Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E

The VAIO(R) VGN-AR320E Digital Studio notebook features a cutting-edge design and widescreen workspace that are paired with serious multimedia features. Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E Digital Studio notebook PC provides a power multimedia computer platform for enhanced entertainment performance. But it can also be admired for its gorgeously appointed design, featuring a black exterior, sleek profile, and interfaces and ports that are easily accessible yet discreetly integrated. The Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E features a 17-inch WXGA widescreen LCD screen offering Sony’s XBRITE panel technology, and it provides an HDMI output that can transmit uncompressed 1080p video and 5.1-channel surround sound to an HDTV.Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E is powered by the 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor, which offers a 20 percent performance boost over its predecessor while using 28 percent less power–so you get the benefit of a powerful dual-core PC plus all the benefits of mobility. A built in camera and microphone means it’s ready for video conferencing and VoIP telephony. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (maximizing capacity), multi-format/dual-layer DVD±R/RW drive, NVidia GeForce Go 7400 graphics card, multimedia memory card reader, tri-mode wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g), and Memory Stick slot.

Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you’ll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). 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.

Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E Basics

• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor has a 1.66 GHz processor speed, super-fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and large 2 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: The 160 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) offers enough to room to hold a digital audio library of over 26,000 songs and still have room left over for movies, games, and a large collection of software. This Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data–akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
• Memory: The 2 GB of built-in memory (PC5300, DDR2 SDRAM, 2 x 1 GB) maximizes the capacity for this machine, enabling you to effortlessly handle a wide variety of multimedia tasks right out of the box. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed.
• DVD/CD Drive: The double-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 (2.5mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Screen, Video & Audio
Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E notebook offers a 17-inch screen with a widescreen 1440 x 900-pixel resolution and Sony’s original XBRITE LCD technology, which delivers deep blacks and bright whites, true-to-life color, and razor-sharp detail. And with a glare filter and anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection, you’ll experience a beautifully clear image even in bright sunlight. Video is powered by the NVidia GeForce Go 7400 graphics card with up to 335 MB of video RAM shared with the system memory. Nvidia’s TurboCache feature increases the performance of this thin and light notebook PC without increasing its size or draining its battery. It’s coupled with the PowerMizer 6.0 advanced power management technology, which significantly extends your notebook PC’s battery life while minimizing the amount of heat it produces.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E notebook has an integrated tri-mode Intel 3945ABG wireless LAN, which is 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). It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54 card slot (in addition to a standard Type II/I PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a good offering of connectivity options:

• 3 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 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 ExpressCard/54 slot
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II, PCMCIA R2.01, PC Card16, CardBus)
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF digital audio out (for connecting to a home theater receiver for 5.1-channel surround sound)
• Memory Stick slot (supports optional Memory Stick and Memory Stick DUO media with MagicGate functionality)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (also compatible with MMC cards)

Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

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
Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E desktop measures 16.4 x 1.32 x 11.8 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 8.4 pounds.

Power
Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E is powered by the VGP-BPS2C rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 1.5 and 2.5 hours (depending on usage).

Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E Features

• Multimedia studio notebook with 17-inch screen and 1.66 GHz T5500 Core 2 Duo processor
• 160 GB hard drive, 2 GB installed RAM (max), multi-format/dual-layer DVD drive (8x DVD+/-R)
• Connectivity: 3 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, 1 HDMI output, S/PDIF audio output, ExpressCard 54 card slot, Memory Stick reader
• Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 video card with up to 335 MB shared video memory
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

 Sony VAIO VGN-AR320E Specifications

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

• Hardware Platform: PC
• Processor: 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo
• System Bus Speed: 667
• Number of Processors: 2
• RAM: 2000 MB
• RAM Type: DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive

• Size: 160 GB
• Manufacturer: Portable
• Type: Serial ATA

Graphics and Display

• LCD Native Resolution: 17

Ports and Connectivity

• Modem: Fax / modem

Cases and Expandability

• Size (LWH): 11.8 inches, 16.4 inches, 1.32 inches
• Weight: 8.4 pounds

Power

• Rated Charge (normal use): 2.5 hours

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