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Customer Reviews for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
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Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Model: VGN-FZ430E/B
SKU: 8784381
UPC: 027242733091
Stay connected to the Web at Wi-Fi hotspots for streaming Web media and downloads via this powerful laptop's 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN. Watch your favorite DVD movie on the 15.4" widescreen using the double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW drive.Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 preloaded Which Windows Vista edition is right for you? Compare.Learn more about the Intel Brains processor technology rating. Information provided by Intel.See how XBRITE technology affects picture quality.
Average Customer Rating:
4.3
out of 5
(13 Reviews) 13
Rating Snapshot 13 reviews
5 stars
7
4 stars
4
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
1 star
0
85% of customers would recommend this product to a friend
(
11 out of
13)
Customer Reviews for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Review 1 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
SICKNESS
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: BFong
on 06/29/2008
"One of the most aggervating things about this computer is that while you are typing it removes you from the screen you are in. Sometimes you can migrate back to it and sometimes you can't so you have to constantly copy and save what you are writing. I've had many laptop computers and this is the only one it happens with.
To back my story up friends who use my computer also share the same issue and it frustrates them as well."
What's great about it: LOTS
What's not so great: LITTLE
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 2 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Great Purchase
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: sonyuser3
on 06/19/2008
I do a lot on my computer e.g. programming, burning movies and converting file formats and overall this computer has been great. I love the sleek feeling, although I wish they had a 13.3 or 14.1 in. screen. Great for the money I payed. Screen looks great and is good to just look at. Media Player is easy to use and the Wi-fi is easy to set up. I run VMware in Linux and XP and they do great. Definitely recommend this to anyone.
What's great about it: Sleek design, great with service pack on Vista, fast with 3 GB of RAM
What's not so great: D/C power jack too close to the CD/DVD Drive, not enough USB ports
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 3 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
A solid machine
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: bleutropix
from Honolulu, HI
on 06/18/2008
I purchased this computer almost a month ago when my $1200 Toshiba (of less than 2 years) crapped out on me and CompUSA's takeover company lost my records for the replaceable warranty that I paid nearly $600 for. All this happened during my final week of college.
After 2 Toshibas, I was ready to try something else. When I saw this Vaio go on sale for $850, I knew it was a steal for the specs that it offered. Not convinced that Vista was better than XP, I took the chance anyway because of the roomy 3gigs of ram and 250gb HDD. Glad I did, because this machine runs Vista and all my regular apps really, really fast. Bootup time is less than a minute. I'm a heavy music/video user, so the external controls are a must (too bad not all Vaio's have external controls like other lower end brands). The media iPod-like "wheel" controls are solid. The speakers are a downgrade compared to my Toshiba's Harmon-Kardon speakers...the sound isn't that bad, but the volume is way too low. So I use external speakers or headphones.
The screen is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen on any laptop. It truly is amazing, and there's no flex at all to it. Coming from a 14.1", the 15.4" feels a little big but the relative thinness of the case makes up for that. The keyboard is nicely spaced out, however the 'backspace' and 'enter' keys seem a tad loose. Wish it had 4 USB ports instead of 3, it would've been nice to have one located on the back. The powerjack is too close to the DVD-drive. Can't say too much about the battery life since it's been plugged in most of the time.
The only thing annoyingly wrong with this laptop, and Sony Vaios in general is the bloatware and AOL software that comes bundled in. You can't even change the default homepage on IE7 because it'll revert back to Sony-AOL's homepage when you reboot. I don't want to do a clean install so I made the permanent switch to Firefox. Overall, this is a solid machine...well built, fast, silent, and aesthetically pleasing in a minimalist way. Highly recommended!
What's great about it: well built, $850, 3gb ram, best screen i've ever seen
What's not so great: cannot get rid of AOL/Sony homepage, no usb port on back, location of powerjack, sound
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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Review 4 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Good Price
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: geekm
on 06/16/2008
I thought this was my dream laptop. It had all the features I was looking for and was simple to use. Vista was somewhat slow for my liking. What really stinks is the warranty coverage. It does not cover any screen damage even if it occurs within the first year of purchase, when the manufacturer's warranty applies. The extended protection plan offered by Best Buy is almost a third of the price of the laptop. This covers for accidental screen damage. Hope this review is helpful.
