Design
Let's just admit it upfront -- the A39GP is a little bit sexy. Dominated by the decadent 17-inch widescreen LCD, this is a laptop that continues the sleek, curvy-edged style we've come to expect from this stylish manufacturer.
Sony's Clear Bright technology, which combines a glare filter, low reflection and an option to adjust luminosity according to ambient light conditions, has resulted in a rich LCD that is perfect for watching DVDs.
This model belongs to a relatively new class of computer known as the "desktop replacement", which is basically a euphemism for "spec'd up to the max, but carting it around all day may result in a hernia". At a breath under 4 kilograms, the A39GP is certainly not the kind of laptop to toss in your messenger bag as you head to work, school, or Gloria Jeans. The fleeting battery life -- less than two hours -- also makes it nigh impossible to watch a complete movie sans power cable.
Features
Now that we've established the A39GP as one of those new-fangled non-portable laptops, it's time to look at what it can offer to the home-bound user. First of all, the inclusion of a remote control is masterful. One of the frustrations of watching DVDs on a laptop has always been the need to hoist oneself up from the groove in the sofa and fiddle with the keyboard whenever an adjustment needs to be made. Sony's remote means you may never have cause to vacate the lounge again.
A major attraction of the A39GP is the included Audio Port Replicator, which, despite sounding like a genetic experiment gone awry, is actually an ingenious device for connecting your preferred peripherals with ease. The Replicator, which fits on to the base of the laptop, focuses on audio-visual enhancement, offering VGA, DVI-D, stereo audio, composite video and optical digital audio connections, in addition to your more traditional USB and printer ports.
The comprehensive software installed on the A39GP makes it possible for the average user to become a multimedia maestro. Audio editing programs from SonicStage, Adobe's Photoshop Elements and Premiere Standard and Sony's DVgate Plus mean you can import your own video, edit it, add audio and effects, and then create a DVD showing off the fruits of your labour. Tying everything together is Sony's Vaio Zone software, which allows you to browse all the entertainment files stored in the computer from one simple interface.
Performance
Although the focus is undoubtedly on the wonders of multimedia, Sony hasn't skimped on the tech specs, cramming in a built-in 802.11g wireless LAN, memory card adapter and 100GB of room to store your various multimedia files. We found that all tasks undertaken, even notoriously processor-choking applications like DVD burning and MP3 ripping, were impressively fast.
The included stand-alone speakers are top-notch, providing amazing sound quality, and will make your average car chase/pod-race/lost in space sequence resonate with alarming realism. It looks divine, sounds even better, and doesn't compromise on the tech to deliver the entertainment goods. If you're flush with coin and not fussed about portability, the A39GP will appeal to your hedonistic audiovisual desires.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
Rembo
04/08/2008, 05:51 PM
rating
2/10
price-
Report offensive comment
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
Report offensive comment
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
Report offensive comment
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
Report offensive comment
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.
Report offensive comment
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.
Report offensive comment
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.
Report offensive comment
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.
Report offensive comment
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.
Report offensive comment
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.
Report offensive comment