3 comments about Sony VAIO VGN-NR430E/P 15.4-inch Laptop (1.86 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2390 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Pink.

1. So much can be say about Sony's VAIO, but one thing is for sure: it's the perfect companion for working, studying or even for just have some fun on-the-road. I've bought this unit 2 weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier. Its runs smoothly with the 2 Gbytes RAM, the display is bright and clear, the keyboard is very comfortable (the keys are very well spaced), it comes with 4 USB ports (more than enough!) and with a 160-Gbytes hard drive (not too big, but considering it's a laptop you shouldn't keep all your data on it). The design is very stylish (I bought the night-blue model; I'm a blue-freak!). It's elegant and (perhaps the most important thing to consider) it is totally affordable. Honestly, I just can't believe I've got a VAIO for less than 700$!
   Windows Vista runs quiet and quickly in this VAIO. Although many people find it annoying, I don't fell offended for all the software trials that come with it. And it takes only about 5 minutes (10 minutes top) to uninstall all of this software. I'm very sure you won't be regret if you decide to buy this VAIO. Check the technical specifications for more details on the hardware. And then just choose a color!



2. Quick shipping and gret customer service when i called them to ask questions on sw licenses.



3. Great little pc for the money! The connection to my wifi network was painless as well.
   Had this unit about one month and am totally satisfied!

5 comments about Sony VAIO VGN-CR425E/B 14.1-inch Laptop (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium) Black.

1. This is the third Sony Vaio in our household. Actually the fourth Sony Vaio we we ever owned. I have been extremely pleased with my Sony Experience. It is a great buy. Great value



2. I had heard the rumours too: that once you buy it, they don't care.
   
   It's true. They will say anything that sounds peachy, delivery dates, custom configurations, etc. I had given them another chance recently and it's the same story.
   
   Their TV's are great, but they just don't really care about you, their bread and butter. The bloatware that comes with it is pretty terrible too. It was easier to just buy a new copy of windows Vista and overwrite all their trialware than it was to remove it all (which you never fully will).
   
   I'm done with them, there are plenty of good alternatives..



3. I have owned 6-7 laptops in the last 3-4 years and that includes Toshiba, HP, Sony Vaio (2 of them) including this one, and yes, a Mac Book Pro.
   
   I must say that this machine is so far the best one out there, specially considering the machine with the balancing factor of price. Ofcourse a Macbook Pro is better, but with the pricetag on the Macbook Pro, it makes it sort of a killer. So if you got a lot of money, go spend it and get a Macbook Pro. But if you want your money well spent and a very good machine, go for this.



4. My dad, mom and sister own vaio's (that I use everyday) and i'm next, I love the compatibility sony has through it's electronics with there sony pro duo memory cards, there customer service is great, my dad has had many questions that were answerd fast and he has been happy with them. What I have found is people sometimes blame computer makers for problems with windows ect.. I know alot about computers and windows, sony makes quality computers with fantastic looking designs. tech support is also a must have with a computer purchase and sony makes it easy. my family can't get enough of sony they are simply the best.



5. If you're looking for a laptop to replace your bulky home desktop, this is an excellent option. Though Intel's 5550 is not the fastest CPU on the market the whole system performance it's really good. It loads MSOffice quite fast as well as other home/office applications. Web surfing is perfect. The system features USB, firewire, mem stick and bluetooth ports. If you're considering this machine with gamming in mind go for a different model with a dedicated graphics adaptor -like NVIDA or ATI- included, the VAIO VGN-CR415E it's not expandable.

5 comments about Apple MacBook Air MB003LL/A 13.3 Inch Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive).

1. i just purchased this computer a week ago so i suppose things could change but at this point the computer has been great. The portability was a huge factor for me as it should be for anybody contemplating the purchase of this laptop. As a student i don't really need this computer for much more than word documents, internet, email, itunes, and the occasional movie/youtube video. Speed has not been an issue - something i wasn't sure about as i almost purchased the SSD option. Fortunately i didn't and this has been fine. I ordered the superdrive just in case though i havn't used it yet. For installing microsoft office i used the remote disc drive and that worked absolutely fine. So far the fan/overheating problem that other people were talking about hasn't been an issue and the temp does get warm, but not hot enough to get laggy or be uncomfortable. So far my two nitpicks are that the battery isn't great - 4+ hours of internet/itunes if the screen brightness is down all the way... but i like to keep the brightness at at least 50%. The other thing is that the screen hinge design doesn't allow the screen to go very far back. As far as the port limitations go the only thing i use is audio jack, usb, and ethernet at school but there's wifi too. I did order the ethernet dongle just in case. An ethernet cable and maybe one more usb (tho that too isn't too big of a deal for me) would be nice, but still, i'm totally happy with my purchase :)



2. I am using this as a replacement for my iMac which I moved to the office. This computer is the best laptop I have ever owned (the first Mac), and I am in love with the operating system. I dont have to worry about viruses or other nonsense like that like I use to have to deal with all the time with my old Dell laptop. Plus its so light I can take it anywhere!
   
