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Sony VAIO PCG-TR3A Notebook PC (Centrino 1GHz ULV), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, CDRW & DVD Combo Drive)

Sony VAIO PCG-TR3A Notebook PC (Centrino 1GHz ULV), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, CDRW & DVD Combo Drive)

List Price: $2,199.99
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Product Info Reviews

Description:

Offering a head-turning design and eyebrow-raising features, the ultra-light, tiny Sony VAIO PCG-TR3A notebook PC offers long battery life (thanks to the Intel Centrino processor), a Sony XBRITE screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio (great for watching DVDs), and an built-in digital camera. It also features a 54g wireless LAN, combo CD-RW/DVD drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a weight of just over three pounds. The integrated swivel camera at the top of the screen enables you to capture 640 x 480 still images and live video (motion JPEG) that can be saved directly to your hard drive.

The Basics

  • Hard Drive: The 40 GB (4200 RPM) hard drive offers plenty of space for most users, though this size is beginning to feel small compared with other notebooks. It also has a 1024 KB L2 cache and a 400 MHz bus speed.
  • Processor: While at the low end of current Centrino notebooks, the PCG-TR3A's 1 GHz Pentium M processor is definitely fast enough for everyday tasks and basic multimedia (it's comparable to a 1.5 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4). The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max.
  • Memory: The PCG-TR3A comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 2.05 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
  • CD/DVD Drive: You can easily and quickly burn music and video to CD with the combo CD-RW/DVD drive (24x write/10x rewrite/24x read).
  • Keyboard & Mouse: The PCG-TR3A has an 83-key keyboard and electro-static touchpad.
Sound and Graphics
The PCG-TR3A has an Intel 855GM chipset integrated graphics card with 64 MB of shared video memory. Combining three new technologies for increased brightness, contrast and viewing angles, the 10.6-inch flat-panel XBRITE LCD offers a bright, vibrant screen for watching DVDs and editing your digital photos. It also has a sound card that's integrated into the main board, and offers built-in stereo speakers. It has a high native resolution of 1280 x 768.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The PCG-TR3A has an Intel Pro-Wireless 2100BG integrated wireless LAN that connects using the 802.11g wireless standard. You get a smaller offering of connectivity options (due to the notebook's size):

  • 2 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 RGB monitor port
  • 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
  • 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
  • Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMedia (MMC) memory card reader
It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92), and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
The PCG-TR3A comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: PictureGear Studio and Network Smart Capture (digital photo), DVgate Plus (digital video), and SonicStage (digital music). Other preloaded software includes Intervideo WinDVD and Norton Internet Security Center 7.

Dimensions and Weight
At 10.6 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches (L x W x H), this is a seriously small notebook. And it weighs just a mere 3.11 pounds with the battery.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers between 3 and 5.5 hours of life with typical usage. An optional larger-capacity battery will provide double that (between 6 and 11 hours of battery life).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-TR3A notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

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