Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

Great deal for the money. The nVidia GeForce4Go 16meg video is a step up from the integrated video chipsets most budget laptops use, enough to play Quake 3 at 1024x768 res with full detail. The memory is easily upgradable, I added a second DIMM, both DIMM slots are unobstructed. Sony wisely divided the HD into two partitions, which allowed me to replace the second partition with Red Hat Linux without disturbing the factory WinXP Home installation. FYI, while I haven't been able to get power management to work under Linux, everything else that I've tried works. The only caveat is the 8 pound weight.

Note to Sony: I'd have purchased a more expensive notebook if an Athlon notebook with a larger screen, higher-end graphics chip, and what not had been available. I DO NOT BUY INTEL CHIPS! That said, it's probably just as well that I saved my money and went with this well-rounded desktop replacement.

I have had this computer for almost 7 years and I am still waiting for it to go bad. So far I've got more RAM memory and a bigger hard drive. Other than that this computer has been a work horse for me. I also use an external PC wireless card, I have traveled with it multiple times and nothing has gone bad with it.

Sony scored big time with the components on this laptop, I use it at least 4 hrs. a day every day. With all the windows XP Service packs and newer software this computer is pretty slow but I can still run Photoshop and listen to music at the same time.

Congratulations Sony for creating this high quality, long lasting computer.

I did not like that they did not give a price for the Sony Vaio PCG-FR130. That is to bad for them because i was interested in buying that modle but i guess i will go to another competetor.