   The only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't have a firewire port. However, all in all I am very happy and could not have imagined a more perfect computer.



3. After being used to traveling with a MacBook Pro I wondered if the MacBook Air would have enough performance and capacity to satisfy my needs.
   
   This is a beautiful machine. Extremely thin but very sturdy feeling. Wonderfully light even with required accessories. A terrific screen and keyboard that are a pleasure during all day use. Good battery life (about 4 hours in my case). Good processor and graphics power for mainstream business applications. Adequate disk space but limited disk performance. Barest minumum of ports requires dongles and a usb hub.
   
   While its slower than my Macbook pro, the only times I really notice a difference are:
   - Booting the machine takes longer (but I usually only do that a couple times a week)
   - Starting some applications takes longer (but once started I can still run a LOT of apps in 2gb even including Parallels)
   - True multitasking is limited to one intensive disk or cpu operation at a time (don't try and use the machine for anything significant while doing a backup, or while ripping a DVD).
   
   So under normal use I was very pleasantly surprised how useable the AIR felt after being used to a PRO. For me the size and weight reduction is definitely worth the performance reduction.
   
   Yes I would like a bigger, faster hard drive, but next year 120gb 5400rpm single platter units should be available. Yes I would like a built in ethernet port, but I'm not willing to pay a big form factor price to avoid the $29 dongle. Yes I would like 2-3 USB ports, but Targus makes some really tiny 4 port hubs for now.
   
   I'm honestly not sure I would make any different design choices, and technology progress will take care of the only thing I've found to be occasionally very limiting (disk size and performance).



4. I have been the informal tech guy for two Airs. One for 8 months, one for 6 months. I have also traveled with them. They are generally wonderful, especially if the weight is a big factor. All other laptops seem heavy and inelegant. But ...
   
   (1) If you ever want to use an ethernet connection to the internet (as opposed to wireless), then you have to bring the dongle that converts the one USB port to ethernet. For example, to check your office email at a Kinko's. Definitely buy it.
   
   (2) To do a full restore from Time Machine, you need BOTH an OSX disc (either Disc 1 that comes with the Air or an off-the-shelf OSX disc) and the back-up hard drive. But you only have one USB port and no firewire ports. The SuperDrive will not share that port on a USB hub (nor will it work on any computer but an Air). It is easy to back up with Time Machine to a small external drive. (We used an WD Passport.) But don't. Use an external hard drive that has its own power supply. Not elegant, but if you ever need to do a full restore (and you might because your Air will lead a hard life, especially if it is a student's life), it is much easier with a powered external hard drive. The SuperDrive that you can buy for the Air (and you should buy it, it is small and light) does not work from a USB hub. A powered DVD drive from another manufacturer (ours is from Toshiba) works on a powered USB hub. The WD Passport will not connect to the Air via a powered USB hub (at least through the one I use). But a powered WD MyBook external hard drive does connect to the Air via the powered hub. So use a powered external hard drive for your Time Machine backups, and if you need to do a full restore, get a powered USB hub and a powered external DVD drive with a USB output. The Apple Genius Bar might not have these. Note: See (11) and (12) below alternate methods for a full restore.
   
   (3) The Genius Bar geniuses know a lot more about the MacBook than the Air because the Air is still relatively new.
   
   (4) If you ever do a full "restore and erase" from the two discs that come with the Air, you need to know this: At the end of first disc, about 1.5 hours into the process, it flashes "Get ready to insert Disc 2." Then it reboots and eventually says "Installing. Calculating time remaining" and ejects the disc. It does NOT say "Insert Disc 2". If maybe you were not watching it for the entire first 1.5 hours, you would not have seen the message at the end of Disc 1 before the reboot. What it wants when it ejects Disc 1 is for you to insert Disc 2. Not very brilliant programming. Every two-disc Windows program and game says "Insert Disc 2 and press Enter." Not these install discs. I found out when I went to the Genius bar and the Genius restarted the install process. He went to lunch and I watched the computer for two hours (this is what I want you to avoid), so I happened to see the message at the end of disc one. It was a special moment in my life.
   
