Product Description

Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2060 1.6GHz 1024MB RAM (2048MB max) 15.4" WXGA LCD XBRITE ECO (1280x800) 80GB HDD (5400rpm) DL DVD±RW Double Drive Atheros WiFi (802.11b/g) Ethernet Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Windows Vista Home Premium

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2915 in Personal Computers
• Color: Black
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VGN-N220E/B
• Dimensions: 1.60" h x 14.40" w x 10.50" l, 6.50 pounds
• CPU: Pentium D 1.6 GHz
• Memory: 1000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 80GB
• Processors: 1
• Display size: 15.4

Features

• Laptop with modern looks in black/silver and 15.4-inch LCD; 1.6 GHz Intel Core Duo T2060 processor
• 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM (2 GB max), multi-format/dual-layer DVD/CD burner
• Two USB 2.0, one FireWire, one ExpressCard 34, one S-Video, Memory Stick reader
• 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Intel GMA 950 (up to 224 MB of shared RAM)
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Amazon.com Product Description
Designed to complement your modern design aesthetic, the Sony VAIO VGN-N220E/B balances beautiful form with highly functional computing features. It features a black-and-silver case for a cool, contemporary accent. Beyond its eye-catching good looks, this laptop offers a bright 15.4-inch XBRITE-ECO LCD screen that provides brilliant colors from photos and videos while helping to save drain on the battery. This affordable notebook PC is powered by Intel's powerful Core Duo T2060, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance and a more efficient power consumption. The dual execution core T2060 has a 1.6 GHz processor speed, fast 533 MHz system bus, and a 1 MB L2 cache. It features an 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), dual-layer multiformat DVD drive that also burns CDs, 54g Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g), Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with up to 224 MB of shared video memory, an ExpressCard slot, and Memory Stick slot.

This laptop also 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: The Intel Core Duo T2060 processor is built with the Mobile Intel 945PM Express chipset, and it has a 1.60 GHz processor speed, fast 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 1 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 Intel Core 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 next version of Microsoft Windows, code-named Vista. 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. It's more efficient, thanks to Intel's Power Coordination and Deeper Sleep, which help to transfer power only to those areas of the processor that need it. It also features Intel's Digital Media Boost, which delivers enhanced performance on floating point-intensive applications such as CAD tools, 3-D and 2-D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming.

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) has become the average size for notebook PCs. It provides enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
  
• Memory: The 1 GB of built-in memory (PC4200, 533 MHz, DDR2 SDRAM, 2 x 512 MB) is a good start out of the box, but you'll want to maximize the 2 GB capacity of this machine to make your multimedia hum along.
  
• DVD/CD Drive: The double-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, and 24x/16x 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 (2.5mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Screen, Video & Audio
The 15.4-inch WXGA LCD offers Sony's XBRITE-ECO display technology and has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The widescreen display gives increases the width of the notebook's display while giving the computer the form factor of a smaller computer, so it takes up less space on your desk or in your briefcase Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 224 MB of total graphics memory from the system memory. Audio is powered by Sony's Sound Reality audio enhancer.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook has an integrated Atheros 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard/34 card slot (though no PCMCIA card 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
• Memory Stick slot (supports optional Memory Stick and Memory Stick DUO media with MagicGate functionality)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (also compatible with MMC cards)

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 to your favorite WiFi hotspot.

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 DVD (for easy DVD creation), Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.4 x 10.5 x 1.6 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 6.8 pounds.

Power
It's powered by the VGP-BPS2A/S rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 3.5 and 5.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-N220E/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

Solid Machine with Clean Looks
I purchased this laptop as a replacement for my 5 year old Dell, which died n me suddenly, as I was getting ready to head out of town for a series of meetings. Having already been using Vista Easy Transfer and OneCare backups for several months, getting my settings onto the new laptop was a breeze, and I was up and running in just a couple of hours (with all files right where I left them no less).

I have noticed that the Vaio is considerably faster than my old Dell, and with the dual core processor, it very seldom maxes out the resources, even while browsing the web, reading email, building a spreadsheet, and modifying CAD drawings all at the same time (usually in to 35-60% range). It runs very quiet and cool. The screen is bright and clear. I also love the clean lines and lack of all those "helpful" shortcut buttons that seem to be popping up on every surface of laptops these days.

