Sony VAIO VGN-CR520E/P 14.1-inch Laptop (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Pink

IF I CAN BUY EVERYTHING SONY I WOULD....SONY HAS PROVEN TO ME TO BE BETTER IN MANY WAYS TO ALL OTHER BRANDS..

THe product is a lemon. The CD/DVD does not work. I am also having trouble with engaging the hard drive. I pondering what my next steps are 2 take in getting a refund or repair.

I am totally dissatisfied with the product.

Tom Linzmeier

So we had 2 call sony & they sent out a tech 2 repair my keyboard, he did his thing, i was able 2 use the laptop 4 about a half hour,i shut it down adn when i strated it up, BAM the keyboard no longer worked. To me, since it was failed out of the box, i tyhink sony or Amazon should replace it. But that isnt the case sadly, sony said they can send someone out again & try 2 replace the motherboard or Amazon will refund us & we can use that towards a new computer. Ugh im so frustrated but I really want this laptop. I want one that works. Too much 2 ask? I dont think so.

This laptop is one of the best that I have laid my hands on. It is fast & easy 2 configure & use. Slow 2 boot up but once you have the system loaded it is faster than ever. Cool aligator skin 2 keep the fingerprints & scratches from showing.

I ordered this Vaio (in grey) from Amazon over a month ago when it was offered as a Gold Box item. His Compaq mini-tower had died two months prior & I thought a laptop would make more sense 4 him now.

I am not going 2 go into the technical mumbo-jumbo because you can see the specs posted in the product description section. Suffices 2 say that it is adequately supplied with memory, has sufficient disk storage & comes with... hmmm... Vista.

On the computer itself, it is a true laptop, meaning that it's not a TOO large mini-super-computer-emulator but not too small either. The display looks great. The keyboard is only adequate. This model does not come with a mouse so, if you don't want 2 depend on the little touchpad, make sure you have a USB mouse handy.

Installation... well you turn it on & it works. As it is always the case with 'consumer' computers, as soon as you turn it on, you are bombarded with tons of tutorials & various pre-installed trashware/bloatware - the usual suspects: AOL, Macaffee, Adobe, Norton... It took me a couple of hours 2 clean it up & leave only the stuff that was not on a 'trial' base & get rid of all the well-meaning spyware.

So, after cleanup, we got ourselves a nice, Wi-Fi enabled, AOL/Explorer/Macaffee/Norton-free little laptop that my son loves using 4 his personal entertainment & 4 the occasional school homework - Microsoft Works comes pre-installed 4 that.

Battery life appears 2 be adequate but the battery is relatively slow 2 charge - I guess you can't have everything at the same time.

On the 'cool' factor. The laptop comes equipped with a built-in camera almost invisible, it plays DVDs and, of course it has a microphone. My kid also likes the text-to-speech capability but he's telling me that the computer is more often wrong than right when interpreting his words. The cool stuff that DOES work is the fingerprint authentication. You provide the computer your fingerprints & you no longer need 2 enter username/password ever again. You simply slide your finger (any finger) over the reader and, you're authenticated.

I never had 2 call the Sony customer service, so I can't comment on that. I am very much a do-it-yourself type when it comes 2 computer (never on cars).

Overall rating: I am satisfied with the the laptop but the keyboard could have been better.

Experience the powerful performance of the Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor (2.10-GHz) with 3MB of L2 cache & 3GB of pre-installed system memory. The VAIO(R) CR notebook also comes pre-installed with Genuine Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1. A perfect mix of power & style, the VAIO(R) CR is a slim, lightweight PC measuring less than 1" thin while weighing only 5.49 pounds with a standard battery. Work & play quicker virtually anywhere within your office or home, using next generation 802.11n integrated wireless LAN technology, which offers a massive boost in wireless connection speed & range. Watch all your favorite movies & shows in stunning clarity on the 14.1" widescreen display using XBRITE-ECO technology so you can see deeper blacks, brighter whites, true-to-life color & razor-sharp detail from almost any angle. Go straight 2 your favorite movies, songs & photos with the touch of a button. AV mode gives you instant access 2 your favorite multimedia. Store your important documents, family videos & pictures on the roomy 320GB Serial ATA(TM) hard drive. Stay connected 2 colleagues, friends & family at home or on the go with real-time video conferencing using the integrated MOTION EYE camera & microphone. X3100 with Intel Clear Video Technology with Total Intel GM965 Express Chipset VGA & S-Video Out with Smart Display Sensor Fast Ethernet (RJ-45) Ethernet Speed Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 4965AGN Network Integrated Stereo A2DP Bluetooth Technology Ports - Ethernet, Headphone, Modem, Microphone, S-Video Output, 3x USB Ports, VGA Output, DC-In, & 4-pin i.LINK(R) connector (IEEE 1394) Operating System - Genuine Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 Dimensions - Width 13.2 x Depth 9.8 x Height 0.83-1.51 Weight - 5.49 pounds with standard battery

