Sony VAIO VGN-FS570 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1GB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive)

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14.3 x 10.4 x 1.4 inches ; 6.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00079F7L6
• Item model number: VGN-FS570
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 6, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Delivering powerful performance for your everyday computing needs, the Sony Vaio VGN-FS570 notebook PC is also ready to grow with your multimedia demands. You'll be able to easily create high-quality DVDs in one click and display it on the 15.4-inch crisp, XBRITE LCD. Slim and lightweight (at just over 6 pounds), the VGN-FS570 also offers a battery life of up to 5.5 hours thanks to the battery-sipping Intel Pentium M Processor 740. It also features an 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM, multiformat, dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive, 54g wireless connectivity, a Memory Stick slot for easy transfer of your photos from your Sony digital camera, and Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2).

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is one of the larger sizes you'll find in a notebook, and it's befitting of such an entertainment-centric 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 Pentium M Processor 740 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 1.7 GHz speed is near the top of the speed spectrum for this processor (as of winter, 2004), 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-FS570 maximizes its RAM capability with an installed 1 GB of PC2700, 333 MHz DDR RAM (2 x 512 MB). You'll be able to easily handle complex, immersive worlds in your favorite video games and edit digital video, but there's no room to grow any further.
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the multiformat 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/4x rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 8x write/4x rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 8x). For double-layer DVD+R, it has a 2.4x write speed. For CDs, it has a 24x write/10x rewrite/24x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Screen, Graphics and Sound
The VGN-FS570 features an integrated video/graphics card in the Intel 915GM chipset, which features 128 MB of dynamic video RAM (shared with the main RAM). The 15.4-inch LCD has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Sony's Smart Display Sensor feature instantly adjusts resolution when you connect to a display or projector. It also has an integrated audio card and built-in stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The VGN-FS570 has an integrated 54g wireless LAN 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
• Memory Stick media slot, compatible with Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro

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 system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: Vaio Zone with WinDVD (for watching DVD movies), Click to DVD (DVD creation) PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Vaio Media (network file sharing), and DVgate Plus (digital video). Other preloaded software includes Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Microsoft Works 8.0 (with word processing, spreadsheet, and calendar), Norton Internet Security (with 90-day subscription), and SpySubtract.

Dimensions and Weight
Easily portable, the VGN-FS570 weighs 6.28 pounds with standard battery and measures 14.33 x 1.41 x 10.41 inches (WxHxD).

Power
It is powered by the VGP-BPS2A standard lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which produces a battery life of between 2.5 and 5.5 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-FS570 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

Product Description

Includes: lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, Intuit Quicken 2005 New User Edition, WinDVD, Works 8.0, Norton Internet Security, & more. Sony VGN-FS570 VAIO(R) Notebook PC - This notebook computer delivers powerful performance for all of your everyday essential computing needs. Featuring an Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73 GHz) and 1GB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM. It is also packed with features that can handle your growing multimedia and digital entertainment demands. Such as a Double Layer DVD writer, a 15.4" widescreen display, and a host of bundled applications for audio, video, pictures and more! 15.4 widescreen LCD Native Resolution - 1280x800 100GB 4200RPM HDD Intel 915GM Integrated Graphics with 128MB of shared memory (memory is shared with the main system) Double Layer DVD Writer - (write speeds) up to 2.4x Double Layer DVD+R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 24x CD-R, 10x CD-RW 802.11g Wi-Fi Wireless Networking Adapter Memory Stick Media Slot - supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO, & Memory Stick(R) DUO media 56k Fax Modem 1 Type I/II PC Card Slot Built-in Speakers Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, 3 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, Parallel Out, VGA Out, & Headphone Out

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An almost perfect laptop for the home enthusiast, March 8, 2005

By 

the_emperor_of_ice_cream (Ft Washington, Pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FS570 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1GB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

Net/net:
1) GREAT! for web surfing, managing/editing multi-media (especially stills/videos of the kids), and MS-office apps
2) Good to okay for gamers (Half-life does well, but Doom 3 and Everquest 2 can get bogged down)
3) This is my 9th machine for home use (9 desktops; 2 laptops) and my 2nd Sony. Based upon experiences with previous purchases and manufacturers, after owning this laptop for three days now (but already well in excess of 20 hours of usage) I would whole-heartedly recommend this to family and friends. The following are the pros and cons...


