Sony VAIO VGN-FW198U/H 16.4" Laptop (2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Blu-Ray Drive, Vista Ultimate) Grey

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 15.1 x 1.5 inches ; 6.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001A1QCGE
• Item model number: VGN-FW198U/H
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 15, 2008

Product Description

Model: VGN-FW198U/H

Amazon.com Product Description

Inspired by theater screens, the Sony VAIO VGN-FW198U/H broadens your entertainment horizons with a brilliantly colorful 16.4-inch high-definition LCD, dedicated AV controls, HDMI output to your HDTV, and more. Great for watching widescreen movies or viewing two web sites side-by-side, the 16.4-inch screen also minimizes the annoying black bars you see when playing widescreen movies. You'll also enjoy the Dolby Sound Room suite of audio technologies for immersive surround sound pumped through a home theater speaker system or just a pair of headphones. It offers high-definition Blu-ray Disc read/write capability, which supports full 1080p HD video as well as up to 5.1 discrete channels of uncompressed digital audio. The Blu-ray system is backwards-compatible with standard DVDs and CDs, enabling you to enjoy your digital library for years to come. The optical drive can also write a full range of disc formats, including dual-layer DVD discs.

The VAIO FW notebook in titanium gray.

Reminiscent of a rolling wave, the smooth, curved lines of are as functional as they are attractive--from the iconic new cylindrical hinge to the sloping bend where the keyboard meets the display. Striking, yet sophisticated, this titanium gray VAIO FW notebook utilizes advanced paint technology that's applied to the magnesium chassis, making the color appear to shift in tint at different angles.

It's powered by the 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 processor, which offers a light-speed 1066 MHz front-side bus speed and 6 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. Other features include a 320 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (maximizing capacity), ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics with up to 1530 MB of available memory, ExpressCard 34 slot, quad-mode Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth connectivity (including stereo music streaming), a 1.3-megapixel webcam built into the bezel, both Memory Stick and SD card readers, and pre-installed Windows Vista Ultimate (SP1).

This Sony notebook is Energy Star 4.0 certified, and has received a Silver EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact. Additionally, it is RoHS-compliant, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

Spec Check 16.4-inch XBRITE-HiColor LCD screen 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor 320 GB hard drive 4 GB RAM (maximum) Blu-ray Disc read/write, DVD±R read/write Quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth with stereo music streaming ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1) Weighs 6.4 pounds

The Basics

• Processor: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 45nm Penryn series Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 processor, which has a 2.53 GHz processor speed, amazingly fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a super-sized 6 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. And you'll be able to encode video on-the-go and watch HD movies with Intel HD Boost.

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The extra large 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 4 GB of installed RAM (PC2-6400, 2 x 2 GB) maximizes the capacity for this notebook,. It also offers an ultra-fast 800 MHz speed.

• DVD/CD Drive: This Sony notebook is capable of both playing back Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning clarity, as well as burning HD Camcorder content in its original 1080p high-definition resolution to BD-RE/BD-RE DL (dual layer) discs (25 GB single layer disc to 50 GB on a double layer disc). It will also play your current library of purchased and burned disc content. This notebook can also write standard DVD and CD media. The BD drive offers 2x speed for reading and writing BD-R/BD-RE discs and 1x BD-R/RE DL writing. It also offers the following write speeds for standard DVD and CD discs: 2.4x DVD+R DL, 2x DVD-R DL, 8x for single-layer DVD±R, 4x DVD±RW, 8x CD-R/RW, and 5x for DVD-RAM.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard (2mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad. Playback controls include play/pause, stop, forward, rewind, AV mode, mute, volume +/-, WLAN/Bluetooth on/off.

The VAIO FW focuses in on the details.

Screen, Video & Audio
This Sony VAIO has a 16.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). The 16:9 aspect ratio ensures that you won't miss an inch of the original picture from your favorite movie while also providing valuable extra workspace. The XBRITE-ECO technology delivers brilliant colors and stunning clarity with efficient power usage, and it features an anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection and ensure a beautifully clear image from any viewing angle. Video is powered by the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470, which provides 256 MB of discrete graphics memory (for 1530 MB of total available graphics memory). ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series graphics processors have breakthrough efficiency, with phenomenal performance-per-watt and energy-saving features. Advance to the power of discrete graphics for HD gaming with best-in-class performance, amazing effects, and lifelike worlds and characters delivering a compelling gaming experience.

This laptop also has an integrated audio card with Dolby Sound Room suite of technologies, which delivers virtual surround sound from stereo speakers or any pair of headphones and is designed for environments where multiple surround speakers are neither practical nor possible. It includes Dolby Digital (for 5.1 discrete channels of surround sound), Dolby Headphone (delivering the experience of a 5.1-channel soundtrack from any set of headphones), and Dolby Virtual Speaker (providing 5.1-channel surround sound from any pair of speakers).

