New PC for me

[chris]

Just got myself another new PC, a Sony VAIO notebook. I'm still getting to grips with this thing, getting it configured the way I want. So far however I have little to grumble about - other than the usual gripes (for any notebook) of the awful track-pad device, and the tricky to use keyboard (for a desktop user).

What was surprising was the included Adobe Premiere! Not some cut back or dumbed down version, but a rather fully featured version. It's not Premiere Pro, but it'd be more than capable of most tasks.

Basic specs of this computer are:

Sony VS-FS3 series
Pentium M 750
512mb RAM (upgradeable to 2gb)
60gb HDD
PCI-X Nvidia Geforce 6400 128mb graphics
15.4" widescreen
DVD-RW
Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro reader
Wireless networking and cabled networking support
Win XP Pro

And just about everything else under the sun. Quite cheap as well - I got it for nearly $1000 off the normal price of some other stores - so it sometimes pays to buy stuff direct from the Sony retail outlets.

The thing is not too heavy, but it's not entirely comfortable for using late at night while sitting up in bed (as I'm doing now).

The screen quality is good, but average in comparison with my normal Cinema display that unfortunately can not be connected to this notebook without using Analog to digital converter dongle.

So in short, it's a quality bit of gear with a lot of kit thrown in as standard for relatively little money. Good value - and it appears to be constructed with the same polish as the last Vaio I used. Long term use will determine ultimately how good it is - and I'll certainly report back on how the thing goes.

[VQ]

That's a small hdd....

Sounds good though, personally I can adapt from a Laptop keyboard to a pc keyboard easily, same with the mouse, though I prefer the IBM style dot mouse in the center of the keyboard to the other one, however I also have a little USB Optical mouse so I use that.

[chris]

60 is big enough for a notebook that won't be my normal PC. It's not a desktop replacement, but it'll do fine for those occasions when lugging around a desktop is not practical.

The desktop replacement model the salesperson tried to sell me (with a huge 17" screen) was nice, but far from useful as a portable computer. These things tend to become heavy if you should have to lug them around for more than short periods of time - especially when you put all the other usual bits and pieces in the bag with them.

[VQ]

Yeah I dislike laptops that weigh more then 2kg's myself.

I've received another laptop for school the other day, a P3 1000mhz Dell, the one I'm currently using is a 550 Celeron Acer with a 20gb hdd, which will go into the Dell, hopefully it will be good as I know it has the speed.

[chris]

I'm pleased to report back that the Sony is going well, it works like a charm.

Using it on the run, the battery power is fine once you work out the optimum settings for optimised battery life.

The screen is good, even in bright sun-light, but the keyboard is still not very natural for me to use. But for desktop use, a USB keyboard plugs in without troubles, and for anything other than portable use, I much prefer using a USB MS Intellimouse over the trackpad.

I've even used the Sony for video editing when it was running on the battery and it didn't end in tears and a battery disaster. :) So far so good..

And also good is that even though it has been some time since I used Adobe Premiere, my knowledge of it hasn't gone rusty. :)

[VulcanB2]

Hi,

Sounds great!! I can get about 5 hours out of my laptop if I look after it, but the second I start playing audio or do any 3D based stuff, that drops to around 3 hours. If I try and run FS on the battery, it is out after just 20 minutes!!!

Best regards,
Robin.