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Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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$700 SSD upgrade on Apple's site. 7200rpm drive is something a tech savvy user can install themselves, though.
6. Price. Base model is $1299.
7. $1299 model does not have backlit keyboard. $800 Dell laptops have this.
8. Display appears to have poorer contrast and viewing angles than previous model, even when using a Spyder calibration device. Also display is only available in glossy which some consumers do not like.

Other points consumers should be aware of:
1. Aluminum body; better displacement of heat than previous model, but body may dent easier.
2. Button-less trackpad, people will have to retrain their muscle memory, but is rather easy to get used to.
3. Display port replaces mini DVI port, but at least they have new adapters to DVI and VGA.

Overall: I am generally neutral on this redesign. Very pleased with graphics upgrade, but equally disappointed by lack of ports, poor LCD display, and glossy only option. Bottom line, I can get a Dell Latitude for $800 with eSATA and Firewire--but, of course, it can't run Mac OSX.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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with these new aluminum MacBooks I think things have changed. You get a backlit keyboard in the higher end model (which is the one I'm reviewing), an aluminum body (of course), and a multitouch trackpad. I think the backlit keyboard is the nicest addition. It's really something you appreciate more once you've used it. I've never had any difficulty typing in the dark but I can't see myself ever buying a machine without a backlit keyboard again. It's incredibly helpful when you need to type a special character or press a function button. If you don't have the usual key positions memorized, I imagine it's even better. This makes the high end MacBook feel a lot more like a MacBook Pro.

Regarding the aluminum unibody Apple likes to talk about so highly, it's very nice. While they did this with the Macbook Air, it seems much more refined with the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros. My one complaint, which I feel will fade over time, is that it sometimes looks too perfect. I don't mean this as a backhanded compliment, but that there is such a thing as being so perfect it lacks a human touch. Think about listening to a computer play a song versus a human. It's just not as good. Well, technically the computer is better but that human touch is relevant to us. This machine is so exact and precise that it sometimes feels inhuman. At the same time, it is rather stunning. I think I'll get past the lack of human imperfections as I get used to looking at it each day.

The multitouch trackpad is something I'm not foreign to, as I used a MacBook Air for awhile. The new trackpad space is identical. I found this very fortunate as I don't like buying new machines without being able to get a Marware Protection Pack as well. Luckily I bought a MacBook Air pack and it fit perfectly. Even the trackpad film fit. While multitouch gestures didn't make their way into my regular routine too often, I did use them here and there and am glad they now exist throughout Apple's line of laptops. The disadvantage of the new trackpad is the lack of a button. Yes, the whole trackpad is a button and yes it's very clickable. The problem is that sometimes the click doesn't register. I turned on single and double taps for left click and right click (respectively), but sometimes those don't register as well. If this were my first Apple laptop, I'd panic and run to the Genius Bar for help. Since I've been through a few of these, I've found that it takes a month or two before you really break in the button. I've had the laptop for about ten days now and it's already working better. Still, I wish it just clicked as expected out of the box. For those that are wondering how you click and drag if there's no actual button, you just kind of pretend there is a button. While Apple gives you the entire trackpad for tracking, and you can click pretty much anywhere (with resistance building more and more as you move upwards), you can expect this trackpad to work just like the MacBook Air's trackpad. The space where the Air's button would be is where you can safely rest a thumb (or whatever) for clicking. It will not register as a second finger as easily. If you pretend there is a button at the bottom of the trackpad, you'll quickly forget there isn't one.

But those are the bells and whistles. As far as performance goes, there's not much excitement in regards to speed. The computer's architecture has changed, but the Core 2 Duo processors aren't really much faster (or any faster as the case may be here). The big jump is in the new graphics processor from NVIDIA. I'm not going to pretend to be a hardcore gamer. I don't play many games, and especially not when it comes to those that are GPU-intensive. I can't give you frame rates from World of Warcraft or anything like that. What I can tell you is that the new NVIDIA graphics make for smoother performance around the operating system and seem to contribute to 1) better battery life and 2) a cooler system.

One of my favorite things about this laptop is that it doesn't really get hot. I ran an H.264 video encode today so I could put a video on my iPhone and it didn't feel hot at all. The MacBook Air heats up in about five seconds and then cripples the GPU first, before throttling anything else, and gets pretty warm. You could iron a shirt with the old MacBooks and I won't even start with the MacBook Pros. I can't believe how cool this machine has been. I'm not punishing it with endless work, but for it to make it through a twelve minute video encode without breaking a sweat is pretty amazing. It's the first time I've used an Apple laptop and didn't worry about becoming sterile. I don't know what they did, but it's wonderful.

I get about four hours of battery life under normal usage. While this still doesn't quite match what Apple promises, it's the highest I've ever, realistically, gotten out of an Apple laptop. I'm more than happy with four hours. I rarely use my laptop off of the power adapter anyhow.

Another neat feature of the new MacBooks (and MacBook Pros) is that you can use your iPhone/iPod touch stereo headset with microphone to record (crappy) audio and have basic control over iTunes. Since I swap my iPhone headphones out of the iPhone and into the laptop very frequently, this is fantastic. I can't tell you how many times I've been interrupted and clicked the microphone on the headset to pause the song, only to remember that I can't. Now I can. This is wonderful.

So far I've only had good things to say and that's because, overall, this is an excellent machine. I want to talk about a few bad things, however. In my opinion, the biggest flaw is the display. This is why I've rated it a four and not a five. The display is an embarrassment. If you have any intention of doing any visual work that actually matters, this machine will be completely useless to you. The viewing angle is so terrible that no matter where you are, you will not get even contrast. I don't notice it quite as much when I'm surfing the web or just writing, but when I watch a video it's very apparent. If you do visual work and it's not just for fun, do not buy this machine. Get a MacBook Pro where it's not an issue. Even the old MacBooks have better displays. I don't do visual work on this machine for that reason. If it's not critical, I might, but for the most part I work on my desktop machine instead.