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Intel Wireless 5100AGN Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and wi-fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). With the Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones as well as enjoy wireless stereo music streaming (thanks to its embedded A2DP profile).

This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (though no PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. Here's the full list of connectivity options:

• 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 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
• Analog video output: 1 VGA
• 1 ExpressCard/34 slot
• Memory Stick/Memory Stick DUO slot (with MagicGate functionality)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards)
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• 56K modem (V.90)

Operating System
The Windows Vista Ultimate (SP1) operating system has it all--an advanced, business-focused infrastructure, mobile productivity, and premium home digital entertainment features. It offers all of the features found in Windows Vista Home Premium, including Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker with high-definition support, and Windows DVD Maker. It also provides all of the features found in Windows Vista Business, including business networking, centralized management tools, and advanced system backup features. In addition, Windows Vista Ultimate includes Extras such as:

• Windows Hold'em, a poker game for players of all skill levels
• Language packs for Windows multi-language interface, where users can install and use multiple languages on a single PC. Great for multi-lingual households or if you are learning a new language.
• Secure Online Key Backup, where Ultimate users can store their BitLocker recovery password and Encrypting File System certificate on Windows Marketplace's Digital Locker website for access to the key anytime, anyplace, and from any computer that has an Internet connection
• BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool, an automated tool which removes the complexity of setting up your PC to use this exclusive data security feature.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Microsoft Windows Live OneCare anti-virus and recovery (trial version), Microsoft Works SE 9.0, Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student (60-day trial), Sony Click to Disk Editor (CD and DVD burning), VAIO Movie Story (video editing), VAIO MusicBox

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 15.1 x 10.3 x 1.46 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 6.4 pounds.

Power
It's powered by the VGP-BPS13/S rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 2 and 4 hours (depending on usage). This laptop is compliant with Energy Star 4.0 specifications, meaning that it uses less power and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by meeting very strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-FW198U/H notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, 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

Broaden your entertainment horizons with the VAIO FW notebook featuring an extra-wide 16.4¿ XBRITE-ECO LCD display. Great for watching widescreen movies or viewing two websites side-by-side, this entertainment-rich notebook minimizes those annoying black bars you see when playing widescreen movies. Watch and record DVDs and get the most out of your games with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. An entertainment powerhouse, the VAIO FW notebook is inspired by theater screens, born from SONY HD expertise and powered by the energy-efficient an super-powerful Centrino 2 processor technology ¿ the latest and greatest from Intel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast, gorgeous and loaded with crapware, August 4, 2008

By 

Charles Macnaughton (Meriden, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FW139E/H 16.4-inch Laptop (2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Grey (Personal Computers)

This is a very speedy computer and a more than capable desktop replacement system. The Radeon HD3400 video comes with a dedicated 256mb of memory and handles multiple concurrent Adobe apps with aplomb. It comes with wireless-N which is a treat in this price range. It also comes with an HDMI-out port for excellent display (and DVD playback) on an HD monitor/TV. The VGA-out renders only average display on a digital LCD monitor; I did not have an analog CRT to judge display on that.

The built in display is a 16:9 aspect ratio. It's a gloss screen and the clarity is stunning...excellent for image editing, etc. Contrast is very good. Lateral (side-to-side) readability is fantastic, but vertical readability is poor; you'll have to adjust the screen tilt just right to get top-quality viewing.

Surprisingly, even though this is a Sony product, this machine includes an SD card slot in addition to their ubiquitous memory stick slot. Also included are the aforementioned HDMI and VGA outputs; 3 USB ports; mini 1394 (firewire) port; modem, and ethernet. There is a built-in webcam and microphone and headphone jacks. There is a thin strip of AV controls above the keyboard, which control Windows Media Center playback and the Dolby sound.

The system is solidly built, like most Sony products, but without the questionable UI/design choices used on so many of their camera and car stereos.

The only thing I can really fault this system for is the plethora of crapware that comes preinstalled. I spent over an hour uninstalling junk software and trialware before I even used this system. An additional power supply is around $80, which is rather pricey. The computer (w/o power supply) is around 6 lbs., so it's not lightweight, which isn't too surprising considering it packs a 16.4" screen.

This computer does not come with any documentation besides the setup "poster." No documentation is available for this PC on the Sony website (as of 8/4/08) other than a marketing spec sheet.

Addendum (03/22/09): After about 4 months of use, the keyboard developed serious problems. It initially manifested as the shift key not working in conjunction w/ certain keys (i.e., no CAPS) and eventually proceeded to some keys not working at all. Sony was perfectly willing to repair it for free, provided I was willing to give up my computer for a few weeks, which was not a realistic option for me. Unable to find any technical specs on this computer (even on the Sony site) or any replacement parts, I opted for just using a cordless keyboard, which worked just fine. Eventually I was able to find a replacement keyboard from a reseller in Hong Kong and repaired the computer myself. The replacement keyboard ribbon cable was much sturdier than the original and it was easy to replace. The $50 I spent on a new keyboard was preferable to being w/o a computer for a prolonged period of time.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony Vaio VGN-FW139E/H, September 1, 2008

By 

R. Florentino (Miami, Fl) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FW139E/H 16.4-inch Laptop (2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Grey (Personal Computers)

I specified the model on the title as the reviews for all Sony FW laptops are shared amongst all models in Amazon.