   (5) Be careful where you put the Air and the SuperDrive. I heard of someone throwing out their Air with the Sunday paper. Might be an urban legend, but I lost my SuperDrive, possibly the same way.
   
   (6) Backups to Time Machine are more likely to happen if you use a Time Capsule as a wireless router + external hard drive. You can also print through Time Capsule, instead of plugging the printer into the Air when you need to print. Be sure to have the printer plugged into the Time Capsule and turned on before you install the Time Capsule. Otherwise, you will probably need to call AppleCare to walk you through the re-install with the printer. Don't get off the phone until the printer works and Time Machine works, not just the wireless internet. For a student whose life is on the Air, I would definitely consider the Time Capsule an essential accessory to the Air. For someone who uses the Air as an occasional computer for travel and has her life on an iMac, the Time Capsule is nice but not necessary.
   
   (7) Get a neoprene sleeve for the Air. Then when it is thrown into a backpack or briefcase, it will be safer. Also, in its sleeve on a desk it is less of an object of desire for thieves (in my humble opinion). After all these months, the Air is still eye candy (as you well know if you got this far in this review).
   
   (8) I understand that the wireless antenna is in the hinge that attaches the screen to the body of the Air. So it is somewhat directional. Try sliding it around to get better reception. You can check the packet flow in the Activity Monitor in Utilities to see what works best.
   
   (9) Wireless reception does not seem to be a strength of the two Airs that I use. The 4 MacBooks that preceded the two Airs in our lives seemed to get more consistently good wireless reception. This is a shame, because the Air depends more on its wireless than the MacBooks, which have real ports. I hope that in future generations of the Air Apple finds a way to get the best possible wireless reception for the Air.
   
   (10) The hard drive is not big enough for a student's life if the student likes to store music and videos on it. An outboard hard drive is a distant second-best solution. (I liked the WD Passport for this, since it does not need external power and it is small and reliable. USB power is enough for this drive since you will not be doing a full Time Machine restore from this drive. To backup the stuff on this drive, you will need another solution, which might be Time Machine on the Time Capsule. Update: I attach the WD Passport to and the printer to the USB port on the Time Capsule with a USB hub, store extra stuff on the Passport and back up the Air and Passport with Time Machine to the Time Capsule's hard drive. I wish the backup was not in the same room as the backed-up drives, but it is better than no backup.)
   
   (11) I have not tried to connect the Air to another computer to use the other computer's CD or DVD drive. I have heard of people using this as a way to access the OSX DVD when they do a full restore from Time Machine to the Air, but I have not tried it. Update: I tried, could connect, but could not do the restore this way.
   
   (12) Update: To do a full restore from Time Machine to the Air: Do an Erase and Restore with the start up disc or an OSX disc. When this is DONE and you have a fresh computer, it asks if you want to restore from a hard drive using Time Machine. THEN you start the restore. The whole process takes hours, but it works great and you do NOT need and external hard drive. You are done with the Superdrive when it asks for the Time Machine backup on the hard drive. I did it two days ago. This is the cost of a small, light computer, I guess. Now you know, too.
   
   Given all that, all of the Air owners whom I know would buy another one if they lost theirs. None would go back to a MacBook. (I do know people for whom the weight is not a big issue and who want more horsepower and ports and sometimes screen size, especially for games. They are happy with their MacBooks as their main computers.) Except for the wireless reception, the problems of the Air are problems for the tech person, not so much for the day-to-day user. Which is a good design choice.



5. I have been a mac laptop user for years and year, most recently with a Macbook Pro. In fact, I had switched to the macbook pro as my all-in-one computer for several years for work, home, and travel.
   
   Boy, was that a mistake, and one that the Macbook Air has readily filled -- I now own an iMac at home, and use the Macbook AIr for travel and work. I just love it. It is so small and light, it makes no noticable difference in my carryon or work messenger bag. Even after many months of use, it still has the "wow" factor when people see it, something us Apple geeks truly thrive on...and it has all the features i need on the road.
   
   I did break down and buy the external superdrive, because it is just so much faster than using the Remote Disk feature on the MBA. In addition, I found that I use the ethernet USB adapter more ofter than not, since it is suprising how many hotels in the US and Europe are NOT wireless -- order one with your MBA and spare the hassle. I think Cupertino must run on a different system, since wireless is an amazing idea that might work there, but does not work in 90 percent of the rest of america.
   
