Sony VAIO VGN-AX570G 17" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 750, 1024 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive)

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 15.8 x 1.7 inches ; 8.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 25.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BJK1PO
• Item model number: VGN-AX570G
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The VAIO VGN-AX570G Digital Studio notebook provides exceptional mobile multimedia performance, with its 17-inch WXGA widescreen, XBRITE LCD screen and ATI Mobility Radeon X700 graphics card for fantastic video and gaming capabilities. It also comes loaded with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2), which provides support for Media Center Extender technology built into XBox 360 game consoles. The extra-large and fast 160 GB Serial ATA hard drive and ultra-efficient 1 GB of DDR2 memory deliver robust computing performance. And the multi-function bay lets you easily swap out peripherals for maximum flexibility and storage space up to 320 GB. It also includes a multi-bay TV tuner and an integrated 0.3 megapixel camera for quick snapshots while out on the road. Other features include a 1.86 GHz Intel Centrino Pentium M processor, dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner, multi-format memory card slot, Bluetooth wireless capability (for connecting to peripherals such as PDAs, cell phones, and printers), and a wide assortment of pre-loaded software titles.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 160 GB hard drive (at a fast 5400 RPM) is one of the largest sizes you'll find in a notebook (as of autumn, 2005), and it's befitting of such an entertainment-centric notebook PC. It offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors. You'll also be able to store hundreds of hours of digital audio.
  
• Processor: The Intel Centrino Pentium M 750 processor is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. It features a Deep Sleep state, which helps enable longer battery life by minimizing the power consumption of the processor during brief periods of inactivity. The 1.86 GHz speed is in the upper-middle of the speed spectrum for this processor (as of autumn, 2005), and it also offers a fast 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB) speed and a large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)
  
• Memory: The VGN-AX570G comes with 1 GB of installed PC-4200 DDR RAM, with a very fast 533 MHz speed. This is a very good start, but you'll want to max out the 2 GB capacity for your 3D gaming and video-editing needs.
  
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the multi-format DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 8x write/6x rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 16x write/4x rewrite speed. For double-layer DVD+R, it has a 4x write speed. For CDs, it has a 24x write/24x rewrite speed. It also offers an 8x DVD-ROM read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard, electro-static two-button touchpad, and pointing stick.

Screen, Graphics and Sound
The 17-inch XBRITE LCD screen has a widescreen 1440 x 900-pixel resolution--perfect for watching movies in their intended 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. It's powered by the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 video/graphics card with 256 MB of HyperMemory memory on PCI Express architecture. With 8 parallel pixel pipelines and breakthrough image enhancement technology, it provides extremely smooth, responsive high-definition video that's great for fully immersive 3D gaming as well as DVD movies and graphics-intensive presentations. It offers VGA and S-Video outputs as well as a DVI-D connection for high-def output. This notebook has an integrated audio card that's AC97 compliant and it features a line-in/microphone, line-out/headphone, and two stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This VAIO AX Digital Studio Notebook features a unique and flexible multi-function bay, enabling simple swapping of included peripherals: a TV-tuner Bay Unit and the dual-layer DVD/CD burner. Quick, easy and ultra-flexible, the multi-function bay gives you the functionality you need when you need it, including up to an incredible 320 GB of storage capacity. (You can also add optional 80 GB HDD Bay (5400 rpm SATA) and HDD Adapter Bay units.)

The VGN-AX570G has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You get a basic offering of connectivity options, including both USB 2.0 and i.Link (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) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack
• 1 microphone jack
• 1 port replicator connector
• Memory card slot, compatible with Memory Stick and Memory Stick DUO media with MagicGate functionality and Secure Digital Media (SD)

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
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2) is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. The Update Rollup 2 upgrade offers support for the Windows Media Center Extender technology built into XBox 360 game consoles, which lets you access entertainment from your Media Center PC--whether itÕs live and recorded TV and movies, music, photos or Online Spotlight--on any TV in the house

It also comes loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: Click to DVD (DVD creation), SonicStage (digital music), Vaio Media (network file sharing), DVgate Plus (digital video), and Image Converter (for PSP transfer). Other pre-loaded software includes Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Microsoft Works 8.0 (with word processing, spreadsheet, and calendar), Norton Internet Security (with 90-day subscription), Intervideo WinDVD, Roxio DigitalMedia SE, and SpySubtract.

Security
The Biometric Fingerprint System is a convenient and secure way to protect your computer and the information on it with a simple swipe of your finger. It also stores passwords to secure web sites you visit, so authentication and access are quick and easy--you only need your fingerprint.

Dimensions and Weight
Befitting its multimedia designation, the VGN-AX570G is not the most compact of notebooks. It measures 15.8 x 1.7 x 11.7 inches and weighs approximately 8.8 pounds. Power
It is powered by the VGP-BPS4 standard lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which produces a battery life of up to 1.5 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-AX570G notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, optical drive bay unit, multi-bay TV tuner unit, remote control/IR receiver, video cable, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty, and Sony offers 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance.

