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Sony VAIO VGN-TZ130N/B Notebook (1.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T2450, 1GB DDR2, 100GB, DVDRW DL, Windows Vista Business, 11.1" LCD)

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Pending
  • At a Glance
  • Low installed memory
  • Ultraportable
  • DVD burner

We haven't had our hands on this product, but we know which features matter. Here's how the Sony VAIO VGN-TZ130N/B Notebook (1.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T2450, 1GB DDR2, 100GB, DVDRW DL, Windows Vista Business, 11.1" LCD) measures up:

Not Much RAM for Multitasking

The more RAM your laptop has, the faster programs will run and the greater number of windows you can work in at one time. If your needs are simple and you rarely do more than two things at once on your PC, the relatively modest amount of memory that comes installed in inexpensive laptops will be enough. Today the standard amount of RAM shipped in most PCs is 2GB. If you like to multitask--say, you want to launch a search for a file and start backing up data to a disc while you watch a news video--you need more memory.

Good for Doing Work on the Run

The small screen and light weight of this laptop put it in the ultraportable category. Ultraportables lack many of the features of larger laptops; they also have fewer ports and connections and sport smaller keyboards. Though the screen might be bright, its compact size will frustrate people who need a lot of space to work on big documents such as spreadsheets or desktop publishing files. Also, the smaller a laptop, the slower it tends to be; fast processors usually generate more heat than an ultraportable's thin case can dissipate. But many ultraportables offer outstanding battery life, and you can't beat the convenience of a PC small enough to stow in a backpack. If all you need is a way to surf, whip out e-mail, and do mainstream work on the run, an ultraportable may be perfect for you.

Supports DVD Burning

This laptop is equipped with a DVD burner, a slightly older type of optical drive. If you don't need the ultrahigh recording capacity of a new Blu-ray optical drive, and you don't care about watching high-definition movies on your laptop, a DVD burner should suit you fine. It can read and burn data, music, or video discs up to 8.5GB in capacity. A DVD burner is, of course, backward-compatible with CDs, but it cannot play the newer Blu-ray media because the two types of optical-disc technology use different lasers. In a couple of years, Blu-ray will completely replace the DVD disc format.

Expand Memory and Multimedia Through the ExpressCard Slot

The built-in ExpressCard slot on this laptop lets you easily expand the memory, wireless communications, multimedia, or security of the system. There are two types of ExpressCards: the ExpressCard/34, which measures 34mm by 75mm and is shaped like a stick of chewing gum, and the wider ExpressCard/54, which is 54mm by 75mm. The ExpressCard/54 slot, which accepts either type of card, opens up a wider world of expandability, including SmartCard readers, CompactFlash readers, and 1.8-inch disk drives. Few new laptops come equipped with the old PC Card slot that preceded ExpressCard, but if yours does, you can buy an adapter that lets you use ExpressCards in the PC Card slot. 

Supports Memory Stick Cards

Usually, a multiformat card reader, such as the one in this laptop, can accept several different types of flash memory cards, including Memory Sticks. A compact proprietary flash memory card, Memory Stick is a Sony and SanDisk product intended chiefly for Sony devices, including its laptops, digital cameras, camcorders, PDAs, and cell phones, as well as the PlayStation Portable. Five variations have been released since its introduction in 1998--each faster, smaller, and more capacious than the last. Check this laptop's specs to see how many variations of Memory Stick it can read without an adapter. Not much bigger than a thumbnail, the Memory Stick Micro (aka M2) is the one of the smallest flash memory cards in existence; only the competing microSD, a type of SD Card, is tinier. The 16GB Memory Stick Pro Duo stores the most data.

Supports SD Cards

Like most new laptops, this one has either a multiformat card reader or a dedicated slot that accepts an SD (Secure Digital) Card. More popular than Memory Stick, CompactFlash, and xD-Picture Card, SD is found in a large number of digital cameras, PDAs, printers, and other devices. SD Cards have built-in security functions to protect data, including music copyright protection. (The cards have a small write-protection switch on the side similar to that of a floppy disk.) The latest SD card, the microSDHC, is the tiniest flash memory card to date, measuring only 11mm across. It's also the fastest and roomiest, capable of holding up to 16GB of data. 

Connect Peripherals With Bluetooth Technology

This short-range wireless technology is everywhere. Whether you activate it on a laptop by way of an external on/off switch or through software, the small internal Bluetooth card automatically detects other Bluetooth-equipped devices within 30 feet and sends and receives radio signals over an ad-hoc "piconet," or personal wireless network. Bluetooth is an especially convenient way to add external peripherals or partner the laptop with other devices, such as a cell phone, printer, or digital camera. Bluetooth works only over short distances to connect devices around your home or office, sending small chunks of data at a leisurely 1 megabit per second.

Windows Vista Installed

Microsoft's Windows Vista introduces more graphical and functional changes--big and small--than the OS has undergone in quite some time. Among the graphical changes, the splashiest is the glasslike transparency of overlapping windows. Flip 3D, which lets you view open windows in a cascading 3D stack on the desktop, is eye-catching too. And the Windows Sidebar displays small applets on the desktop designed for specialized purposes, such as weather reports or sports scores. On the practical side, the new systemwide integrated Instant Search lets you look for a needed file from practically anywhere and at any time. Keep in mind, however, that because Vista offers so much, it requires a speedy CPU, ample RAM, and a good graphics card. Check out the other components of this laptop to be sure that Vista can run smoothly on it.

Be Wary of Battery Life Specs

Take the battery life you see advertised for any laptop with a grain of salt. Why? A few vendors still use unrealistic testing parameters in order to report the longest battery life possible. For example, a "tested" laptop simply might be turned on, with the screen brightness lowered to the darkest level, and allowed to run down without anyone touching it. When the laptop undergoes typical, everyday use--say, with the screen brightness turned up to a readable level and with the user working in several applications or playing a CD or DVD movie--its battery life could be much shorter than a vendor's claims.

User Reviews for Sony VAIO VGN-TZ130N/B Notebook (1.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T2450, 1GB DDR2, 100GB, DVDRW DL, Windows Vista Business, 11.1" LCD)

  • Reviewed by: jxi1872

    Duration of ownership:

    Strengths: The screen is beautiful.The 2.xx size is wonderful, easy to hide in a backpack or duffle bag. The battery lasts a long time.

    Weaknesses: Actually offended that Sony loaded so much trial software without giving some away.Vista Business on 1GB of installed RAM. MUST buy 2GB if you would like the computer to boot up in the same day.

    Overall Evaluation: For the price, arguable Sony could have handed over a copy of MS Word or Office, however, if not, then why load it on the computer. They have multiple software titles loaded that a customer would have to pay for after the trial period is over. This slowed the computer down considerable and almost caused me to send the laptop back to the store. At the end of the day, it is a great-looking portable that has many operational strengths, so I kept it.

See all user reviews

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