Sony NV200, My 2nd Sony Desktop Replacment.
Written: Jan 24 '03 (Updated Jan 26 '03)
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Pros: True desktop replacment,
Cons: Big and Heavy for a laptop,but small, light and agile compared to a desktop.
The Bottom Line: BUY A SONY!!!!!!!
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| machrea's Full Review: Sony VAIO NV200 Series Notebook |
Sony FX-490 laptop in 1999 was my first new laptop. It was and is Great!!!
However, The processor speed, bus speed, disk size, max memory and screen size make it seem limited these days. At 650MHz, 256 MB and 18 GB, it is still a contender, but one that is noticably fading.
Enter the NV-200, which upgrades all aspects of the FX-490 and then adds some great leading edge features, good installed software and the Sony commitment to support.
A HIGH end laptop for $3024 shipped to my door by the SonyStyle website with every option maxed out. Processor 2.0 GHz, HDD 60 GB, Mem: 512 MB, and standard hot swapable items; FloppyDD, Slid out 10 key numeric keypad and my favorite, the "SUB-WOOFER" for all those music files.
The ability to WRITE Cd''s and WRITE DVD's will make a big difference in my ability to archive data and provide large data files to clients while computing in mobile fashion.
The interfaces exceed the compititions with FireWire still a Sony laptop standard item. Has any other company started shipping Firewire laptops other than Apple and Sony ? Seems like they should be and perhaps someone is but and I have not been paying attention during the last year.
A Memory Stick slot makes it very conveinient for me to transfer files from my Sony digital camera. I also use the memory stick with an Iomega USB memory card reader to move files to and from other HW and OS platforms.
The Jog Dial is new to me but I expect that it will quickly become a tool that will make it very easy to surf withing the computer and find apps and docs.
The 15" screen with higher resolution than the FX-490 is a plus. I find that the 15" screen works well for me and keeps the laptops overall size down to what I have become used to. I was not tempted by the other Sony models with 16" screens. However, I suspect that in a few years my aging eyes will insist that my next laptop or tablet pc have a 16" or 17" screen.
The software provided by Sony is helpful and generaly works well and adds value to the computing experience. However, I am not sure I am going to like the new PictureGear SW on the NV-200 as well as the software of the same name that was included on the FX-490. The older SW handled Mpeg movies as well as Jpeg still pictures within the same package and it had a utility to stitch togeather panoramas. Perhaps I will adjust to the new picture SW.
The DVD movie viewer seems an improvment over the older version and gives many options for viewing and for contol while viewing.
Sony provides a few other SW items that I have never made use of and so I cannot comment on them. Smart Utilities and Smart Capture or something like that. Wonder what I have been missing?
Anything BAD to say, you might ask? Well yes.... It is BIG. It is a bit larger than the FX-490 in all dimensions. I can tell the difference when I set it on my lap.
Another thing is that the design is a bit modern for my taste. A slightly rounded silver top when it's closed gives it a bit of a UFOish look. The boxier and more conservative look of the FX-490 feels more familiar and comfortable to me.
That said, I am glad that I bought the NV-200. It will provide me with reliable mobile computing power for the next 3 to maybe even 5 years.
It is backed by a 3 yr warrenty which cost extra but, that cost is reflected in the earlier stated total cost of $3024
Based on my trouble free use of the FX-490 since 1999 and the good support by Sony for OS upgrades and patches for any problems (none ever affected me) I am a loyal customer who will take a minute to share my experiences and my satisfaction with Sony. For example: (I started w/ 98se and now am at XP-Home on the FX-490 thanks to the Sony web site driver support team.)
Happy Computing,
George in the Carolinas.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 3024
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 15 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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Epinions.com ID:
machrea
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Reviews written: 2
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