Product Description

The 15.4-inch VAIO FZ notebook with XBRITE-ECO LCD technology features A2DP Bluetooth technology for CD-quality audio streaming and embedded A/V controls for one-touch access to music, movies and pictures. Watch and record content to CD or DVD. A built-in camera and microphone is seamlessly integrated into the lightweight and durable silver magnesium chassis, so you can video chat with friends, family and co-workers. Backed by Intel Centrino Duo processor technology and Intel Core 2 Duo processor, this blazing-fast, super-powerful PC is slim, lightweight, and packed with exciting entertainment features.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1928 in Personal Computers
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VGN-FZ410E/B
• Dimensions: 1.40" h x 14.00" w x 10.02" l, 6.10 pounds
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2.1 GHz
• Memory: 2000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 250GB
• Processors: 2
• Display size: 15.4

Features

• Thin-and-light entertainment notebook with 15.4-inch LCD, embedded A/V controls and a built-in camera with microphone
• 2.10 GHz "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM (4 GB max), dual-layer DVD drive (8x DVD+/-R)
• Quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth with stereo music streaming
• Connectivity: 3 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 S-Video, ExpressCard 34, multi-format Memory Stick and Secure Digital slots
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Premium; Intel GMA X3100 video card with up to 358 MB total memory

Amazon.com Product Description
Thin and light and packed full of powerful entertainment features, the Sony VAIO VGN-FZ410E/B offers a widescreen LCD with battery-saving XBRITE-ECO technology and embedded A/V controls. A built-in 1.3-megapixel web camera (with integrated microphone) is seamlessly integrated into the lightweight and durable silver magnesium chassis, so you can video chat with friends, family and co-workers. The instant AV Mode feature enables you to start watching a DVD or listening to music with the push of a single button--without having to boot up the system--and the convenient, built-in multimedia control buttons also let you control all playback functions. You can also listen to your music and movies wirelessly with the embedded Bluetooth A2-DP profile for stereo audio streaming.

It's powered by the 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which offers a super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed and extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. The Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance. It also includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. Other features include a 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), multi-format/dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard 34 slot, and both Memory Stick and SD memory cart slots.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 45nm Penryn series Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which has a 2.10 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a super-sized 3 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 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) provides more than enough capacity for storing a large audio and video library, as well as extra space required for video editing. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1024 MB DDR2) will satisfy many users, but this notebook's two DIMM slots have a maximum 4 GB RAM capacity--perfect for high-end video editing and 3-D gaming. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

• DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x for DVD+R DL, 4x for DVD-R DL, 8x for both single layer DVD+R/-R, 8x for single layer DVD+RW, 6x for single layer DVD-RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, and 24x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard (2mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Screen, Video & Audio
You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics and widescreen movies with the 15.4-inch WXGA high-definition screen, with its 1280 x 800-pixel resolution. 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 Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up to 358 MB allocated from the system memory) and provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Intel Wireless 4965AGN 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, and it also includes the A2-DP profile for stereo music streaming to optional Bluetooth-enabled headphones and speakers.

This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (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
• Video output: 1 VGA, 1 S-Video
• 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

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).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

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
Includes Sony Click to Disc (for easy DVD creation), Microsoft Works SE 9.0, Microsoft Office 2007 (60-day trial), Symantec Norton 360 All-In-One Security (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14 x 10.02 x 1.4 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 5.9 pounds.

Power
It's powered by the VGP-BPS8 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 2.5 and 5.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-FZ410E/B 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.

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Customer Reviews

A deserving desktop PC replacement!
First off, I wasn't too excited buying a laptop with Vista installed (I would much prefer Windows XP Pro) but as my luck would have it, all electronic stores were selling laptops with Vista pre-installed. I just got this laptop yesterday and after a half day of removing bloatware and installing drivers for my printer and router, I'm pleased to declare that it's a blazingly-fast laptop. It's much quieter and much cooler than my 2-year-old Vaio S460 (which by the way is still in good working condition). This FZ470E configuration probably has the best bang for the buck among the FZ series. It has a Bluray player with DVD burning capabilities that averaged 20 minutes for a 4.7GB DVD copy. Its NVIDIA GeForce 8400M graphics card renders high-def video seamlessly without the choppiness and slow buffer rates of older versions. Another nice feature is the 802.11n wi-fi capability for zippier broadband downloads. The xbrite glossy screen boasts vivid colors especially on bluray movies (I watched Spiderman 3 last night; it was amazingly sharp for a laptop). The HDMI output probably is its nicest feature as I am able to view my screen on a larger high-def monitor to watch DVDs and bluray movies. Despite its misgivings, I am overall pleased with this purchase and am pleasantly surprised with the beautiful interface of Vista.

Five Stars if it was not loaded with bloatware & no OS media
I own this machine and like it very much. When one spends several thousand on a Vaio it should not be filled with useless trail software. It took hours to remove. It never comes off completely as there is no incentive to write the uninstall so that it removes all the files. Sony builds fine hardware but has many problems in writing good software for peripherals. When I bought this machine the was no option to buy without the junk software. The other problem is that SONY DOES NOT GIVE YOU DISK MEDIA FOR THE OS. The OS is on a hidden drive. I bought this computer knowing the junk software but was surprised by the lack of OS media considering I paid 150.00 xtra for Vista Ult. I really question as to whether I would buy another.

Everything as expected... great product and service
Prompt delivery from Amazon as well as being price competitive.

Great screen resolution, excellent battery life with fast processing. A lot of sony software pre-loaded though this now seems to be the normal with many h/w manufactures. Very minor point that was overcome by ignoring or switching off the flash-ups.

No default carry case comes with this offer - so do you consider adding one to your basket.

Strong recommendation from a happy Sony VAIO VGN-FZ410E/B owner.