   Still, the speed it good, I don't notice any major slowness, programs open zippily, run well, and everything just plain old works.
   
   I read a lot of reviews before buying, and I have to tell you, I have experienced zero of the problems that some write about. I am very happy with this purchase.

5 comments about Asus Eee PC 4G Surf (7-inch Screen, 800 MHz Intel Celeron Processor, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB Hard Drive, Linux Preloaded) Pure White.

1. I have had my eee 4g surf for over a month and I like it very much. It connects to the internet superfast and i can take it anywhere. The keyboard is cramped, yes, but you get used to it. Its a mini laptop for basic tasks such as e-mail, messenger and surfing the internet.



2. First of all, this "mini laptop" is not intended to be a high-end mobile system. This is not its purpose at all. If you're looking for something in the mobile category to author/encode music and video, compile lengthy source code, do intense number crunching, etc, this is not for you. The Celeron CPU inside this unit is not intended for such tasks to begin with. This system is intended as a mobile general purpose computer for daily tasks for an average PC user. In this category the eee PC excels quite admirably. The eee PC blows away any PDA I have worked with. Its claim to fame is that it is a real computer. It works great for browsing the internet, email, word-processing, as a document reader (PDFs, text files, etc), work with spreadsheets that don't require heavy number crunching, and other mobile office tasks.
   
   The Xandros Operating System it comes with is just as powerful as Windows XP (more powerful in my opinion). You will need to disable the "easy-mode" and install a kernel that supports more than 1 GB of RAM. This is the first thing I did when I received the unit. I purchased additional RAM, installed the RAM and a kernel to support it. Alternatively, the eee PC works perfectly with Windows XP. If you're more comfortable with Windows XP you will want to wipe out the Xandros install and install Windows XP. If you aren't computer-savvy, there is plenty of documentation online on how to do that. I kept the Linux Operating System because I have been working with Linux for many years so I feel comfortable with it. The good thing about the eee PC is that you have a choice of what Operating System you want to have since both Linux and Microsoft Windows XP are supported. You can even dual-boot the two if you really want to go crazy on it. I originally had it like that but I wiped out the Windows XP install because I needed the storage space.
   
   Ok, having stated the technicalities, I'll mention the only negative that I have found so far: battery life. The battery that ships with the unit could have been much better, especially considering the size of the eee PC. You'll probably not get more than 2 hours on each battery charge. The only way you'll get close to 3 hours is if you turn off wireless, which most people won't want to do under normal circumstances. That's a big negative right there. I have heard some people complain about the small size of the keyboard. I don't consider this a negative since you know what you're getting. As previously stated, this is not intended to be a computer for primary use. The eee PC is meant to be the bridge between a PDA and a laptop. In this category, it is an excellent device and well worth it. I'm a systems engineer and I use it on a daily basis to do simple administrative tasks to send email, browse the internet, read ebooks and write documents. When I need more power than what the eee PC can offer, I still use it to connect to my workstations and servers. I used to bring a laptop to all my conferences and meetings before I had the eee PC. Not any more. I take the eee PC to meetings and conferences now instead of the laptop. It is much easier to carry around and I don't need a big laptop case or bag.
   
   I highly recommend this computer for anyone who is looking for something portable yet powerful enough to carry out standard computer tasks.



3. The asus eeec laptop is the best investment I have made this year. The laptop is not cumbersome to carry around and it gets the job done. I have made skype calls on this machine without a problem. I give it the marty two thumbs up.



4. I love this little machine! I'm hardly a techie, so I'll leave it to others to comment on the very stable Linux operating system, but as an everyday user here's what I like:
   
   The screen is bright and easily read in sunlight, indoors, whatever
   
   The 8G hard drive is tiny by today's standards but more than enough for everyday non-technical uses.
   
   It comes preloaded with OpenOffice software, a PDF reader, spreadsheet software, etc.--really everything you need for everyday use.
   
   It's very, very fast with plug in or wireless internet access
   
   Weighing in at a shade over 2lbs. with battery, it fits in a small backpack, large purse, etc. The compact black neoprene case is more than enough protection, but the power charger and mouse are carried separately. I carried it around Europe for a couple of weeks no problem.
   
   The only negatives are a smallish screen that cuts off some windows so you have to scroll horizontally at times. The screen size is dictated by two one inch wide speakers, one on each side of the screen. I wouldn't be surprised if future models downsize the speakers. Also, the keyboard is pretty small--it's fine for kids and adults with smallish hands like me; if this is a concern try it out before you buy.
   
