My Sony VAIO AR170G Review

I just recently got my AR, so i thought i would share my experience with everyone (using my AR of course).

I ordered my VGN-AR170G on a Tuesday, got free ground shipping, and received it the following Monday. I actually ordered my wife an FJ series laptop together with my AR, so they both came together on Monday. Although Sony was having a promotion for free ground shipping, i received both laptops via Fedex Standard Overnight. I don't know how that happened, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Reasons for Buying:

I wanted a desktop replacement that could play games and run Photoshop but also have enough multimedia functions to connect to and make use of a 42in Plasma HDTV and home theater system. I originally saw the AR190G and was floored by the design and the fact that it had HDMI out and Optical out. (I wasn't too interested in the Blu-Ray drive since it's new technology and the fact that the Blu-Ray v. HD-DVD battle has not been settled yet. I figured if Blu-Ray does become the next standard, i'll just buy a separate Blu-Ray player for my TV). However the $3500 price tag caused me to look elsewhere to satisfy my multimedia and gaming needs. Other models i considered were: Dell E1705, Asus W2JB, Sager 5760, and the Alienware m9700. Here were my main requirements:

1. 17" WUXGA 1920x1200 screen
2. Mid to Hi lvl. Graphics Card
3. Dual Core CPU
4. HDMI out or DVI out with Digital Audio out
5. TV Tuner
6. Relatively thin and flat (I don't like the slanted style laptops. I prefer the MacBook Pro style laptop)
7. Black color scheme
8. Under $3000

*******************************************************

Dell E1705 ~ $2200 after 35% discount
Pros:
- good video card - Geforce Go 7900 GS
- WUXGA screen
- Centrino Core Duo
- DVI Out
- Boxy design

Cons:
- Dell's design is generic looking
- External TV Tuner
- white/silver color scheme
- Not as thin as i would like - 1.7 in. thick


Asus W2JB ~ $2300
Pros:
- Centrino Core Duo
- Black color scheme
- Great reputation for quality
- mini-DVI out
- SPDIF out
- Built in TV tuner
- Thin

Cons:
- no WUXGA screen option
- somewhat lower graphics card - ATI x1600


Sager 5760 ~ $2600
Pros:
- WUXGA screen
- Top of the line Graphics Card - Geforce Go 7900 GTX
- Centrino Core Duo
- DVI out
- TV Tuner

Cons:
- Silver color scheme
- Thick and Slanted


Alienware m9700 ~ $3000
Pros:
- Dual SLI Geforce Go 7900 GS
- Built-in TV tuner
- Boxy design
- DVI out

Cons:
- Expensive (w/SLI config)
- No Dual Core CPU
- Not as thin as i would like - 1.66 in. thick

*******************************************************

I ended up ordering the Dell E1705 because i thought it had most of the options i was looking for (Good video card, DVI out, boxy design, core duo, etc. At the time I thought i could live with the design...turns out i thought wrong). (Note: I just recently found out that the W2JB has mini-DVI out. If i had known back then, i probably would've ordered the ASUS). The day after the E1705 shipped from Dell, i found out that Sonystyle.com had begun offering customized versions of their AR series laptops without the Blu-Ray drive. After running some sample configs, i came up with a config and price that i was comfortable with. Shortly after, I contacted Dell, cancelled my E1705 order (btw, Dell has great customer service), and placed my order for a customized AR170G with free ground shipping (which they later on shipped standard overnight).

Here are the specs i ended up with:

VGN-AR170G
Intel Core Duo T2500 2.0 GHz
512MB 533 MHz Ram (already had 2x1GB 667 GHZ waiting at home)
Geforce Go 7600GT 256MB RAM w/ premium casing (whatever that means)
160 GB HDD (80GB x2 in RAID 0 config)
Bluetooth 2.0
Built-in TV Tuner with remote
Extended Battery
Windows MCE

Here are the Specifications from the Sonystyle website:

*******************************************************

Specifications
Model
VGN-AR170

Processor1 (Configurable)
Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300 (1.66GHz)
Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (1.83Ghz)
Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2500 (2.0GHz)
Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2600 (2.16GHz)
2MB L2 Cache

Operating System (Configurable)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 with NTSC TV Tuner
Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 or
XP Professional with SP2

Front Side Bus Speed
667MHz

Chipset (Configurable)
Intel® 945PM or Intel® 945GM

Wireless LAN(Configurable)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3915ABG Network Connection (802.11a/b/g)2 and Bluetooth® Technology
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3915ABG Network Connection (802.11a/b/g)

LCD3
17” WUXGA (1920x1200) with XBRITE™ technology and NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 GT or
17” WXGA (1440x900) with XBRITE™ technology and NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600

Hard Drive (Configurable)
320GB 4200rpm Serial ATA
240GB 4200rpm Serial ATA
200GB 4200rpm Serial ATA
160GB 4200rpm Serial ATA4
120GB 4200rpm Serial ATA
100GB 4200rpm Serial ATA
80GB 4200rpm Serial ATA
60GB 4200rpm Serial ATA

