Sony VAIO VGN-NR280E/S 15.4-inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite

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Sony VAIO VGN-NR280E/S 15.4-inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite
 
41 FYrXzrwL. SL160  Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite
Manufacturer: Sony
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Product Description

Offering powerful computing resources at an affordable price, the Sony VAIO VGN-NR280E/S also makes a stylish statement with rounded corners and unique coloring. This Granite VAIO NR notebook features a matte silver hue that showcases the notebook's subtly textured chassis and clean lines. The widescreen 15.4-inch screen makes it easy to multitask in several open windows, or watch a DVD in its proper aspect ratio. And Sony's original XBRITE-ECO LCD technology delivers razor-sharp details and crisp, bold colors--all while conserving battery life. The instant AV Mode feature enables you to start watching a DVD or listening to music with the push of a single button--without having to boot up the system.

This notebook is powered by the 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 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. Other features include a roomy 200 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (4 GB maximum), tri-mode Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11a/b/g), multi-format/dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard 34 slot, and both Memory Stick and SD memory cart slots.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 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.

The Basics

  • Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor has a 1.66 GHz processor speed, fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 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.)

    With two computational execution cores in a single processor, it provides 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 200 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) provides more than enough capacity for storing a large audio and video library, as well as extra space required for video editing. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

  • Memory: The 1 GB of installed DDR2 RAM (PC5300, 2 x 512 MB DDR2, 667 MHz) is a good start, but you'll want to maximize the 4 GB RAM capacity to handle hungry productivity software and demanding multimedia. Also, to receive the 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, 5x for DVD-RAM, and 24x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.

  • Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 82-key keyboard (2mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch) and electro-static two-button touchpad.
Screen, Video & Audio
You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics and widescreen movies with the 15.4-inch WXGA high-definition screen, with its 1280 x 800-pixel resolution. The XBRITE-ECO technology delivers brilliant colors and stunning clarity with efficient power usage, and it features an anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection and ensure a beautifully clear image from any viewing angle.

Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up to 251 MB allocated from the system memory) and provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
The Intel PRO wireless LAN 3945ABG provides a tri-mode network connection (supporting 802.11a/b/g), with throughput up to 54 Mbps at 5 GHz (802.11a) and 2.4 GHz (802.11g). This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (no 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 connectivity options:

  • 4 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
  • Video output: 1 VGA
  • 1 ExpressCard/34 slot
  • Memory Stick/Memory Stick DUO slot (with MagicGate functionality)
  • Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards)
  • 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
  • Fast Ethernet port for a 10/100 connection
  • 56K modem (V.90/V.92)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

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 SE 9.0, Microsoft Office 2007 (60-day trial), Symantec Norton 360 All-In-One Security (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.2 x 10.6 x 1.5 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 6.2 pounds.

Power
It's powered by the VGP-BPS9/B rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of between 2.5 and 4.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-NR280E/S notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty, and Sony offers 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance.

Product Details

  • Stylish, affordable notebook in silvery granite for everyday computing with widescreen 15.4-inch screen
  • 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor, 200 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM (4 GB max), 8x multi-format/dual-layer DVD drive
  • Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Intel X3100 video card with up to 251 MB of shared memory
  • Connectivity: 4 USB, 1 FireWire, ExpressCard 34 slot, Memory Stick & SD readers
  • Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Video Reviews

television Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) GraniteNo video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Average Computer
 
Review Date: July 14, 2009
Reviewer: James Herndon,
So just right from the start I can tell you that this laptop is not worth the price. For $900 you can get a laptop with twice as good specs from dell. The couple of good things about this laptop that I will say are that the screen is amazing (videos look extremely good), and the exterior and keyboard are awesome. Now here are the numerous bad things I have to say...
First off when I bought the laptop the listing said it came with a webcam and mic which I found out wasn't true. I decided to keep it anyway and it held up well for about 4 months until the power socket broke and I couldn't charge it. Sony made me pay $100 claiming that it was my fault that the computer was broken. The usb plugs and cd rom have also given me a lot of trouble along with a clicking sound that Sony was supposed to fix when I sent it back in. Lastly and most importantly the battery is TERRIBLE!!! If you are watching a movie it literally will only last about 45 minutes MAX! Also it sort of overheats occasionally and i have to flip it over to let it cool. Overall I don't recommend this laptop to anyone unless you just want the "Sony" name.
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite GREAT LAPTOP FOR THE PRICE
 
Review Date: May 1, 2009
Reviewer: Michael L. Fincher,
I purchased this laptop for my wife to use at college and she loves it.The only draw back was I wanted to roll it back to windows XP and contacted sony before hand and they said it had all the right drivers to do so,but found out later that you have to purchase a external floppy drive to make the changes to the bios.I hated vista when it came out but am getting use to it since they have fixed alot of the issues with stability.
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Greatest investment I've made in a long time!
 
Review Date: March 30, 2009
Reviewer: Debra L. Kirby,
This is the first computer/laptop I've had at home and I love it! I take it every where with me. I'm new to a lot of it, but Sony support is great! I love all the features on this laptop, including the texture (doesn't get scratched or full of fingerprints), and the keyboard is so nice. Wasn't sure if I would get used to it, because the keys or more 'flat' than the kind at work. I love it! Got used to it right away, and it has a very light touch. It doesn't get overheated; doesn't even get warm after having it on for a few hours.... but I will still buy an external fan to set it on to make sure the performance stays forever! A definite keeper!
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Laptop
 
Review Date: March 13, 2009
Reviewer: Anna Eppel, Nizhnii Novgorod, Russia
Excelent! Very good quality! Very good battery! I like it very much! Using it every day!