   The biggest plus of all is PRICE! I am happy to trade off super-duper game playing, loading up with a lot of music, etc. for portability and affordability. This probably wouldn't be someone's main computer, but as a very portable second machine with basic high quality capability, it's a winner.



5. I find this a useful little machine; however, I find it hard to log onto some wireless connections sometimes. I thought it would be a bit easier that it is!

1 comments about Toshiba Satellite A205-S5867 15.4-inch Laptop (1.86 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2390 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium).

1. I have the A215, it seems to be identical to the A205 except the A215 has less hard drive memory and has a AMD processor so it might be helpful to those looking to buy the A205.
   
   Vista: I was nervous about Vista because like everyone else I have heard bad things. Fortunatley I have not have any major problems with Vista. I was annoyed by the infamous "Cancel or Allow" but that can be shut off. I think if you are buying a pc with pre-installed Vista you will not have as many gripes as those upgrading to Vista.
   
   Physical dimensions: I'm very happy with the layout of my laptop. I like the keyboard and I like that at the very front are buttons for internet, beats clicking. The sound, microphone jack and volume wheel are at the front. I personally like this, especially the sound wheel because my last laptop had two buttons for volume which was a pain pressing all the time. The casing actually seems pretty fragile, plastic like. No problem for me because I handle it like a baby but if perhaps not for everyone.
   
   Problems: There was plenty of bloatware by Toshiba but that was easy to delete. My biggest problems was this weird Toshiba program where they have this tabs at the top that was unneccessary and very annoying. I managed to delete this but was stressful. Also stressful was when I downloaded an update to my Wireless software from Windows Update and it stopped working. I would advise to be very careful updating from Windows Update, especially your wireless card. Also a problem I avoided thanks to reading other Amazon reviewers was this (or others I forget) Toshiba Laptop has a problem where it shuts down for no reason. It turns out that's because the CPU needs to be set to 100%. So go to power options and set it at 100% no matter the conditions (plugged in, batter mode). I forget the specifics but if you search around Amazon you'll find the reviews that specifically address this problem. Also keep in mind this problem is what hurt the average star rating. So the star ratings can be deceiving.
   
   Battery Life: The one gripe I have about my laptop right now is battery life. It is absolutley pathetic. The battery indicator can be deceiving because it reads 2 hrs but I swear it was an hour at most and I don't watch that many movies, (the cd drives sucks up power) just web browse. Fortunatley I don't take my laptop out much but it's still very annoying. I'd recommend buying extra batteries if you're going to take it out a lot.
   
   Conclusions: This was a perfect laptop for me and I do not have any regrests buying it. I only use it for web browing, watching dvds, photoshopping, playing Madden, Google Earth, basic things like that so if you need a lot of power this might not be for you. I would say 1GB of ram is plenty for anything you want to do online as long as you don't run too many programs at once. The price is also very reasonable. One last thing I would recommend is purchase (not a free one) an antivirus program for this and any other windows computer because Vista's security will not be enough. It's worth paying to not get viruses.
   
   Hope this review helped, and good luck buying your laptop!

No comments about Sony VAIO VGN-NR498E/W 15.4-inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T5750 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium).

5 comments about HP Pavilion DV7-1020US 17" Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Blu Ray Drive, Vista Premium) Black.

1. One thing I find useful with these reviews is that often the 5-star reviewers, who got what they ordered, still point out room for improvement. This machine does what it said and adds a lot of value in the software as well. So I don't consider the cons as rating reducers.
   
   Pros: Sleek and attractive. Excellent software. Everything works. The very nifty touch lights for power, Quick Play, volume, CD play, stop, ffw, etc., wifi are probably not going to wear out as fast as regular push and click buttons would. Speaking of the wifi, it's a stronger antenna than my previous PC. TV feature works fine. The touchpad has an on/off button, so it can be stopped easily. Onboard speakers are quite good. HP recommended a program for online radio (that appears to be censored out of this review by Amz, I need to read the review rules), and it sounds fine on the speakers and better on the earphone jack. Smooth screen frame makes dusting very clean. No raised edges, except a couple 1-inch bumpers. The Amz Case Logic NCLE-17 Reversible Neoprene 17-inch Laptop Shuttle (Black/Red) fits this large screen computer very well. Room for a mouse and power cord.
   
