Sony VAIO PCG-K23 Laptop (2.8 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive)

by Sony

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00029ZV0S
• Item model number: PCG-K23
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 27, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's Vaio K Series ergnomically designed notebooks combine entry-level affordability with versatile multimedia and communications power. The eye-catching PCG-K23 features a gently slanted full-sized keyboard that provides a comfortable hand and wrist position. The enhanced widescreen format LCD lets you take full advantage of watching DVD moviews as well as view side-by-side page layouts. The K23 features an integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN, 15.4-inch screen, 60 GB hard drive, combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, 2.8 GHz processor, and 512 MB of installed RAM. It also comes with Sony's Vaio Creation suite of multimedia applications.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors.
• Processor: The 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor is one of the fastest processors currently available on the notebook market--a definite plus for a video-centric PC. It also has a 512 KB L2 cache and a 533 MHz front-side bus speed.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD-RW drive has 24x write, 10x rewrite, and 24x read speeds. The DVD-ROM has an 8x playback speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has an 86-key keyboard and electro-static touch pad.

Sound and Graphics
The K23 features ATI IGP 345M graphics card with 64 MB of shared video memory (meaning that memory is taken from the PC's main RAM). It has a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Sony's exclusive XBRITE LCD technology delivers ultra crisp and super bright graphics. It also has an AC'97 sound card that's integrated into the main board, and comes with two built-in stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The K23 has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). You get a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including both high-speed USB 2.0 and FireWire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 Memory Stick slot (Memory Stick Pro compatible)

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
This K23 comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works 7.0 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 14 x 1.6-2.2 x 10.9 inches and weighing 8.04 pounds (with battery), the K23 won't load you down, thought its size and weight aren't for the ultimate road warrior.

Power
The K23 comes with the PCGA-BP2NY rechargeable lithium ion battery; it has an estimated battery life of 1.5 to 3.0 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-K23 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid notebook, but a few minor problems, July 6, 2004

By 

Eddie (Sugar Land, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-K23 Laptop (2.8 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive) (Personal Computers)

The first thing I did after I turned on this laptop was create the recommended recovery kit, which required burning 8 CD's total. When I started burning Disc 6, a write error occurred. Initially I thought I did something wrong and was about to start over, but after looking on the Sony website I discovered that Sony already knew of this problem and was working to resolve it.

I am glad that Sony has already recognized this problem and I really do believe they're trying to fix it with a patch or whatever. Sony's reputation for quality laptops makes me confident that they will solve this problem.

As far as other characteristics go, this laptop has an amazingly clear and crisp screen. The XBRITE technology for the screen is definitely the wave of the future and I WOULDN'T get ANY laptop without it. Traditional TFT's are going to be obsolete soon, and as the XBRITE's become more prevalent, TFT's will be gone. There is such a significant difference in clarity that it is better than my stand alone LCD monitor. Fujitsu was the original developer of the XBRITE technology, and Sony licensed it. So be sure to check out Fujitsu's laptops as well, but I don't believe any other company's have this technology so far.

15.4" for a screen is quite large, and the fact that it's widescreen makes it even sweeter. Widescreen is cool especially for watching DVD movies. No more of those annoying black borders that surround a horizontal screen.

2.8GHz Pentium 4 is one of the fastest processors for any laptop available, and a 64MB Radeon graphics card is good for a laptop, and 512 DDR RAM is very good for a laptop as well.
THE POINT IS: all these wonderful features for such a GREAT PRICE and especially for a Sony VAIO, which generally is more expensive and Sony's reputation for laptops is very good.
-The full size keyboard is nice, not as cramped

DRAWBACKS:
-8 pounds is considered heavy for a laptop, although you would have to spend significantly more for a weaker, lighter Centrino laptop
-Battery consumption is slightly high due to it's incredible processing power.
However, I feel that battery consumption is a non-issue because most of the time when you're working, there are places to plug your laptop into a wall outlet.

However, I do not recommend this laptop if you're constantly moving around without being close to wall outlets or are too weak to carry this laptop. Although be forewarned, laptops are generally around 7 pounds anyway, so you won't find that much difference unless you spend significantly more. And even then, you'll get a much weaker system.

OVERALL:
The low price for such a powerful, quality laptop made by a highly reputable brand far outweighs the weight and battery consumption issues.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unsurpassed monitor anywhere, July 28, 2004

By 

H. Ma (Alhambra, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-K23 Laptop (2.8 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive) (Personal Computers)

This K23 has a great monitor--better than any other monitors on this planet. It's brighter, sharper and displays great colors and overall it's even better than my 20-inch Dell desktop monitor with a DVI interface.

Cons: The battery cap is too loose and it's easy to fall out. Software-wise, there's probably a conflict between the Windows and the Microsoft's update website. After I updated the Windows, it was dead and I couldn't start the Windows. A Sony technician who fixed the problem on the phone told me to update Windows in the future by first downloading it to my desktop and install it from there, instead of using its automatic installation. A friend of mine who also bought a K23 at the same time had a similar problem with the software. I hope Sony can address this problem as most of us use the computer for mission-critical tasks.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars buyers watchout, November 11, 2004

By 

alex jonson "bub" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO PCG-K23 Laptop (2.8 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, Combo Drive) (Personal Computers)

Buyers watch out for private sellers

There are a lot of private sellers trying to rip you off .prices look cheap when you send the money you wont get the product or your money back.

Look for the specific items that scammers try to do:

1. Look at the seller's id they look like some what irrelevant. Example (amazon_cheap)(Sony_Amazon)

2. Look at the sellers rating it says just launched because the sellers like to create many e mails as they can.

3. In the sellers comments they will say like "please contact me before buying. Otherwise I won't send you the item".

4. When you send the e mail to them they will say "we are a small company in Romania or UK or Spain trying to evolve to sell outside the country". They will say send money through western union. When I get the money you will get the notebooks with in 2 business days.

5. They will send detailed sellers address where to send the money western union (Spain). I said "I know the address in Spain can I come and pay to that address" he said "I will do only through online" this is cheater.

When you send money through western union you won't get your money back.

Escrow and Amazon secure payment are the trusted payment.

I got an e mail from a seller he said "I will get transaction only through Amazon secure payment. I thought he was good seller. Next e mail he wrote "tell me your complete address I will forward the address to Amazon" I gave him my address .

With in 1 day I got a e mail from "Amazon secure payment" from address looked like it was from Amazon, but when I clicked on reply the to address said "([e-mail]) it was not a e mail from Amazon in that message it said Amazon wants you to make payment through western union. I wrote the email to Amazon they said we will not allow any one to pay through Amazon these are fake e mails trying to rip peoples money.