Editorial Review:

Item Description:
Includes: lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with SP2, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Quicken 2005 New User Edition, WinDVD, Works 8.0, Office 2003 60-day trial (Student/Teacher Edition), Roxio DigitalMedia SE,&more.Sony Vaio FS VGN-FS740/W Notebook Computer - This laptop computer combines advanced multimedia features with the tools you need for everyday computing on the road. With the 15.4' widescreen LCD, you can enjoy DVD movies the way they were meant to be seen. And with XBRITE-ECO technology, you get higher brightness levels than standard displays. The result is deeper blacks, brighter whites, and sharper detail. 80GB 4200RPM HDD 512MB of PC3200 DDR2 SDRAM (expandable up to 2GB) Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 with 128MB of shared memory (memory is shared with the main system's RAM) Double Layer DVD Writer - (write speeds) up to 2.4x Double Layer DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R,&10x CD-RW Double Layer DVD Writer - (read speeds) up to 8x DVD-ROM&24x CD-ROM 56k v.90 Data/Fax Modem Built-in Stereo Speakers Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, VGA Out, 3 USB 2.0, 4-pin Firewire,&Printer Built-in Memory Stick(R) Media Slot - supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO,&Memory Stick(R) DUO media 1 PCMCIA Type I/II Card Slot with CardBus support External Color - White

Amazon.com Item Description:
Delivering powerful performance for your everyday computing needs, the Sony Vaio VGN-FS740 notebook PC is also ready to grow with your multimedia demands. You'll be able to easily create high-quality DVDs in one click and display it on the 15.4-inch crisp, XBRITE-ECO LCD. Slim and lightweight (at just over 6 pounds), the VGN-FS740 also offers a battery life of up to 2 hours with the included standard battery and up to 5.5 hours with the optional VGP-BPL2 large-capacity battery. It also features a 1.73 GHz Intel Pentium M (Centrino) processor, 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), multi-format, dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive, 54g wireless connectivity, a Memory Stick slot for easy transfer of your photos from your Sony digital camera, Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2), and a wide assortment of pre-loaded software titles.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is a bit above average in size for notebook PCs, and it's befitting of such an entertainment-centric PC. It offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors. You'll also be able to store a good-sized digital audio library.
• Processor: The Intel Centrino M 740 processor is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. It features a Deep Sleep state, which helps enable longer battery life by minimizing the power consumption of the processor during brief periods of inactivity. The 1.73 GHz speed is in the middle of the speed spectrum for this processor (as of autumn, 2005), and it also offers a fast 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB) speed and a large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)
  
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, PC3200, 400 MHz DDR2) is a good start for power users, and it offers a faster than average RAM speed (333 MHz). It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion of 2 GB (2 x 1 GB).
  
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the multi-format DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. For both standard, single-layer DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs, it has a 8x write/4x rewrite speed, while double-layer DVD+R discs have a 2.4x write speed. For CDs, it has a 24x write/10x rewrite speed. It also has a separate DVD-ROM drive with 8x DVD read speed and 24x CD read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Screen, Graphics and Sound
The 15.4-inch XBRITE-ECO LCD has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels--perfect for watching movies in their intended 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. Sony's Smart Display Sensor feature instantly adjusts resolution when you connect to a display or projector. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 128 MB of shared video memory. The integrated audio card provides 16-bit stereo sound via the built-in stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The VGN-FS740 has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You get a basic offering of connectivity options, including both USB 2.0 and i.Link (Firewire):

• 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 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack
• 1 microphone jack
• Memory Stick media slot, compatible with Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo with MagicGate functionality

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
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: Click to DVD (DVD creation), SonicStage (digital music), Vaio Media (network file sharing), DVgate Plus (digital video), Vaio Zone with WinDVD (for watching DVD movies), and Image Converter (for PSP transfer). Other preloaded software includes Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Microsoft Works 8.0 (with word processing, spreadsheet, and calendar), Norton Internet Security (with 90-day subscription), Roxio DigitalMedia SE, and SpySubtract.

