Product Description

The ultra-portable VAIO SZ notebook delivers an uncompromising blend of intelligent mobile design, cutting-edge performance and contemporary style. Easy to handle, this PC features a 13.3" widescreen display with XBRITE LCD technology, optional embedded Sprint Mobile Broadband and sleek yet durable magnesium alloy casing for optimized mobility. And a next-generation hafnium-based Intel Core2 Duo processor provides unparalleled performance, superior efficiency and enhanced multimedia power to facilitate longer battery life and maximum performance for your computing and entertainment endeavors. Whether at work or play, get more done in more places with the SZ notebook.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1428 in Personal Computers
• Color: Black
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VGN-SZ791N/X
• Released on: 2008-01-30
• Dimensions: 1.50" h x 12.50" w x 9.30" l, 7.00 pounds
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2.5 GHz
• Memory: 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 250GB
• Processors: 2
• Native resolution: 13.3
• Display size: 13.3

Features

• Sleekly designed, lightweight notebook featuring 13.3-inch screen (with Webcam), 4-pound black carbon fiber case
• 2.50 GHz "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, 250 GB G-Sensor hard drive, 4 GB RAM (max), dual-layer DVD drive (8x DVD+/-R)
• Connectivity: 2 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, Quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, multi-format memory card reader
• Hybrid Graphics System lets toggle between NVidia GeForce Go 8400M (up to 1343 MB shared) and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (358 MB shared)
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Business; ready for Sprint Broadband WWAN service (subscription required)

Amazon.com Product Description
The sleekly designed, lightweight Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N/X notebook PC delivers intelligent mobile design while placing a priority on usability and performance. Coolly contemporary, it features a cutting edge black carbon fiber case for a fashionable look, which also helps to bring the weight down to 4 pounds. (Carbon fiber, the same material used on jets and sports cars to keep them lightweight yet sturdy, is much stronger than the magnesium used on standard notebooks.) Sony's VAIO SZ notebooks also take security seriously, employing a biometric fingerprint sensor and proprietary hard disk drive protection software to ensure your data is protected from unauthorized use as well as accidental damage. It also stores passwords to secure web sites you visit, so authentication and access are quick and easy--you only need your fingerprint.

This VAIO SZ notebook features Sony's Hybrid Graphics System lets toggle between internal and external graphics chips, enabling you to choose lighter battery consumption or better performance depending on the situation. It's powered by the 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, which offers a top-of-the-line 800 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. The Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance.

With the integrated wireless WAN, you can access the national Sprint Mobile Broadband service (subscription required) to extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and hotspots, giving you the freedom to go farther, do more, and stay connected. It also features a 250 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (maximizing capacity), quad-mode Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11a/b/g/n), dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard slot, Bluetooth connectivity, Gigabit Ethernet, and a Webcam integrated into the LCD's bezel, enabling easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats.

This laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Business, which has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, that makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents. 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 T9300 processor, which has a 2.50 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 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 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.

  The G-Sensor Shock Protection feature makes your data even less vulnerable to loss or damage. When the built-in 3-D acceleration sensor detects a risky movement like being dropped, the HDD-head will lock up to secure its position and protect the disc from scratching. An intelligent algorithm, unique to VAIO PCs, judges whether or not a movement is risky, activating disk drive protection only when your hardware is at risk.

• Memory: The 4 GB of installed RAM (PC5300, 1 x 2 GB, 2 x 2 GB) maximizes the capacity for this notebook, and also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed.

• 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 (3mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Screen, Video & Audio
This notebook has a 13.3-inch LCD screen with anti-reflective coating has a widescreen 1280 x 800-pixel resolution. This XBRITE LCD has a white LED backlight that provides improved clarity. This notebook uses Sony's exclusive Hybrid Graphics System, which lets you set your graphics performance with a simple flick of a switch, enabling you to toggle between an internal graphics chip for optimal power consumption with excellent performance or an external graphics chip for even more robust performance. You can choose either the integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (with up to 358 MB of dynamically shared video RAM) or the installed Nvidia GeForce Go 8400M GS graphics card (with up to 1348 MB of shared video RAM).

The Intel GMA X3100 provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. The Nvidia GeForce Go 8400M GS offers support for Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 and High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), enabling you rip through all of today's most advanced and cutting-edge games and applications. The audio card includes Sony Sound Reality technology with DSD (Direct Stream Digital) support.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965 AGN LAN 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). You also get super-fast wired connectivity, with a Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000).

Sprint's Mobile Broadband high-speed EV-DO service (software included, subscription requires) enables you to extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and wireless hotspots, helping you to keep connected without having to hunt for a Wi-Fi coffee shop.

With the Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones. This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (replacing the 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 connection options:

• 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 ExpressCard/34 slot
• 1 VGA monitor out
• Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out; microphone/line-in
• Port replicator connector
• 5-in-1 memory card adapter (compatible with Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Secure Digital, MultiMedia, and XD formats; also supports Memory Stick DUO with MagicGate functionality)
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• 56K modem (V.90)

Operating System
The Windows Vista Business operating system is designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so you will be less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day maintenance of PCs. An array of sophisticated new backup technologies helps protect your information even in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure. And Windows Vista Business has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, which is designed to deliver new levels of efficiency for any business user. This new interface makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents.

