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Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR490JCN : Review

Posted to Notebooks 2010-03-07

Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR490JCN Champagne Gold: Review

If you are on a quest for a new notebook and feel lost in the sea of models that are available, then you may want to check out the Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR490JCN Champagne Gold. With the right combination of style, performance and portability, the Sony VGN-SR490JCN may just be able to meet all your needs and more. Encased in a champagne gold shell and equipped with a wealth of security features that can help you keep your data safe and secure, this notebook can meet all your needs and help you look good while doing even the most mundane of tasks. Equipped with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, this notebook can go anywhere so you can work and play no matter where life may take you.

Weighing in at about 4.39 lbs when equipped with a standard battery, the Sony VGN-SR490JCN is Energy Star certified which is rapidly becoming the norm among all notebook manufacturers. This model comes complete with an Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 2.10 GHz Processor with 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, Bluetooth, and the ATI Mobility Radeon Graphics Card with 512MB of dedicated RAM which goes to show that this model is anything but your average notebook. This notebook also comes equipped with the Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100AGN with 802.11 a/b/g/n capabilities that allows you to stay connected regardless of where life may take you.

Rating:

4.2 out of 5

Features

The Sony VGN-SR490JCN measures 12.4" x 1.33" x 9.2" and comes equipped with a 13.3" LED backlit XBRITE-ECO display with a 1280 x 800 resolution. Although the 13" screen may seem small when compared to its much larger larger siblings, the XBRITE-ECO technology allows this notebook to delivers deeper blacks, brighter whites and true to life, razor sharp details without the added bulk that it's much larger counterparts can provide. When combined with the ATI graphics card, this feature allows the notebook to provide quality video performance without being a battery hog.

Like other models in the Sony SR series, the Sony VGN-SR490JCN also offers users the "Switch" Your Perspective feature. It allows the user to preset three different personalities or settings on one notebook. This gives you the ability to make your notebook look professional for those all important business presentations, and casual or just plain funky for when you are chilling out or just having fun with friends.

If you are always on the go and fear that your data or other personal information may be at risk, you will be happy to know that the Sony VGN-SR490JCN comes standard with its own suite of security hardware. This notebook is equipped with a biometric fingerprint sensor and hard disk protection software which, once set, only provides authorized users with access to your information. The biometric feature also gives you the option save all your passwords for all the sites that you most commonly visit making authentication quick and easy.

The Sony VGN-SR490JCN also features a decent amount of ports for a notebook of this size. It comes with 2 USB ports, a DC-in port, VGA output, headphone jack, microphone jack, an Ethernet port, a standard phone jack and a HDMI output. The notebook also equipped with a quiet keyboard which is made up of individual keys that are raised above a solid, one piece layer. This setup is different than what is commonly found on competitor's notebooks which is what allows the keys to be so quiet.

Performance

Battery life on the Sony VGN-SR490JCN performs quite well given all the features that this notebook provides. When equipped with a standard battery, life span is estimated to range up to 6 hours. If you need more time, and don't mind adding a little extra weight to your notebook, upgrading to the larger capacity battery will give you up to 9 hours of battery life. Extensive use of graphics intensive programs can affect battery life so keep it in mind when on the go.

Summary

In conclusion, the Sony VGN-SR490JCN offers users a lot of power and functionality in a stylish yet portable package. With its Energy Star certification, this notebook allows you to do your part for the planet while giving you the ability to store multiple "personalities" that can make this notebook uniquely you. If the size of the screen is not a major concern to you when choosing a notebook, then the Sony VGN-SR490JCN may just be the one for you.

Pros

Energy Star certified
13.3 inch LED Backlit XBRITE-ECO LCD with 1280 x 800 resolution
6 hrs battery life at normal usage with standard battery
"Switch" Your Perspective functionality
Biometric Fingerprint Scanner

Cons

There are no cons for this product