) Sony’s VAIO SZ notebooks also take security seriously, employing a biometric fingerprint sensor and proprietary hard disk drive protection software to ensure your data is protected from unauthorized use as well as accidental damage. It also stores passwords to secure web sites you visit, so authentication and access are quick and easy–you only need your fingerprint.

    This VAIO SZ notebook features Sony’s Hybrid Graphics System lets toggle between internal and external graphics chips, enabling you to choose lighter battery consumption or better performance depending on the situation. It’s powered by the 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, which offers a top-of-the-line 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 6 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel’s 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. The Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance.

    With the integrated wireless WAN, you can access the national Sprint Mobile Broadband service (subscription required) to extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and hotspots, giving you the freedom to go farther, do more, and stay connected. It also features a 250 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (maximizing capacity), quad-mode Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11a/b/g/n), dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard slot, Bluetooth connectivity, Gigabit Ethernet, and a Webcam integrated into the LCD’s bezel, enabling easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats.

    This laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Business, which has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, that makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents. Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

    The Basics

    Screen, Video & Audio
    This notebook has a 13.3-inch LCD screen with anti-reflective coating has a widescreen 1280 x 800-pixel resolution. This XBRITE LCD has a white LED backlight that provides improved clarity. This notebook uses Sony’s exclusive Hybrid Graphics System, which lets you set your graphics performance with a simple flick of a switch, enabling you to toggle between an internal graphics chip for optimal power consumption with excellent performance or an external graphics chip for even more robust performance. You can choose either the integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (with up to 358 MB of dynamically shared video RAM) or the installed Nvidia GeForce Go 8400M GS graphics card (with up to 1348 MB of shared video RAM).

    The Intel GMA X3100 provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance–delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. The Nvidia GeForce Go 8400M GS offers support for Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 and High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), enabling you rip through all of today’s most advanced and cutting-edge games and applications. The audio card includes Sony Sound Reality technology with DSD (Direct Stream Digital) support.

    Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
    Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965 AGN LAN chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It’s also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range–great for closed office environments). You also get super-fast wired connectivity, with a Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000).

    Sprint’s Mobile Broadband high-speed EV-DO service (software included, subscription requires) enables you to extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and wireless hotspots, helping you to keep connected without having to hunt for a Wi-Fi coffee shop.

    With the Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones. This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. Here’s the full list of connection options:

    Operating System
    The Windows Vista Business operating system is designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so you will be less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day maintenance of PCs. An array of sophisticated new backup technologies helps protect your information even in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure. And Windows Vista Business has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, which is designed to deliver new levels of efficiency for any business user. This new interface makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents.

    Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family’s use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

    Preloaded Software
    Includes Sony Click to Disc (for easy DVD creation), Microsoft Works SE 9.0, Microsoft Office 2007 (60-day trial), Symantec Norton 360 All-In-One Security (with 60 days of Live Update).

    Dimensions & Weight
    This notebook measures 12.5 by 1.5 by 9.3 inches (WxHxD) and weighs approximately 4 pounds with the standard battery (included).

    Power
    It’s powered by the VGP-BPS10 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 3 and 6 hours (depending on usage).

    What’s in the Box
    This package contains the VGN-SZ791N/X notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, memory card adapter (VGP-MCA20), and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty, and Sony offers 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance.

    Customer Reviews

    Sony Vaio a hit by M. Booth
    At the time of purchase, this was the top bang-for-the-buck under 4lb laptop. The LED backlit screen really is wonderful and the speed is enough to make even Vista seem acceptable. The HD is good at 250Gb, but 320Gb would have been a nice option. The video switch (Speed vs Powersaver) is a fantastic feature that I haven’t tested yet.

    Negatives:

    o Crapware: You’ll spend days finding and removing it.

    o The black color makes this look too bland

    o No lock for the lid

    Overall a nice blend of features and I am happy with the purchase.

    Be warned! by T. Oh
    Like the previous reviewer, I had problems with my VAIO VGN-SZ770N. The battery drained by 10% - 15% a day when the computer was turned off! I removed the battery from the laptop, and it still drained by 5% a day.

    I had the toughest time convincing SONY Support that my computer was completely shut down (as opposed to being in standby or hibernate modes). After several calls, they sent me a replacement battery. Unfortunately, the problem is still there, but not as severe as before (5% - 7% drain per day with the battery plugged in, 0% drain with the battery removed from the laptop). I called SONY Support again and asked them to replace the entire system. However, they said that this condition is normal and offered to replace the motherboard only. In the end, I decided to not take them up on their offer, because I didn’t want them to rip apart my new laptop.

    The unfortunate thing is that SONY kept telling me that the battery drain condition is normal. This is unacceptable, because I’ve never had this problem with any other laptop (I’ve owned six and used a countless number of laptops issued by my employers). In the end, I felt defeated and decided to deal with this “normal condition.”

    Other than the battery drain issue, the computer works great. Once you remove all of the bloatware, it’s fast. The build quality is excellent. Plus, it’s light and looks good. I’m hoping that SONY reads the reviews on Amazon. They need to pay attention to what their customers are saying.

    Good notebook but horrible support from Sony by Won C. Chong
    This notebook would receive a full 5 stars because of the features and thiness, but sadly because of the horrible support Sony and all the bloatware it comes with I will only rate it a 2. Also this is my second notebook I bought from Amazon because the first one was defective. Sony customer support wanted me to pay $99.99 for repair which is absolutely ridiculous. ALSO my current one has issues so I’m sending it in for repair after complaining about the $99.99 which they’re not charging me for now. Horrible customer service, outsourcing calls, and no recovery CD really made this experience a nightmare. I’m keeping the laptop but think twice before purchasing the this SZ series. Go with a Dell M1330. Heavier and bulkier, but you won’t have to go through what I did with Sony.

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