What's great about it: Nice sound and graphics
What's not so great: Lousy screen design and warranty coverage
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-1point
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Review 5 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Best Laptop I Have Ever Owned
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: FinallySONY
on 06/08/2008
I knew I was in for a treat when I took this baby out of the box. All I could say was, Wow. Overall, I feel this is the best laptop I have ever owned. I have always wanted a Vaio and now I have one! The ECO X-BRITE screen is the best, I MEAN THE BEST I have ever seen. You won't find a brighter, clearer, or more detailed LCD on any other laptop.
Nothing feels or looks cheap on this computer. To me, HP's look gaudy. They got all those blue lights all over the place above the keyboard for their media controls. It looks like an airport runway.
Gateways feel and look cheap. And the two HP's I previously owned had warps in the lid. They seem to be geared primarily for familes. This is more of a professional looking computer. I love how thin it is. I love the silver magnesium alloy case, instead of cheap plastic.
The speakers are not the best, but not the worst either. The biggest complaint is they are just not loud enough. But I really like the design of the Media Control buttons which have a big volume control on them. (Brushed metal ipod-looking wheel at the top right corner. )
The only faults I could find were in the placement of the power cord and the webcam. The power cord is too close to the DVD tray, but it's not that big a deal.
Now, I'm only going to mention the webcam because I use it a lot for taking pics, video chatting, and keeping a video diary. As far as the Motion Eye goes...do yourself a favor and buy an external notebook cam.
The Motion Eye webcam works okay for still pics at 1.3 MP but the color could be more vibrant. It has something of a green tinge to it. It DOES NOT work well in low lighting either. The video has awful resolution. Just dark and fuzzy. Not worth even using. The last HP I had was not even 1.3 MP on stills, but the colors were awesome and the video was much cleaner. Either way, it does not mean enough to not choose this beautiful machine by any stretch of the imagination. Web cams are cheap!
On a positive note, this laptop is VERY quiet. I never had one this silent.
Hard disk space is more than adequate. 3GB RAM is great and you can upgrade to 4GB.
The cover with the large metallic VAIO trademark on it tells everyone you were smart enough to buy a Sony. :)
Nothing feels or looks cheap on this computer. To me, HP's look gaudy. They got all those blue lights all over the place above the keyboard for their media controls. It looks like an airport runway.
Gateways feel and look cheap. And the two HP's I previously owned had warps in the lid. They seem to be geared primarily for familes. This is more of a professional looking computer. I love how thin it is. I love the silver magnesium alloy case, instead of cheap plastic.
The speakers are not the best, but not the worst either. The biggest complaint is they are just not loud enough. But I really like the design of the Media Control buttons which have a big volume control on them. (Brushed metal ipod-looking wheel at the top right corner. )
The only faults I could find were in the placement of the power cord and the webcam. The power cord is too close to the DVD tray, but it's not that big a deal.
Now, I'm only going to mention the webcam because I use it a lot for taking pics, video chatting, and keeping a video diary. As far as the Motion Eye goes...do yourself a favor and buy an external notebook cam.
The Motion Eye webcam works okay for still pics at 1.3 MP but the color could be more vibrant. It has something of a green tinge to it. It DOES NOT work well in low lighting either. The video has awful resolution. Just dark and fuzzy. Not worth even using. The last HP I had was not even 1.3 MP on stills, but the colors were awesome and the video was much cleaner. Either way, it does not mean enough to not choose this beautiful machine by any stretch of the imagination. Web cams are cheap!
On a positive note, this laptop is VERY quiet. I never had one this silent.
Hard disk space is more than adequate. 3GB RAM is great and you can upgrade to 4GB.
The cover with the large metallic VAIO trademark on it tells everyone you were smart enough to buy a Sony. :)
What's great about it: The screen! It is the best I have ever seen/used. Magnesium alloy case, slick looking, thin, solidly built, fast
What's not so great: Lots of bloatware, power cord is too close to the DVD drive, web cam could use some improvements
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 6 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Sony Laptop
Customer Rating
2.0
Posted by: Berzin
from Leander, TX
on 06/05/2008
One of the most aggervating things about this computer is that while you are typing it removes you from the screen you are in. Sometimes you can migrate back to it and sometimes you can't so you have to constantly copy and save what you are writing. I've had many laptop computers and this is the only one it happens with.
To back my story up friends who use my computer also share the same issue and it frustrates them as well.
What's great about it: Fast
What's not so great: too many to list
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-2points
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Review 7 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Good overall
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: wnp293
on 05/31/2008
agree with most of the good reviews. It is an overall good laptop.
The enter key, back space and back slash key seem to be loose. I brought it back. The salesperson agreed and let me exchange for a new one. but it is the same. I just keep it.
The enter key, back space and back slash key seem to be loose. I brought it back. The salesperson agreed and let me exchange for a new one. but it is the same. I just keep it.
What's great about it: Quick, bright, light and quiet
What's not so great: Slow to boot. Enter key and backspace key
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 8 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Excellent Computer
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: SamInGA
from Atlanta
on 05/26/2008
Overal this is an excellent computer. I've owned a Vaio before about 6 - 8 years ago and loved it, so opted for a Sony to replace my current Toshiba model. The screen will blow you away - excellent picture. Wi-fi was very easy to set up. I wish it had one more USB port and that they were placed more toward the back rather than front of the computer. I like the volume control on the computer - very convenient. Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase.
What's great about it: screen, keyboard, wi-fi, processor, memory, bluetooth
What's not so great: only 3 USB ports
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 9 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Great Investment
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: bez1985
on 05/22/2008
I'm really enjoying this computer alot, ever since I got it I've had no problems at all. The keys are easy at touch too so you barely got to press them to type.
What's great about it: Runs fast, Thin design
What's not so great: None
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 10 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
EXCELLENT LAPTOP
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: dretti78
from ca
on 05/15/2008
Bought this laptop 3 days ago . I spotted it on the bestbuy website check the availablity , then rish to the store. everything in this laptop is awesome ( silent , sleek look , keyboard are well placed , speakers are pretty decent .. all in all it is a great deal for the money.
What's great about it: EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH IT
What's not so great: NON SO FAR
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 11 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
It's worth it!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Alraven
from Ohio
on 05/03/2008
I have had it for about three months and I am very happy with it. It is very silent and runs fast. I do a lot of photography edition and some video edition and I just have fun with it. Of course the 3 GB of memory plus the fast processor make my laptop a super F1 car. I'm loving it!
What's great about it: Fast
What's not so great: None
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 12 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Great Laptop for Entertainment
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Anonymous
from Fort Lee
on 04/30/2008
Style: minimalistic, simple with business sophistication.
CPU/Memory/Hard drive: very capable for business applications.
Graphic Card: this is the only weakness without a dedicated memory; however, 3 GB of main memory helps a little on running PC games.
Portability: very easy to carry. It is lighter and thinner than most of the 15.4" laptops on the market.
Recommendation: I upgraded my with a 7200rpm hard drive and reinstalled it w/ Window XP to improve the performance.
CPU/Memory/Hard drive: very capable for business applications.
Graphic Card: this is the only weakness without a dedicated memory; however, 3 GB of main memory helps a little on running PC games.
Portability: very easy to carry. It is lighter and thinner than most of the 15.4" laptops on the market.
Recommendation: I upgraded my with a 7200rpm hard drive and reinstalled it w/ Window XP to improve the performance.
What's great about it: Portable and stylish 15.4" laptop; surprisingly thin.
What's not so great: Weak graphic card
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 13 for Sony VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Silver
Super! Super! Amazing Laptop!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Diakonos
from Miami, FL
on 04/18/2008
I am one of the first to purchace this laptop computer. I really had to hunt it donwn, once I heard about it, and I have to say it was worth it. Let me make it simple:
Amazing 15.4 inch bliliant color and brightness, smooth gloss like display.
250 gig harddrive
3 gig's or ram
DVD & CD Burned
1.83 GHz processer
Listen you have got to see this in person and try it out in the store is truly stand out in every way. Just imagin taking you laptop combining it with and HDTV, nice sound system and adding a DVD multimedia device lastly add a turbo booster.
I am holding back all of the great things that I want to say because I think you will be tired of reading about it. Proud to be the first about this amazing product, it truly sets the standard!
Amazing 15.4 inch bliliant color and brightness, smooth gloss like display.
250 gig harddrive
3 gig's or ram
DVD & CD Burned
1.83 GHz processer
Listen you have got to see this in person and try it out in the store is truly stand out in every way. Just imagin taking you laptop combining it with and HDTV, nice sound system and adding a DVD multimedia device lastly add a turbo booster.
I am holding back all of the great things that I want to say because I think you will be tired of reading about it. Proud to be the first about this amazing product, it truly sets the standard!
What's great about it: Strong features. Strong Frame. Beautiful Display
What's not so great: No HDMI Output
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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