   Cons: The pretty, chrome finish shows fingerprints, but they include a cleaning cloth for that, which I found kind of amusing. The machine could use 1 or 2 more USB ports. It has three, which I knew when I read the specs before ordering it. I have printer, scanner, mouse (don't like touchpads), external gaming kb, backup drive. They're pushing something called a Slingback. Be sure to read all about it before trying it. Lot of problems. A 500gb hard drive would have been nice. I'm already down to only 70gb available.
   
   I recommend running MS Update right away. There were many, and they cleaned up an IE problem that appears to be common to Vista. Also, I am using the 90-day preview of Windows Live OneCare. I always uninstall Norton right away. To me it's worse than a virus. So far I like OneCare. For a firewall I have used Zonealarm for years, but it's not Vista 64-bit capable.



2. i bought yesteday this laptop for $1400 and today is for $1300 :s just for 1 day.



3. First I want to say like the last reviewer I purchased this laptop from Amazon at $200 more then the price listed now but no problem I just contacted Amazon and they refunded my credit card the $200. Word of advice concerning Amazon they always raise and lower their prices so if you buy from Amazon on anything watch the price over the next couple of weeks and if you see it went down contact them for a refund. Now on to the laptop...First be careful this is a 64bit Vista system which Amazon fails to mention! Some software programs are not 64 bit compatible so before you purchase check your software vendor to make sure it runs on 64 bit Vista. Most 32bit programs will run on this but some won't and the 32bit programs tend to slow the laptop down when they do run so be careful! Otherwise it is a nice laptop for the money has plenty of power to run blu-ray movies. Also I wanted to mention if you are thinking of purchasing the extended warranty through Amazon before you do check out HP store website. You can purchase directly through HP and they offer free one day FedEx shipping back to them and back to you. I've used it on another laptop that had a monitor go blank and they sent be a FedEx box the next day and they received the laptop overnight and fix and returned it within 3 days back to me.



4. This laptop is a great buy! It has enough power to take nearly anything you throw at it, including the latest games. The keyboard is actually a FULL keyboard with a numberpad, unlike most laptops. The Blu-Ray player works great (even loads up faster than my Sony player) and the picture could compete with full size HDTVs. The TV out works as decent too, though the antenna is not large enough for perfect reception. The wireless is fast, and has never lost connection. I even use it outside my house without an issue. My only complaint is that the lid doesn't latch, but it hasn't flipped open while traveling yet so that may be moot.
   
   It may be pricey for someone on a tight budget, but you won't find a better deal at this price.



5. I bought this notebook for my birthday and am really happy with it. I know a bit about computers and this is a very good machine. When you look at the processor speed, you may not think it sounds very fast, but chip speed is not the only thing to consider when buying a computer. You have to look at the RAM, the front side bus (fsb) and the type of chip for starters. The operating system is 64-bit which also helps to move things along.
   
   The display is crystal clear and easy to read. Another plus is that it weighs less than eight pounds. I port it all over my house without any trouble.
   
   I am an accountant and am very happy to have a laptop with a number keypad attached. With my old laptop I used to use a USB number keypad which was very tempermental and frustrating. Anyone who deals with numbers all day knows how uncomfortable it is to use the number keys along the top of the keyboard.
   
   After I ordered the computer, I looked at it again on the website a few hours after my purchase and noticed that the price had gone down $120 since I had ordered it. I called Amazon and they refunded the difference and were very nice about it. I am very impressed with their customer service and plan on purchasing through Amazon in the future.
   
   If asked whether I would recommend this computer, the answer is yes!

5 comments about Sony VAIO VGN-FW139E/H 16.4-inch Laptop (2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Grey.

1. This unit is terrific. Beautifully designed, great speed and features. A really nice value. Quite beautiful too. The only complaint I have is I wish I had a standard sized firewire.



2. My dad, mom and sister own vaio's (that I use everyday) and i'm next, I love the compatibility sony has through it's electronics with there sony pro duo memory cards, there customer service is great, my dad has had many questions that were answerd fast and he has been happy with them. What I have found is people sometimes blame computer makers for problems with windows ect.. I know alot about computers and windows, sony makes quality computers with fantastic looking designs. tech support is also a must have with a computer purchase and sony makes it easy.



3. This is a smooth and fast computer, but watch out for the touch pad on these Vaios, they are relaibly faulty, recommend a mouse... Otherwise, a good strong machine for the price.



4. I bought this directly from Sony, with slightly different configurations (no Blue-ray), since I really don't need that, and I saved several hundred dollars by doing so.
   
