Product Description

The VAIO AR590E notebook is a Full 1080 HD multimedia powerhouse with Blu-ray Disc technology, DVR capabilities and a 17" widescreen display with XBRITE-HiColor LCD technology. Watch Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning HD clarity, record 25-50GB of content to a single Blu-ray Disc media and even watch, record and manage cable TV content.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3029 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VGN-AR590E
• 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: 320GB
• Processors: 2
• Display size: 17

Features

• Multimedia studio notebook with 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 ("Santa Rosa") processor and 17-inch LCD
• Dual 160 GB hard drives (320 GB total), 2 GB installed RAM (4 GB max), Blu-ray Disc read/write (as well as DVD and CD), NTSC/ATSC TV tuners
• Three USB 2.0, one, FireWire, one HDMI output, S/PDIF audio output, ExpressCard 54 card slot, Memory Stick & SD readers
• Quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), 10/100 Ethernet, Nvidia GeForce 8600M video card with up to 1023 MB of shared memory; Bluetooth
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Ultimate (with Premium and Business capabilities)

Amazon.com Product Description
The luxuriously designed Sony VAIO VGN-AR590E 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 features a 17-inch WUXGA widescreen XBRITE-HiColor LCD screen with a 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution, and video is powered by the NVidia GeForce 8400M graphics card, with up to 895 MB of video memory. It offers 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. You can also watch and record your favorite shows using the integrated dual TV tuners--both NTSC and ATSC (digital, high-def).

This notebook is powered by the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processor from the newest "Santa Rosa" chips, which offer a top-of-the-line 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 4 MB L2 cache. The Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance, as well as excellent battery management. 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 320 GB of hard drive space (from dual 160 GB drives), 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum capacity), multi-format/dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive (which also burns CDs), both PCMCIA and ExpressCard slots, both Memory Stick and SD memory cart slots, and Bluetooth connectivity.

This laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, which combines all the features of Windows Vista Premium and Vista Business as well as adds extras such as multi-language packs and Secure Online Key Backup. It offers all of the features found in Windows Vista Home Premium, including Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker with high-definition support, and Windows DVD Maker. It also provides all of the features found in Windows Vista Business, including business networking, centralized management tools, and advanced system backup features. 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 2 Duo T7300 processor has a 2.0 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an extra-large 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.

• Hard Drive: This system offers a total of 320 GB of hard disk drive space from two 160 GB drives (5400 RPM), creating one of the largest capacities you'll currently find in a notebook PC (as of June 2007). These Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives also quicken 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 1 GB DDR2, PC5300) is an excellent start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and productivity suites. It provides two DIMM slots and has a large 4 GB maximum RAM capacity. 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: This Sony notebook is 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 1080p high-definition resolution and 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 2x speed for reading and writing BD-R/RE discs and 1x BD-R/RE DL (dual layer) write speed. It also offers the following write speeds for standard DVD and CD discs: 2.4x DVD+R DL, 2x DVD-R DL, 8x for single-layer DVD+R and DVD-R, 4x DVD+RW and DVD-RW, 8x CD-R and CD-RW, and 5x for DVD-RAM.

• 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
This notebook offers a 17-inch screen with a widescreen 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution for true 1080p. And thanks to Sony's XBRITE-HiColor panel technology, the flat-panel screen will deliver dazzling colors and sharp images whether displaying a DVD movie, television show, or web content. It 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.

Video is powered by the NVidia GeForce 8600M graphics card, which provides up to 1023 MB of available RAM/video memory for unmatched HD video performance on a notebook PC. With support for Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 and High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), the 8400M lets you rip through all of today's most advanced and cutting-edge games and applications. Experience real-time photo editing, or immerse yourself in the most complex, true-to-life gaming environments. 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 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).

This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54 card slot (as well as a 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
• 1 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
• Video input: 1 S-Video
• Video output: 1 VGA, 1 S-Video
• 1 ExpressCard/54 slot
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, CardBus support)
• Memory Stick/Memory Stick DUO slot (with MagicGate functionality)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards)
• 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).

Operating System
The Windows Vista Ultimate operating system has it all--an advanced, business-focused infrastructure, mobile productivity, and premium home digital entertainment features. It offers all of the features found in Windows Vista Home Premium, including Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker with high-definition support, and Windows DVD Maker. It also provides all of the features found in Windows Vista Business, including business networking, centralized management tools, and advanced system backup features. In addition, Windows Vista Ultimate includes Extras such as:

• Windows Hold'em, a poker game for players of all skill levels
• Language packs for Windows multi-language interface, where users can install and use multiple languages on a single PC. Great for multi-lingual households or if you are learning a new language.
• Secure Online Key Backup, where Ultimate users can store their BitLocker recovery password and Encrypting File System certificate on Windows Marketplace's Digital Locker website for access to the key anytime, anyplace, and from any computer that has an Internet connection
• BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool, an automated tool which removes the complexity of setting up your PC to use this exclusive data security feature.

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 (60-day trial), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update), Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0, Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0, Intervideo WinDVD BD.

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 16.4 x 11.8 x 1.32 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 8.4 pounds.

Power
It's powered by the VGP-BPS2C rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 1.5 and 3.0 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-AR590E notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, remote control, IR receiver, HDMI cable, HDMI-to-DVI 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

The best notebook I have ever owned
This is the second VAIO notebook I have purchased. I have been using it for about two months as a desktop replacement running dual monitors and have had no problems with it. It runs Vista well, the screen is beautiful, and has plenty of power for gaming.

I am a little confused about the previous reviews. This laptop *DOES* come with Vista Ultimate (that is what the U in VGN-AR550U means). Also, this laptop does *NOT* have a Blu-Ray drive. So trying to play BD movies in it simply will not work!

Sony VAIO VGN-AR550U 17" Laptop
This is a very good product it allows the use of Vista driven improvements quite easily. Simply ordering a cable compatable card you can view and record televsion signals including HD. There really is not a negative issue with this computer.

Enjoy your Sony VAIO VGN-AR550U 17" Laptops.

The brand is over valued
I think Sony is loosing it charm. This machine was not what expected. It start giving problems 6 months after the purchase. The battery life is a quarter of what it was after 1 year usage. With the rice paid for this, I would expect MacBook quality at least. Even with this Sony relatively high end machine, I would not suggest anyone to spend more than $1K for any Windows based notebook including Sony brand. In good side, having HDMI output is great if you like to connect this to your LCD, using a single cable for both Video and sound.