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"The Cindy Crawford of Laptops!" on by bd_gordon
Pros: Super Fast, Feature-Rich, and Solid
Cons: GIGANTIC AC Adapter, Low Battery Life
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.
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"Totally Disappointed!" on by G229
Pros: Great Screen size and brightness, 60Gb hard drive, with wireless. Geat paper weight.
Cons: Heavy, power adapter way too big, restore disk is useless
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. -
"Embarrassing Battery Life" on by mdr319
Pros: Screen, packed with extras
Cons: I get 30 mins on a full battery charge
Summary: I read all the reviews before buying this machine but i made the stupid mistake of not listening to the masses. Sure this thing is full of features, but with a 30-45 minute battery, you might as well get a desktop. If you have to stay within 9 feet of a power outlet, get a desktop for half the price with twice the features. When i start with a new battery, it says 3 hrs remaining.... About 20 minutes later it says "20 minutes remaining" and within a half hour from starting with a fully charged battery, i'm done. write me if you have questions.... I'm totally disappointed with this disaster...
michael_d_rees@yahoo.com -
"K17 - Worst computer I've ever owned" on by luxuria
Pros: Nice screen
Cons: Unreliable, power problems, poor customer service, nightmare voice recognition system on the support line
Summary: 3 or 4 months after I bought this machine, it started to overheat and then shut itself down. Sending the machine in for repair took about 7-10 days. A few months after I got it back, it died again. It wouldn't turn on.
The next service took another 7-10 days and this time they wiped out my hard drive.
The machine worked for another month or two and then died again with the same problem.
This time I asked for a new machine. They sent a refurbished machine after about another 7-10 days and would only give me 6 months warranty on it (and initially only offered 3.)
The AC adapter looked dusty and dirty. When I plugged it in, it was broken. The computer had no way to be charged.
They offered to ship another adapter, but I don't think this is acceptable. They seem to have quality control problems.
Getting to support was difficult because it instructs you to get the model number from the bottom. The bottom has a model number, but it doesn't match the model that's on the inside. If you give the one on the bottom, the voice system will tell you the machine is out of warranty and leave you no way to reach a human.
I've sent snail mail to the CEO of Sony but had no response.
This is the worst piece of electronic equipment I've ever bought. Not recommended. -
"Heavy, Low Battery, but what a screen!!!" on
Pros: Love the screen (15.4 in of perfect color), great for movies, games, surfing. The DVD RW works great. Roomy HD, and I really like the PictureGear software, great photo organizer
Cons: Yes, it is heavy, battery life is poor. I travel the world and have alway been able to find a plug to get juice in airports, and who really works on a plane these days. Click to DVD software poor.
Sony VAIO K series user reviews
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