   I was hesitant when I first thought about buying this laptop. My biggest problem was the screen-size. 16.4 inches widescreen just seemed odd, and I looked at an Acer with those dimensions at the store and wasn't sure I could adjust to the "funny" 16:9 dimension.
   I did though. very quickly. In fact, that is one of my favorite things about this computer! I can have a bigger window open and a smaller one next to it, easily go back and forth between windows, etc.
   
   I got the eco-brite screen, and it looks amazing. There is MUCH less glare with this Sony than with any other laptop with a glossy screen that I looked at (and I looked at dozens). I can see the screen clearly from the sides (which is great for watching movies with more than one person sitting directly in front of the screen). I actually can't find a side-angle that there IS a glare at. I turned it so far that I couldn't see what was on the screen, but not because of the glare, but because of the distorted angle.
   
   I also like that USB ports on the right front. Having something plugged into them does not interfere with your hand/arm, since the computer is wide enough to accomodate your arm resting on it, and not nest to it while typing.
   
   The power button is recessed in the right side "hinge", which means it's fairly impossible to accidentaly press the power button. Headphone/mic jacks are in the front, and those do interfere a little bit with your right hand while typing, but I prefer them in the front, as I only use those for Skype-ing, and don't leave anything plugged in, in which case the front-location makes it much easier to plug in/unplug.
   
   I've had this computer on my lap for 4-5 hours straight and it has not gotten very warm at all! My old computer (a 4 year old Acer), but not this one.
   
   My computer accidentally shipped with an extended battery pack (I ordered and paid for a regular one), and it sticks out about an inch at the back. This actually turned out to be a good thing. It gives the bottom part a little lift, which makes typing on a desk more comfortable. Also, the computer is a little elevated from the desk, which, I think, keeps it cooler. Oh, and there's the 4 hours or so batter life, which is nice.
   
   This computer is not ultra-portable. It does weight quite a bit, and if you're looking for something to throw in your bag on the way out, get a smaller computer!! I hardly ever bring my computer anywhere, so it works great for me.
   
   Another possible problem is finding a neoprene sleeve for this computer. The format is odd, so I've been hesitant to order a sleeve online. I will take it to the store someday and just try putting it into some sleeves.
   
   Biggest pitfall on this computer is all the junk software. There is about 30 Sony-specific programs on it, and I actually had to have a friend of mine help me in deleting them. Some I'm a little hesitant to take off, because I can't tell if they are necessary for some functions.
   
   One odd thing did happen to this computer. I installed OneNote by accident (in a software packet), and could NOT get it off again. I tried. My computer friend tried. No chance. Somehow OneNote's presence eliminated the "create new folder" function, which was a pain. So after having had the computer for one week, I had to do a factory reset. Took a couple of hours, but fixed the problem, and it's been fine ever since.
   
   BestBuy sells this computer (with slightly different configurations), so if you want to look at it in person before you buy it, check out BestBuy.



5. I specified the model on the title as the reviews for all Sony FW laptops are shared amongst all models in Amazon.
   
   I consider this model to be a great purchase. Contrary to many modern laptops, it actually looks great, with very modern styling that is suitable for both home and business users. The screen has a different aspect ratio (16:9) than most computers, which is more suitable for watching DVDs or comparing side by side documents than the traditional 4:3. The 2.26 P8400 is the same processor found on most FW computers, even those costing hundreds of $ more, 3GBs of RAM, which is the maximum usable RAM in Vista SP1 32bit, 250GBs of RAM which is enough for most users,etc.
   
   The graphic card on this machine is the ATI HD3470, with 256mb of dedicated memory. This card will handle your graphics a lot better than the integrated Intel cards found on some higher priced FW models here in Amazon and is one of the best features of this particular model. It is not a high end graphic card, but it can handle the necessities of most users, including those who use their laptops for casual gaming.
   
   I found an inconsistency on Amazon's product description for this model. In the "network" section, it specifies that this model comes with Intel 4965 wifi chipset, which is not the case. It comes with Atheros wifi (N capable). This is not really a bad thing, you won't notice a performance difference, but the fact that it has the Atheros wifi chipset instead of the Intel one is the main reason why it can't be labeled as a "Centrino 2" laptop, even though it has all other required Intel technologies. The sticker on the laptop will say "Core 2 Duo" instead of "Centrino 2". Again, this is only a label.
   
   Performance-wise, it's plenty fast. It comes with some trial software that some users will prefer to uninstall (like me), but this is the case for almost all notebook manufacturers and it shouldn't take too long to do so.
   
