Sony VAIO VGN-AR590E

When it comes to entertainment, only a few notebooks can touch the VAIO VGN-AR590E, Sony's latest all-in-one high-def dynamo. Featuring Intel's speedy Next Generation Centrino processor, a powerful Nvidia graphics card, a massive 320GB hard drive for storing gobs of photos, music, and video, plus an integrated Blu-ray drive that writes as well as reads, the VGN-AR590E is a worthy desktop replacement for multimedia mavens willing to make the $3,299 splurge.
 
At 8.4 pounds, this system is a bit heavy but easy to move from room to room. We recommend you place this VAIO where it can be seen when guests drop by. The VGN-AR590E is a model of minimalist elegance, sporting a glossy, piano-black finish highlighted by silver trim. Just be sure a polishing cloth is handy; the notebook lid picks up fingerprints in a hurry. The machine's wide base offers ample space for comfortably positioning your hands when typing on the roomy keyboard. We like that the keys are low to the base, similar to the Apple MacBook, and that they offer solid, responsive tactile feedback.
 
The touchpad is a bit on the small side, which is surprising for a machine this size. That minor gripe pales in comparison to the horrendous placement of the mouse buttons, however; they reside awkwardly on the very edge of the front bezel. Above the keyboard sit shortcut buttons and the typical volume controls found on most multimedia machines. These controls include the handy AV Mode button, which allows for fast access to the SonicStage Media player, Windows Media Center, the integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam (which takes decent snaps), and the WinDVD Blu-ray player.
 
Featuring a supercrisp 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution display, this 17-incher delivers true 1080p eye candy. Non-HD content also benefits from the superior XBrite HiColor display; we enjoyed sharp images and vibrant colors, in addition to plenty of real estate for editing documents or working in multiple windows. The twin speakers offered surprisingly robust audio when playing movies and music.
 
To test the display's mettle, we popped in the Blu-ray version of Flags of Our Fathers. The blacks and shadows were dark and rich, and scenes filmed outdoors in sunlight took on an almost lifelike quality. When we outputted the signal to a 32-inch Dell HDTV using an HDMI cable, we enjoyed lots of fine detail, especially in the actors' faces.
 
The VGN-AR590E, like the VGN-AR190G before it, is capable of burning content to Blu-ray discs using Ulead's BD DiscRecorder software, albeit at a slow 2X clip. With the growing number of high-definition camcorders that have dipped below $1,000, such as Sony's own HDR-UX5 AVCHD, shooting and archiving HD footage is easier than ever.
 
TV fanatics will appreciate the bundled ATI TV Wonder tuner that accepts CableCards, allowing users to access their subscription digital-cable channels without the need for a set-top box. Note that this will require a visit from a cable-provider technician and involves an installation fee. Windows Media Center, which is included within the Vista Home Premium OS, acts as a DVR, letting users record and catalog favorite TV programs to the dual 160GB hard drives. Sony bundles a standard, nondockable remote for when you want to kick back and relax.
 
Clearly, Sony didn't skimp on the VGN-AR590E's core components, as the 2-GHz T7300 Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of RAM combined to deliver a strong PCMark05 score of 4,909. Gamers will be happy to hear that the notebook is a true polygon pusher; the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card produced a silky 81 frames per second on F.E.A.R. using the autodetect settings. After bumping the specs up to their maximum settings, the game still moved along at a smooth 42 fps.
 
We were unable to get a reliable battery rundown score for this preproduction model, as it kept freezing up during our Finding Nemo DVD. But the company claims up to three hours with Wi-Fi off under normal usage. Wireless performance over 802.11n, however, was also good for this notebook; we measured data throughput of 19.7 Mbps from 15 feet away from our access point, and 18.2 Mbps from 50 feet.
 
The VGN-AR590E offers plenty of connectivity options, including PC Card and ExpressCard slots, as well as S-Video, FireWire, and HDMI ports. Many of these ports are hidden away by the notebook's silver trim, which pops out in certain locations to reveal the connectors.
 
In addition to the Ulead video-editing software, Sony includes a 60-day trial of Norton Internet Security 2007, Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0, Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0, and Sony's own LocationFree software for place-shifting TV and other video content over the Web (if you purchase a $199 LocationFree Base Station). You get a one-year limited warranty, along with a year's worth of 24/7 toll-free technical support.
 
If you're willing to stomach the $3,299 price tag, the Sony VAIO VGN-AR590E is a fantastic multimedia notebook. The tiny mouse buttons are annoying, but this is a high-definition entertainment system with style and power to spare.