Sony VAIO PCG-K35 15.4" Notebook PC (Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor 532, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW Drive)

Rating:
Summary: My Second Vaio Notebook-Very Pleased
Review: I bought this model from BB in mid Dec & I would recommend it to anyone replacing their desktop. I installed xp pro + sp2 full version and contrary to other reviews I have had NO problem with hibernation. It burns dvd's & cd-r's very fast & efficiently. Mine has not locked up in hibernation mode. The software package is ok, but I use my own software to create & burn dvd's. It is fast, dependable (so far) great screen size & so far the best all around laptop I have purchased. I did a lot of research on this one. For the money, you get a lot. Big HD, Dual dvd burner in dvd+r( dvd-r dvd+r in single layer) All I will do is upgrade the RAM to 1 gig. I am very happy with this laptop. Think of it this way, my old vaio I bought 4 years ago cost $2400.00 and could not do 1/2 the stuff this one can. No burner, different screen, slower cpu, and top ram was 512. But it could play dvd's. It is still running, my son has it for his job- works great. The only maint I did was about a year ago the hd went-not Sony's fault-this happens. Replaced it & no probs. This pcg-K35 is a buy at $1399.00 with the $250.00 rebate. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Sony laptops freezes with windows xp after installing sp2
Review: i waited for a long periods for sony to develop xp drivers for pcg-f680 notebook i purchased in 2000. the installation of xp was smooth and i was working without sony laptop drivers and working fine till i loaded sp2. the laptop just freezes at random, more on click or scrollbar activities.

even with the new sony drivers for xp, the sp2 still behaves the same. is it microsoft or sony? it seems like i read complaints about sony's other models facing the same issue. what "lies" beneath these problems?

- sony migration path to newer OSs is a big hassle. never buy sony from that angle.

Rating:
Summary: Great Notebook
Review: I've been looking for awhile for the right notebook for me, at the right price and this was the best I could find. I first tried building one on Dell, but it always ended up way out of my price range and didn't have nearly the capacity and ability this notebook has. I would buy another if I needed one.

Rating:
Summary: Not recommended at all, freezes after hibernation
Review: Last Friday I went ahead and purchased a Vaio PCG-K35 from BestBuy. The screen is really great, and they had 24 months no interest plan to pay the $1350 after rebates. That all sounded like a good deal back then...

The Vaio K35 froze on me the first day after sending the notebook to hibernation. Needless to say I started testing how it did with hibernation/standby. The freeze didn't happen always, but it happened close to half the times it came from hibernation, never from standby it seems. I made sure the BIOS was not doing any power management, just Windows. Even the VAIO Power Management was disabled inside windows power management control panel. Also, I had the lattest drivers from Vaio Update. Still, it was freezing some times after hibernation.

Installed Windows XP Pro + Service Pack 2 + All the Vaio Drivers and Updates, and still the same thing. It didn't happen always, but yesterday night it froze again coming back from hibernation. Enough for me.

This morning I took the notebook to Bestbuy in the frozen state actually, so they could see it. The technician's verdict: "There's no mechanical problem, this is Microsoft's fault, the laptop is within Sony specifications." There was no appeal to this incompetent verdict despite my several attempts. I've used IBM notebooks for a long time at work, with no hibernation problem. And my brother has a Vaio S260 that so far doesn't have that problem. Microsoft had no problem with hibernation, at least not with other laptops. *This* laptop had the problem. In fact, later on I received an email from Sony indicating "According to the information you have provided, it appears that your Vaio will require service". But this I got after returning it to BestBuy. According to this "geek squad" technician, this wasn't a hardware failure. So far I'm being charged the restocking fee, but I'm planning to litigate that through BBB (Better Business Bureau).

These Vaios have a nice screen, but basicaly that's it. Battery doesn't last too long, just one hour watching a DVD. Fan is a bit noisy, and the laptop freezes whenever it feels like after hibernation. Definitely not recommended.


Rating:
Summary: Poor quality and a great disappointment
Review: The Pentium 4 CPU requires that the fan run all the time at a very fast speed which means that it is VERY noisy. I looked at this very model in several stores and NEVER heard the fan run. I was told by Sony that the fan was not on in the store because it wss bssically being used as a "TV" not a computer. I feel that this is false advertising. I did extensive research on this unit before purchasing. Now I am facing up to a $400.00 penalty when I return this unit to have the seller take it back (if they will). This is bad business and bad retail policy on the part of Amazon. Buyer beware!

Rating:
Summary: Not that bad!
Review: To respond to the review stating that the VAIO K35 locked up after hibernation when every it felt like it, is untrue. I just bought my K35 and the only time it locks up is when it is running on the battery, but this only occurs when the battery is less than 10% charged. Spoke with Sony and they stated that this was due to the VAIO not having enough power to do anything else. When the battery is better charged or when plugged in it never locks up after hibernation.
To respond to the review about the loud fan, well the fan does produce noise, but come on it needs to cool down. And really the sound of the fan is not that loud, I guess it would be if you were in a completely quiet room. I have found that normally I don't even notice the fan running.
I personally like the VAIO K35 and would recommend it. Though I wish it was lighter and thinner, but I knew these specifications before I bought it.