Sony VAIO TX Review
By
September 25th, 2005
Summary
Sony's newest feather-weight PC contender combines no-nonsense business functionality and a fashion-forward physique. The VAIO® TX notebook packs wireless WAN connectivity, entertainment playback and a white LED display into a slick carbon fiber casing that weighs no more than three pounds.
The carbon fiber chassis of the TX notebook line lends not only lightweight durability but head-turning elegance to this ultra-portable companion. LED backlight technology and newly designed display circuitry gives it a razor thin profile. At 2.8-pounds and less than 1-inch thin, this notebook will slide unobtrusively into your carry-on bag for comfortable computing whether you fly first class or coach.
Integrated WWAN (in most models) ensures you stay connected wherever you go. With access to the Cingular Wireless national EDGE network, you can extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access and hotspots and get online almost anywhere there is cellular coverage. Sony's SmartWi® technology seamlessly toggles between WAN, LAN and Bluetooth technologies, making it easy and efficient to connect wirelessly.
Specs
Hardware
Processor
Intel Centrino Mobile Technology Intel Pentium M Processor Ultra Low Voltage 753(1.20GHz , 2MB L2 Cache)
Front Side Bus Speed
400MHz
Chipset
Intel® 915GMS
Integrated Wireless WAN
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) accessing Cingular Wireless National EDGE Network with SmartWi™ technology
(Wireless WAN and Wireless LAN radio do not transmit
simultaneously)
Integrated Wireless LAN
Intel® PRO/ Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
(802.11b/g)4
Bluetooth®
Integrated Bluetooth® Technology5
LCD
11.1" WXGA display (1366x768) with XBRITE™technologyRazor-Thin Panel
Hard Drive
60GB2 (4200rpm) Ultra ATA
Memory
512MB PC2-3200 400MHz DDR2 (512MB x 1)(Expandable to 1.5GB)
Graphics
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 128MB dynamically allocated shared RAM video memory
Graphics Interface
VGA out w/ Smart Display Sensor
Optical Drive
DVD+R Double Layer/DVD±RW drive6
DVD+R DL Write (2.4x MAX);DVD+R Write (4x MAX); DVD+RW Write (2.4x MAX)DVD-R Write (4x MAX); DVD-RW Write (2x MAX)CD-R Write (24x MAX); CD-RW Write (10x MAX)DVD-ROM Read (8x MAX); CD-ROM Read (24x MAX)
Modem
Integrated V.90 modem (RJ-11)
Ethernet
10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet (RJ-45)
Audio
Windows® sound system compatibleDolby® Headphone & Dolby® Virtual SpeakerBuilt-in stereo speakers
Audio Interface
Microphone jack, Headphone jack
Media Slot
Supports optional Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ media with MagicGate™ functionality and Secure Digital Media
Other Interfaces
1 4pin i.LINK®7 (IEEE 1394) interface, 2 USB 2.0, portreplicator connector
PC Card Slots
One PCMCIA -Type II/Type I card slot with CardBus
support
Pointing Device
Electro-Static touch pad
Keyboard
QWERTY, 82 keys with 1.7mm stroke and 17mm pitch
Action Buttons
DVD/CD (Instant On) Play/Pause/Stop, Volume/Mutebuttons, WLAN/BT on/off, Magnify
Optional Port Replicator
3 USB 2.0, RJ-45 Ethernet, VGA output, DC in, parallel port
Power Requirements
68W+10%
Battery
Lithium-ion standard capacity battery (VGP-BPS5)
Estimated Battery Life
4.0-7.5 hours8
Weight
2.76 lbs. with standard battery
Dimensions
10.7”(W) X 0.83”-1.12”(H) X 7.7”(D)
Color
Charcoal
Supplied Accessories
Cingular SIM CardLithium-ion Battery (VGP-BPS5)AC Adapter (VGP-AC16V8)Power Cord
Optional Accessories
Additional standard battery (VGP-BPS5)Large Capacity Battery (VGP-BPL5)Additional AC adapter (VGP-AC16V8)Port Replicator (VGP-PRTX1)Bluetooth® Wireless mouse (VGP-BMS30)Privacy Filter (VGP-FL11)Leather Protection Case (VGP-CKTX2)
Software
Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with SP2
Sony Original Software SmartWi™ Connection Manager Click to DVD™ -DVD Creation DVgate Plus™ -Digital Video SonicStage® -Digital Music SonicStage® Mastering Studio software with MP3 encoder VAIO Media™ -Network File Sharing Image Converter -PSP Transfer
Supplied Software Adobe® Photoshop® Album Starter Edition Intuit® Quicken® 2005 New User Edition InterVideo® WinDVD® InterVideo® Instant On Roxio® DigitalMedia SE Microsoft® Works 8.0 Microsoft® Office® 2003 60-Day Trial11 Small Business Edition
Anti-Virus and Recovery Software
Norton Internet Security™ 90-Day Subscription Intermute™ SpySubtract™ 30-Day Subscription Sony® VAIO® Update/ Recovery Wizard/ Support Central
Internet Services
AOL Online™ 180-day Trial -New Users Only
Service and Warranty
Limited Warranty
1 Year Limited Warranty9