- Strong Storage Capabilities
- Good Software Suite
- Slower PC2-4200 DDR2 Memory
- Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 Dual Core Mobile Processor
- 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 Memory
- 160GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
- 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
- 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) Wide Screen LCD
- NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 Graphics with 256MB TurboCache
- v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11a/b/g Wireless
- Three USB 2.0, FireWire, Type II PC Card Slot, ExpressCard/34 and Memory Stick Slot
- 14.4" x 10.8" x 1.4" @ 6.2 lbs.
- Windows XP Pro, VAIO Suite, MS Works, WinDVD, Quicken, Roxio Digital Media, Norton Internet Security
11/15/06 – As more and more people make notebooks their primary computers and they use it to store their music and photos, storage is becoming a critical feature. Sony realizes this with their VAIo VGN-FE790PL notebook. It comes standard with a very large 160GB hard drive for storing all these files and programs. Also included is a 8x DVD+/-RW dual layer burner allowing users to playback and record music, movie or data CDs and DVDs.
Powering the Sony VAIO VGN-FE790PL is the new Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor. This is a step up from the previous Core Duo processors thanks to its 64-bit software support and improved battery life. Included with the processor is a full gigabyte of memory, but it is of the slower PC2-4200 DDR2 type. This holds back the processor somewhat and it would be nice to see Sony update this to be better matched PC2-5300 modules.
Graphics wise the VAIO VGN-790PL is capable. The 15.4” wide screen LCD includes the Xbrite panel that is great for watching DVD movies or other video sources. A NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 modules allows it to function for 3D graphics acceleration. While the stats claim 256MB, it really only has 128MB dedicate memory and uses another 128MB of system RAM.
Another area that the Sony VAIO does well is the software suite. Sony is one of the few companies that has integrated its multimedia features into an easy to use software package. Add to this security software and MS works and you have most of the programs that users might need.