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 12.5 by 1.5 by 9.3 inches (WxHxD) and weighs approximately 4 pounds with the standard battery (included).

Power
It's powered by the VGP-BPS10 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 3 and 6 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-SZ791N/X notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, memory card adapter (VGP-MCA20), and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty, and Sony offers 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance.

---

Customer Reviews

VGNSZ770N a mixed bag (XP Downgrade, Camera, Antenna, Battery)
I have had this laptop for a month, and these are my experiences: Upon opening, I attempted to use the included XP Downgrade disc, but it was faulty (apparently not an uncommon problem). While support sent me another disc, I used Vista and decided it was okay but not good enough. When the replacement XP downgrade disc arrived, it worked. The webcam didn't work though. Many frustrating calls and chat sessions (Sony chat support is better than phone support), they said I needed a fresh install. So I installed XP Downgrade again, and it still didn't work. As it turns out, several drivers were not working with a fresh install and they had to be downloaded from Sony. After that, the webcam works, though the framerate is not as high as on Vista (15fps on XP). XP is quite a bit faster than Vista on this computer (not surprising).

The antenna attached to the notebook is cheap and flimsy. In the hustle of the airport, I put the laptop back in my bag, and the antenna got caught on the side of my bag and is now bent. I wish there were a way to take it off as I don't need the WWAN.

The battery (like other users attest) loses power even if the whole system is turned off. This is annoying as I do not use my laptop every day during the summer (I am a student), opting for the convenience of my desktop quite often. Therefore, I have to worry about my battery much more than I did with my previous laptop, which was a Gateway. I'm not sure by how much it loses power as I have only recently realized it has this problem, but it's ~10% per day. I have not attempted to contact Sony regarding the battery due to other reviews which make it seem futile.

In the end, this laptop is pretty cool. It looks nice, runs fast, says Sony on it, the keys make a satisfying click for fun typing, the screen is pretty, etc. However, I wish it had a slot-load disc drive, more USB ports, a backlit keyboard, better battery which didn't drain even when powered off, and a sturdier and removable WWAN antenna.

SZ750n/c Detailed Review
Many professional reviews call the Sony Vaio SZ the "ultimate no-compromise ultraportable notebook", and it seems that this is no exaggeration. My SZ750n/c is all that I could want from a laptop, and more.

But first, an overview of the major issues that keep most laptops from being excellent "lap top" computers (easily portable, use anywhere):

1. Weight / size - a laptop that's too heavy or bulky to be comfortably carried around become nothing more than a fancy desktop computer, since carrying it around becomes more trouble than it's worth.

2. Cooling efficiency - a laptop that becomes uncomfortably hot under normal use, or can't be used without careful consideration about air circulation becomes more of an annoyance than a convenience.

3. Noise - a noisy laptop (usually caused by overworked or poorly designed fans) can be very irritating, not only to you, but to everyone else around you.

4. Battery life - a laptop that only lasts 1 - 2 hours off AC power isn't much use as a portable computer, since you'll tend to want to stay near AC power.

5. Build quality - a laptop that isn't well built will soon start to fall apart just from everyday wear; parts can come loose, hinges can break, etc. Build quality is extremely important to any portable machine.

6. Computing power - a laptop that performs tasks slowly or can't perform certain intensive operations is of reduced value, no matter how portable, since it forces you to perform some of your work on other computers. Portability should not come at the expense of too much computing power.

The Sony Vaio SZ is one of the few laptops today that excels in all of the above areas. There are laptops of all sizes, weights, and varieties, but the Sony SZ is exceptional in that it balances performance, lightweight, silent operation, long battery life, etc. virtually without compromise.

- The Sony Vaio SZ is very light and portable, at 4.0 pounds. That, combined with it's size (13.3") makes it perfect for carrying around effortlessly, while the screen is still large enough for every-day use. It can easily be picked up and carried around with one hand, whether the lid is opened or closed.

- Most importantly (to me), the SZ has an excellent cooling system. Not only does it stay exceptionally cool internally (~30C CPU core temp) and externally (almost always cool to the touch no matter where you feel), but even when running on non air circulating surfaces like a blanket or a pillow, temperatures never raise more than 1 degree.

- The SZ runs almost completely silently. During the day, it's fan is almost impossible to hear unless held directly against the ear.

- Battery life is excellent. A well tuned system should be able to get 5+ hours easily, and 6+ hours is quite possible during word processing and light web browsing. I've personally got over 5 hours while doing various tasks including web browsing, watching videos, word processing, installing software, etc.