Another downside about the display is that it's glossy. These look cool and all, but the reflections are obnoxious when you can't easily avoid them and you don't get very accurate color or contrast. This is a fault of the panel itself, too, but the glossiness just ruins it further. For general use, this isn't a big deal. If you want to color correct or design, Apple has pretty much opted to screw you over regardless of how much you decide to spend on their hardware. Matte screens are just not going to be an option anymore. I think this is a stupid choice, because the people who kept Apple alive are the designers who chose Macs early on in Apple's history. The loyalists are generally not fond of glossy screens and have been vocal about it. I think having an option is fine, but forcing people to use glossy screens is awful. Being a loyalist and needing a matte screen, I've just started using my laptop for everything but color critical work. It's allowed me to prefer working on a smaller screen, which is nice because it means less computer to cart around. I've been able to work around this problem, but my situation allowed for it. It's still a big problem for a lot of people who can't defer to a desktop.

The other disadvantage is a lack of Firewire. While I rarely employed Firewire in my laptops, especially after using the MacBook Air (which has none), I still liked having it around. I don't really miss that it's gone. Again, this is primarily due to having a desktop companion that can connect with just about anything. Whether or not this is a major issue is really up to the individual. If you know you need it, you have your answer. Personally, I wish Apple would've kept it until they had something better to replace it with. Maybe they couldn't fit it into the new, slimmer casing. I would just like to see a USB 2.0 alternative, since USB 2.0 doesn't quite live up to its claims.

When it comes to upgrades and replacements, this machine gets a little better and a little worse. If you're upgrading from a MacBook Pro to a MacBook Pro, you're getting easier upgrades all around. If you're used to upgrades in a MacBook, however, I'd say things are better and worse. If you want to replace RAM, you have to remove the bottom case. It's not that hard to do but it means keeping track of quite a few screws and exposing the entirety of your machine's innards. If you're simply replacing the hard drive, however, you can pretty much just yank it out. One of the first things I did is replace the hard drive with a solid state disk. They're getting cheaper and you can get a 120GB or 128GB drive for much less than what Apple offers. But on the plus side, if you do want your computer to come with an SSD you now have that option as a custom order. While in tests SSD hasn't really proven to have too many benefits, in real world practice it makes the machine feel much snappier. For that reason, having an SSD is worth it.

Apple's RAM upgrade prices are also not as terrible as they used to be. At least, it seems that way. A RAM upgrade through a third party only saves $10-20. When spending a lot of money on a new machine, I think many people would choose the convenience over the comparatively small savings that come with doing it yourself.

Anyway, that pretty much covers the majority of the relevant pros and cons of the new MacBook. So far I love it. I think it's a wonderfully made machine. It's sturdy, it's attractive and it works really well. I've very pleased with it and as long as you can handle the poor display, I highly recommend this MacBook.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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to it. Two finger scrolling and right click are very convenient. And there are no arguments against the superiority of Mac OS over Windows, and especially Vista. Mac OS applications are lot more fun and easier to use, not to mention less crashes, freezes and viruses and malware.

I miss dedicated PgDn and PgUp keys; it also lacks numLk, Home, End, and Del (forward) keys. Lack of Firewire can be a problem if you do not have another computer with one and need to use it for camcorder etc. Card reader is also absent and it is not easy to transfer camera pictures unless the camera also works as a card reader. Neither is there an express card slot or 3G modem. Cost is definitely a lot more than similarly equipped Windows notebooks. Mac versions of Quicken, Quickbooks, Dragon speech and several others programs are not as good as Windows versions which I have been using under Windows and Fusion.

I feel the ideal weight for a truly mobile computer should be 2-3 lbs and screen 12 inches. 13.3 inch screen has a big footprint and 4.5 lbs is slightly heavy. MacBook Air is not as powerful, is expensive, has smaller hard drive and lacks ports. And the main reason to get MacBook Pro is if you need firewire port and do lot of graphics intensive work. I loved my ThinkPad X31 with 12.4 inch screen, 3 lb weight and all the ports. For me the ideal computer would have been a ThinkPad X200 with Mac OS; but in absence of that, this MacBook is next best choice.

13.3 MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz 2GB 250GB SuperDrive - Black

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Macbook 2.16ghz/3gb ram/160gb hd/superdrive w/ OSX 10.5.5
westinghouse 24" LCD monitor @ 1920x1200
fantom drive 250gb firewire external hd
western digital passport 320gb usb external hd
pinnacle hdtv stick for mac(hdtv tuner)
logitech wireless keyboard & mouse

As you can see i have my macbook plugged in with a lot of accessories and i run 7+ programs at once when im using my mac, including eyetv(hdtv), isight cam w/ sightspeed video conferencing, as well as other less intensive applications. If you want a great dependable and quick mac this is the one to get, especially now that you can find it at discounted prices since the new macbooks came out. The only con that I have is that my old mac has the old 950GMA integrated graphics which can be an issue if you like to play/edit/encode high res videos or play graphic intensive games, especially full hd 1920P. I can play 1920P videos fine but it will get bogged down if im using a lot of other cpu intensive programs. im sure this won't be an issue for the majority of users since those people would probably get the macbook pro instead. i have had no issues at all that people have complained about(fans, cracked plastic, screen flicker, etc) and im sure i'll use this mac for another 2-3years before upgrading again.

pros:
fast, lightweight, long battery life
cons:
slow graphics chip

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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Macbook 2.16ghz/3gb ram/160gb hd/superdrive w/ OSX 10.5.5

westinghouse 24" LCD monitor @ 1920x1200

fantom drive 250gb firewire external hd

western digital passport 320gb usb external hd

pinnacle hdtv stick for mac(hdtv tuner)

logitech wireless keyboard & mouse



As you can see i have my macbook plugged in with a lot of accessories and i run 7+ programs at once when im using my mac, including eyetv(hdtv), isight cam w/ sightspeed video conferencing, as well as other less intensive applications. If you want a great dependable and quick mac this is the one to get, especially now that you can find it at discounted prices since the new macbooks came out. The only con that I have is that my old mac has the old 950GMA integrated graphics which can be an issue if you like to play/edit/encode high res videos or play graphic intensive games, especially full hd 1920P. I can play 1920P videos fine but it will get bogged down if im using a lot of other cpu intensive programs. im sure this won't be an issue for the majority of users since those people would probably get the macbook pro instead. i have had no issues at all that people have complained about(fans, cracked plastic, screen flicker, etc) and im sure i'll use this mac for another 2-3years before upgrading again.



pros:

fast, lightweight, long battery life

cons:

slow graphics chip

Sony VAIO® VGN-Z550N/B 13.1" Notebook PC

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for me at 320GB.

