TR1A fooled me - thought I was using a Mac!
Written: Aug 23 '03
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Pros: Design and "I Want to Look Cool @ Starbucks" factors, Ultrabrite screen
Cons: No video output for presentations, pricey, Hard to find XP pro version
The Bottom Line: To conclude. Buy it if you have the bucks. I'ts the best thing I've seen hit the Windows-based market in a decade besides the Windows iPod.
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| jigmeg's Full Review: Sony VAIO PCG-TR1A PC Notebook |
Well, I live in Nepal and visit here once a summer, so what to I do, I drop my laptop and had to go shop for another. I was juggling 10-15 lbs of chargers, usb hubs and wifis, xtra batteries, webcam, misc. cables, and the 7lb multimedia monster I lug around the world a few times a year. So I was looking for something better. I almost went Mac after 20 years of IBM (I actually owned the world's first portable computer, an IBM XT the size of a midsize suitcase).
So it was a treat when I picked up the TRA1...you've read the other great reviews here so you know how light it is. I was immediatly in love. Everything was compact, elegent, and not cheesy like so many other ultralights. The screen was bright outdoors (I had the compusa sales dude follow me outside to check it) and that was that...wrap it up!
So I've had it a week now and it does everything last years power notebook did, just as fast as my old P4 2gig, as far as I can tell (and I am a graphics designer, albiet an older one that needs no screen at all to do a good job, so the itty bitty one here does not bother me).
I use the screen outdoors, battery life is a plus (ha, say that about most other laptops and overall this is a thing of beauty - like a Mac!
My only BIG beef with Sony on this one is that there is NO composite or S-Video out port, so using it to make a sales pitch or whatever is not going to work without extra doohickees...and as far as I can see, scan converters are not light nor easy to find that work overseas. So Pinky-down here Sony...such a small thing to miss, ya put 'em on all the other laptops!
I've read alot about people not liking the keyboard, the touchpad, and the smaller fonts on the screen - even with zoom...well, my view is what does it matter...how comfortable are ya gunna get anyway using a computer. Buck up.
However, being the music lover that I am, I think that the speaker quality could be better, after all, it is Sony. Sounds cheap and can't take any bass. BUT, they did something to the headphone jack to make it sound great using my iPod headphones - which match the laptop - the real main reason for the purchase.
Another downside to consider (if ya do that kinda thing) is that, to be honest, I dont think that Sony HAS any suppport other than a website. This is the third Vaio I've had (the other two were terrible) and I never got any help from them other than a download or two. They just pump them out, and even when I sent one in for repair (overseas) it was never seen nor heard from again. Ce La Vie. Note: the TR1AP (XP Pro) is impossible to find in stores, ya might have to order it online.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2150
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: 801-900
Screen Size: 10 inches
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 21-30
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Epinions.com ID:
jigmeg
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
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