Product Description

Intel Petium-M Centrino 1.86GHz / 1GB DDR / 160GB HD / 17 Inch WXGA XBrite Widescreen / Dual Layer DVDRW / Camera / XP Media Edition Built-in 802.11b/g/a Wi-Fi Adapter 17 Wide UXGA LCD with XBRITE(TM) Technology and ErgoBright Technology Native Resolution - 1920x1200 DVD Writer (write speeds) - up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 8x DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-RW, 24x CD-R/RW 100GB 5400RPM SATA HDD ATI Mobility Radeon X600 with 256MB of DDR SDRAM Integrated v.90 56k Modem Built-in Stereo Speakers 1 PCMCIA Type I/II Card Slot (CardBus support) Memory Stick Media Slot - supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO, & Memory Stick(R) DUO Entertainment Dock - built-in TV tuner, Giga Pocket MPEG2 realtime encoder, 4 USB 2.0, VGA, VHF/UHF TV, Printer, S-Video In/Out, DVD-D, Ethernet, Optical Out, RCA In/Out Ports - 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, VGA Out, Headphone, Microphone, 1 FireWire, 3 USB 2.0

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Full-Featured Powerhouse With Some Limitations, December 13, 2005

By 

Boulder Bum (Centennial, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-AX570G 17" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 750, 1024 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

I bought this machine as a powerful portable for software development and home entertainment use and wasn't disappointed. With the most amazing screen of any current laptop and some of the speedier components on the market right now, I'm not left twiddling my thumbs during the processor-intensive tasks as I was with my older laptop. Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 is a welcome addition, and the graphics card and specs are Windows Vista ready for all you future-proofers!

I also found myself really liking some of the features I was apathetic of at first. The fingerprint scanner is a real time-saver when logging into websites or using one-touch fast user switching and the Bluetooth capability enables me to use a wireless (Bluetooth) mouse without having to take up a USB port to do it (plus it should come in handy for syncing a PDA)! I was also impressed with the included remote control that lets you use your computer as a TV/Stereo/DVD player when using the Media Center.

There are a few downsides to be aware of, however, when considering buying the AX570G. First, you don't want to use this as a business traveller's notebook: the heavy weight and super-short battery life make it an unappealing choice for use on long plane or car rides when there's potentially no power supply available.

The computer is a powerhouse you can pack up and easily take with you, but consider yourself tethered to a power supply after settling in at your destination.

Second, the RAM is expandable to 2 GB, but the two available slots are already taken by the factory-supplied 512 MB chips which you'll have to discard if you upgrade.

Third, the speakers are pretty wimpy. If you're going to use the machine for entertainment (which it's made for), make sure you have an external set to plug into the TV tuner or headphone jack.

Forth, there's not a great out-of-the-box utility to take advantage of the web cam. You can use Windows Movie Maker to make a movie, but I haven't found anything that lets you shoot stills with it (and I don't care about web cams and IM).

All in all, however, I'd highly recommend buying this machine if you're after features, performance, and the best screen around! I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony and Only, November 24, 2005

By 

The good guys "FA" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-AX570G 17" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 750, 1024 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

I am not a expert on Personal Computers by all means. This is just one opinion of many out there and Sony did not endorse me ( now that would be sweet ).Awesome Screen.Brightness of the screen is whoaa !!!. Good Battery. Simple and efficient keyboard .Very quick response time on most applications. Since I just got it I might have some additional inputs and thoughts in the future (but then again I do not want to bore people with my blah,blah).Price could have been better but again I compared it with some HP and Toshiba's and I went with this choice. For me Clarity of the Screen was important since i do lot of Account Presentations and Hypos for my Clients and Prospective Clients so 17" Screen helps also when on the road.I hope it helps some folks with decision which way to go.See you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony Quality, Near Desktop Performance, Incredible Features, December 6, 2005

By 

R. Rice (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-AX570G 17" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 750, 1024 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

I've owned this laptop for about a month now (Bought it from Best Buy). I needed something that would be as powerful as my home PC. I run an online radio station (http://www.cleftintherock.net), and we broadcast live from events. Previously I'd have to lug my 250 pounds of computer junk to each show. This laptop weighs in at 8lbs so it was definitely a wise investment. Also, the fingerprint reader on this is actually effective, I've used others that are erroneous and can sometimes let in unauthorized users.

What's incredibly cool is that it comes with two SATA hard drives. Although they suck the life out of the battery (only lasts about 1 1/2 hours) Each drive is 80GB in size. My only complaints about this entire laptop is the hard drive speed, and lack of OS recovery discs. For 5400RPM hard drives, these things are quick, but isn't it time that we move laptop drive standards to 7500? Maybe I'm just used to the RAID-0 array of Raptors in my home PC (10,000RPM).

Overall, the ax570g is the best bang for your buck, and as a Sony laptop product it will last years to come. (i have a co-worker with a 5 year old vaio)still running strong.