Product Description

The VAIO(R) FZ is a thin-and-light entertainment notebook featuring a 15.4" widescreen LCD with XBRITE-ECO technology and embedded A/V controls for one-touch access to your music, movies and pictures. XBRITE-ECO CD technology delivers razor-sharp details and bold colors while conserving battery life. A/V Instant Mode lets you go straight to watching a movie, playing music, or viewing photos without ever booting-up the operating system. Magnesium alloy makes for a remarkably lightweight and durable chassis. Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 Graphics Processor, 358MB Available Graphics Memory Electro-Static Touch Pad Pointing Device QWERTY Keyboard, 82 keys with 2mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch Built-in 1.3-Megapixel Motion Eye(TM) camera and microphone 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet (RJ-45) Integrated V.92/V.90 Modem (RJ-11) Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection (802.11a/b/g/n) Multimedia Card Reader - One Memory Stick(R) Duo media slot with MagicGate(TM) functionality Optical Drive - 4x DVD+R DL Write, 8x DVD+R Write, 8x DVD+RW Write, 8x DVD-R Write, 6x DVD-RW Write, 24x CD-R Write, 16x CD-RW Write, 24x CD Read, 8x DVD Read, 5x DVD-RAM Write, 4x DVD-R DL Write and 5x DVD-RAM Read Inputs and Outputs - Ethernet Port, Headphone Jack, Memory Stick(R) Media Slot, Modem Jack, Secure Digital Slot, Microphone Input, S-Video Output, 3x USB Port, VGA Output and DC-In Windows Vista Home Premium is easy-to-use and delivers new security and entertainment features Dimensions - Width 14 x Depth 10.02 x Height 0.98-1.4 Weight - 5.9 pounds

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1295 in Personal Computers
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VGN-FZ250E/B
• Dimensions: 1.36" h x 14.01" w x 10.02" l, 5.90 pounds
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2.2 GHz
• Memory: 2000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 250GB
• Processors: 2
• Display size: 15.4

Features

• 5.75-pound laptop with magnesium alloy body, dedicated multimedia controls above keyboard, and 15.4-inch LCD
• 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor, 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive, 2 GB RAM (4 GB max), dual-layer DVD burner
• Intel 4965 AGN wireless LAN connects to draft 802.11n routers (as well as 802.11a/b/g), 10/100 Ethernet
• Connectivity: 3 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 S-Video, ExpressCard 34, Memory Stick/SD card slots
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities); integrated 1.3-megapixel WebCam

Amazon.com Product Description
With subtle sophistication and undeniable elegance, the lightweight Sony VAIO VGN-FZ250E/B notebook PC is crafted with an aesthetic touch and careful attention to detail. Offering a brilliantly colorful 15.4-inch XBRITE-ECO display, this 5.75-pound laptop maximizes LCD space with advanced space-saving engineering techniques, including a reconfigured battery and motherboard design. It's packed with entertainment features, including embedded A/V controls for one-touch access to your music, movies and pictures. A built-in 1.3-megapixel Webcam and microphone are seamlessly integrated into the durable silver magnesium chassis so you can video chat with friends, family and co-workers.

This notebook is powered by the 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor, which offers 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 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 an extra-large 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum capacity), multi-format/dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard slot, and Intel GMA X3100 graphics card.

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.

Entertainment Features
Imagine having the ability to enjoy your entertainment on your notebook without ever booting up. The VAIO FZ notebook with A/V Instant Mode lets you kick off your entertainment with a single push of a button. Go straight to watching a movie, playing music, or viewing photos without ever booting-up the operating system, thereby conserving a significant amount of battery life. The VAIO FZ notebook also includes a full set of dedicated multimedia controls just above the keyboard. A round A/V interface jumps out of the clean design of the VAIO FZ, adding a unique and practical touch to its sophisticated appearance. These intuitive music and video controls are user-friendly, so you can easily control your CDs, DVDs, pictures and home movies with the push of a button.

