Sony's latest flagship VAIO, the A39GP boasts some pretty impressive specs. Pitched at the high-end of the desktop replacement market, this multimedia notebook features a beautiful 17-inch widescreen LCD with Clear Bright technology that supports resolutions up to WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels).
The notebook can be attached to a dock that Sony includes in the package, which provides convenient connections to peripherals via an array of ports. There are four USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, DVI-D, optical digital audio out, RJ-45 Ethernet, stereo audio inputs and outputs, composite video out, S-Video out and a printer port. Sony includes two desktop speakers that plug directly into dedicated audio connections on the dock.
Centrino technology is onboard the A39GP with a Pentium M processor 770 (2.13GHz) that, like the recently released Pentium 4 chips, supports Intel's power-saving SpeedStep technology. Providing memory to drive multiple applications is 512MB of RAM, which is expandable to 2GB.
The A39GP features 802.11b/g integrated wireless networking and a gigabit 1000Base-T Ethernet jack for fast wired connections. Also included are a 5,400rpm 100GB Serial ATA hard drive and a multi-format DVD burner that supports double layer +R media. An ATI Mobility Radeon X600 with 128MB of dedicated video memory handles the graphics.
Downside:
While the A39GP might be an A/V entertainment master, it comes at a very high price. With a recommended retail price of $4,999, there aren't many other consumer notebooks that top this price. By comparison, Apple's high-end 17-inch Powerbook retails for AU$4,299 -- sans port replicator and speakers though.
Outlook:
The VAIO A39GP will appeal to gamers and multimedia users looking for a powerful notebook for the home environment.
Sony also launched six other notebooks under the VAIO brand last week, which included business models, all-round performance notebooks and a 1.3kg ultraportable laptop, the T27.
The T27 is a comparatively tiny model with a 10.6-inch widescreen display, 60GB hard disk, DVD+/-RW drive and an Intel Pentium M processor 753 (1.2GHz). Sony claims the T27 offers up to 8.5 hours of battery life from a single charge, or sustains 5 hours of constant DVD play back.
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Rembo
04/08/2008, 05:51 PM
rating
2/10
price-
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06ferc
18/04/2007, 01:29 PM
rating
2/10
doestnt have a good flower but is alright in the china town workshop area
Pros: has a good surf board and brittney spears is a sims moth desk.
Cons: sink and calenders are a suitcase packed for the gold coast to see little danni nanni
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guest
21/11/2006, 08:30 AM
rating
2/10
I don't actually have this model but I do own a sony viao vg-fjn270 and the support really is poor. Sony doesn't send cd's with your computer. I had to reinstall so I had to use an extra copy of xp I had lying around, however good luck in downloading drivers for your machine. Their ftp servers are terrible
Cons: the support is terrible
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Mgreen
11/08/2006, 04:37 PM
rating
2/10
Sony support is poor - cannot download drivers
Sony support is poor - cannot download drivers
Pros: Sony support is poor - cannot download drivers
Cons: Sony support is poor - cannot download drivers
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Kiwi_NZ
05/08/2006, 06:40 PM
rating
6/10
Great machine - an overall performer
Overall a good machine. Value for money perhaps not their. Prices disproportionate for the features offered. Many of the features not very helpful such as the remote control - it can only control Vaio Zone programs and not the plain old media player which would have been far more useful.
Pros: Great screen, good grunt power, good design, good battery life
Cons: Bad service from Sony, contact centre sucks. DVD / CD-ROM gone bust after a year.
Sony doesn't know how to do software and maybe should stop pushing it on their machines.
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GGG
02/03/2006, 01:51 AM
Love it but it aint good value!
Fantastic machine (A59GP) - my 3rd Vaio - fast, beautiful screen..great features..but what a price (ouch). Overall - great machine.
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krusebear
12/01/2006, 03:09 PM
Impressive performer
I have owned several notebooks, from Acer, Compaq, HP and Dell, and this one beats them all...by a mile. I have the Vaio A59 (next model up from the A39), and it delivers on all fronts, including the bundled HDTV receiver. Also the easiest ever notebook to set-up out-of the box: simply plug-in, switch on, and you're away.
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N1TROS
06/12/2005, 07:11 AM
Hmmm
Well i have one of these babies, and the only thing I can say is performance vs money, buy something else, I have had numberous problems with the DVD drive, been replaced 4 times. It is a nice laptop to look at but not to work on. just my opinion.
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Iven Downey
13/09/2005, 06:27 PM
A fabulous machine
I have owned top of the line Toshiba's, Hp's and others but this machine beats them all easily. It is fantastic, fast, great specs, well equiped.
It is a great overall package.
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anonymous
29/07/2005, 08:50 PM
Good, but not good enough.
I would like to say its good but im not that good at lying, the only thing i like is the gaming experience this notebook would give, but since i already have an xBox, id say get a PowerBook.
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