Dimensions and Weight
Easily portable, the VGN-FS740 weighs 6.28 pounds with standard battery and measures 14.33 x 1.41 x 10.41 inches (WxHxD).

Power
It is powered by the VGP-BPS2A standard lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which produces a battery life of up to 2 hours. The optional VGP-BPL2 large-capacity battery enables battery life up to 5.5 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-FS740 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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Rating: - * Great little machine! ... This is my 1st laptop and I couldn't be happier with it! I purchased it in May 2006 from Best Buy in Gainesville, FL when my desktop computer completely died one morning and it worked fine. After a few weeks, it started going extremely slow. Not wanting to pay for Geek Squad, I reformatted the HD myself and I have not had a problem since. I should have formatted it as soon as I brought it home to remove the "gunk" manufacturers put on computers, but didn't for some reason. About 6 months after having my Vaio, the DVD part of the CD/DVD drive conked out. I tried to fix it myself, but to no avail. When I called Sony and explained the problem, they set up an appointment for a tech to come to my home and fix the drive for me. Within 2 days of my phone call, I was up and running again. I have always been a Sony fan - also owning Sony digital cameras, cell phones and a TV - and after their extremely fast response to my tech support problem, I am a customer for life. If and when this Vaio dies for good, I will certainly be purchasing another one. Rating: - * Sony Vaio fs740 - Good laptop ... I've had the fs740 a while and haven't had any of the problems that the others are describing. The trend seems to be that bestbuy is selling defective machines. Perhaps they get theirs made especially for them and cut corners? That said, I have heard alot of complaints about the customer service practices of Sony even though I havent had to deal with them (yet). Pros: The machine looks great, the screen is bright and crisp, the perfomance is fairly good, ample USB slots, the integrated GMA900 vid card works well for most games, keyboard is nice and stiff, its amazingly thin, DLDVD+-RW/CD+-RW is handy, it runs silent and never gets more than a bit warm. Cons: Headphone/Audio out jack is in an inconvienient spot (front), the white colour gets dirty, no video out without the purchase of a docking station, slightly on the heavy side. Rating: - * bad product, worse customer service ... I brought the product from best buy in chicago, after a month the laptop suddenly died on me, took it back to best buy, it took more than 3 weeks for the pc to come back, with all the data erased , apparently there was a problem in the mother board ( it seems this is quite a frequent problem with vaios the connection between the power supply & the mother board !). This my second vaio, I returned the first one which also developed a hardware problem,I thought that was bad luck but after problems in my second laptop it is sony not luck . I will never buy a sony again, the customer service stinks, they sell products at a higher price but have no customer service to speak of, any repair will take more than two weeks & u will waste atleast 2 hours on the phone just getting to the right person. Rating: - * SONY VAIO VGN-FS HAS DEFECTIVE AND WRONGLY DESIGNED LCD. ... VGN FS SONY VAIO PRODUCTS HAVE DEFECTIVE AND POORLY DESIGNED LCD . MOSTLY MADE IN CHINA WITH LOW QUALITY COMPONENTS. I AM STRUGGLING WITH A SONY VAIO VGN-FS NOTEBOOK WHICH WORKED BARELY FOR 20 DAYS WHICH WAS PURCHASED FROM BEST BUY MISSISSAUGA. MOREOVER SONY CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND SERVICE IS NEXT TO ZERO. WHAT YOU HEAR IS RECORDED MESSAGES, LONG WAITINGS ON PHONE AND IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS AND UNWANTED TECHNICAL INPUTS. ISSUE IS UNRESOLVED EVEN AFTER TRYING ALL MEANS OF GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THEIR ONLY AVAIALBE TOLL FREE NUMBER WITH A SINGLE CSR AVAILABLE WHO KNOWS NOTHING EXCEPT HE/SHE WOULD APOLOGISE FOR 100 TIMES IN 10 MINUTES. Being bounced from one drone to the next, hearing about policies and procedures, but never about them trying to do the right thing and take responsibility for their products or promises, Sony really sucks.