The Basics

• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor has a 2.2 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: The 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive is more than double the average size for notebook PCs, however its 4200 RPM speed is a bit slower than current standard hard drives. It provides more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and video editing 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 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: 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/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 82-key keyboard (2mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad. Playback controls include play/pause, stop, forward, rewind, AV mode, mute, volume +/-, capture, and display off.

Screen, Video & Audio
The 15.4-inch WXGA LCD offers Sony's XBRITE-ECO display technology and has a widescreen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. 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. 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).

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 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 S-Video and 1 VGA out
• 1 ExpressCard 34
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• Memory Stick slot (supports optional Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, and Memory Stick DUO media)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (also compatible with MMC cards)

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Fast 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 DVD (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 (WxHxD) and weighs 5.75 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-FZ250E/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

Why are new Windows computers vehicles for advertising?
As far as features go, it's hard to beat this notebook - the dual-core processor and 2 GB ram suggests that it should scream. But it doesn't, for two reasons:

The first is Vista. Compared to XP, there's nothing much new under the sun. Sure, there's some GUI candy, but that just makes it run slower. I've turned it off as much as I can. Indeed, I'm currently looking for a copy of XP to install.

My biggest complaint is the CRAP that's loaded on here. Sony has "utilities" that are nothing more than thinly-veiled 60 day trials. Microsoft doesn't get off the hook either: They've got trial versions of Office. This is all good, if you're new to computers, but if you just want to get down to business, expect to take about 3 hours to get all the bloatware off. Note to vendors: This is MY system, not yours. It is not another medium to sell me junk. So, this is the last Sony I'll buy.

Compare this to Apple's OSX: You start the system, personalize it, and you're working from a new install in 10 minutes.

Synopsis: Hardware's great! OS sucks (but functional)!

After cleaning, paring, and loading updates, it works great.
Well, I agree with all the previous reviews except the poorly built comments. I am very impressed with the hardware, except the tolerances of the battery compartment. It does rattle, and I wouldn't travel with it as it is. I put a couple pieces of tape on the case under the battery, and voila, no rattle. With all the excrutiating design that Sony puts into these things, it does mystify me why this was overlooked. The case is solid otherwise, built of magnesium. The processor, memory, wireless adapter, and hard drive is a great value for the money. The 4800 rpm HDD is a bit slow, but once powered up works fine. On the other hand, the T7250 processor and 2 Gb of memory standard is a good value.

I actually bought a FZ220E for $999, but found the FZ240E at Circuit City for only $50 more. The 2.0 Ghz processor makes a big difference, not to mention the extra 50 Gb of storage. Everything else is the same.

I agree with all the extraneous trial software. I spent about an hour uninstalling it. Well worth the time, but I agree with other reviewers that it shouldn't be there, or should be on a trial CD. Once I removed the trial software, Office 2007, and Norton 360, it started working well. I use Mcafee for virus software, as I have found the Norton software takes a lot of space and slows everything down.

I have adapted to Vista from XP, and it has its short comings as well as some good things. But this isn't a Sony issue. I must say, the Wireless setup was one of the easiest I have been through. And the FZ series comes with a streaming media server, DLNA certified. For those of you what want to stream to your TV or stereo, this is a big plus. Not many other laptops in the price range do this.

Overall, I finally have it working well, and I am satisfied from a price and think it is a good value.

Could be perfect... but VISTA...
Short and simple... Everything about this laptop screams attention to detail. For those who are familiar with Sony's VAIO line, you are not going to be disappointed except one thing - Visa. Aside from that blemish, the 2 gigs of RAM is more than enough to multitask with minimal slowdown. The 200 gig hard drive is good for almost all your docs. and multi-media files. (If it's not, get a external drive) It's light, and durable for normal use, e.g., taking it to cafes, school, libraries, work in your backpack or satchel. Gaming is doable, however, for the hard core gamers you might want to take a pass. The best thing is the price. I went to the Sony web-site and even call Sony direct and they couldn't beat the price I got from Amazon, i.e., with tax and shipping added in. I'm still debating on reinstalling XP, but there is no doubt about getting this laptop. -D