A Review of the 17" Sony VAIO VGN-AR720E/B Multimedia Laptop

Multimedia notebooks are capable of replacing desktop's as well as becoming the backbone of a home's entertainment center. The 17" Sony VAIO VGN-AR720E/B multimedia laptop is capable of doing either of those things. It has been one of Sony's most popular notebooks and has seen some recent price reductions. As a result of the renewed popularity I've decided to get my hands on one and give it a spin. First I'll start with some of the baics.

Hardware:

Imaging: Bezel integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam

Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7250

Storage Space: dual 320 GB hard drives (for a total of 640GB)

RAM: 2GB RAM (upgradable to a 4GB maximum)

Optical Drive: Blu-Ray Disc ROM with integrated CD R/RW and dual layer DVD +/- burner

Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics (up to 1023 MB of available memory)

Dimensions: 16.4" x 11.8" x 1.3" and weighs in at 8.3 pounds.

The first thing you will notice on this notebook is its wonderful 17" XBRITE LCD. The display on this notebook is clean crisp and is glare resistant. The notebook is powerful but heavy. The processor is strong enough to perform most tasks without lag and thanks to the strong graphics card it is able to handle graphically intensive games and other multimedia application.

The hard drive is huge allowing for plenty of storage for high definition video and other multimedia files. The BluRay ROM is an excellent addition to this notebook and really adds a lot of value. The only problem is its size, it isn't very mobile but still weighs in at less than 10lbs.

Connectivity:

Integrated WiFi

3 2.0 USB ports (these are used to connect periphrials like digital cameras, MP3 players and printers)

1 FireWire port (for high speed data transfer between digital camcorders and other compatible PCs)

1 HDMI output (so you can connect this notebook to a high definition television)

1 VGA port (a typical monitor connection)

1 ExpressCard slot (to be used to add peripherals like a cellular modem)

1 PCMCIA slot (similar as above, can add peripherals, you could stick a Bluetooth adapter in this one)

Memory card reader (to insert compatible solid state memory from your mobile devices; memory stick and SD)

1 Audio out / 1 mic in

1 digital audio out

1 modem port (so that this notebook can dialup)

The connectivity in this notebook is great, which is what would be expected thanks to its generous size. The HDMI output is great and it allows you to watch BluRay movies, or play computer games on your high definition television. The bottom line is that this is an excellent notebook for the living room or as a desktop replacement. It will make most consumers happy, as long as they don't want a notebook that they can take everywhere. The VGN-AR720E/B just doesn't have the battery life or size to do it. Currently at $1400 though, it is certainly a good deal, especially for the features included.