Sony VAIO SZ650N/C 13.3" Notebook - Core 2 Duo T7500 2.20 GHz

My VAIO SZ650 experience

Strengths: (1)LED backlit panel (2)Hybrid graphics system (3)thin and light weight (4)Windows XP and Vista capability

Weakness: (1)Numerous unnecessary/trail software (2)Two USB ports only (3)Recovery discs and user manual are not included

I bought this SZ650 on January 2008 and this is my first VAIO notebook. Be working in the notebook industry for several years, this laptop surprised me when I received it. Unlike other companies, you will get only the notebook, power cord, power adapter, multi memory card adapter, and some advertisements in the box. That's all. If you want a recovery disc, please burn it by yourself in the...
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I bought this SZ650 on January 2008 and this is my first VAIO notebook. Be working in the notebook industry for several years, this laptop surprised me when I received it. Unlike other companies, you will get only the notebook, power cord, power adapter, multi memory card adapter, and some advertisements in the box. That's all. If you want a recovery disc, please burn it by yourself in the beginning. If you need a user manual, please download it from SONY's website. If you need a carrying case or USB mouse, please pay more. Perhaps a lot of companies will provide you all stuffs which are mentioned above, but that is not SONY way. However, you will forget those tiny issues when you use this well designed and good performance machine. The LED backlit panel with build-in webcam can reduce the total weight of the notebook and let you enjoy your video call. Moreover, in my opinion, the hybrid graphics system is the best part of this computer. You can switch to the STAMINA mode in order to get about 4 hours bettery life without AC adapter. (While turning on the wireless and middle brightness)If you want to play video games, please switch to SPEED mode and enjoy your time. (For about 2 hours)The most disappointed thing of this machine is there are too many unnecessary or trail software when you turn on the computer at the first time. You need to spend about few hours to uninstall those software. This inconvenient way is really bothering me. I have tried to do the recovery and it spent me about three hours to finish the whole process, including those disagreeable trail software.
Additionally, this notebook is coming with Windows Vista Business version, and some my previous software cannot run under Vista. Fortunately, SONY provides Windows XP recovery discs for SZ600 series, and you can order them online and get them FREE. The downgrade processes only spent me 90 minutes and everything runs well now. 2.2GHz CPU and 2GB RAM are very powerful for Windows XP. If you always use extend USB mouse or you have a lot of USB devices need to be connected, you will feel a little bit inconvenient while using this laptop. Due to two of the USB ports are very close to each other, one of the USB port might be interfered with another. My LEXAR JumpDrive is a little wider than other USB flash drive and will block another USB port a little while using this JumpDrive. It means I will have only one USB port can be used during that time. Two USB ports is also not enough if you have a portable hard drive, a printer, a flash drive, and an extend mouse. Besides this issues, the whole notebook is just suitable for me. According to my work experience, there is one more thing I cannot understand about SONY's build quality. Gaps in keyboard and touch pad are a little big and easy to tell when you get this NB. If you don't want something falling into your computer, you cannot eat anything while using this laptop. Otherwise, the "Fn" key is setting between Ctrl and Windows key and will take you several days to get used to it. I will give 8.5 point to this computer if the total score is 10. The trail software is the most time wasting thing for this computer. If you want to get a well design and good performance laptop at the same time, you can consider about this machine. Enjoy your PriceGrabber shopping.

By STEFANEL - Jan 21, 2008

Great Laptop

Strengths: Light. All in one. Last year,I planed to buy the Lenovo X61. However, it don't built-in DVD-BURNNER. As a result, I buy this laptop.

Weakness: Battery lasts less than 2 hours and sony drivers are a pain. A lot of garbage software in this laptop. If you don't need to use them, I suggest you can remove all.

The screen is so thin that any pressure to the lid while it is closed can cause marks to appear on the glossy portion of the screen, I'm afraid that it will scratch the screen eventually. Besides,I also hope the sony vaio's bettery capacity can become more. (over 4hours or more).