Add a zesty style 2 your mobile computing with the stunning good looks of the Sony VAIO VGN-CR520E/P notebook PC, which offers a unique Cosmopolitan Pink cover with silver luminous trim & pulsing LED ground effects that emanate from beneath. Aside from its jaw-dropping good looks, it's also an entertainment powerhouse. The instant AV Mode enables you 2 start watching a DVD or listening 2 music with the push of a single button--without having 2 boot up the system--and the convenient, built-in multimedia control buttons also let you control all playback functions. And making your own video masterpiece is easy with the included Sony Movie Story software--just choose the supplied template & professional-looking cutaways, cross-fades & soundtrack syncing are automatically done 4 you.

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250> Spec Check 14.1-inch XBRITE-ECO screen 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor 320 GB hard drive 3 GB RAM (4 GB maximum) Dual-layer DVD±R drive Quad-mode Wi-Fi Bluetooth with A2DP streaming Intel GMA X3100 graphics Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1) Weighs 5.5 pounds

It's powered by the 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which offers a super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed & extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed, reduces power requirements, & saves on battery life. It also includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect 2 draft 802.11n routers & offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. A built-in 1.3 megapixel digital web camera lets you quickly snap photos & participate in live video chats. Other features include a 14.1-inch XBRITE-ECO screen, 320 GB hard drive, 3 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum capacity), dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), Bluetooth connectivity (including A2DP stereo music streaming), ExpressCard 34 slot, Intel GMA X3100 graphics (with up 2 358 MB of total available video memory), & both Memory Stick & SD memory cart slots.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities 4 turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition 2 easily playing your DVD movies & managing your digital audio library, you'll be able 2 record & watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, & offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, & 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), & a large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; & a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU & RAM, & 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 2 encode video on-the-go & 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 4 multitasking & is ready 2 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 2 provide data 2 the processor when & where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed 4 instructions used widely in multimedia & graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology & idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core 2 help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data 2 system memory during periods of inactivity 2 lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The extra large 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect 4 storing a vast multimedia collection or 4 editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin 2 Firewire & USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 3 GB of installed RAM (PC5300, 1 x 2 GB, 2 x 1 GB) 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. This notebook has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (2 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity & clockspeed.

• DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW & DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, & dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up 2 8.5 GB of data--great 4 backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 6x 4 both DVD±R DL, 8x 4 both single layer DVD±R, 8x 4 single layer DVD+RW, 6x 4 single layer DVD-RW, 5x 4 DVD-RAM, & 24x 4 CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x & CD-ROMs at 24x.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 82-key keyboard (2mm stroke & 19.05mm pitch) & electro-static two-button touchpad. Playback controls include play/pause, stop, forward, rewind, AV mode, mute, volume +/-, capture, & display off.

Screen, Video & Audio
You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics & widescreen movies with the 14.1-inch WXGA high-definition screen, with its 1280 x 800-pixel resolution. The XBRITE-ECO technology delivers brilliant colors & stunning clarity with efficient power usage, & it features an anti-reflective coating 2 minimize reflection & ensure a beautifully clear image from any viewing angle.

Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up 2 358 MB allocated from the system memory) & provides Windows Vista Aero interface support & enhanced 3D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, & customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready 4 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 2 five times the performance & twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers & wi-fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great 4 closed office environments). With the Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate & synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs & cell phones as well as enjoy wireless stereo music streaming (thanks 2 its embedded A2DP profile).

This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (though no PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, & lighter expansion cards 4 even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, & security features. Here's the full list of connectivity options:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports 4 connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras 2 MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port 4 connecting digital video camcorders & other peripherals
• Video output: 1 VGA, 1 S-Video
• 1 ExpressCard/34 slot
• Memory Stick/Memory Stick DUO slot (with MagicGate functionality)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards)
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• 10/100 Fast Ethernet
• 56K modem (V.90)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium (with SP1) is the operating system 4 users with advanced computer needs, & it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities 4 turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center 4 watching DVD movies & accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center 2 record & watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) & 2 access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium & an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you 2 access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever 2 share files between other PCs in your household & 2 manage your laptop computer settings 2 more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools & technologies 2 help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting 2 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 2 manage & monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, & other activities.

Preloaded Software
Microsoft Windows Live OneCare anti-virus & recovery (trial version), Microsoft Works SE 9.0, Microsoft Office 2007 Home & Student (60-day trial), Sony Click 2 Disk Editor (CD & DVD burning), VAIO Movie Story (video editing), VAIO MusicBox

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 13.2 x 9.8 x 1.67 inches (WxDxH) & weighs 5.5 pounds.

Power
It's powered by the VGP-BPS9/S rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 2 & 4.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-CR520E/P notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, & operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty, & Sony offers 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance.