Designed for the semi-mobile professional, the Sony PCG-GRT100 notebook PC is a great choice as a desktop replacement. It's packed with productivity enhancing technology and exclusive Sony multimedia software as well as a large 15-inch TFT active matrix screen. This model also features a 2.66 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive, and a 32 MB Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go video/graphics card. It also offers wi-fi (802.11b) connectivity.
The Basics
- Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
- Processor: The 2.66 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor offers enough speed for your work today, and it is at the top range of speeds for this processor. It has a rather fast front-side bus (FSB) of 533 MHz and a 512 KB L2 cache.
- Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
- CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 1x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 2x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x. For CDs, it has a 16x write/8x rewrite/24x read speed.
- Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.
Sound and Graphics The installed Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go video/graphics card offers decent, but not overly strong, 3-D graphics rendering, and it has 32 MB of allocated video memory (which will help take the load off the processor when watching DVD movies). The 15-inch XGA TFT active matrix LCD has a native 1024 x 768 pixel display. It also has an sound card that's integrated into the main board, and offers built-in stereo speakers.
Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This PCG-GRT100 model model has an integrated wireless LAN that connects using the 802.11b wireless standard, which is not exactly in step with the latest in wireless networking--54g, or 802.11g. You get a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including both high-speed USB 2.0 and FireWire:
- 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
- 1 VGA monitor port
- 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
- 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
- 1 Memory Stick slot (Memory Stick Pro compatible)
It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems). It also has a hot-swappable bay for adding an optional optical drive or second battery.
Preloaded System and Software
This PCG-GRT100 notebook comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), and DVgate (digital video). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money and Encarta, InterVideo WinDVD, and Norton Internet Security Center (with 90-day subscription).
Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 2.0 x 12.9 x 10.7 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 7.9 pounds, the PCG-GRT100 is bit larger than other notebooks in its range. It's best used as a desktop replacement while offering portability when you need it.
Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers an average battery life range of 1.5 hours (depending on usage).
What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-GRT100 notebook PC (model PCGGRT1002A), rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor, and 90 days of phone support.