I recommend it to all buyers!

Thank you very much!
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Hopefully the Geek Squad will be able to bring this back...
 
Review Date: March 10, 2009
Reviewer: Adam Sims, Kentucky
I've had this laptop for over a year. It's pretty fast, even though it has that crappy Vista on it. The only qualm I ever had with it was if you put it on sleep the wireless stopped working, and you had to reset the whole system to activate it again.

But last Sunday, I suddenly got the blue screen of death, and since then it won't turn on. I sent it to Best Buy, and of course, as most electronics go, it broke down just after the warrenty expired, so it's going to cost me tons of money JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT, NOT TO EVEN REPAIR IT. I have tons of music on there, so I'm worried about that, but what I'm worried about most of all is a file that is probably not even 1 MB big, and that is my next novel. I never backed it up.

So just be cautious whenever you buy expensive electronics like these, and take good care of them.

Update: It's okay, and it only cost me $35 to fix it. It was a defective memory slot, but my computer can still run fine.
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Nice
 
Review Date: February 27, 2009
Reviewer: Imran Omar Bukhsh, Dubai, U.A.E. United Arab Emirates
I found this to be the best looking and most sleak laptop in its price range in the market. Toshiba have better options at this price but those laptops look old. Hp i couldnt find anything in this price range, except for comaq offered pretty good stuff, but again not as sleek and new looks. After checking a lot of Hp laptops I found out that Hp Laptops dont have as bright and clear screens as sony and toshiba have to offer. I needed a laptop to show my websites to my clients as I am a web developer so I needed a better screen so Hp was totally out of the question. I also need to build credibility with clients and wanted to stand out so I went for Sony Laptop.



Let me say I am really suprised by its perfomce. Aero works fine and so does the rest of vista. Some times it takes some time for some screens to load, but is bearable as the vista visual experience is great and keeps you hooked. The laptop is amazingly quiet, cant hear anything. Its very slim and sleak and looks very good. The white one was not avilable so I had to go for the grey, I wouldnt say the silver texture on it is top notch, but its the best looks you can get in the price. The silver is not as metallic and shiny, but still looks good. As for the RAM is only 1GB on this one but it is perfoming pretty alrite.

Yes there is a lot of blotware but didnt bug me a lot till now ( Its just my second day using this pc, havent done a lot than watched a few websites and typed and checked out vista ).

Very nice vertical and horozontal viewing angles. The laptop does take some time to start up. It is light and sleek. Does have a DVD RW. Sound is great too.

With this Sony Laptop you are getting alright performances at a good price. I would like to list some of the prices in the same category. This laptop cost me AED. 3000, while a similar thing (feature wise) in Toshiba and Comaq was for AED. 2300. So i was willing to pay AED. 700 more for its looks and screen. The keyboard is nice. Its just my second day with the laptop so there is still more to experience.

Like 5 months later
-------------------
Its going good. Yes I wish for more Ram though. Although I bought this laptop only for presentational purposes, I have only once used it to edit some of my files using Photoshop, Dreameaver and Flash at the same time. It was slow ofcourse. Over all the laptop is slow. Visa experience is alright. The screen is bright and everything else is ok.

A month later
-------------
I was trying to do some bit of programming on the laptop so I was looking at the screen for a while. The screen's contrast was set too low ( realized after using it a while ) and I couldn't help it. There was no button to adjust the contrast also. You can adjust only the brightness. So I tilted the screen further backward and everything was A ok. So you have to tilt the screen a bit to get the right contrast you need. This thing is with all other laptops too. Horizontal viewing and screen brightness are amazing as always. Anyway, Sony screens are still the best!
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite faulty adaptor
 
Review Date: November 6, 2008
Reviewer: Jian Lin, San Diego, CA USA
Bought this 6 month ago but the ac adaptor went bad two times already. For the first time sony replaced it. Now when the second one failed, I was told that I have to buy the adaptor myself. It is a shame sony can't get the ac adaptor right.
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Best bargain available?
 
Review Date: September 2, 2008
Reviewer: Alejandro, Paris
The Sony VAIO VGN-NR270N/S does not come with many of the fancy things laptops bring today (no integrated camera, bluetooth, etc), so it won't be appealing to many. But it is the only way to have an incredible Intel Core 2 Duo Processor if you only have 600$. If you install 4 gb ram for another 100$, you have right there a top pc for the years to come without spending a fortune.
A big plus: wow, sony screens are the best
A big minus: It really has an awful amount of crapware loaded, as other reviews say. So do not hope to be enjoying the first day, you will spend it with the remove programs utility.
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Great value laptop
 
Review Date: July 28, 2008
Reviewer: L. Dalton,
The set up was easy and the laptop video display is very crisp. This unit may not be the best choice for those wanting the top of the line performance and features, but it does provide a great value for performance ratio for anyone who needs a laptop for everyday use.
user comment Sony VAIO VGN NR280E/S 15.4 inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Granite Great computer once you take off half the built-in software.
 
Review Date: July 13, 2008
Reviewer: C. DANIEL, ORANGE COUNTY, CA
Great computer at a very reasonable price. It took me a couple of days to erase everything that came 'stock' and replace it with software that worked and didn't look like a bad video-game. Everything was a 'free-trial' that would eventually quit and try to get you to buy it. Great computer polluted with garbage! Resolution is awesome. Sets up wireless network connection really easily.

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