- Build quality is almost unmatched by any other brand. The SZ's carbon fiber chassis and aluminum palmrest makes up a very sturdy (yet lightweight) laptop. It feels very solid, even when picking the laptop up with a single hand (no real creaks or any warping at all). The keyboard and palmrest has no discernible flex unless you push unnaturally hard on the keys, etc. The screen (lid) is unusually thin (about the thickness of a hardcover book), yet remarkably sturdy (thanks to carbon fiber). The no-latch screen hinge works very well at keeping the lid closed, and at keeping it firmly in place when open. Even when holding the laptop upside-down by the body, the lid does not come open.

- Depending on your model, the SZ will range from very fast to incredibly fast. My model (the SZ750) has a relatively low-end T8100 2.1 GHz processor, yet it's still roughly 3x faster than my 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 HP laptop, and roughly 2x faster than my 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon64 desktop (not counting dual core - for modern applications the performance difference is 2x what's mentioned above).

Now on a less practical side, here are some other things about the SZ:

- The SZ's screen is one of the best on any laptop, with the possible exception of some newer laptops like the Sony Vaio Z. Color reproduction is stunning - better than many desktop LCD monitors. Brightness is incredible for a laptop - at 100% brightness it is actually uncomfortably bright indoors, and is bright enough to be viewed in direct sunlight outdoors.

- The SZ keyboard is different from most other laptops in feel (although the key pitch is 100% standard so you don't have to worry about adjusting to a cramped keyboard as with smaller laptops). Some people love the SZ keyboard, others hate it. I personally like it much better than any other laptop keyboard I have used, but if possible you should try a display model to see if you like it.

As to the underlying technology, the SZ has quite a few features that make all the above possible:

- WLED backlit LCD display - the display of the premium SZ models (such as the SZ750) is lit with White LED technology, as opposed to the outdated CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent light) on most other laptops. WLED displays are brighter, more vibrant, and considerably more energy efficient (resulting in longer battery life) than CCFL displays.

- Unlike most other laptops, the SZ has two GPU (graphics processing unit) chips - one from Intel that is energy efficient but relatively slow, and one from NVidia that is more of a power hog but very fast (useful for gaming and 3D rendering work). A "Stamina / Speed" switch allows you to switch between video cards, although unfortunately a reboot is required.

- Advanced internal circuitry (7 layer [possibly incorrect]) helps save power and prolong battery life compared to competing models even with identical CPU/GPU/etc. components.

- The standard 6-cell battery included with SZ premium models (like mine) is one of the highest energy capacities of any battery of it's weight / cells - 5800mah capacity. Most 6-cell batteries found in similar sized laptops (and even larger, heavier ones) are 4800mah - 5200mah.

The SZ does have some disadvantages, but fortunately they're relatively minor:

- When you first get an SZ, it comes pre-installed with a lot of "bloatware" - in other words, lots of software you probably won't need or want. Bloatware will slow down your system and reduce battery life and performance. This may be an issue if you're a beginner with computers, but otherwise it's not as hard to remove as some people say.

- The SZ series has a known issue where, when not connected to AC power, if you turn it off overnight, the next day the battery will be drained about 1-3%. This usually isn't a major issue, and if it is, it can be solved by simply removing the battery when not in use for long periods of time.

- Update: Originally in this review I added a "con" stating that Sony's website didn't seem to offer the same high-quality battery (VGN-BPS10) for replacement/spare purchase, and instead offered an inferior one (VGN-BPS9), which concerned me as batteries to eventually wear out. I've since found that the high-quality BPS10 battery can not only be purchased, but at a very reasonable price from http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/. What's strange is that sonystyle.com (their main consumer store site) only offers the inferior BPS9 battery, and at nearly twice the price of the BPS10.

Overall, the Sony Vaio SZ is an excellent "lap top" computer, far better than any competing brands (at the time of this writing). Unlike some competing ultra-portable laptops, the SZ does not sacrifice performance - it has a full power CPU and GPU, yet it still maintains excellent battery life and light weight. And unlike some high-performance portable laptops of similar size and weight, the SZ keeps exceptionally cool and runs remarkably silent.

Putting it simply, the SZ is the perfect "lap top" computer, which you can use wherever you go, for everything you need. It's light enough to be not at all uncomfortable to carry around. It rarely gets more than cool to the touch, whether being used on the lap or on the bed. It gets excellent battery life, ensuring that it will run (cool and silently) for many hours (5+). Build quality is extremely high (carbon fiber, very well put together), which means you should get many years of enjoyment out of this excellent, well proven and tested laptop (it's been around for years, and has generated an excellent reputation).

Sony Vaio a hit
At the time of purchase, this was the top bang-for-the-buck under 4lb laptop. The LED backlit screen really is wonderful and the speed is enough to make even Vista seem acceptable. The HD is good at 250Gb, but 320Gb would have been a nice option. The video switch (Speed vs Powersaver) is a fantastic feature that I haven't tested yet.

Negatives:
o Crapware: You'll spend days finding and removing it.
o The black color makes this look too bland
o No lock for the lid

Overall a nice blend of features and I am happy with the purchase.