By yuhung2008 - Jan 16, 2008

Sony VAIO SZ650N/C = Perfect Compromise of Mobility and Power!

Strengths: Amazing back-lit X-Brite LCD screen, portable size and weight at only 3.9 pounds, very fast (once formatted with clean install of Vista Ultimate), Web-Cam, looks sharp!

Weakness: Keyboard is "different" and takes getting used too. A little clicky, but the keys are big which is nice. Wish there were more exterior buttons to control volume. Dock station needs power button.

I used to have an SZ350 that I had a love hate relationship with. It was the perfect PC for me other than the fact it had a few minor downfalls. It got way too hot on Speed mode, keyboard was weird (now I like it), and docking station wasn't that great. I went with a new Thinkpad T61 for awhile and Lenovo was a nightmare to deal with, not to mention it was heavier, seemed more cheaply made, and...
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I used to have an SZ350 that I had a love hate relationship with. It was the perfect PC for me other than the fact it had a few minor downfalls. It got way too hot on Speed mode, keyboard was weird (now I like it), and docking station wasn't that great. I went with a new Thinkpad T61 for awhile and Lenovo was a nightmare to deal with, not to mention it was heavier, seemed more cheaply made, and the screen lacked much to be desired. I quickly missed my Sony SZ and waited patiently for the new SZ650 to be released. I have to say I am not disappointed at all. The heat issue seems to have been improved a bit, the keyboard, while still strange, actually feels more solid, and the Docking station seems to work better with my new LCD and Vista for some reason. However, its one of the few docking stations that allow me to use my external LCD via DVI! In any event, I LOVE this machine. It has the best screen of any laptop, and is one of the most powerful machines in such a compact design you can get on the market at under 4 pounds! My only words of advice would be to do a clean install of Vista to get rid of all the Sony bloat ware. I wouldn't hesitate to buy again! I also purchased a 2 year extended On-site Accidental protection warranty for peace of mind.

By HKINGS - Sep 10, 2007

Good company

Strengths: Light and fast

Weakness: Install too much trial software that make slow when starting

It's good computer for who want light and fast laptop. Sony install too much trial softwares that are problems when one want to uninstall them. I got a missing file when I unistalled anti-virut Sweeper software and Corel.

By quanchanhbui - Sep 13, 2007

Good PC but worst software laptop backup system

Strengths: very light and pretty. 2Gram and big hard disk. Wireless, bluttooth, web cam, a lot of functions!

Weakness: too much useless software and vista is very hard to compatable with a lot of software, and have to buy backup software with addition money, short battery life

1, it is a very good laptop with relevant big screen as a light laptop (compare to 12"). 2, it has the worst software system because it has no backup disk like other sony laptop, and it has very poor tech service. My laptop was suddenly dead for the software conflit and pressing the F10 as the instruction didn't work. I called sony tech service and they said they can't do nothing for my situation...
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1, it is a very good laptop with relevant big screen as a light laptop (compare to 12").

2, it has the worst software system because it has no backup disk like other sony laptop, and it has very poor tech service.

My laptop was suddenly dead for the software conflit and pressing the F10 as the instruction didn't work. I called sony tech service and they said they can't do nothing for my situation except I buy a backup disk from their website for $38.95. I questioned them other laptop such as dell has backup disk with them and why I have to buy for sony. They explained that the backup software is in the hard disk and I can burn one for myself!!! But what can I do if the operating system was dead and all the software were lost? Why didn't they mention that "customer have to burn a backup disk after they receive it" on the top of their instruction? My story is that I have to buy a backup disk for myself in the end!!! very dis-satisfied with such kind of abnormal software supporting system.

3, Because it is small, don't believe that the battery life is as long as they mentioned in the manual.After about one and half hour if you open the wireless and bluetooth, you have to recharge it again.

By kathywillwin - Sep 25, 2007