Sony VAIO C1MW PictureBook Notebook (867 MHz Crusoe TM5800, 256 MB DDR RAM, 30 GB hard drive

Amazon.com Product Description

Weighing in at a barely there 2.2 pounds and sporting a super-slim yet durable 1.2-by-9.9-by-6-inch magnesium alloy case, the Vaio C1MW PictureBook is considerably smaller than an average notebook. Nonetheless, this sleek offering from Sony is a powerful and truly versatile digital workhorse.

Driven by an 867 MHz low-heat Crusoe processor with 512 KB of Level 2 cache, and sporting 256 MB of RAM, the C1MW is ready to handle most any standard notebook application. Its 30 GB hard drive is roomy enough for all your mobile programs, including the pre-installed editions of Microsoft Windows XP, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Word 2002, and RealNetworks Real Entertainment suite. And its 8 MB ATI Mobility Radeon-M graphics chip will capably display all but the most graphically intense games and entertainment software on the system's big and bright 8.9-inch UW-SXGA TFT viewing screen.

The C1MW features many perks of larger notebooks, including an 86-key keyboard, a stick-type pointing device with scroll function and jog dial, a single USB jack, an integrated microphone, V.90 modem, and stereo speakers. Due to its diminutive size the unit features several external accessories, including a port replicator box with VGA-out and 10/100 Ethernet connections, an AV-out for viewing and recording digital images from a DVD player or VCR, and an additional USB jack. Its CD-ROM drive is also external and therefore somewhat less convenient than a comparable internal unit, but that's one of the few concessions you'll have to make for this level of portability.

The PictureBook is not just a computer--it's a video recorder too. Using its concealed 180-degree-rotating Motion Eye CCD camera, you'll capture all your favorite or important moments as still images or MPEG2 mini-movies. Furthermore, the C1MW allows you to quickly and easily store and transfer your digital image and data files to a desktop computer or other device via its MagicGate Memory Stick slot. Sony has also enclosed a variety of multimedia applications to make managing your personal video environment even easier.

Ideal for those who require maximum mobility, the Sony Vaio C1MW PictureBook is proof that good things do indeed come in very small packages.

Product Description

As the world increasingly demands more from technology, Sony is taking the lead by focusing on a total convergence of the information Technology and Audio-Visual arenas. This is encapsulated in the world VAIO - an acronym for Video Audio Integrated Operation. The VAIO World is a world of possibility. A world where innovative digital products interact seamlessly and link into existing environments. A world where the once separate spheres of audio and video, computing and communications integrate and offer users the ideal combination of form, functionality, connectivity and service.Far more than just a notebook, the Sony VAIO C1 PictureBook has an integrated digital camera to enhance your work and leisure time, beyond even your wildest expectations.

Customer Reviews:

Wonder toy with Sony Fallacies.......2003-12-22

I got this device mainly for it's lightweight and compact design for use on business trips and vacations overseas. The features that I think are nice are bluetooth, firewire port, and memory stick slot. It also has two USB ports, 100 Base-T Ethernet, modem, and Wi-Fi (using extended I/O adapter and Wi-Fi PC Card). The camera is fun too.

The annoying thing about this and other VIAOs is that is comes pre-installed with an avalanche of useless software whose shortcuts blind the view of the desktop. These programs make the system performance come to a crawl and make the OS unstable.

There is only a restore CD to re-install the same unstable and sloth-like configuration. I managed though to install WinXP Pro on another partition that I created using PartitionMagic, and got substantial performance gains, but at the expense of some features like the camera.

Some might complain about the choice of processor by Sony, but I manage fine for web development (Apache web server, mySQL, Tomcat, Mozilla, DreamWeaver, Flash), shell, WSH, and perl scripting (Cygwin, ActiveState, Komodo), and programming with .Net, C++, and Java (Eclipse, CodeWarrior, jEdit). I also use it to do reports and presentations for college using Office documents with OpenOffice. It's not a speed demon by any means, but without the junk that Sony bundles, the performance is adequate.

reneesmith505.......2002-11-10

reneesmith505
u sounds like an inexperienced user. most problems u described can be easily resolved.

Problems ..........2002-10-26

After extensive research, I selected the picturebook for its light wight and features (built in digital camera/video cam & the cd-rw/dvd player). While I love the size, the items on the screen are SO tiny. Second, the system seems really slow. Also, I had problems including this Windows XP onto my home network because Microsoft doesn't include the cd and you can't burn a network disk to a cd but only a memory stick, which I don't have. Even the network setup floppy from another machine doesn't work with my other computer that has Windows 2000. Finally, the cd player doesn't work, and Sony wants me to return the computer for repair. I think I am just going to return the system.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics