New Sony VAIO VGN-TZ17GN/B Laptop Review

The New Sony VAIO VGN-TZ17GN/B Laptop is equipped with 1.20 GHz Intel core 2 duo processor U7600 with 2-MB L2 Cache, 533 FSB and it features Intel Mobile 945GML Express Chipset motherboard, 1-GB DDR2 SDRAM (upto 2-GB max in 2 SO-DIMM slots), 100-GB SATA 5400 rpm hard drive and Blu-ray disk system.

The Intel Core 2 Duo processor allows Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop PCs to be upto 40% faster and 40% more energy efficient against any older Pentium 4 based systems.

Preloaded with Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition, the Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop sports magnesium alloy chassis and while a premium version of this notebook has stronger carbon-fiber exterior with a faster processor and host of security features.

Made from the black carbon-fiber, the same material as the chassis of race cars made of, Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop’s exterior is very light, yet stronger and more scratch-resistant than magnesium alloy. The laptop sports an understated and classy black-and-grey theme which sits well in an office environment.

The Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop sports 11.1-inch (28.19 cm) Widescreen WXGA TFT colour display with Clear Bright technology with integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GMA 950 Graphics Chipset with upto 251-MB shared memory offering upto 1366 x 768 pixels screen resolution.

The Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop comes with Blu-ray optical recording format which was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing a very large amounts of data compared to prevailing DVD-RWs. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25-GB of contents on a single-layer disc while upto 50-GB of contents can be stored on a dual-layer disc. Using Blu-Ray technology for data storage provides multiple benefits vs. existing formats.

For connectivity, Sony VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop offers integrated 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN connection, built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN connection, 56Kbps V.92 Data/Fax Modem and Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR (enhanced data rate) which allows upto 3 times faster wireless data transfer rates than normal Bluetooth.

Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition preinstalled Sony’s VAIO VGN-TZ17GN/B also incorporate an integrated VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixel) MotionEye Webcam at top of the display screen along with built-in microphone, enabling video conferencing a breeze.

Weighing 1.2 Kgs with power pack, the Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop also features Intel High Definition Audio with 3D audio (Direct Sound 3D support) and it comes with built-in stereo speakers.

Sony has incorporated a host of security features in VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop which would surely appeal corporate users. The laptop has a fingerprint biometric sensor, TCG v1.2 compliant Trusted Platform Module chip and hard drive password protection up its data security sleeve. Using Sony’s built-in software, user can encrypt files and login by merely placing his finger on the fingerprint biometric sensor.

To protect the vital information stored in hard disk, the hard disk is physically protected with a 3D acceleration sensor that secures the hard drive if it detects sudden drops or shocks to the system.

Windows Vista Business preinstalled Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop PC come with a host of software, some of which includes:

Entertainment – Image Converter, VAIO Movie Story, VAIO Content Import/Export, Adobe Premier Element, VAIO Edit Component, VAIO MusicBox

Audio applications – SonicStageCP, SonicStage Mastering Studio

Video & TV – VAIO Edit components, VAIO Photo & Video Suite, WinDVD 8.0 for VAIO

Image/Photo Management and Editing – Adobe Photoshop Elements 5, Google Picasa 2.0

CD-DVD Burning – Easy Media creator 9, Click to DVD 2.6

Office Applications – Adobe Reader 8.0, Adobe Standard 8, Microsoft Works 8.5

Utilities – Norton Internet Security 2007, VAIO Recovery Utility 2.6 – HDD recovery, Skype, Google software, Raxio easy creator, Adobe reader, Norton internet security, VAIO control center etc.

Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop PC is also equipped with a unique AV mode button which allows one to acces stored music or even plays DVDs with the single click of a button. The AV mode is embedded into the laptop so there is no need to power up Windows to access the media files.

Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B laptop is powered by VGP-BPL11 Lithium-ion battery which can provides up to 11 hours of backup with full charge.

I/O Interfaces :

• 2 x Hi-Speed USB v2.0 – 4 pin USB Type A
• PC Card slot (Type II)
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• IEEE 1394 port (4-pin)
• RJ-11 – modem/fax/tel line
• RJ-45 – Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX
• External display / video – VGA – 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
• S-video/TV-out (NTSC/PAL) port
• Line-in/microphone – mini-phone 3.5 mm
• Audio line-out/headphones – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
• Audio line-in – mini-phone 3.5 mm
• Docking Station connector
• 8-in-1 Memory Card Reader
• HDMI Digital Out Port

Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B Laptop Specifications:

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Technology
• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor U7600, 1.20 GHz
• 2-MB L2 Cache, 533 FSB
• Mobile Intel 945GML Express Chipset Mainboard
• 1-GB DDR2 SDRAM (Max 2-GB in 2 SO-DIMM slots)
• 100-GB 5200 rpm 2.5-inch Hard Drive
• Blu-ray Disk System

Display & Graphic :

• 11.1-inch (28.19 cm) Widescreen WXGA TFT colour display, Clear Bright technology
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GMA 950 Graphics Chipset with upto 251-MB shared memory
• 1366 x 768 pixels resolution

Network & Communication :

• Integrated 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN connection
• Bluetooth standard version 2.0 + EDR
• Built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN connection
• 56Kbps V.92 Data/Fax Modem Card

Other features :

• Biometric Fingerprint Reader, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) compliant
• Integrated VGA resolution MotionEye Webcam
• Integrated Microphone
• 2 x USB v2.0 ports
• 4-pin i.Link (IEEE 1394) S400
• ExpressCard/34 Slot
• PCMCIA Type I/II x 1(Cardbus Support)
• HDMI Digital Port for HDTV
• 8-in-1 media card reader, supports – Secure Digital (SD), SDIO, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick, MemoryStick PRO, xD-Picture Card, Hi Speed-SD and Hi Density-SD
• 2 Headphone Jacks
• Microsoft Windows Vista Busines Edition
• Intel High Definition Audio Compatible, 3D audio (Direct Sound 3D support), Altec Lansing Stereo Speakers
• 6-cell Li-ion VGP-BPS8 Battery, up to 3 hours of backup
• Dimensions: (WxDxH): 277 x 198.2 x 22.5 mm
• Weight: 1.20 kg including battery

Price and Availability :

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor U7600 powered ultra-portable Sony Vaio VGN-TZ17GN/B ultraportable laptop with 11.1-inch WXGA display, DVD Writer and integrated Biometric Fingerprint reader is available for about Rs. 105,900 in India with 1-year warranty. Visit www.sony.co.in for more details.