I consider this model to be a great purchase. Contrary to many modern laptops, it actually looks great, with very modern styling that is suitable for both home and business users. The screen has a different aspect ratio (16:9) than most computers, which is more suitable for watching DVDs or comparing side by side documents than the traditional 4:3. The 2.26 P8400 is the same processor found on most FW computers, even those costing hundreds of $ more, 3GBs of RAM, which is the maximum usable RAM in Vista SP1 32bit, 250GBs of RAM which is enough for most users,etc.

The graphic card on this machine is the ATI HD3470, with 256mb of dedicated memory. This card will handle your graphics a lot better than the integrated Intel cards found on some higher priced FW models here in Amazon and is one of the best features of this particular model. It is not a high end graphic card, but it can handle the necessities of most users, including those who use their laptops for casual gaming.

I found an inconsistency on Amazon's product description for this model. In the "network" section, it specifies that this model comes with Intel 4965 wifi chipset, which is not the case. It comes with Atheros wifi (N capable). This is not really a bad thing, you won't notice a performance difference, but the fact that it has the Atheros wifi chipset instead of the Intel one is the main reason why it can't be labeled as a "Centrino 2" laptop, even though it has all other required Intel technologies. The sticker on the laptop will say "Core 2 Duo" instead of "Centrino 2". Again, this is only a label.

Performance-wise, it's plenty fast. It comes with some trial software that some users will prefer to uninstall (like me), but this is the case for almost all notebook manufacturers and it shouldn't take too long to do so.

Overall, highly recommended.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great computer. would buy again., August 28, 2008

By 

20-something (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGN-FW140E/W 16.4" Laptop (2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) White (Personal Computers)

I bought this directly from Sony, with slightly different configurations (no Blue-ray), since I really don't need that, and I saved several hundred dollars by doing so.

I was hesitant when I first thought about buying this laptop. My biggest problem was the screen-size. 16.4 inches widescreen just seemed odd, and I looked at an Acer with those dimensions at the store and wasn't sure I could adjust to the "funny" 16:9 dimension.
I did though. very quickly. In fact, that is one of my favorite things about this computer! I can have a bigger window open and a smaller one next to it, easily go back and forth between windows, etc.

I got the eco-brite screen, and it looks amazing. There is MUCH less glare with this Sony than with any other laptop with a glossy screen that I looked at (and I looked at dozens). I can see the screen clearly from the sides (which is great for watching movies with more than one person sitting directly in front of the screen). I actually can't find a side-angle that there IS a glare at. I turned it so far that I couldn't see what was on the screen, but not because of the glare, but because of the distorted angle.

I also like that USB ports on the right front. Having something plugged into them does not interfere with your hand/arm, since the computer is wide enough to accomodate your arm resting on it, and not nest to it while typing.

The power button is recessed in the right side "hinge", which means it's fairly impossible to accidentaly press the power button. Headphone/mic jacks are in the front, and those do interfere a little bit with your right hand while typing, but I prefer them in the front, as I only use those for Skype-ing, and don't leave anything plugged in, in which case the front-location makes it much easier to plug in/unplug.

I've had this computer on my lap for 4-5 hours straight and it has not gotten very warm at all! My old computer (a 4 year old Acer), but not this one.

My computer accidentally shipped with an extended battery pack (I ordered and paid for a regular one), and it sticks out about an inch at the back. This actually turned out to be a good thing. It gives the bottom part a little lift, which makes typing on a desk more comfortable. Also, the computer is a little elevated from the desk, which, I think, keeps it cooler. Oh, and there's the 4 hours or so batter life, which is nice.

This computer is not ultra-portable. It does weight quite a bit, and if you're looking for something to throw in your bag on the way out, get a smaller computer!! I hardly ever bring my computer anywhere, so it works great for me.

Another possible problem is finding a neoprene sleeve for this computer. The format is odd, so I've been hesitant to order a sleeve online. I will take it to the store someday and just try putting it into some sleeves.

Biggest pitfall on this computer is all the junk software. There is about 30 Sony-specific programs on it, and I actually had to have a friend of mine help me in deleting them. Some I'm a little hesitant to take off, because I can't tell if they are necessary for some functions.

One odd thing did happen to this computer. I installed OneNote by accident (in a software packet), and could NOT get it off again. I tried. My computer friend tried. No chance. Somehow OneNote's presence eliminated the "create new folder" function, which was a pain. So after having had the computer for one week, I had to do a factory reset. Took a couple of hours, but fixed the problem, and it's been fine ever since.

BestBuy sells this computer (with slightly different configurations), so if you want to look at it in person before you buy it, check out BestBuy.

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