Pros...
+ Super simple set-up -- took me less than half an hour to open the box, configure the system, and establish an internet connection through my home-based, WEP enabled 802.11g wireless network
+ Stunning graphics display (1200 X 800 resolution is awesome!)
+ Lightening fast handling of MS office applications (a 60 day trial version of MS office -- Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint is pre-loaded)
+ Fit and finish are BMW-like (i.e., high speed, low drag)
+ Extremely nice touch for Sony to have preloaded a decent anti-spyware application (SpySubtract)and Norton Security (3 month trial version)
+ A couple reviewers have maligned the 128 MB Intel graphics card, but using an idependent test site (pcpitstop.com), the graphics card received extremely high marks
+ Over-all configuration/performance are similar to machines costing several hundred more (somewhat unusal for a premium brand like Sony)
+ Keyboard action is sweeeet -- so is the big and fat 100GB hard drive (can't ever imagine having the content to fill it up!)
+ Comsumer's Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) continually gives Sony high marks for build quality

Cons...
+ Sony's knucklheaded bean-counters decided to save money by equipping the machine with a 7 foot power cord -- I have never (and I mean never ever) seen a machine in this price tier come with such a short powercord (my Dell that I use for work came with a 12 foot powercord); I now have to make a 2nd trip to the store to rectify this albiet small, but nevertheless disappointing shortcoming
+ I am surprised that the built in speakers are just this side of acceptable (that's okay as I live for searching Amazon for fun peripherals!)
+ I am also somewhat surprised that there are so few hot (a.k.a. quick connect) buttons for multi-media and internet apps (just two!) -- many other machines come with half a dozen or more
+ Would like to see more free software preloaded (this seems to be an issue with most of Sony's machines: laptop and desktop; high end and low end)
+ Touch pad takes a little getting used to (not quite sensitive enough at the default setting)

Hope this helped with your search for a new machine!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony have done it again with a classy Vaio Notebook, February 17, 2005

By 

DrEDG "gynetix" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FS570 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1GB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

The Sony VAIO VGN-FS570 is another great Notebook from Sony. The appearance, at least to me, is a variant of the Apple Powerbook look, and is an aesthetically pleasing design. Immediately I was impressed with the 15.4 widescreen display, which using XBRITE technology makes viewing text and images a pleasure (I am used to an Apple Powerbook by comparison). Importantly for me this variant of the new FS series has both a large 100 GB HD and 1GB of RAM. This makes it perform well for most of the intensive tasks you might want to run on it, for example DVD editing or using Photoshop. In many respects it can fill the role of a desktop replacement. In addition, I found battery life was good for this Notebook. Using Intel Centrino mobile technology I was again impressed by the connectivity and wireless range of the Vaio (again in comparison to a Powerbook). The bundled Vaio software is good, and it makes the XP user interface a pretty friendly experience for the uninitiated. Overall I would rate this Notebook very highly, both in terms of performance and aesthetic appearance.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a computer nerd, March 31, 2005

By 

mom to 3 boys (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FS570 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1GB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

I know nothing about mhz, ram or balh balh burning time. When I was looking for a lap top I told the sales person I just want a computer I can use to get online and check my emails and not get knock off.

The 1st lap top I owned a 2001 Hp pavilion (paid $2,200) when I put it on my lap to type it would burn my leg (it always had to be on table). I constantly got knock off line & if I ran more then one application the HP would lock up and the battier would die after 2hours of use, I really hated using it.

With the Sony VAIO FS570 (which cost less) I am very happy with this notebook, when I put it on my lap to type it's Cold, and using the wireless Internet (I can use my lap top in any room in my house and I don't have to plug into a phone jack) is SO neat. And I had my notebook on for 6 (using power save mode) before needing to recharge and the screen is huge very eye pleasing when viewing 8x10 of family photos. And it hasn't lock up yet and being able to turn down the brightness on the screen in dark room with one touch is Easy!! I have no complaints about this computer at all. If your not a computer junky, and don't care about ram, burning time etc... and you just want a thin, cool looking, fun notebook you'll love this computer the power and speed is unbelievable!!