Sony NoteBook review

Sony VAIO VGC-LT28E 22" HD PC/TV All-in-one (2.10 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Grey

When space is at a premium, the Sony VAIO VGC-LT28E all-in-one desktop PC offers a slender, space-saving design that will complement your living space while also providing a powerful home computing platform with an integrated widescreen LCD display. Reminiscent of a classic glass picture frame, this remarkably thin All-in-One PC is enclosed in a transparent polycarbonate frame, giving it a stunning, floating effect. Wired connections are minimized (with the integrated Wi-Fi LAN and included wireless keyboard and mouse) to enhance its clutter-free design, and it can be wall-mounted for a chic presentation. Video conferencing has never been easier, thanks to the integrated 1.3-megapixel Motion Eye webcam.

In addition to its computing prowess, this all-in-one desktop also doubles as a 22-inch LCD HDTV, with built-in NTSC (standard) and ATSC (high-definition) tuners. This All-in One also features Sony's XBRITE-HiColor panel technology for brighter imagery and more vibrant colors. You also get high-definition Blu-ray Disc read/write capability, which supports full 1080p HD video as well as up to 5.1 discrete channels of uncompressed digital audio. The Blu-ray system is backwards-compatible with standard DVDs and CDs, enabling you to enjoy your digital library for years to come. The optical drive can also write a full range of disc formats, including dual-layer DVD discs.

Under the hood, VGC-LT28E is powered by the 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which offers a top-of-the-line 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 3 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance. It also includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. It also features a huge 500 GB hard drive, 3 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics card with up to 1535 MB of available video RAM, multi-format Memory Stick reader, a Secure Digital memory card slot, and Gigabit Ethernet wired networking.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). 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

• Processor: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 45nm Penryn series Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which has a 2.10 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. And you'll be able to encode video on-the-go and watch HD movies with Intel HD Boost.
  
  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:
  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.
  
  
  
• Hard Drive: The large 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM) provides more than enough capacity for storing a large audio and video library, as well as extra space required for video editing. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
  
  
• Memory: This notebook comes installed with 3 GB of RAM (PC-5300, DDR2), which helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. It has a 4 GB RAM capacity.
  
  
• DVD/CD Drive: This Sony All-in-One is capable of both playing back Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning clarity, as well as burning HD Camcorder content in its original 1080p high-definition resolution to BD-RE/BD-RE DL (dual layer) discs (25 GB single layer disc to 50 GB on a double layer disc). It will also play your current library of purchased and burned disc content. This notebook can also write standard DVD and CD media. The BD drive offers the following Blu-Ray drive speeds: BD-R (2x read/2x write), BD-RE (2x read/2x write), BD-R DL (1.6x read/1x write), BD-RE DL (1.6x read/1x write). It also offers the following write speeds for standard DVD and CD discs: 2.4x for DVD+R DL, 2x for DVD-R DL, 8x for both single layer DVD±R, 4x for both DVD±RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, and 8x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.
  
  
• Keyboard & Mouse: The included wireless keyboard and mouse have a matching aluminum style. It also comes with a full-featured remote control for controlling both PC and TV functions.

Screen, Video & Audio
The 22-inch LCD panel has an amazing 1680 x 1050-pixel resolution. And thanks to Sony's XBRITE-HiColor panel technology, the flat-panel screen will deliver dazzling colors and sharp images whether displaying a DVD movie, television show, or web content. It delivers deep blacks and bright whites, true-to-life color, and razor-sharp detail. And with a glare filter and anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection, you'll experience a beautifully clear image.

Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics card, which provides up to 1535 MB of available RAM/video memory (256 MB dedicated video RAM) for unmatched HD video performance on a notebook PC. With support for Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 and High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), the 8400M lets you rip through all of today's most advanced and cutting-edge games and applications.

You can connect a cable/satellite set-top box to this All-in-One via an S-Video connection. This desktop includes integrated NTSC (standard broadcast) and ATSC (digital, HD) TV tuners. It also includes stereo speakers (3 watts apiece for 6 watts of total power) and an internal 5-watt subwoofer. 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 quad-mode Intel Wireless 4965AGN Wi-Fi 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).

It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (in addition to a 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 connectivity options:

• 5 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) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• Video input: 1 S-Video
• Video output: none
• Audio input: 1 line-in, 1 microphone
• Audio output: 1 optical digital audio, 1 headphone
• 1 ExpressCard/34 slot
• 1 PCMCIA slot (Type I/II with CardBus support)
• Memory Stick/Memory Stick DUO slot (with MagicGate functionality)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards)
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• 56K modem (V.90)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

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 All-in-One measures 25.3 x 16.5 x 7 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 21.4 pounds.

Power
It has a power consumption rating of 168 watts (+10 percent).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Sony VAIO VGC-LT28E all-in-one desktop PC/TV, AC adapter, wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, and 8cm disc adapter. It's backed by a 1-year warranty with onsite service, and 1 year of toll-free technical phone assistance.

View Detail at Amazon

posted by yeni_nr @ 1:00 AM