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(More customer reviews)Sony VAIO VGN-AR790U/B AND Sony VAIO VGN-AR890U
This will be long but it will also be very detailed, as I do have a lot of experience with Sony Vaio desktop replacement notebooks.
I'm not a hardcore tech person but I know enough to get by, and I really have a love thing going on with Sony Vaio's and a lot good things happening, in my life with Vaio's. So I guess you could say I'm passionate about them.
This is my first Amazon review, as I normally do not have the time (who really does these days?) but I do purchase, a great deal of products from Amazon and I've received so much good info out of the reviews here; so I'd like to give something back now.
The reason I list both the AR790U/B and AR890U is because they are identical notebooks; with the SINGLE exception of the AR890U having larger hard discs. Really, the hard discs are the ONLY hardware differences between the two models. Odd thing is the AR890U is currently listed here on Amazon, for a few hundred dollars less than the older AR790U/B. Amazon had incorrect spec info listed for the AR890, which they may have corrected by now, after I had spoke to them about it, about a month ago. If in doubt about specs, go to sonystyle.com and look up the AR890 specs there. Note that the AR790 has been dropped from sonystyle.com as it is a discontinued model now.I currently own and am using daily, the AR790U/B and within my business, I own 2 more AR790's and one AR890. I've been using Sony Vaio's since they were introduced back in I believe late 97' or early 98' always opting for the top of the line desktop replacement Vaio models.Basically I've purchased most of Sony's desktop replacement notebooks, over the years. Although a couple years back, I gave HP Pavilions two tries and was never really satisfied, with the overall build and experience I had with those. So take into consideration here, that I only have experience with Sony other than those two HP's.
The AR series design can be found, on a range of Vaio's dating back to late 2006/early 2007 in the AR 190 and 270 series (my first was the AR270 in early 2007). The Vaio AR series has a VERY attractive piano black high gloss exterior (entire lid only) that always seems, to get attention out and about, from coffee shops and airports to boardrooms. People will ask about it and make comments about how nice it looks. The chrome lining around the side is also nice and overall, this notebook design seems to look timeless; classy and elegant as if it will take many years, for it to look dated which is nice for most end-users, who will want to hold onto it, for years to come. The notebook is large and heavy but it does not seem to look or feel too thick when closed. Although I had a hard time, finding a notebook bag, that could fit it and that I liked, until I came across a very nice one: http://www.amazon.com/SIERRA-Wenger-Single-Gusset-Computer/dp/B000BYSUPW/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1219787331&sr=8-1 . The image here doesn't do it justice; this is a very nice looking bag which can very easily hold the Vaio AR, extra batteries Logitech wireless mouse and even folders (in the same compartment as the notebook). Circuit City carries this bag in-store if you want to check one out. Padding all around and very stylish inside out, with a very strong build quality. The reason I mention it is because many bags, will not be able to hold the large AR. Alright back to the notebook........
Even after a year and a half with this design, I'm still unimpressed with the mouse buttons on the AR. Yes, they work when you click them but if there is one thing wrong with the design of this notebook; it is the mouse buttons which somehow feel dated and clunky. Like I mentioned I'm a 10-year notebook user but these mouse buttons were placed at the edge of the notebook and that just makes for an odd experience, even after time. My solution to that has been a Logitech wireless mouse which I also highly recommend. I currently use The Logitech MX Revolution which comes with the MX5500 Bluetooth keyboard combo. Previously I had been using the Logitech VX revolution which is a smaller mouse but better suited for travel and if you don't want to use an external keyboard. Regardless the Logitech mice/keyboards work very well with the AR's and trust that if you give one of the mice a try, you'll never want to handle the AR's pad again. Along the same lines, I also use an external display (Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM - 24") via HDMI and it works flawlessly as a desktop setup. I honestly could not be more pleased with the above combination as it all works very well, regardless of the fact that I have just over 80 programs installed on this system. A word of warning, if you try a wireless mouse, you may not ever want to use the touchpad again. Every time I travel and use the AR I reach for my Logitech because the touchpad just doesn't feel right anymore, almost as bad as trying to switch from using your right hand to your left hand. Keep in mind that the newer MX5500 Combo comes with Bluetooth so that you can connect the keyboard and the mouse without the USB receiver. This is great to travel with the mouse and use it without having to plug in the USB receiver. A hard mouse pad that can be used on carpet or anywhere also comes in handy too. I use the 1030 Surface Archetype made by Func Industries, which also fits in my notebook bag with no problem, right underneath the notebook.
Aside from the mouse buttons, most other keys and buttons are pretty well laid-out. There is no separate number pad even though there appears to be more than enough room in which Sony could have placed one, but that's not something Sony does on notebooks (as far as I've seen in the past). The keys feel solid as if they will last for those who won't be using an external keyboard. In the past, some Sony models keys would pop out over time. With the HP Pavilion desktop replacement I had tried, it got way too hot, to the right of the mouse pad, right where you rest your hand. On the AR it does get pretty warm right in the same area but not HP cook a steak hot like I had experienced. Warm but I don't see anyone with sensitive skin or not, finding it to be too hot (let's say a few digits below the too hot level). The inner plastic around the keyboard and screen is a very dark gray color rather than the piano black top exterior. At first glance this could look a bit generic to some people but for me it all flows just fine. When the unit is on there is a nice looking Sony logo that has a solid white glow that remains on, just below the LCD screen. The web cam like most, is right above the screen and is almost hidden not only because of the dark finish of the frame but because its behind the frame as if the entire frame around the screen is like one piece of clear glass or plastic, with the camera behind it.
The hook to keep the notebook locked was a bit of a letdown because it has no spring action. This means that to have the hook lock/unlock into the lid, you need to slide a button which is not as smooth as it could have been. So when you close the lid, it won't automatically lock; you have to slide the button. This could be a good design feature in regards to opening and closing the lid often. It just seems to be that that hook gets in my way sometimes.
The speakers, built into the lid, right below the AMAZING screen, are nicely integrated into the design but I do have to say that the HP notebooks I had, both had louder speakers (I think one was even advertised as having a sub-woofer???). The Speakers on the AR do work and are loud enough to be heard, should a group of people be gathered around your notebook. However they just aren't the loudest ones out there, I'm sure of that. Again I use that Samsung mentioned above and through the single HDMI connection, I hear through the Samsung's built speakers and rarely use the AR's.
The media buttons, CD eject button and the 2 programmable buttons are placed well for those of us who don't need to have access to media buttons when the lid is closed.
Sony puts stickers all over the deck, and let me just tell you that if you don't peel them off carefully, you'll end up with a sticky mess, that will probably stick around, for as long as you'll own the notebook. On one AR I had left over glue, from a sticker to the right of the touch pad, bother me enough that I got to rubbing very hard with glass cleaner and sure enough it came off, but the paint had faded a bit in that one spot. On next AR, I didn't want to make the same mistake, so I asked tech support (THAT'S LEVEL 2 SAN DIEGO TECH SUPPORT; more on this later) and they said WD-40 does the trick. So WD-40, a little rubbing and that glue mess came right off and didn't damage the paint at all this time.
Speaking of the paint, sadly on every AR (excluding the one just purchased 2 months ago) will chip in ONE spot. That would be the area right around the slot for the Memory Stick and SD Card. It's happened enough times where I know that if you are going to be inserting and removing cards frequently, then you'll want to try and get used to guiding the cards right in and not letting them rub against the sides because rather quickly (a few months) the paint, in just that small area, chips and you are left with a purple plastic underneath. The good news is that it's a very small area which most people won't even notice unless they get up close, as in eyes 5 inches away or closer. Other than that, the paint and exterior have held up very well, on the AR's (oldest being an AR270 purchased early 2007, which again has the same body as the AR790 and 890).
These AR's can get pretty hot underneath but if you've used other desktop replacements such as HP's, then you like me, won't find the unit hotter than other desktop replacements...Read more›
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Sony VAIO VGN-AR890U 17-inch Laptop (2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Vista Ultimate) BlackProduct Description: The luxuriously designed Sony VAIO VGN-AR890U Digital Studio notebook PC provides a power multimedia computer platform for enhanced entertainment performance. But it can also be admired for its gorgeously appointed design, featuring a black exterior, sleek profile, and interfaces and ports that are easily accessible yet discreetly integrated. It features a 17-inch WUXGA widescreen XBRITE-HiColor LCD screen with a 1440 x 900-pixel resolution, and video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 8600M graphics card, with 512 MB of dedicated video memory. It offers high-definition Blu-ray Disc read/write capability, supporting full 1080p HD video as well as up to 5.1 discrete channels of uncompressed digital audio. It's backwards-compatible with standard DVDs and CDs, enabling you to enjoy your digital library for years to come. The optical drive can also write a full range of disc formats, including dual-layer DVD discs.
Spec Check
17-inch XBRITE-HiColor LCD
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8400 processor
Dual 250 GB hard drives (500 GB total)
4 GB RAM (max capacity)
Blu-ray Disc read/write
Dual-layer DVD