The unit only weighs 3.3lbs, to me this is nothing coming from a 14.1" DELL Precision M2400 which weighed about 2x that!

Some of my gripes:

Internal Broadband card is set to Sprint! (come on, who uses Sprint anymore?)

BIOS is very very limited, I'm a bit spoiled with all the options you can set in a DELL's BIOS

It's still a bit hard to find accessories for this laptop since it's so new. I'm trying really hard to find a extra power adapter since the one i bought at the Sony store is a "travel" adapter and it's basically a brick.

All in all I'm VERY happy with my purchase, I will be travelling to Germany in a couple weeks so i guess that will be the ultimate test.

Keep in mind, there is a big brother to this laptop that was not in stock at the time when i bought my laptop but i think it is called the VGN-Z590N which comes with a more powerful graphics card, a BluRay player and 4GB of RAM, had I seen that one i would have bought it but either way, I'm happy with what I got and would HIGHLY recommend it.

Apple MacBook Pro with 15.4" Display

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This is not confirmed, but there is substantial discussion online suggesting this is the case. The 9600M is essentially a 32 processor computer (running at 120 gigaflops). So, a MacBook Pro will actually gain in speed over time. The MacBook does not have a separate graphics card that can work this way.

3. MacBook Pro graphics are twice as fast as MacBook graphics, so if you do anything visual with your computer (digital photography, video, games, etc.) then everything will run much more quickly and smoothly. Some games that are just barely playable on the MacBook become fun and seemless on the MacBook Pro.

4. The MacBook Pro has a firewire port (omitted from the new MacBook).

5. The MacBook Pro has an expansion card slot (really handy for adding a memory card reader or 3G roaming internet).

So, for the extra $400 (MacBook 2.4 GHz vs. MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz) you get a lot of extras that you will notice and use. And you will avoid the poor LCD on the MacBook. You are still stuck with the highly-reflective glass screen (if my eyeglasses can get anti-reflective coating, then why not this computer screen?), however, so it's only four stars until they solve that problem.

Apple MacBook Pro with 15.4" Display

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the silver case. If you ask me, the old MBP had too much silver. EVERYTHING on the machine was silver aluminum. Don't get me wrong, i loved the old MBP, but this is just one step up. The Keyboard is also backlit so when you are in a darker environment, the keys light up, helping you see anything and everything on the keyboard. The Keyboard is absolutely beautiful on the machine and adds a nice touch overall to the look.





TRACKPAD
I find it weird that i can put an entire section on a review about a laptops trackpad, but this is undoubtedly necessary. The new trackpad is ALL glass and there is no button---per say. In reality the entire trackpad is the button. They took off the button on the bottom and extended the trackpad down to give you more real estate. Apple spent months designing this trackpad and i have to give them major credit for that. recently me and my friend were looking at laptops at Circuit City, and one thing we did was go through every single laptop and look at it's trackpad. It is absolutely amazing how much time and effort company's DON'T put into designing their trackpad, when in my book, it is a HUGE factor. The coefficient of friction on this trackpad is exactly what it needs to be. not too rough, not too smooth, just right. I absolutely love the MBP trackpad and think it is something apple needs to be commended for.




GRAPHICS
Apple and NVIDIA joined up and came up with a new video card for this MBP. The MBP actually has 2 graphics cards in it. One that is integrated, and one that is dedicated. The integrated graphics is NVIDIA instead of the old intel, so it is immensely better. The dedicated card (which can be easily switched on) is a powerhouse and almost puts a MBP in line with other gaming machines, almost. Needless to say, this notebook will do just about whatever you want it to do graphics wise, gaming, video editing, photo editing, you name it, it will do it pretty easily. no worries here.


OVERALL
overall this laptop is at the top of it's class and you might be wondering why i gave it 4 stars and not 5.....first and foremost, money. I have to say that this is still overpriced. You are paying for a collection of things like the operating system, graphics card, high end components and things like that, but come on apple, 2000 dollars is a lot to drop on any laptop, no matter what it is. Is it worth it? without a doubt yes, and that is why apple can jack up their prices, but at the same time, it seems like they are kind of taking advantage of us, especially in the economic slum we're in right now. Maybe i am just cheap (which i don't think most people would classify me as that) but that seems a little high to me. And another thing. what is up with the new display port? i have a 46 inch samsung tv and i will be hooking it up to my MBP but the cable is 100 dollars!!!! and that is just to dual link dvi----i still have to buy a dual link dvi to HDMI adapter after that. Ugh. apple (along with other company's...cough cough monster cables) is completely ripping us off on their cables and that makes a difference in my outlook on the big picture.



CONCLUSION
The new MBP is absolutely stunning in every aspect of its design. Apple continues to wow us, and they will also continue to prosper and grow. I will be enjoying my new Macbook pro and i hope this review helped you in any questions you might have had. It is an investment that will live for a long time and will be greatly enjoyed every day. good job apple.

Apple MB403LL/A 13.3" MacBook - White

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(or run Parallels, Fusion or Crossover) if you have one or two legacy Apps that you absolutely can't do without. A PC can't run OS X or any of its great applications, but a Mac can run Windows right along side Mac OS program with Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Crossover.

So, if you're trying to decide between a Mac for OS X and the easy of use I talk about below and a PC for old Windows programs, you can choose both by buying this or any Intel based Mac (which is all shipping models).

The Hardware is simply top notch. In its stock configuration you can do anything 99% of computer users do. And with a third party app, you can do the last 1%. OS X is Unix. Then you have the Mac OS (OS X) and you have he option of running Windows. So, really Macs these days are THE machine IT professionals are turning to in droves.

The Software (is what makes Macs shine):
OS X is extremely stable. It is a Unix OS, so advanced users can easily do anything from a command line they can do on any Unix system from a command line using the terminal application. If you don't understand the previous sentence you don't have to because the user interface as easy or easier than Windows and you never have to learn complex commands to unleash the power of the system.

The only time I reboot is when I install software that requires a reboot. (Currently My Uptime is over 21 days -- since I installed an OS Update, and I have no doubt the system could remain on for months without needing a reboot). That's almost unheard of in Windows land, where often the machine chokes on some process and the only option is a reboot.

You can't mess up the system by clicking the wrong button, or putting the wrong file in the trash -- OS X doesn't allow that and requires an administrator password to change any important settings.

Adding Users is as simple as clicking a new account button, typing in their name and a password. Then you can switch users with a click and be secure in the knowledge that your kids or grandma can't mess up the system or your settings (because they'll have their own set), or applications.

The system is very secure out of the box, and configuring to server web pages is a simple click and drag documents into a folder and flip the Sharing panel switch on. There's a built in Firewall that's extreme easy to configure. Wireless performance is top notch. There is zero downside to buying this machine.

Installing Applications is often a simple process of clicking and dragging the application into any folder or subfolder you want. Uninstalling is a simple matter of dragging thhe program, or program folder into the trash. No messy registry, no dicey uninstall apps that might delete a shared DLL, nothing like that at all.

Adding Other hardware to the machine is also a simple process of double clicking an installer (if it's even needed) and plugging in he hardware. You never experience hardware conflicts like you do in Windows. You just plug it in and it works.

If you've never used a computer or want to migrate from Windows or another Operating System, a Macintosh is an excellent choice. I've never had a person I recommended a Mac to come back and say, "This was a mistake, " or "I hate it" or "I can't figure out how to use it." They usually thank me and gleefully tell me they never realized using (and even administrating) a computer could be so easy.

Mac VS. PC (Real world stories):
I HAVE had many, many people come back to me after purchasing a Windows only Machine against my advice months or years later regretting it. They didn't realize a Windows based computer would be so much work, or that it wouldn't be reliable.

Windows XP is a bear to manage and Vista is the same bear, but just in a shiny coat with a bow. And all you can get on new computers these days is Vista. And I have yet to run into anyone, technician or layman, who even likes Vista. Sure you can downgrade to XP, but you have ot make sure there's XP drivers available for your system before you downgrade it, because if not, you'll end up with Audio or Wireless not working, and have to put Vista back on. A friend went through this exact experience.

There are some quality PC makers out there, but most are junk. If you're wondering why the MacBook costs hundreds of dollars more than a PC, remember, you get what you pay for. The margins Apple makes for a Mac are comparable to what PC manufacturers make nowadays. So, realize that most PC manufacturers are using cheaper (read "low quality") parts, and they're going to fail a lot sooner than a typical Mac would.

Viruses and Security:
Windows is way behind the Mac when it comes to security and virus prevention. Microsoft's solution was to pop up a dialog box for anything and everything a virus might do to try to gain control of a Windows PC. The effect: annoying the hell out of users. The OS X way: run in a mode where only things such as installing applications will bother the user. That and only check the first time if someone wants to run a new application. Once that's done the OS gets out of your way and let's you get your work done. Also, if this sounds too open, you can tighten down security simply by checking boxes in most cases. If you want to secure your machine's network connections even more try Lil Snitch.

Caveats:
Almost all computers will have problems. The Mac is no exception. You might get a lemon, but apple's return policy is great. With Applecare you're covered for the practical usable life of the computer (3 years). A hard rive might die on you: that's where backing up comes in. Backup your data. The more important, the more often you should backup. Other than that most Mac problems are simple and might just require a setting change or (at worst) a reinstall of the application. With Windows you might have to reinstall the OS and each and every application. For software and hardware problems Apple's tech support is top notch. If something needs ot be replaced -- like a bad LCD (which is rarer and rarer these days), you'll often have the machine back in a few days if you choose to ship it in for repair. Just get Applecare with your system and you'll be set.

The Bottom Line:
Macs are far superior to PCs. Take it from a guy who makes money off of repairing computers. If this is to be your first computer, you probably couldn't make a better choice. If you're a Windows user considering a sea change, you couldn't pick a better time to do it -- especially considering that with a third party App you can still run Windows apps if you want to. And believe me you won't want to after experiencing the level of usability of the standard OS X application. And if you're one of those RARE Mac users considering saving money, and thinks computers are all the same: save your sanity and not just a couple of bucks, and turn away from Sony, Dell or HP.

Sony VAIO® VGN-Z550N/B 13.1" Notebook PC

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(or run Parallels, Fusion or Crossover) if you have one or two legacy Apps that you absolutely can't do without. A PC can't run OS X or any of its great applications, but a Mac can run Windows right along side Mac OS program with Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Crossover.



So, if you're trying to decide between a Mac for OS X and the easy of use I talk about below and a PC for old Windows programs, you can choose both by buying this or any Intel based Mac (which is all shipping models).



The Hardware is simply top notch. In its stock configuration you can do anything 99% of computer users do. And with a third party app, you can do the last 1%. OS X is Unix. Then you have the Mac OS (OS X) and you have he option of running Windows. So, really Macs these days are THE machine IT professionals are turning to in droves.



The Software (is what makes Macs shine):

OS X is extremely stable. It is a Unix OS, so advanced users can easily do anything from a command line they can do on any Unix system from a command line using the terminal application. If you don't understand the previous sentence you don't have to because the user interface as easy or easier than Windows and you never have to learn complex commands to unleash the power of the system.



The only time I reboot is when I install software that requires a reboot. (Currently My Uptime is over 21 days -- since I installed an OS Update, and I have no doubt the system could remain on for months without needing a reboot). That's almost unheard of in Windows land, where often the machine chokes on some process and the only option is a reboot.



You can't mess up the system by clicking the wrong button, or putting the wrong file in the trash -- OS X doesn't allow that and requires an administrator password to change any important settings.



Adding Users is as simple as clicking a new account button, typing in their name and a password. Then you can switch users with a click and be secure in the knowledge that your kids or grandma can't mess up the system or your settings (because they'll have their own set), or applications.



The system is very secure out of the box, and configuring to server web pages is a simple click and drag documents into a folder and flip the Sharing panel switch on. There's a built in Firewall that's extreme easy to configure. Wireless performance is top notch. There is zero downside to buying this machine.



Installing Applications is often a simple process of clicking and dragging the application into any folder or subfolder you want. Uninstalling is a simple matter of dragging thhe program, or program folder into the trash. No messy registry, no dicey uninstall apps that might delete a shared DLL, nothing like that at all.



