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Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
Far from the smallest mobile computer in Sony's notebook lineup, the VAIO PCG-FRV26 Laptop is nevertheless extremely powerful and nicely equipped. If size and ease of portability are not overriding factors, the capable VAIO PCG-FRV26 is a wise and cost-effective choice.
By today's ever-decreasing standards, the VAIO PCV-FRV26 is slightly larger than average at 13 by 10.8 by 2.26 inches and 7.7 pounds. It is, however, more powerful than many desktops. Featuring a brawny 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB Level 2 cache, a 533 MHz system bus, 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 1024 MB) and a 64 MB ATI Radeon IGP 345M graphics chipset, the unit will quickly carve through most any task it is given, including many 3-D games and applications.
Sony has fitted the system with an adequate 40 GB hard disk and an internal CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, backup important files and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. If you want to burn DVDs as well, you may want to check Sony's VAIO PCV-FRV28, a nearly identical notebook with DVD burning capabilities and a marginally higher price point.
Other amenities include a large 15-inch XGA TFT display capable of 1024x768 resolution, an internal V.90 modem for low-speed e-communications, an Ethernet interface for high-speed connectivity, an 86-key QWERTY keyboard with electro-static touchpad, and a pair of stereo speakers with surround-sound imaging. Home movie and digital picture buffs in particular will appreciate the unit's trio of high-speed USB 2.0 ports and single IEEE 1394 interface, through which they can quickly transfer large amounts of data from external devices such as camcorders, digital cameras, scanners and external drives.
Sony has pre-installed an impressive variety of software, including Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Money 2003, Microsoft Works 7.0, and a broad array of audio, video and photo utilities.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite.,
By
This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-FRV26 Laptop (2.8 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB DDR RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)
Sony has always made quirky computers, not bad mind you but their products remind me of Saabs. Anyway, this one is certainly a powerhouse, with a bigger processor than most home systems today, coupled with a mediocre sized hard drive (especially when one considers this PC is designed to be a media center, with its very good graphics and CD & DVD player) and a very crisp display. The drawbacks here are important: 1) The 2.8 P4 processor is not ideal for mobile use. It throws off a lot of heat and it uses batteries recklessly. 2) The addition of another battery is a pretty steep investment, and in true Sony style, it's proprietary, so make that check out to S O N Y. 3) The weight of this machine is a killer if you're traveling, especially through huge airports where your flight is almost guaranteed to land at the gate farthest from civilization. 4) The absence of an integrated wireless modem these days is unforgivable. Wireless is commonplace, especially for travelers & students (airports, hotels, convention centers, schools, libraries, etc.), and in the next few years it will be virtually ubiquitous. Anyway, it's not a bad computer, but I think it firmly meets the needs of no particular market segment. I have no doubt that today's buyer can do better at Dell or Gateway, or, for the traveler on a budget, at Averatec.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Vaio Con Dios,
By
This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-FRV26 Laptop (2.8 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB DDR RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)
I was more than a bit disappointed in my new Vaio FRV26, but not for the reasons stated by the other reviewer. My biggest beef is the misrepresentation of the size of the hard drive. It is supposed to be 40GB (give or take). I can understand a little leeway for the operating system, the preinstalled apps and a recovery partition (after all, this is my first non-Compaq computer ever). But my C drive has 13GB (9GB available) and my D drive has 18GB (18GB available, although there is an empty "Images" folder on the drive). Second of all, the combo CD-RW/DVD drive seems flimsy. As much use as a peripheral like that would get, I would have thought it would have been made a bit more sturdy. I don't abuse my equipment, but constant repetitive motion of the door popping slightly ajar, and me having to pull it out the rest of the way with my fingers, and then press the CD into the spindle is a recipe for disaster IMHO. The sound from the onboard speakers is anemic at best, so unless I'm using headphones, I won't be able to enjoy my CDs or MP3s (and with that skimpy hard drive space I doubt I'll be collecting very many and storing them on the computer). The packaging was sound, the laptop arrived safely with all parts intact, not a mark on it. It fired up right away, and began charging its very expensive ($229 at sony.com; $130 give or take at ebay.com) battery. I immediately went to Add/Remove programs and got rid of the hoggy Microsoft Works, Microsoft Money and a few other items of no use to me. The placement of the arrow, Home, End and Delete keys was haphazard, and not in any pattern that I have ever seen or been used to. The keyboard itself will take some getting used to. (I upgraded from a -- don't laugh -- Compaq Armada 4160T, 166MHz.) The keys are so far back; the "wrist rest" or space between the keyboard and the front of the laptop is so deep that it's difficult -- awkward -- to type for any length of time. I am impressed with the power underneath the Vaio's hood, however. It's got a nice fast chip. It will run all my apps (Dreamweaver MX, Photoshop, Nero Burning ROM, Word 2K, Wordperfect 8, Topstyle Pro 3, Links 2001) with ease.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent value as a desktop replacement,
By
This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-FRV26 Laptop (2.8 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB DDR RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)
At over 8 pounds of carrying weight, this Vaio is not ideal as a traveling laptop. Instead, it's designed to be a desktop replacement. Witness the 2.8Ghz P4 processor (not the mobile version), which is screaming fast especially for gaming and video/audio editing, as well as 512MB of fast RAM and large screen. BTW, the screen is beautiful and has terrific viewing angles.This particular configuration is a good value; what you won't get is built-in DVD burner. Otherwise Sony, in its usual way, throws in a lot of add-on software. Performance seems pretty good, as the system is responsive at all times. The internal fan does kick in a lot, to cool down the system. In this regard, I highly recommend a cooling pad with built-in fans, such as the "Bytecc cooling pad" I'm currently using. It plugs into the USB port and the fans keep the air flowing under the laptop. A beautiful screen, admirably fast performance, and general good looks make this Vaio a good choice for anyone except those needing a constant traveling companion.
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