Sony VAIO K series

Summary: The Sony PCG-K45 has received mixed reviews since its $1400.00 introduction in March 2005. This hasn't harmed its reputation though; a year later, it's still #4 among the highest selling laptops in the US. The reason is obvious. This full-keyboard laptop with its "shiny" 17" wide WXGA screen, packs a powerful Pentium 4 processor, a fast, large hard drive, and enough room for 2 GBs of memory. There are 3 fast USB ports, a Sony memory stick reader/writer, a DVD/CD reader/writer, one firewire port, and built-in Wireless (that ALWAYS connects). The led's are located on the right hinge, so you always know what's going on whether the screen is open or closed. I've owned my machine for 10 months, and as my 6th laptop, I have finally found my true love. However, as in every relationship - no matter how wonderful - there are always those things you wish you could change, but know you can't. Such as the noisy processor fan. It's a good thing that this laptop has such a great pair of stereo speakers so that I can drown out the fan when watching a DVD movie. The battery is a sad, little joke that some Sony engineer must have concocted to get even with an evil boss; it is HUGE, but only holds a 30 minute charge. You'll have just enough time to read one or two eamils once you power-on this bohemoth. The built-in ATI Radeon graphics card is a lost cause; most of my favorite games either lock up the system or perform horribly. This is the most disappointing attribute of the laptop, and Sony should be ashamed of themselves. However, when compared to my Apple G5, applications such as Adobe Photoshop CS, Corel Draw, and AutoCAD LT run against each other 'neck and neck'. If the buyer keeps in mind that there is no such thing as a perfect love, the Sony PCG-K45 is the Cindy Crawford of laptops. Absolutely gorgeous in all the right places, but with that ugly mole you just can't seem to take your eye off of.

Summary: The power adapter I can get over. I can even endure the weight to lug the K15 around the city, or across the country and to other nations as I have done. The 'brite screen' is fab; and this computer has all the bells and whistles! Wireless, large hard drive, DVD recorder, Pentium 4 before everyone down graded themselves.
But the thing just WON'T WORK! It has to go back for service 3 times in year. In the amount of time that I have been out on the road; and the computer had to wait until I could return to ship it off (of which I had to pay) and unable to really use the computer. I would generously say that I have used the K15 a total of...3 months.
That really is unacceptable! I even bought a Sony digital camera, so I could take pictures and just move the duo stick from camera to Vaio. But I am unable to use it now.
What's more when I asked about all the repairs (all three are documented with Sony and me)and suggested that I reallt want to return it it I was sent to Sonystyle, who in turn said no because I didn't buy it from them, but from a store. Well, you can imageine what the store said? They too said no. But offered to send it in for repair.
I didn't buy an extended warrenty to actually have a relationship with the repair department...it was more like 'just in case'.
I am totally disappointed about this product. I have always purchased Sony, from my younger days with VHS tapes and machines and digital 8mm video and CD and DVD players (studio qulaity). Now? Once bitten, twice shy. If anyone has advice on how it get this computer refunde...I am all ears.