Adding Other hardware to the machine is also a simple process of double clicking an installer (if it's even needed) and plugging in he hardware. You never experience hardware conflicts like you do in Windows. You just plug it in and it works.



If you've never used a computer or want to migrate from Windows or another Operating System, a Macintosh is an excellent choice. I've never had a person I recommended a Mac to come back and say, "This was a mistake, " or "I hate it" or "I can't figure out how to use it." They usually thank me and gleefully tell me they never realized using (and even administrating) a computer could be so easy.



Mac VS. PC (Real world stories):

I HAVE had many, many people come back to me after purchasing a Windows only Machine against my advice months or years later regretting it. They didn't realize a Windows based computer would be so much work, or that it wouldn't be reliable.



Windows XP is a bear to manage and Vista is the same bear, but just in a shiny coat with a bow. And all you can get on new computers these days is Vista. And I have yet to run into anyone, technician or layman, who even likes Vista. Sure you can downgrade to XP, but you have ot make sure there's XP drivers available for your system before you downgrade it, because if not, you'll end up with Audio or Wireless not working, and have to put Vista back on. A friend went through this exact experience.



There are some quality PC makers out there, but most are junk. If you're wondering why the MacBook costs hundreds of dollars more than a PC, remember, you get what you pay for. The margins Apple makes for a Mac are comparable to what PC manufacturers make nowadays. So, realize that most PC manufacturers are using cheaper (read "low quality") parts, and they're going to fail a lot sooner than a typical Mac would.



Viruses and Security:

Windows is way behind the Mac when it comes to security and virus prevention. Microsoft's solution was to pop up a dialog box for anything and everything a virus might do to try to gain control of a Windows PC. The effect: annoying the hell out of users. The OS X way: run in a mode where only things such as installing applications will bother the user. That and only check the first time if someone wants to run a new application. Once that's done the OS gets out of your way and let's you get your work done. Also, if this sounds too open, you can tighten down security simply by checking boxes in most cases. If you want to secure your machine's network connections even more try Lil Snitch.



Caveats:

Almost all computers will have problems. The Mac is no exception. You might get a lemon, but apple's return policy is great. With Applecare you're covered for the practical usable life of the computer (3 years). A hard rive might die on you: that's where backing up comes in. Backup your data. The more important, the more often you should backup. Other than that most Mac problems are simple and might just require a setting change or (at worst) a reinstall of the application. With Windows you might have to reinstall the OS and each and every application. For software and hardware problems Apple's tech support is top notch. If something needs ot be replaced -- like a bad LCD (which is rarer and rarer these days), you'll often have the machine back in a few days if you choose to ship it in for repair. Just get Applecare with your system and you'll be set.



The Bottom Line:

Macs are far superior to PCs. Take it from a guy who makes money off of repairing computers. If this is to be your first computer, you probably couldn't make a better choice. If you're a Windows user considering a sea change, you couldn't pick a better time to do it -- especially considering that with a third party App you can still run Windows apps if you want to. And believe me you won't want to after experiencing the level of usability of the standard OS X application. And if you're one of those RARE Mac users considering saving money, and thinks computers are all the same: save your sanity and not just a couple of bucks, and turn away from Sony, Dell or HP.

Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel Centrino Processor Technology

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older AR790U/B. Amazon had incorrect spec info listed for the AR890, which they may have corrected by now, after I had spoke to them about it, about a month ago. If in doubt about specs, go to sonystyle.com and look up the AR890 specs there. Note that the AR790 has been dropped from sonystyle.com as it is a discontinued model now. I currently own and am using daily, the AR790U/B and within my business, I own 2 more AR790's and one AR890. I've been using Sony Vaio's since they were introduced back in I believe late 97' or early 98' always opting for the top of the line desktop replacement Vaio models. Basically I've purchased most of Sony's desktop replacement notebooks, over the years. Although a couple years back, I gave HP Pavilions two tries and was never really satisfied, with the overall build and experience I had with those. So take into consideration here, that I only have experience with Sony other than those two HP's.

The AR series design can be found, on a range of Vaio's dating back to late 2006/early 2007 in the AR 190 and 270 series (my first was the AR270 in early 2007). The Vaio AR series has a VERY attractive piano black high gloss exterior (entire lid only) that always seems, to get attention out and about, from coffee shops and airports to boardrooms. People will ask about it and make comments about how nice it looks. The chrome lining around the side is also nice and overall, this notebook design seems to look timeless; classy and elegant as if it will take many years, for it to look dated which is nice for most end-users, who will want to hold onto it, for years to come. The notebook is large and heavy but it does not seem to look or feel too thick when closed. Although I had a hard time, finding a notebook bag, that could fit it and that I liked, until I came across a very nice one: http://www.amazon.com/SIERRA-Wenger-Single-Gusset-Computer/dp/B000BYSUPW/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1219787331&sr=8-1 . The image here doesn't do it justice; this is a very nice looking bag which can very easily hold the Vaio AR, extra batteries Logitech wireless mouse and even folders (in the same compartment as the notebook). Circuit City carries this bag in-store if you want to check one out. Padding all around and very stylish inside out, with a very strong build quality. The reason I mention it is because many bags, will not be able to hold the large AR. Alright back to the notebook........

Even after a year and a half with this design, I'm still unimpressed with the mouse buttons on the AR. Yes, they work when you click them but if there is one thing wrong with the design of this notebook; it is the mouse buttons which somehow feel dated and clunky. Like I mentioned I'm a 10-year notebook user but these mouse buttons were placed at the edge of the notebook and that just makes for an odd experience, even after time. My solution to that has been a Logitech wireless mouse which I also highly recommend. I currently use The Logitech MX Revolution which comes with the MX5500 Bluetooth keyboard combo. Previously I had been using the Logitech VX revolution which is a smaller mouse but better suited for travel and if you don't want to use an external keyboard. Regardless the Logitech mice/keyboards work very well with the AR's and trust that if you give one of the mice a try, you'll never want to handle the AR's pad again. Along the same lines, I also use an external display (Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM - 24") via HDMI and it works flawlessly as a desktop setup. I honestly could not be more pleased with the above combination as it all works very well, regardless of the fact that I have just over 80 programs installed on this system. A word of warning, if you try a wireless mouse, you may not ever want to use the touchpad again. Every time I travel and use the AR I reach for my Logitech because the touchpad just doesn't feel right anymore, almost as bad as trying to switch from using your right hand to your left hand. Keep in mind that the newer MX5500 Combo comes with Bluetooth so that you can connect the keyboard and the mouse without the USB receiver. This is great to travel with the mouse and use it without having to plug in the USB receiver. A hard mouse pad that can be used on carpet or anywhere also comes in handy too. I use the 1030 Surface Archetype made by Func Industries, which also fits in my notebook bag with no problem, right underneath the notebook.

Aside from the mouse buttons, most other keys and buttons are pretty well laid-out. There is no separate number pad even though there appears to be more than enough room in which Sony could have placed one, but that's not something Sony does on notebooks (as far as I've seen in the past). The keys feel solid as if they will last for those who won't be using an external keyboard. In the past, some Sony models keys would pop out over time. With the HP Pavilion desktop replacement I had tried, it got way too hot, to the right of the mouse pad, right where you rest your hand. On the AR it does get pretty warm right in the same area but not HP cook a steak hot like I had experienced. Warm but I don't see anyone with sensitive skin or not, finding it to be too hot (let's say a few digits below the too hot level). The inner plastic around the keyboard and screen is a very dark gray color rather than the piano black top exterior. At first glance this could look a bit generic to some people but for me it all flows just fine. When the unit is on there is a nice looking Sony logo that has a solid white glow that remains on, just below the LCD screen. The web cam like most, is right above the screen and is almost hidden not only because of the dark finish of the frame but because its behind the frame as if the entire frame around the screen is like one piece of clear glass or plastic, with the camera behind it.

The hook to keep the notebook locked was a bit of a letdown because it has no spring action. This means that to have the hook lock/unlock into the lid, you need to slide a button which is not as smooth as it could have been. So when you close the lid, it won't automatically lock; you have to slide the button. This could be a good design feature in regards to opening and closing the lid often. It just seems to be that that hook gets in my way sometimes.
The speakers, built into the lid, right below the AMAZING screen, are nicely integrated into the design but I do have to say that the HP notebooks I had, both had louder speakers (I think one was even advertised as having a sub-woofer???). The Speakers on the AR do work and are loud enough to be heard, should a group of people be gathered around your notebook. However they just aren't the loudest ones out there, I'm sure of that. Again I use that Samsung mentioned above and through the single HDMI connection, I hear through the Samsung's built speakers and rarely use the AR's.

The media buttons, CD eject button and the 2 programmable buttons are placed well for those of us who don't need to have access to media buttons when the lid is closed.

Sony puts stickers all over the deck, and let me just tell you that if you don't peel them off carefully, you'll end up with a sticky mess, that will probably stick around, for as long as you'll own the notebook. On one AR I had left over glue, from a sticker to the right of the touch pad, bother me enough that I got to rubbing very hard with glass cleaner and sure enough it came off, but the paint had faded a bit in that one spot. On next AR, I didn't want to make the same mistake, so I asked tech support (THAT'S LEVEL 2 SAN DIEGO TECH SUPPORT; more on this later) and they said WD-40 does the trick. So WD-40, a little rubbing and that glue mess came right off and didn't damage the paint at all this time.

Speaking of the paint, sadly on every AR (excluding the one just purchased 2 months ago) will chip in ONE spot. That would be the area right around the slot for the Memory Stick and SD Card. It's happened enough times where I know that if you are going to be inserting and removing cards frequently, then you'll want to try and get used to guiding the cards right in and not letting them rub against the sides because rather quickly (a few months) the paint, in just that small area, chips and you are left with a purple plastic underneath. The good news is that it's a very small area which most people won't even notice unless they get up close, as in eyes 5 inches away or closer. Other than that, the paint and exterior have held up very well, on the AR's (oldest being an AR270 purchased early 2007, which again has the same body as the AR790 and 890).

These AR's can get pretty hot underneath but if you've used other desktop replacements such as HP's, then you like me, won't find the unit hotter than other desktop replacements. I've read about people using notebooks like these, in bed or on carpet. While you can do so, Sony (recommends that you always have the unit sitting on a flat surface that allows the vents on the bottom, to take in cool air, as the vents on the rear right side, blow out the hot air. Now since the AR is a big boy, it's sometimes hard to find something, but I strongly suggest that if you're in bed or on carpet, that you find a large book (one of those large world encyclopedia perhaps) or some kind of board so that the rubber stubs underneath the notebook, can do as they were intended, by leaving that air gap open and the entire bottom suspended above whatever surface. I mention this because I'm amazed at how many people I've met, who sit a laptop like this on a pillow, for hours and then the unit just shuts itself off from overheating. Speaking of overheating I've had the AR790 running for 12 hours and even 24 hours, doing work and have never had it overheat. Also the fans by default, run very quietly and then if things begin to heat up, it's as if it changes gears and gets louder but still not too loud compared to an HP Pavilion.

As I mentioned above, I use an external LCD, mouse and keyboard, when at home or in my office. I also use a USB hub for all of my USB connections. I use the USB port in the rear, which is right next to the power port; both on the left rear of the notebook. And then I also use the HDMI port (located on the right side close to the center) connected to my monitor. I also use a San Disk SDHC class6 8GB SD Card, for Vista's Ready boost feature (although I have yet to notice any performance difference, even though Sony level 2 tech says there will be a difference, with a heavy program loads). There are two more USB ports and for me personally, I try to never use them because I really dislike the fact that they are both located right up front (right side corner up front). It just seems like it would be too easy to plug something in like a USB stick and have your right hand slap and break it right off and perhaps damage the USB port in the process. Could be all in my mind but I just don't like that placement.

Sony discontinued Infrared on most if not all Vaio's years ago but you'll notice that there is a little red beam of light which comes from the left side corner, near the rear, right next to the headphone jack. That little red beam can't be turned off (unless perhaps you really know your way around the registry). It's for an audio cable which most people won't need or have a connection for. Just make sure you don't try to plug a standard headphone cable into the wrong whole as I've been told you could damage the one with the red beam. Regardless, the beam is so not a big deal and before you know it, you've gotten used to it and forgotten about it.

I assume most notebooks these days have this feature, but the AR series was the first time I saw Vaio's with a physical switch that allows you to turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (both, not just one or the other) on or off anytime. This comes in handy if you want to keep you PC running while you're away yet be 100% sure that nobody can gain access t your PC via an internet connection.

Like all Sony's the AR790 comes loaded with A LOT of junk ware as I would call it, that you may not need but software that will surely buzz in your face on start-up. A word of warning; DO NOT REMOVE programs which contain the words SONY VAIO unless you are sure of what they are. I have done this before and ending up corrupting the Sony Vaio Recovery Center (which you will need sooner or later) and once corrupted, it cannot be re-installed without doing a full system recovery which is a long process (2 to 3 hours). Soon as you get your AR I recommend going to download.com and getting a freeware application called Revo Uninstaller. This program is wonderful in many ways and does uninstall of programs like windows, but also digs deeper to remove leftover items from programs.

In Vista (if you're new to Vista), this may not work for all but for me I first turn off the UAC (User Account Control) in User Accounts, from the Control Panel. If you're new to Vista; having UAC on, will drive you CRAZY!!!! Next I used Revo to uninstall all the junk ware that I knew was safe to delete; things like AOL programs, trial ware of Web Root Spy Sweeper (this one will still leave a folder full of junk in your Programs folder, even after uninstall, so go in and delete it manually after uninstall). Go through the long list; for me I found 35, yes 35 programs that I considered junk ware and deleted in Revo. Also Adobe Reader Pro is pre-installed. This is the Pro version Trial and as soon as you try to open up a PDF file it will start up and ask you to purchase now or later. For many users, the answer is to delete it and then go ahead download and install the freeware version to only read PDF files and not create them. The way its set up (like Spy Sweeper and Norton) Sony I'm sure has talked folks into buying stuff they really don't need or want, just by having all this junk ware installed and in your start-up list.

Sony Vaio's do not come with System Recovery discs these days. However, there is a hidden partition which contains the full system recovery files (including your full Vista license, all programs and drivers). You can access this at anytime through the Sony Vaio Recovery Center program. Just type the same in the Vista search field or find it in programs menu. Also, should windows get corrupted and you're not able to load windows, you can press one of the F keys (sorry I don't recall which one at the moment) after powering on your notebook and it will load and take you right into the Sony Vaio Recovery Center program, without loading windows. From within the program you can reinstall windows, repair windows and or any drivers or programs that came preinstalled. Also you can delete the hidden partition and reclaim the space it uses. Either way, I highly recommend that you make your own recovery discs right away and you can do this from within the Vaio Recovery Center. Creating disc can be done with two single layer DVD's (dual-layers don't work on the AR790).
Also the AR790 does not come preinstalled with Microsoft Vista Service Pack-1. Let me just say that you'll want to get online and download this ASAP. All of my AR's all had issues with Vista running out of memory while I was trying to move 80GB of music and image files onto the AR. This issue and a few others are fixed by installing Service Pack-1 (not a Sony issue but a Microsoft Vista issue). You'll notice that there are a lot of windows updates needed for the AR790 and I recommend you let windows install them all right away as this will address a few issues that you very well may experience, right out of the box. Also you may not see Service Pack-1 in the Windows Update list until after many other updates have been done first and your PC rebooted a few times. You'll know its Service Pack-1 when it tells you that your PC will be shutdown and restarted several times during the long process of installing Service Pack-1

Also I've now been told by two different level 2 tech support people, that the Sony website updates (drivers and other programs) DO NOT need to be updated on the AR790 even though they are listed there, UNLESS you experience a problem with one of the pre-installed programs or drivers. I made the mistake of going on an update spree because the dates were newer than the manufacturing date of my PC. What ended up happening with one update was that my DVD player which worked from day one, stopped working after I installed an update I saw in the list on the Sony Support site.

The screen on the AR790 is flawless! It is a very sharp and beautiful display at its highest resolution. And as I mentioned above The Samsung SyncMaster 2493 can display the AR790's full resolution and does a VERY good job. Also note that to just about all human eyes, the screen resolution, out of the box, makes everything look way too small. For me I find the best fit is the resolution set to max 1920x1200 and adjust the font size to 144% DPI. Messing around with the Resolution and DPI settings, will help you find the perfect fit for you.

Video playback on the AR790 is very good and to date I have never experienced anything that I would consider poor performance. I have done some HD video editing on the AR790 and working with high resolution images is always beautiful on the AR790. I don't know much about graphic cards but I do know that I have not been let down by any tasks I've asked this PC to perform.

The big screen does use a lot of battery power and so it should be known that you'll be on the lower end of the power length range published. The standard size battery that comes with the AR, with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth on and the screen brightness set at 50%; I believe gave me about 1:15 before it got down to about 15% to 20%. Not good at all but turning down the brightness as much as you can stand; does help a lot on this PC.

The extended batteries for the AR790, are expensive; around 250 each when I had purchased them. But they do perform very well at about 2 hours to 2 and half hours each (I think I've even gone as high as 2:45 on one). In the same bag I mentioned above, I'm able to carry 3 extended batteries along with the standard battery inserted. Also note that, the extended batteries do stick out, almost an inch from the back of the unit (but don't stick out from the bottom). At first thought this seems unattractive and annoying but for me it has really not been an issue other than having to remove the extended batter to fit the notebook in the bag I use, without it having to be a tight fit. Also make sure if you do go with an extended battery, that you purchase the right model because there are two different battery connections for the older AR's (last year's AR270) and the newer 790 and 890. The correct model is the Sony Rechargeable Battery Pack VGP-BPL9 for the AR790 and 890. As I mentioned, they are expensive, but for me personally, I could not see myself owning this notebook without at least one extended battery on top of the supplied standard sized battery.

The standard sized battery will really disappoint many people; on full or near full brightness, I've seen my standard sized battery, run down 50% in about 35min. Yes that bad! Measuring 1% per minute of use, I tried to see if it could last 60min on my regular brightness level and I don't think it was going to make it 60min. Then again if you are going to skip a 2nd battery you can always carry the AC adapter along for the ride and not have any worries.

