Sony VAIO SZ 650N VGN-SZ650N/C Notebook

The sleekly designed, lightweight Sony VAIO VGN-SZ650N/C notebook PC delivers intelligent mobile design while placing a priority on usability and performance. Coolly contemporary, it features a cutting edge black carbon fiber case for a fashionable look, which also helps to bring the weight down to 4 pounds. (Carbon fiber, the same material used on jets and sports cars to keep them lightweight yet sturdy, is much stronger than the magnesium used on standard notebooks.) Sony's VAIO SZ notebooks also take security seriously, employing a biometric fingerprint sensor and proprietary hard disk drive protection software to ensure your data is protected from unauthorized use as well as accidental damage. It also stores passwords to secure web sites you visit, so authentication and access are quick and easy--you only need your fingerprint. This VAIO SZ notebook features the innovative Windows ReadyDrive hybrid hard drive, which adds 256 MB of flash memory to a standard 160 GB SATA hard disk drive to shorten boot-up times, increase battery life, and enhance overall performance speeds. It also offers Sony's Hybrid Graphics System lets toggle between internal and external graphics chips, enabling you to choose lighter battery consumption or better performance depending on the situation. This notebook is powered by the 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor from the newest ""Santa Rosa"" chips, which offer a top-of-the-line 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 4 MB L2 cache. It also features 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), built-in quad-mode Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11a/b/g/n), multi-format/dual-layer LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard slot, Bluetooth connectivity, Gigabit Ethernet, and a Webcam integrated into the LCD's bezel, enabling easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats. This laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Business, which has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, that makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents. Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures. The Basics Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor has a 2.2 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an extra-large 4 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include: Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed. Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications. Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power. Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage. Hard Drive: This VAIO SZ notebook features the innovative Windows ReadyDrive hybrid hard drive, which blends traditional hard disk technology with flash memory, utilizing the quicker read/write ability of flash memory to manage and process the majority of hard disk related tasks. This allows the hard disk to sit idle until needed, simultaneously extending battery life while enhancing performance. It includes a 160 GB hard disk drive (5400 RPM) that's supplemented by 256 MB of flash RAM memory (NAND). This Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0. The G-Sensor Shock Protection feature makes your data even less vulnerable to loss or damage. When the built-in 3-D acceleration sensor detects a risky movement like being dropped, the HDD-head will lock up to secure its position and protect the disc from scratching. An intelligent algorithm, unique to VAIO PCs, judges whether or not a movement is risky, activating disk drive protection only when your hardware is at risk. Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (PC2-5300, 2 x 1 GB) is a great start out of the box, and it offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. You can sweeten your performance even more with this notebook's maximum capacity of up to 4 GB or RAM. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed. DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x for DVD+R DL, 4x for DVD-R DL, 8x for both single layer DVD+R/-R, 8x for single layer DVD+RW, 6x for single layer DVD-RW, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x. Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard (3mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad. Screen, Video & Audio This notebook has a 13.3-inch LCD screen with anti-reflective coating has a widescreen 1280 x 800-pixel resolution. This XBRITE LCD provides higher brightness levels than standard displays, resulting in deeper blacks, brighter whites, true-to-life color, and razor-sharp detail. This notebook uses Sony's exclusive Hybrid Graphics System, which lets you set your graphics performance with a simple flick of a switch, enabling you to toggle between an internal graphics chip for optimal power consumption with excellent performance or an external graphics chip for even more robust performance. You can choose either the integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (with up to 358 MB of dynamically shared video RAM) or the installed Nvidia GeForce Go 8400M GS graphics card (with up to 831 MB of shared video RAM). The Intel GMA X3100 provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. The 8400M GS offers support for Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 and High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), enabling you rip through all of today's most advanced and cutting-edge games and applications. The audio card includes Sony Sound Reality technology with DSD (Direct Stream Digital) support. Networking, Connectivity & Expansion Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965 AGN LAN chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). With the Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones. This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (in addition to a PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. Here's the full list of connection options: 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals 1 ExpressCard/34 slot 1 VGA monitor out Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out; microphone/line-in Port replicator connector 5-in-1 memory card adapter (compatible with Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Secure Digital, MultiMedia, and XD formats; also supports Memory Stick DUO with MagicGate functionality) It also has an integrated 56K modem and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems). Operating System The Windows Vista Business operating system is designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so you will be less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day maintenance of PCs. An array of sophisticated new backup technologies helps protect your information even in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure. And Windows Vista Business has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, which is designed to deliver new levels of efficiency for any business user. This new interface makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents. Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities. Preloaded Software Includes Sony Click to DVD (for easy DVD creation), Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update). Dimensions & Weight This notebook measures 12.5 by 1.5 by 9.3 inches (WxHxD) and weighs approximately 4 pounds with the standard battery (included). Power It's powered by the VGP-BPS10 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 3 and 6 hours (depending on usage). What's in the Box This package contains the VGN-SZ650N/C notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, memory card adapter (VGP-MCA20), and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty, and Sony offers 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance.  more