Sony Vaio A190 info?

Hi i was interested in this model(Sony Vaio A190) and am having trouble finding reviews about it. Can anyone help me with some resources, comments or better yet if someone has one and can enlighten me. What are its flaws? Battery life? Build quality? Defects? Etc. Also the positive things about it. I would love to here what you guys have to say about it on all aspects. Thanks

 

hey nick_e, well Youhou is right implying information is scant because this notebook is new, but it is very much so available from Sony and other web retailers and there are a couple of first take reviews out on the web. I suggest using the search feature on this site in the future to find such things, but here's a link to our pricing and review archive resources for this notebook:

http://www.notebookreview.com/search_results.aspx?productID=8049&productFamilyID=418&manufacturerID=13&productName=Sony+VAIO+A+series

 

I don't think think anyone has it as its not even out yet, sorry.

 

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Hi there,

I, too, am very interested in the Sony VGNA190. I have owned Sony laptops in the past, and I trust Sony to make a good product. I am particularly interested in this model because of the coax cable direct hook up (and listening to cable news on the laptop is a real plus for me). The amenities included, like speakers, port replicator, and remote control are very nice. Mostly, the machine's display is super for the graphic work I do. The rest of the specs make it a super computer. Now to find the best price!

Susan



sw sellers

 

I just bought a
SONY A-190 for my wife's birthday so she can record TV movies to save for use in vacations. I notice that after recording with the docking station, I could only play back with the docking station on. When undocked, I get a failure message every time! The second problem is the wireless internal most of the time will send but not receive from my NetGEar wireless LAN. I use the LAN to connect to my cable modem to receive the web from Comcast. Since this is new bought only 3 days ago, I may find other problems to come. I also tried my NetGEar MA401 card when connection to my wireless web fail with the internal wireless. The MA401 exhibit the same problem during times that internal wireless failed.

Daniel Shum

 

Hello again,

I have spent a number of hours this evening researching on the Web regarding the Sony A190. My findings reinforced my initial observations... this is a maxed out desk top replacement with some very nice amenities. Email me if you are interested, and I will provide some of my findings. [email protected]

Susan


sw sellers

 

CORRECTION: My email address is

caligal__@hotmail

Susan

sw sellers

 

Daniel, you need to download patches for dvd problem and wireless problem from Sony's website.

 

)) why you want Sony? There is much better laptops from Toshiba such as Satellite P25-S670, What is the difference between centrino and regular pentium prc. ???

 

Toshiguy,

The Centrino/Pentium M processors are the new CPU's in town. They were designed from the ground up specifically for notebooks, they run almost as fast, but at a slower frequency, therefore it doesn't require as much power to operate. They run cooler and systems based with this CPU run longer with the same amount of power. The Pentium 4 or Mobile Pentium 4 CPU's were CPU's really designed for the desktop, with the Mobile P4 being a modified P4 to include more power management capabilities, but still generally a desktop CPU. They provide more processing power, but produce more heat and require more power to operate. A standard 8 cell battery (on most units) will only operate upto approx 2hrs on a P4 or Mobile P4 CPU, but will go for about 4hrs+ on a Pentium M CPU.

Note: Centrino is just a label that Intel uses for systems that meet a certain spec. It must have a Pentium M CPU, Intel 855PM Chipset & an Intel Pro/Wireless card, plus the manufacturers must pay Intel to use the name Centrino if they meet the listed specs. Most companies have switched their Wireless card to an 802.11b/g card rather than the standard Intel B only card. But Intel did recently release a new B/G wireless card & the manufacturers are starting to use this card rather than the old one.

Regarding the Toshiba, it's a nice unit, but doesn't look as good as the Sony. With its design, the Sony looks sleaker, thinner & because it's Pentium M, lighter. I don't think the Toshiba will be able to run for 3-4hrs on a standard battery, maybe with an extended battery, but that makes it heavier. Also, because it's a Pentium M, it'll run cooler, so this will be a good travelling unit, thin, light, lasts long, runs cooler. IMHO.

-Vb-

 

Thx for informations. I have 2 toshiba laptops it's Satellite 5105-s501 P4 Mobile 1.7 and it thin but fu...in heat while running and Satellite P15-S470 P4 3.0 ghz which is not mobile and it's cooler. i can oerate 2h on both. I think regulat Pentium proc is better for laptops . I don't like Sony's design. Toshiba Rulezzzzz

 

Not sure if you are implying that the A190 gets 3-4 hours of battery use but if you are, you are off by just a bit. I have this unit and at about half brightness level, I get about 2 hours and maybe 15 minutes of use (wireless on). And that’s just surfing the web so far (no real HD access). Full brightness and the battery indicator says I will get 1 hour and about 25 minutes of use. But that level is almost blinding. If I were to use PS or some other program that really hits the HD I’m sure my battery would last at least 25% less. This unit is all about its screen in my opinion and that is the reason I purchased it. Pretty snappy for a 4200 RPM drive as well. The high density platters probably help a lot there but I suppose once things start spreading out over the entire platter area, things will slow down. Defrag, defrag, and defrag….



Joe