I grew up loving video and PC games, but as a 27-year old CEO/business owner; I don't have the time to play games very often these days. However I did a few tests and the AR passed them all. I'm not sure what the latest and great are in the world of PC games but I did purchase and install F.E.A.R, Bio-Shock, Crysis and some of the Myst games (Uru) and they all performed very well on the AR790. I logged a few hours with F.E.A.R and I'm told Crysis needs even more graphics power and I was able to play that game for many hours, over one weekend last month and there was no freezing up but I did notice that during a few scenes where a lot of things were exploding all over the screen, that the action slowed down a lot for a few moments, until the screen wasn't completely filled with explosions. And yes the AR790's fan ran in 2nd gear the entire time playing games. I should note, that whether it makes a difference or not, I did turn off the Wi-Fi-/Bluetooth, turned off my Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Outlook and anything else that I didn't need to have running while playing. Also I had that SD Card running the Ready Boost. So I'm not a real gamer (yes I know I'm missing out) but I do run programs like Flash/Photoshop CS3, Sony Vegas Pro, ULead VideoStudio and all work well with no issues. Quickbooks 2008, OneNote, Word 2007, Outlook 2007 and a few other programs are sometimes running at the same time as my graphics and video software and most of the time things all work well together.

The AR790 is by no means a slow machine and again this is coming from a guy who has installed well over 80 programs (many are big ones). Most things work fast and smooth but I must say that overall this machine does perform slower than the first AR I had which was an AR270. So how could the AR270 with a slower processor outperform the AR790 you ask? The AR270 was running Windows XP is how. Vista on the AR as level 2 tech support confirmed with me; does require a lot more processor power than XP did. Matter in fact he was quick to let me know that because of driver and other issues, he himself and a lot of his associates, were sticking with XP a while longer. Well I haven't had any driver issues with Vista 32-bit other than a few of the older PC games I tried installing, wouldn't work. Oh yes, before I forget on the last AR790 set-up, kept get the blue screens on start up at least twice a week. Well first I had a bad ram card which Sony says could have been the cause. They FedEx me a shipping box to have the unit repaired. They said under warranty the ram cards were covered but they needed to have the entire PC. Took about 8 days from start to finish to get the PC back to me. 2nd blue screen issue was caused by me installing a version of ScanSoft PapertPort 11 and Omni Page Pro that were not Vista 32-bit compatible. So my warning to you is if you want to avoid blue screen shut downs on the AR790, make sure you only install programs and drivers that are made for Vista 32-bit.

Speaking of Vista 32-bit, in case some of you are wondering, I have got word from level 2 tech support that they are being trained in Vista 64-bit and that's because AR models with Vista-64-bit will be coming out sometime between Dec 08' and March 09' if not a bit sooner is what I've been told. I thought I would jump aboard but I'm planning to stick with this AR790 because as they explained to me, that even though the 64-bit Vista OS will use the full 4GB of ram rather than the 3GB used in 32-bit Vista, 64-bit drivers will not be a walk in the park and 32-bit software (most new software as of right now) will not work on the 64-bit system.

Also for those who may not already know this; within the BIOS of all newer AR's running Vista, Microsoft has made sure that you are not able to install XP on these new BIOS versions. So if you're thinking of going back, it's not going to happen.

I had mentioned tech support and this is an issue that all Sony Vaio customers should keep in mind. When you purchase a Sony Vaio Notebook, you get one-year of free tech support. Your 1-year of free tech support begins the first time you call (whenever that may be) Sony and register your serial number and personal information (provided you didn't allow the web registration to happen). Now when you do call Sony, after all the menu options, you'll be transferred to a level 1 tech support person in India.

Now my following comments have nothing to do with India as a nation and a race of people. What I'm leading up to is the fact that the people in level one, most of the time are not very skilled with the notebook in question. Many times, they will need to put you on hold while they research your question. Many times, the info they have in front of them is the same info you can find yourself on the tech support webpage. Should they not be able to find a solution for you, they will give you an EIN (Event Identification Number) and you will want to write it down and keep it for future use. Then they will transfer you to level 2 tech support. Level 2 tech Support is ONLY based in San Diego California and these people REALLY know their stuff. Sometimes they can be a bit arrogant because they really know their stuff but 9 times out of ten I've had my issues worked out when transferred to them.

So you'll want to keep whatever EIN is given to you by level 1, because even if you get your issues resolved in that call, you may want to use that number the next time you call. Next time you call in, you get to a level one person in India and you tell them your name and give them your EIN and say that you would like to be transferred to level 2 tech support in San Diego California. If they try to keep you with them, you simply just state the same thing again and if they give you a hard time, then ask to speak with a supervisor in their department if they are not willing to go ahead and transfer you. This works almost always and this is what level 2 told me to do, if I wanted/needed to get to them.

Be forewarned that there have been two instances where level one said they were transferring me to level 2 and instead they either transferred me to another level one person in India or actually lied to me and stated that they were level 2. Level 2 is only located out of Sony's San Diego facility (same place you send your notebook when it need repairs). 2nd time they lied to me, I asked the gentlemen on the phone, for level 2 and he said oh yes sir, this is level 2. I then said oh this is level 2 in New York City and he said yes that is right.........

Alright well I hope I've included everything that I had originally wanted to, and I hope this long review, has been of help to some of you shoppers out there. If anyone has any questions, I'll try to check back here and answer them as best I can. Amazon has been a wealth of knowledge for my shopping choices, so I'm glad to be able to help out. Now go get yourself an AR, they are real classy machines.

Ashton

Sony VAIO® VGN-Z550N/B 13.1" Notebook PC

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was not contemplated to meet the release of the computer is negligent and misleading especially in light of the advertising.

Other than that, computer looks nice, and reminds me of the TX/TZ with that extra inch or so that I always wanted without going to the size of a full notebook. The power adapter is quite bulky and heavy compared with previous Sony Vaio power bricks and comes with a beefy 3-prong cord as well -- a lot of weight to add to an otherwise svelt computer.

I am certain that others will buy and enjoy this computer, especially if you are OK with Windows Vista and don't require Windows XP for business. But for those who do, it's a show stopper...and I would recommend that you wait until sony rectifies this and/or it is properly advertised.

Software, especially an Operating System, is as important to the product as the hardware component. Inasmuch as Sony didn't (and apparently cannot) currently deliver all that was clearly advertised, I am only giving the Sony Vaio VGNZ570N/B 1 star.

Apple MB403LL/A 13.3" MacBook - White