Product Description

The gorgeously designed VAIO AR Digital Studio is the premier Blu-ray Disc enabled entertainment notebook PC. See movies like never before on an exceptional 17" WUXGA widescreen display with stunning clarity and brilliant colors.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3278 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VGN-AR290G
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.32" h x 16.40" w x 11.80" l, 8.40 pounds
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2 GHz
• Memory: 2000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 200GB
• Processors: 2
• Display size: 17

Features

• Multimedia studio notebook with 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 processor (2 MB L2 cache) and 17-inch LCD
• 200 GB hard drive, 1 GB installed RAM (2 GB max), dual-layer DVD+/-RW burner
• Three USB 2.0, one, FireWire, one HDMI output, S/PDIF audio output, ExpressCard 54 card slot, Memory Stick reader
• Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 graphics (64 MB installed, 256 shared), tri-mode 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi
• Windows XP Media Center 2005; Windows Vista ready

Amazon.com Product Description
The luxuriously designed Sony VAIO VGN-AR290G Digital Studio notebook PC provides a power multimedia computer platform for enhanced entertainment performance. But it can also be admired for its gorgeously appointed design, featuring a black exterior, sleek profile, and interfaces and ports that are easily accessible yet discreetly integrated. It's also one of the first Sony notebooks to offer high-definition Blu-ray Disc 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. Watch and record your favorite shows with with the integrated standard NTSC TV tuner and Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, which is enhanced by Sony's Giga Pocket engine. It's convenient and easy with on-screen program listings and navigation, and then create a digital library of programming that you can view at your convenience.

This notebook is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which offers a 20 percent performance boost over its predecessor while using 28 percent less power--so you get the benefit of a powerful dual-core PC plus all the benefits of mobility. The dual-execution core T7200 Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance, and it features a 2.0 GHz speed, lightning quick 667 MHz system bus, and massive 4 MB L2 cache.

The VGN-AR290G features a 17-inch WXGA widescreen LCD screen offering Sony's XBRITE panel technology, dual 100 GB hard drives (for 200 GB capacity), 2 GB of installed RAM (maximizing capacity), NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 graphics and GDDR3 memory, built in camera and microphone for VOIP video conferencing, multi-format/dual-layer DVD±R/RW drive, multimedia memory card reader, tri-mode wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g), and a wealth of Sony multimedia software. This is Windows Vista capable PC, and it's also Windows Vista Premium ready.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The dual 100 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives (for 200 GB total) offer one of the largest notebook hard drive capacities currently available(September 2006), and it features a top speed of 5400 RPM. It offers the ability to store a vast multimedia collection as well as raw HD video for editing. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
  
• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 processor has a 2.0 GHz processor speed, super-fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an enormous 4 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 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.
  
  
• Memory: The 2 GB of built-in memory (PC4200, 533 MHz, DDR2 SDRAM, 2 x 1 GB) maximizes the capacity for this machine, enabling you to effortlessly handle a wide variety of multimedia tasks right out of the box.
  
• CD/DVD Drive: This VGN-AR290G is one of Sony's first Blu-ray Disc enabled notebooks. It's capable of playing back Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning clarity, as well as playing your current library of purchased and burned disc content. It's also capable of burning HD Camcorder content in its original 1080 high-definition resolution can store a massive amount of data on a single disc (25 GB single layer disc to 50 GB on a double layer disc). This desktop also comes with a secondary standard DVD-ROM drive. The BD drive offers 1x speed for reading and writing BD-R/RE discs and 1.6x BD-ROM read speed. It also offers the following write speeds: 2.4x DVD+R DL, 2x DVD-R DL, 8x for single-layer DVD+R and DVD-R, 4x for single-layer DVD+RW and DVD-RW, 8x for both CD-R/RW, and 5x for DVD-RAM.
  
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has an 88-key keyboard with 2.5mm stroke and 19.05 pitch and an electro-static touchpad.

Screen, Graphics and Sound
This notebook offers a 17-inch screen with a widescreen 1440 x 900-pixel resolution and Sony's original XBRITE LCD technology, which delivers deep blacks and bright whites, true-to-life color, and razor-sharp detail. And with a glare filter and anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection, you'll experience a beautifully clear image even in bright sunlight.

Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT graphics card, which was chosen by PC World magazine as one of the 100 Best Products of 2006 (July, 2006). It has 256 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM (dynamically allocated shared RAM/video memory) for high definition gaming and home-theater quality video. It features NVidia's PureVideo technology--which provides great picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for video content. It also offers full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 and true high dynamic-range (HDR) lighting. And it's ready for the next step in graphics processing--SLI technology (Scalable Link Interface)--which delivers twice the performance of a single GPU configuration by allowing two graphics cards to run in parallel. GDDR3 (Graphics Double Data Rate, version 3) is a graphics card-specific memory technology that's better able to deliver fluid frame rates for even the most advanced games and applications.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This notebook has an integrated tri-mode Intel 3945ABG wireless LAN, which is 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). It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54 card slot (in addition to a standard Type II/I PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a good offering 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)
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• Memory card reader (supports optional Memory Stick and Memory Stick DUO media with MagicGate functionality and Secure Digital Media)
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF digital audio out (for connecting to a home theater receiver for 5.1-channel surround sound)

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
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2) is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. It also comes loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: Click to DVD (DVD creation), SonicStage Mastering Studio (digital music), Vaio Media (network file sharing), DVgate Plus (digital video), and Image Converter (for PSP transfer). Other pre-loaded software includes Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, Microsoft Digital Imaging (Starter Edition), Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Microsoft Works 8.5 (with word processing, spreadsheet, and calendar), Norton Internet Security (with 60-day subscription), Intervideo WinDVD, Roxio DigitalMedia SE, and Ulead BD Disc Recorder.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop measures 16.4 x 1.32 x 11.8 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 8.4 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery (VGP-BPS2B).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Sony VAIO VGN-AR290G notebook PC, rechargeable battery, AC adapter, and power cord. It's backed by a 1-year warranty with onsite service, and 1 year of toll-free technical phone assistance.

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Customer Reviews

Beautiful Unit with a Major Design Flaw
The VGN-AR290G is the top of Sony's line of media-oriented notebook computers complete with a Blu-Ray DVD recorder/player. It is beautifully finished and would be a great unit if it worked as expected. Unfortunately, it has a fatal, undocumented flaw. The vaunted Blu-Ray DVD player will absolutely not function if the computer is attached to a remote monitor/tv/projector. So despite the HDMI connectivity and the Sony's "Full HD 1080" resolution, you cannot play Blu-Ray discs through your HDTV. The only way you can watch Blu-Ray discs is on the unit's internal--though admittedly beautiful--17" screen. Nothing in the Sony's description or even the user's manual mentions this major problem. I had to find out by calling Sony's technical support. And this was all so hard to believe that I called back the next day to make sure I had received the correct info. I had.

So if you plan to use this computer to play Blu-Ray DVD on your big screen TV, forget it. Buy something else.

AR290G HDMI and Blu-Ray
I received my AR290G last night. I was delighted to see that Sony included the movie "Stealth" starring one of my favorite actresses Jessica Biel, and a blank rewritable Blu-Ray disk. I have a Sony SXRD HDTV panel, and after connecting the panel to the Vaio via the HDMI port and selecting external monitor I am happy to say that the Blu-Ray movie played just fine at 1080 on my HDTV.

The Nvidia 7600GT graphics chip is advertised as HDCP HDMI compatible and if you dig enough you find that it also has the encryption chip
installed.

So the review on this site saying that the AR290G does not play Blu-Ray movie titles is either out of date, or just inaccurate. I did notice that when configuring the Vaio video out, the external monitor is labeled as "Sony HDTV" so maybe there is something unique that requires a Sony HDCP HDMI compatible HDTV, but I doubt it. Or maybe the video player or the Blu-Ray drive on the VAIO has been updated, but I can tell you from personal experience that the AR290G plays Blu-Ray movie titles on my Sony HDTV.

Beware of Sony support, not Vista
Hardware- 5 stars, Sony Product support- 1 star (zero was unavailable)

I've had this notebook for several weeks now. It's a beautifully finished product. The focus of my note here is intended to inform potential buyers to be wary of the Express Upgrade option for Vista Home Premium which is noted on these (and other) product pages. This is NOT a warning against Vista, however. I have upgraded my 290G to Vista, which runs perfectly in itself, using Sony's kit. Please note though that Sony's product support stretches the limits of that definition. The model support pages for this notebook are full of driver and software updates for the Vista upgrade, but several of them simply do not function and one of them actually applies an incompatible device driver which leads to countless warnings by the OS at each startup. These are documented issues which are being "researched"; in the meantime several hardware features are unavailable due to the poor driver support (ie: integrated camera). The biggest black mark is the fact that the oem windvd BD software update fails to install after the Vista upgrade, leading to an inability to play blu-ray discs (burning and file access on BD-roms functions).

It is not my intention to warn buyers away from this unit, but to raise awareness of the "Vista Ready" label applied to this notebook. The hardware certainly is ready, but Sony's oem upgrade packages are not yet up to par. Certainly these issues will eventually be resolved, but owners may want to plan on waiting until Sony gets its act together on its software updates. That, or wait until this unit ships with Vista installed. Once you've migrated, inquiries to esupport will likely result in the following types of exchange (I've got quite the collection now, someday they'll actually be funny):

"I have downloaded and am attempting to install the BD playback update and am receiving an error message concerning the machine not being a qualified product, after which the install fails."

-Sony reply: "We recommend that you download and install the BD playback update found at the Sony model support site...."