Sony VAIO PCG-FR130 Laptop (1.667-GHz Athlon XP 2000+, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive)

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [1.78mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000083JYB
• Item model number: PCG-FR130
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,558 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 11, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Some PC users simply don’t want or need the cutting-edge performance of a costly, top-of-the-line mobile computer. For them, Sony offers the Vaio PCG-FR130 notebook, a sensibly designed and affordable unit that’s powerful enough to operate most typical portable computing applications.

At the heart of the Vaio PCG-FR130 is a cost-effective yet muscular 1.67 GHz AMD Athlon XP 2000+ processor, which, when combined with the system’s adequate allotment of 256 MB of DDR SDRAM (expandable to 1,024 MB), delivers above-average power. An integrated 16 MB nVidia GeForce4 420 Go-V graphics chipset enhances the performance of 3-D video applications but is certainly not sufficient for serious gaming.

Measuring 13 by 10.8 by 1.7 to 2.1 inches and weighing just 7.2 pounds, the Vaio PCG-FR130 is smaller and more lightweight than many of today’s notebooks. Sony has equipped the unit with a sizable 40 GB hard disk and an internal CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, back up important files, and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. You’ll monitor your activities on a 14.1-inch XGA TFT display capable of 1,024 x 768 resolution.

Other desirable amenities include an internal V.90 modem for low-speed e-communications, a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet interface for high-speed connectivity, headphone and microphone ports, integrated stereo speakers, and an 86-key QWERTY keyboard with electrostatic touchpad. Home movie and digital picture buffs will appreciate the unit’s two high-speed USB 2.0 ports and single IEEE 1394 interface.

Sony has pre-installed an impressive variety of software, including Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Quicken 2002 New Users Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, and a broad array of audio, video, and photo utilities. Battery life for the Vaio PCG-FR130 is estimated at 2.5 to 3 hours.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Quality, Great Price, May 20, 2003

By 

BJA "Iceman" (FL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-FR130 Laptop (1.667-GHz Athlon XP 2000+, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive) (Personal Computers)

I'm definately a computer fanatic, I build my desktops computers myself because I can never find a desktop that has exactly what I want. This is my second notebook, I've owned it for just two days and I'm very impressed. Compared with my previous notebook (brand of my previous notebook will remain nameless here) it's obvious the quality construction Sony uses to build its notebooks. VAIOs are advertised based on their stylishness, but they are also very sound, sturdy notebooks as well. All though it's not the top of the line by today's standards, I have yet to see any lacking in performance in any of the applications I use on a regular basis, and since it comes with an Nvidia graphics chip, I'm sure it will perform admirably on the games that I play as well.

The software package that came with it seems to contain more potentially useful apps than junk apps. I can't comment on the media apps bundled yet, they'll definately take a little time to learn since they look to be packed with features, definately more robust than I had expected.

The only dissapointment that I found is my new VAIO lacks a feature that was on my previous laptop: the ability to power up just the CD drive and use it as an oversized CD player. Although this isn't a big enough minus to count against the 5 star rating. Definately a great notebook!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really a 4 1/2 Star, June 5, 2003

By 

Jonathan Hays "Traveler and Theologue" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-FR130 Laptop (1.667-GHz Athlon XP 2000+, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive) (Personal Computers)

Well, this was my first laptop purchase...it was definately a hard decision, but the Sony VAIO has impressed me in every area so far. For a laptop bought at a nationwide electronics store for under a thousand dollars, I don't think I could be more pleased. :)

This laptop beat the competition due to it's wealth of features. The USB 2.0 ports, the Firewire ports, and Word Perfect Office (399 value!) really sold me on this laptop. With the other laptops in the sub-1000 range, I was looking at USB 1.1, no firewire, and no productivity apps.

Also included are the roomy 40 GB HD as well as the 24x CD-RW. An adequate video card (I don't game) and a great sounding sound card (just put it through some headphones!) round out the machine.

I know that this review isn't very helpful...but I can run Photoshop, Office, browse the web, and be burning a CD all at once. The power is adequate for my needs...and I'd say for the needs of any student. I hook up a 10 dollar USB optical mouse and I'm good to go. Yes, it runs a little hot on the lap...but what laptop doesn't? If you want a cool-running laptop, be prepared to shell out an extra grand for Centrino.

Why does it not get 5 stars?

Once you load a non-Windows operating system, you void the warranty. Once you take it out of the country, you void the warranty (Go figure...it's a laptop!)... The last is more annoying than the first because I am going to school in the UK.

It also gets dinged for not having more RAM.

Other than that, it's a great little machine.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Problems with Alps Touch Pad, August 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-FR130 Laptop (1.667-GHz Athlon XP 2000+, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive) (Personal Computers)

At first sight, the FR-130 laptop endears itself easily: solid build, decent styling, nice LCD screen, and a wealth of hardware and software extras to sweeten the deal. Perhaps too many free multimedia software that few need or use.

BUT 2 months after owning a brand new one, my FR-130 touch pad (made by Alps) goes crazy and starts acting on its own: it moves independently of your finger motion, clicks to open and close apps, or just does not move at all. Problem persists even after downloading the latest driver from Alps/Sony (July 2003).

A quick Google search for "Alps Touch Pad Problem" reveals that it is a generic problem affecting many owners across many Sony models.

Disgusted with the Touch Pad, I just attach an USB mouse and the latter seems to work ok. But once in a great while, the mouse acts up just like the touch pad! By uninstalling the touch pad driver and the mouse driver, and then rebooting, things return to normal ... until the next time. Fortunately, the mouse is more stable than the touch pad, so in between crises, you can still use your FR-130 if you don't mind using a mouse in lieu of the touch pad. Perhaps the intermittency is due to poor heat dissipation.

I think Sony and Alps stink to high heavens for not resolving that issue. Other than that, the FR-130 is a capable laptop for most needs. For those who needs a laptop to do video editing annd related multimedia chores, Sony is the leader. If you can close your eyes to its idiotic touch pad.