Memory (Configurable)
2GB (1GB x 2) PC2-4200 DDR2, 533MHz
1GB (1GB x 1) PC2-4200 DDR2, 533MHz
1GB (512MB x 2) PC2-4200 DDR2, 533MHz
512MB (512MB x 1) PC2-4200 DDR2, 533MHz

Graphics (Configurable)
NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7600 GT or
NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7600

Graphics Interface
VGA out w/ Smart Display Sensor, HDMI out and S-Video out

Optical Drive6
DVD+R Double Layer / DVD±RW Drive
DVD+R DL Write --- 4x max.
DVD-R DL Write --- 4x max.
DVD±RW --- Yes
DVD+R Write --- 8x max.
DVD+RW Write --- 8x max.
DVD-R Write --- 8x max.
DVD-RW Write --- 6x max.
DVD-RAM Write --- 5x max.
DVD-RAM Read --- 5x max.
DVD Read --- 8x max.
CD-R Write --- 24x max.
CD-RW Write --- 16x max.
CD Read --- 24x max.

Modem
Integrated V.90 Modem with RJ-11 interface

Ethernet
10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet with RJ-45 interface

Audio
Sony® Sound Reality™ - Audio Enhancer

Audio Interface
Microphone jack, Headphone jack

Memory Stick® Media Slot
Supports optional Memory Stick® and Memory Stick DUO™ media5 with MagicGate® functionality and Secure Digital Media (SD)

PC Card Slots
ExpressCard™ /54 Slot, PCMCIA - Type II/Type I card slot with CardBus support

Other Interfaces
4pin i.LINK® connector(IEEE 1394), 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA out

Pointing Device
Electro-Static touch pad

Keyboard
QWERTY, 86 keys with 2.5mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch

Action Buttons
S1, S2, AV Mode, Volume, Mute, Eject, Play/Pause/Stop, Wireless LAN On/Off, FF and Rewind

Power Requirements
150W+10%

Camera
Built-in Camera and Microphone or none

Battery
Standard Battery (VGP-BPS2B)

Estimated Battery Life
2.0 - 3.5 hours13 (Standard Battery)

Sony Original Software
Click to DVD® - DVD Creation
SonicStage Mastering Studio™ - Audio Mastering and Remastering
SonicStage® - Digital Music
DVgate™ Plus - Digital Video
VAIO Media™ - Network File Sharing
Image Converter - PSP™ Transfer
Underworld - Pre-installed Movie
60-Minute Trial Version of Wheel of Fortune®
60-Minute Trial Version of Jeopardy®

Supplied Software
Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 4.0
Adobe® Premiere Elements 2.0
InterVideo® WinDVD®
Roxio® DigitalMedia SE
Microsoft® Works 8.5 with Microsoft® Office Trial (Student/Teacher Edition)171
60-Day Trial Version of Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006
Intuit Quicken® 2005 New User Edition (Previous Quicken users may require additional upgrade)
DISCover My Games

Anti-Virus and Recovery Software
Norton® Internet Security 60-Day Subscription
TrendMicro™ Anti-Spyware 30-Day Trial
Iolo® System Mechanic 30-Day Trial
VAIO® Recovery Wizard
VAIO® Update
VAIO® Support Central
VAIO® Security Center

Internet Services
America Online® 180-Day Trial - New Users Only

Service and Warranty Information
Limited Warranty
1 Year Limited Warranty with Onsite Service

Telephone Support
1 year toll-free technical telephone assistance, available 24/7

On-line and Email Support
Support available from http://www.esupport.sony.com

Supplied Accessories
Standard Lithium-ion Battery (VGP-BPS2B)
AC Adapter (VGP-AC19V15)
Power Cord

Optional Accessories
Multi-Function Docking Station (VGP-PRFE1)
Universal Carrying Case (VGP-AMB1)
DVD R DL/DVD±RW Drive Bay (VGP-DRWBX1)
CD-RW Drive Bay Unit (VGP-CRWBX1)
80GB HDD Drive Bay Unit (VGP-UHBX08A)

Color
Black

Weight
8.4 lbs. (weight is approximate and may vary)

Measurements
16.4"(W) x 1.32"(H) x 11.8"(D)

*******************************************************

*Please note that for some reason, Sonystyle lists all the HDD configs as only having the 4200 RPM drive available for this model. I did a quick investigation on the two 80GB drives installed on my laptop and i found that i have two Toshiba MK8032GSX installed which is a 5400 RPM drive. Here is the CNET description of this drive:

The Toshiba MK8032GSX is an 80GB, notebook replacement hard drive. Compared to other notebook replacement hard drives on the market, it is inexpensive at around $120. Its maximum internal data transfer rate of 53.6 MBps is very fast, compared to the typical hard drive. Its burst transfer rate is 150 MBps. This is a 5400 rpm drive and has an 8MB buffer.

**Also note that the laptop comes with mini-Optical Audio out but Sony doesn't advertise it on their Specifications, only in the "Explore AR" window.

I also found out that my LCD display is manufactured by Sharp (MS_0040).

I ended up paying $2600 for my setup.