Three minor problems... The hard drive is a bit small at 80 GB, but easily rectified with an external USB/Firewire drive. I've gotten used to and prefer a 1680 x 1050 display at 15.4", and this is only 1280 x 800. I can live with that. The speakers are a little on the quiet side, and distort very easily, but... they are built in laptop speakers. All of these add up to one star deduction. Overall, a very solid, good-looking, and well-performing laptop.

Edit (4/5/07) - Some people have mentioned a problem with seemingly random back paging in the web browser. This is a feature of the ALPS touchpad called "web Assistant", and can be turned off. The area of sensitivity for the Web Assistant is right where your thumb is likely to brush the touchpad while typing, and therefore pretty much a pain, but is a problem with the ALPS driver, not Vista or Sony. On the Control Panel, go to Mouse Properties, and open it. Then, click on the "Function" tab. Uncheck the box next to "Use Web Assistant", and then Apply and OK. You should not have the backpage problem anymore.

THE BACK PAGING!!
This is our first laptop so I don't have anything to compare it to. As the previous review stated, I also was wondering if the back paging while moving the arrow to the left on the screen was due to a Vista or Vaio problem, but I assumed it was Vaio's touchpad. I agree that it is frustrating when you're typing an email or review, etc. and you move your arrow across the screen to the left and it just decides to take you back a page before you even click on anything...and usually when you go back forward your text is gone! SOOO FRUSTRATING!

BUT that is the only problem we've had with it and I don't know if that's major as far as laptops go or not. I contacted Sony about it and they had me try reinstalling drivers, adjusting tap and touch sensitivity, and this and that, (didn't work) and now they want me to do a system recovery, I haven't even had it for a month and we just got all our stuff on here! I'm just learning how to maneuver the arrow across the bottom of the screen so it doesn't flip the pages back as easily, but it still does it sometimes right when you get confident that it's not going to. :(

Otherwise it's a good laptop, looks good, runs good and easy to figure out.

***EDITED 5/26/2007***
Thank you David A. Dunlap for the solution to the back paging problem! Very simple solution that worked! Unbelievable that Sony doesn't know the solution when you contact them with this problem though. Make sure to read David's review or his comment in my review if you want to fix the dreaded back paging problem. Thank you!

is it the vaio or the vista?
i got two of these, and they both have the same glitches, but i don't know if they are coming from vaio or vista? the pages turn back by themselves, OFTEN, and when they do, whatever you have been writing disappears forever. it seems like a weird version of timing out. i think that might be a vaio problem, because our old vaio does its own clicks sometimes too. it's annoying and frustrating tho, and you lose a lot of text.
the volume on the speakers is low only.
there is no word processing program included that works, no pun.
the free trials interfere with your own programs.
wireless only has two bars, sometimes one, and that's not a problem with our non-vaio computers using the same connection.
the microsoft picture editing software included is good, and simple. no need for bought software or software that came with your camera.
the interesting new low-charge standby mode is useful and pleasant.
it has win-dvd, which works, but--
the escape key on my keyboard doesn't work at all, ever, (!) and i have to shut down the computer completely to get a movie off the full screen.
there are only two usb ports, but you don't need one for pics anymore, and there are two picture card ports.
i can't watch videos on the internet for more than three seconds without their freezing up.
sometimes the computer gets confused, freezes, and jumps around the internet. also, i can't escape once there is a problem with freezing or stuttering because the escape key really doesn't work, neither does ctrl/alt/delete.
i got these to replace my two young hps, which were complete crap, and i chose vaio because we have a very old vaio that still runs. even with everything wrong with the new vaios, they are not as bad as the hps, they are better-looking, and they were around half the price i paid for the hps about a year ago.
i will probably buy external hard drives for these, and hope vista will send me patches for some of my stranger problems, but i think you could do worse than this vaio (you could obviously do better, also.) the battery is not showing any bad symptoms of overheating or other fatal things to come.
...it has back-paged several times while i was writing this;
...it makes editing nearly impossible, because you don't know which draft you're looking at;
...shopping online is harder too;
...picture uploading is smooth.