SONY VAIO S-SERIES VGN-S460 AUG 05 REVIEW

Still, decades later, there is no other company or corporation I know of that can create the quality of a picture like that of Sony. Camcorders, televisions and LCD screens are as crisp and perfected as one could hope for.

This is my fifth Sony VAIO notebook/laptop. I chose this replacement (VGN-S460B) because of its ideal size and its MADE IN JAPAN quality (Sony does produce several laptops in China and the quality is a step-down so look at the underside of a laptop to know where it was constructed).

I went onto another website that is extensive in notebook/laptop reviews (WWW.CNET.COM)before I purchased this notebook. In reading the feedback from 'USERS' the primary complaint was excessive heat from this laptop. Battery life was second in user concerns or complaints.

I can fully support the user issues as well. I have never encountered such a hot running notebook as I have with the VGN-S460 (when you see a 'B' or 'P' designator after the model number it simply indicates the color of the notebook/laptop or in the case of the 'P' it indicates XP Professional for its Windows software). I checked my settings to make sure the fan settings were set on '5' or as high as they could go. Also making sure it was fully vented, I still had to place a magazine under it as this thing runs really, really hot!

I've also found that Sony's claim to a '4 hour' battery life is impossible unless you have it on say 'standby'. Expect half of that claim.

The keyboard is also a sruggle with a black backing and very lightly colored white letter indicators. I need bright light to see the keyboard. The keys appear almost beige instead of white.

Otherwise, the performance is ultra quality. Fast or faster than my desktop. Faster than any notebook/laptop I have owned to date.

I also like the improvements Sony has incorporated into the VGN-S460 by eliminating the snaplock front and instead adding a spring loaded close that is far more secure and less prone to breaking off.

The Wi-Fi chip is stunning! Fast. fast and fast! Better than a Super Nimo card inserted instead (which should be top speed).

This notebook burns to both DVD double layer and CD as well. It's tray is front loaded so if indeed you are using it as a 'laptop' you'll have to move the laptop away to accommodate the trays opening (the trays have always been located on the sides).

The USB ports are 'two' and covered by a rubber/plastic opener that will break off with ease if you are not careful. There is also one PC card slot. Plus headphone and audio/mic jack. Best of all, there is a firewire port as well. Sony also includes a dedicated MEMORY STICK slot for its memory card format but a slot for all card types would have been nice and far more accommodating instead of Sony's often inferior Memory Stick format.

Sony chose not to include it's new arrangement with Cingular Wireless called 'EDGE' whereas you can connect anywhere there is a Cingular wireless connection. You can only get EDGE on Sony's '350' T series which is by far a much smaller laptop/notebook. Also excluded on this deck is BLUETOOTH again found on their T-Series units and not their 'S' Series decks. Too bad because the S-Series is considered upscale but just a bit larger than the T-Series.

The touchpad is receptive and responsive and I do not need a mouse to operate this deck at all. It's very good to the touch.

The weight factor is 4.3 lbs! Perfect. Not too small or compromising and not too large. Great for airplanes or hotels. It's 13.3" screen is also an ideal size. So this deck travels very well even though security lines at airports where it is still easy to get out for screening.

Graphics are N/Vidia. Marginal to good but not exceptional but then again this isn't a gaming laptop. Yet on the other hand it does burn DVD's so a better graphic chip would have been a plus; especially for a S-Series deck.

Pricey it is. You'll find few discounts and expect $1799 to $1999 with a current $100 rebate as of August 2005.

Details at: WWW.SONYSTYLE.COM
Reviewed Professionally at: WWW.CNET.COM