Upon arrival, the first thing i did was remove most of the bloatware (this laptop comes with a good amount of it). I also ran some benchmarks out of the box with 1x512MB 533MHz RAM and the 2x1GB 667MHz RAM:

3DMark 03 - 512 MB - 11022
3DMark 05 - 512 MB - 4907
3DMark 03 - 2GB - 11330
3DMark 05 - 2GB - 4984

Before i get to the pictures, one last remark. The screen is incredibly bright! The screen brightness has 8 settings, and for the most part, i leave this on 4 and it is more than bright enough for everyday use.

And without further adieu, my gallery:

Nice packaging from Sony


Accessories included


Profile View


Keyboard Layout


Side view with LCD closed


Height of the laptop compared to an index card


The underside - note the bottom middle cover is for the Memory and the larger cover on the right is for the HDD (i think, i didn't open that one yet)


Here are some comparison pics next to my wife's FJ series 14.1 in. laptop






Built-in webcam and mic


Wireless on/off switch and Wireless and Bluetooth lights


Memory Stick Slots - supports SD/MMC and MS PRO and PRO DUO


Informational LEDs - Power, Battery, Harddrive, Memory Stick


LCD Latch/Lock


Left Side Media Controls


Right Side Media Controls & Power Button


Dual Layer DVD ROM Drive


Optical Out, Headphone and Mic Jack


Extended Battery (It lifts the laptop up a little bit which may be good for cooling purposes


Here you can see how much the laptop is lifted by the extended battery


DC Plug and Rear USB port


TV Tuner VHF/UHF


Ethernet and Modem Port


Firewire port, S-Video in/out, HDMI, and VGA ports


Front Right USB ports and Expresscard Slot


Glowing VAIO sign


The only thing about this laptop that disappointed me is the slight light leakage that i see. Before i purchased this laptop, i was under the impression that Sony LCDs were top notch, so i wrongly assumed that there would not be a light leakage problem. I was somewhat disappointed when i noticed a bit of light leakage when the screen went black. I've tried contacting Sony tech support, but they just told me that this is normal for this laptop because the LCD inverter is installed at the bottom due to lack of space in the thin LCD design. I just wonder if i'm the only person experiencing this, so if anyone else has this same laptop, but does not notice anything please let me know. It's not a huge problem, nor is it extremely noticeable, but i thought i should bring it to everyone's attention. On a good note, i don't have any dead pixels! Please note that reducing the brightness of the screen also helps with the light leakage. Here is best picture i could take to most accurately show the amount of light leakage coming from this screen

*Note, if your screen is really dark, you may not see the light leakge at all. It's only along the bottom edge.

Last but not least, my bluetooth mouse and headphones which both work flawlessly with this laptop. They both connect instantaneously and work wonderfully.


I've been able to play both FarCry and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter at max settings on a decent resolution at full widescreen (can't remember the exact resolution) without any hiccups. So it's a great gaming laptop for those casual gamers who aren't looking for the best of the best graphics solutions. I haven't had the opportunity to hook this laptop up to my TV yet, but once i do i'll post some additional information.

I agree about the battery. I was pretty surprised and somewhat disappointed when i saw that the extended battery wasn't flush with the system. If i had known this before i purchased the system, i probably would not have gotten the extended battery.

Since i've started using it, it doesn't really seem to get in the way of every day use, especially since i've been using it on a small table. I've also used the laptop without the battery inserted and it doesn't really seem to make much of a difference. I'm considering buying a standard battery later down the road for traveling purposes and keeping the extended battery as backup. But for now, it gets the job done.

Hey Rayt,

I'll try and run the test sometime over the weekend and let you know what i find.

That's too bad you don't like your AR. Honestly, despite the slight light leakage, i still think the screen is beautiful...but then again this is my first laptop so i don't have much to compare it to. But i'm definitely happy with it. btw, can you post some screen shots of your screen...i'd like to have something to compare my screen with. Do you have any light leakage? and what do you mean by "cloudy on the sides?" I think it's super bright on the highest setting...i can't imagine wanting an even brighter display.

a better graphics card definitely would've been nice. but keep in mind, this laptop wasn't designed strictly for gaming unlike many of the other high-end notebooks out there with better video cards. This is a highly versatile multimedia notebook with HDMI out and Optical Audio out. For casual gamers, it's a great machine. I'm running Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter at Max settings and i get decent framerates without an slowdowns during play.

Well it turns out that I can't use the Forceware Drivers from NVIDIA's site with this laptop. How unfortunate. So i had to go to the Sony website and download the latest drivers. I now have driver version: 8.4.5.7

i just ran 3DMark05 again and i got:

"paint that sparkles?" I'm not quite sure what that means. Other than the small amount of light leakage at the bottom, i think the screen is fantastic. Extremely bright and clear with great viewing angles. Is anyone else experiencing any light leakage??

I ran a battery test today. I played a movie with the highest brightness setting. The wireless and bluetooth radios were both on as well. I turned off all power saving modes and let it run from 100%. I timed it from the time i pulled the plug to the time the laptop shutdown on its own and i got:

1 hour and 56 minutes.

This test was done with the Extended Battery.

what do you mean by Maxium battery settings?

I did have wireless and bluetooth both enabled and the screen brightness maxed out when i ran the test.