   Overall, highly recommended.

3 comments about Sony VAIO VGN-NR430E/S 15.4-inch Laptop (1.86 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2390 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Silver.

1. So much can be say about Sony's VAIO, but one thing is for sure: it's the perfect companion for working, studying or even for just have some fun on-the-road. I've bought this unit 2 weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier. Its runs smoothly with the 2 Gbytes RAM, the display is bright and clear, the keyboard is very comfortable (the keys are very well spaced), it comes with 4 USB ports (more than enough!) and with a 160-Gbytes hard drive (not too big, but considering it's a laptop you shouldn't keep all your data on it). The design is very stylish (I bought the night-blue model; I'm a blue-freak!). It's elegant and (perhaps the most important thing to consider) it is totally affordable. Honestly, I just can't believe I've got a VAIO for less than 700$!
   Windows Vista runs quiet and quickly in this VAIO. Although many people find it annoying, I don't fell offended for all the software trials that come with it. And it takes only about 5 minutes (10 minutes top) to uninstall all of this software. I'm very sure you won't be regret if you decide to buy this VAIO. Check the technical specifications for more details on the hardware. And then just choose a color!



2. Quick shipping and gret customer service when i called them to ask questions on sw licenses.



3. Great little pc for the money! The connection to my wifi network was painless as well.
   Had this unit about one month and am totally satisfied!

5 comments about Asus Eee PC 2G Surf (7-inch Screen, 800 MHz Intel Celeron Processor, 512 MB RAM, 2 GB Hard Drive, Linux Preloaded) Pure White.

1. Excelente producto, no cabe duda que una computadora Ultra-Portatil es necesaria hoy en dia, esta maquina cubre todo lo necesario, actualmente la tengo configurada con Windows y a pesar de su corto espacio de almacenamiento tengo todos los programas necesarios para estudiar, incluso desarrollar apliaciones, y entretenimiento.
   
   Excelente producto, excelente compra.



2. I LIKE THE COMPUTER.
   IT I'S SMALL AND VERY EASY TO TAKE WITH YOU.IT IS NICE TO GET INTERNET ACCESS MOST EVERYWHERE I GO.
   HOW-EVER IT DOES HAVE ONE SLIGHT PROBLEM.IT IS TO SMALL TO USE FOR BUSSINESS
   BUT JUST FOR ME IT IS FUN.



3. I know what most people are thinking, "This is too small, and is not very powerful." ... Well, frankly, for most things one does on a computer, it is powerful enough, and it is small enough to go anywhere you can take a book, and is really jsut totally convenient!
   
   I ended up installing Windows XP using nLite to trim it down. It started as a test to show everyone at work and my friends how well it can run WinXP, but it turned out to be very useful, and I ended up just leaving it on there, and have been using Windows XP on it since!
   
   This little guy can play video full screen with no issues, has great sound (it goes pretty loud!) and has all the cool features you would need! Ca not upgrade the RAM on this particular model, but that isn;t a problem. The keyboard is a bit small, but the only real issue I have is I keep hitting the right-arrow instead of the shift key because of the positioning. Otherwise, it is really remarkably easy to use for the small size!
   
   Oh, and the wireless in this thing is AWESOME! It gets the best and strongest signal I have seen with any 802.11 b/g wireless device! It connects flawlessly where my other laptops can barely get enough signal to find the networks!
   
   I use it extensively for everyday things. I would really recommend it for mobile and normal use, however, bring your adapter, It only gets about 2 hours of life on the battery, which is about the only real downside.



4. Although it's just a little slow compared to our main pc and laptop, it's convenience outweighs this factor. It's great for the kids to surf the web, pick up emails, do research for school, and even write their reports. It's compact size makes it nice to have out on the counter in the kitchen, relax in the family room with, or throw in a bag for traveling.



5. Using my Asus Eee PC is great. I like it for surfing the Internet and the pop up blocker is really worth it. I like the fact that only a website I allow can open a new window on my computer. Great! Also, The office programs are really nifty. I use the spreadsheet and word editor frequently. This laptop is easy to use in limited space making it easy to put away when not in use. It's very fast and in my case I use the built in wi-fi to connect my high speed connection really easily. The two USB ports are nice because later on I can upgrade to CD-RW for burning mp3's while the Monitor output will increase the viewable size connecting to my LCD TV. The Frozen bubble game is really fun. Finally, I appreciate this pc as being very affordable.