Sony VAIO VGN-FS660/W 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl 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: B00092E05K
• Item model number: VGN-FS660/W
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 15, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The VAIO FS Notebook has an incredibly well-balanced design. It's slim and lightweight, yet provides an impressive 15.4" widescreen display with Sony's original XBRITE LCD technology. Your movies and photos will come to life with brilliant colors and stunning clarity. Plus, the VAIO FS Notebook delivers powerful performance for your everyday essential computing needs and growing multimedia entertainment demands. Easily create, manage, and enjoy your digital photos, movies, and music. Capture and edit 1080i HDV. Or, watch and record high-quality TV with the optional TV/PVR dock. All the tools for your digital entertainment and creativity are at your fingertips.

Features

• Well-Balanced Desi: The VAIO FS Notebook combines a full-size workspace and powerful performance with the slim, lightweight design a mobile user demands. With integrated 802.11 b/g Wireless LAN and efficient battery usage8, the VAIO FS Notebook is an ideal solution for your everyday essential computing needs and growing multimedia entertainment demands.

Key Technologies

• Exceptional LCD Technologi: The VAIO FS Notebook features an exceptional 15.4" widescreen Display with Sony's original XBRITE LCD technology for higher Brightness levels than standard displays. The res: deeper blacks, brighter whites, true-to-life color, and razor-sharp detail. And with the anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection, you can enjoy a beautifully clear image from any Viewing Angle. It's the ideal way to present your photos and home video, and a great way to watch movies and DVDs when you're on the go.
• Essential Computing Performan: The VAIO FS Notebook is optimized for mobility and designed with your day-to-day computing applications in mind. With a fast Intel Pentium M processor, ample storage, and an impressive suite of integrated productivity and multimedia entertainment tools, your VAIO FS Notebook is ready to help you power through your day and entertain you when you're done.
• Next-Generation Multimedia Entertainme: The VAIO FS Notebook is your passport to mobile multimedia entertainment, making it quick and easy to create, manage, share, and enjoy your Digital photos, movies, and music. It's high-definition camcorder video ready, and with Sony's original Click to DVD software, high-quality presentation of your Digital video content is surprisingly easy. The included PictureGear Studio software simplifies Digital photo management, while the SonicStage software is the only tool you need to manage your music files and make your own CDs. And with the optional TV/PVR dock and DVD+R Double Layer/DVD±RW, you can watch and record your favorite TV programs right on your PC.

Product Description

Includes: AC adapter, lithium-ion battery, Microsoft Windows XP Home with Service Pack 2, WinDVD, Intuit Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Works 8.0, Office 2003 Student/Teacher (60-day trial), Sonic Record Now! 7, Norton Internet Security (90-day subscription), & more. Sony VGN-FS660/W VAIO(R) FS Series Notebook PC - This notebook computer provides the power of a desktop computer, with advanced technology that will enhance your mobile computing experience. For example, the Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73 GHz) is powerful enough for most any application, but is specially designed to provide greater battery life. 15.4 WXGA LCD with XBRITE(TM) Technology Native Resolution - 1280x800 Built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Wireless Networking 80GB 4200RPM HDD NVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 with TurboCache and up 128MB of memory (32MB dedicated - up to 96MB taken from system memory) 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 Double Layer DVD Writer - (read speeds) up to 8x DVD-ROM & 24x CD-ROM Integrated 56k Fax Modem Memory Stick Media Slot - supports optional Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO, & Memory Stick(R) DUO PCMCIA PC Card Slot - Type I/II with CardBus support Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, 1 4-pin FireWire, 3 USB 2.0, VGA Out, Microphone, & Headphone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

165 of 176 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Read - Important !!!, June 12, 2005

By 

Lior Ronen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FS660/W 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

There are a few major drawbacks in this notebook:

1. The battery lasts for only 1.5 hour configured with the highest battery
saving option (Lowest Screen Brightness etc.) while using only internet (no heavy apps) !!!
I have tested it with many options but you don't go above 1.5 hours.
The life span for these type of batteries are 500 cycles charge/dishcharge.

2. The Intel 2200BG Wireless Card which comes with this laptop and also other laptops
such as DELL, have a major problem of a "Lost connection" where you get disconnected
every 1 minute for a 10-30 seconds. You can search for this problem on GOOGLE and see
that lots of people have this unsolved issue !!!
Sony support was unable to solve this issue, Intel and Sony blame each other.
I managed somehow to solve this problem after 3 Days, non-stop sitting with the laptop.
The only way is to uninsatll the 9.0 version and download the 8.0 version from Intel
and install both Software and Drivers from Intel and let Intel's software manage your
Wireless instead of Windows XP.

3. The maximum RAM which can be installed is up to 1GB.

The bottom line, we are paying a lot of money for Mobile computing when we don't
actually get it in this notebook (both battery life and wireless).

Although I like very much the Design and the Display I have decided
I am returning this notebook !!!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good all round laptop, August 2, 2005

By 

Avinash Sarran-Persad (Trinidad) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FS660/W 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

This laptop is a good laptop for gamers like myself and for business purposes. The Wireless reception on this laptop is great.I own a linksys wireless access point and the signal from the laptop is strong even if i am outside the house. The only problem i have with this laptop is that the burning the recovery cds for the laptop was not successful. The burning process failed twice for me when i attempted create backp cds. This is serious since the laptop does not come with cds but all the software is backed up on 5 gigs of your harddrive.What good is it if it cant be burn on to DVDs. But other than that the laptop is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

PS. Sony's tech support is excellent

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony VAIO VGN-FS Series, August 28, 2005

By 

UofT One "Varun" (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FS660/W 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 740, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

Great laptop. Very pricy, obviously intended for people willing to shell out a few extra hundred dollars for a good looking brand name laptop. It has shortcomings such as no built in mic, no external volume control, and lack of S-Video out.

However, I need this laptop for school, and those features mean little to me. Battery life (I have the X-brite ECO technology, not X-brite) is 2.5-2.75 hours on full brightness, with wireless on, doing word processing and internet browsing. I'd assume with wireless off and low brightness the battery goes beyond 3 hours easily. I have the standard battery.

I'd attribute the extended battery life to the X-brite ECO v. the X-brite technology, it prob drains less battery life, and the screen is just beautiful, very vivid. The laptop also looks great, why not get something that is pleasing to the eye when shellin out so many hard earned dollars?

I have 512 X 1 stick of Ram, so can easily upgrade to 1 Gb for smooth performance...you shouldn't need more than that.

Keyboard is phenomenal, no bounce, low depth of keystroke...trackpad is simple and responsive. External USB mouse is a must...any good old USB mouse will do, nothing fancy needed. I like the position of the three USB slots (good for right handed persons), they are on the right hand side...great for that USB mouse.

Speakers...not sure how they mach up to Toshiba's Harmon-Kardons...but they reproduce sound failry well, not hollow...but not too loud either.

Should be noted the FS series at the back has a gap between the screen and the base to make it looks nicer...I doubt this will break..but just be forewarned...it does add to its looks though.

I would recommend this product. Try to get the X-brite ECO screen for the sake of battery life.