| Editor Reviews: Product Description: Sony VAIO FS Series is a super slim widescreen notebook that offers true mobility with the Centrino platform and Wireless LAN for mobile connectivity. Amazon.com Product Description: Slim and lightweight (at just 6 pounds), the Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 delivers powerful performance for your everyday computing needs and is ready to grow with your multimedia demands. It offers a 15.4-inch crisp, XBRITE-ECO LCD with sharp detail for all your digital photos, home video, and DVD movies. You'll also get a long battery life of up to 3.5 hours with the included standard battery. Other hardware features include a 1.73 GHz Intel Pentium M 740 processor, 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), multiformat, dual-layer/multiformat DVD burner, 54g wireless connectivity, a Memory Stick slot for easy transfer of your photos from your Sony digital camera, Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2), and a wide assortment of pre-loaded Sony multimedia software titles. The Basics
- Hard Drive: The 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is average in size for notebook PCs, 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 a good-sized digital audio library.
- Processor: The 1.73 GHz Pentium M 740 (Centrino) processor is in the middle of the speed spectrum for this processor class (May 2006). It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It also has a large 2 MB L2 cache--which will help speed up your system's performance--and a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
- Memory: The 1 GB of built-in memory (PC4200, DDR2 SDRAM) is an excellent start for power users, and it offers a very fast 533 MHz speed. It has two memory slots that can handle up to 2 GB of RAM, enabling you to add more power to handle graphics-intensive 3D games, video editing, and multi-tasking across several RAM-hungry applications.
- 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 both standard, single-layer DVD-R and DVD+R discs, it has a 8x write, while double-layer DVD+R and DVD-R discs have a 4x write speed. For rewritable DVDs, it has 8x DVD+RW, and 6x DVD-RW speeds. For CDs, it has a 24x write/rewrite speed.
- Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard (2.5mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad.
Screen, Graphics and Sound The 15.4-inch XBRITE-ECO display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels--perfect for watching movies in their intended 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The XBRITE-ECO LCD provides higher brightness levels than standard displays, resulting in deeper blacks, brighter whites, and sharper overall detail. It also features an anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection and provide a great image from a wide viewing angle. Sony's Smart Display Sensor feature instantly adjusts resolution when you connect to a display or projector. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 128 MB of shared video memory. The integrated audio card provides 16-bit stereo sound via the built-in stereo speakers. Connectivity and Expansion Slots The VGN-FS980 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): - 2 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, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo with MagicGate functionality
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: Click to DVD (DVD creation), SonicStage (digital music), Vaio Media (network file sharing), DVgate Plus (digital video), Vaio Zone with WinDVD (for watching DVD movies), and Image Converter (for PSP transfer). Other preloaded 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), Roxio DigitalMedia SE, and TrendMicro Anti-Spyware (30-day trial). Dimensions and Weight This notebook measures 14.33 x 10.41 x 1.41 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 6 pounds. Power It is powered by the VGP-BPS2A standard lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which produces a battery life of 3 to 3.5 hours. The optional VGP-BPL2 large-capacity battery enables battery life up to 5.5 hours. What's in the Box This package contains the VGN-FS980 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. + Read more.... |  |