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The
16.1-in Sony Vaio PCG-GRX670 is a Big step towards abandoning
your desktop.
by Zack Bryce, Tech Lab Manager
A
key element for any notebook to be considered for desktop replacement
is the human input devices; namely the keyboard and mouse control. Sony
has generally had very good keyboards on their notebooks and the Vaio
GRX670 has a very good touch responsive one too, even though it seemed
to have a cheap plastic sound when you typed. We couldn’t find
a specific reason for the “cheap plastic” sound, perhaps
it’s just an acoustic anomaly of the case design.
On the left side is a convenient digital media slot,
but only if you use Sony's Memory Stick. Sony, please adopt CF or SD
flash!
The Touchpad, two mouse buttons and Sony’s now familiar Jog Dial are first class. There is amply surface area to the Touchpad area for great control of the mouse and the buttons are well placed for fast clicking and access to right button contextual menus. If you like the Jog Dial concept, the Vaio GRX670’s has a good feel and it gives you access to many different functions. It does take some getting use to, if you’re not “experienced” with the Jog Dial.
One area that this Sony will blow you away with is the impressive software bundle that comes with the Vaio GRX670, it is on par with the best any other PC maker offer and actually all of the them put together. No, we’re not exaggerating because it includes Vaio Movies (with Adobe Premier LE), a three pack of Audio apps and a triplet of Photo titles; all of which will make even Apple blanch.
We decided to leave
the worst to last, the Vaio GRX670’s overall size. Obviously, you
are just not going to squeeze a 16.1-inch display into a small surface
area, but does it have to be so thick and heavy is the question?
The Vaio GRX670 is 11.5 x 14 x 1.8-inches thick and it weighs in at 8.31
lbs on our postal scale. Why can’t the PC notebook manufacturers
take “thinning” lessons from Apple’s 1-inch thick G4
PowerBooks?
The
Bottom Line
Sony’s Vaio GRX670 is a great notebook to use at a desk, traveling
with it will be a chore only Arnold Schwartzenegger will find acceptable.
“I’ll be busting my back”. So we can live with the heft,
the array of ports and a very good usable DVD “Super Drive”
are great, and the fantastic 16.1-inch display is up to the task of a
desktop replacement. But, the lack of any WiFi device is not good and
you will have to make the call on the slightly underpowered 2.0GHz Intel
P-4.
| We give the Sony Vaio PCG-GRX670 a Tech Lab four thumbs up and recommend that you put it on your consideration list for a desktop replacement notebook. |  |
| Tech-edge E-zine Tech Lab recommendations are 1 - 5 |
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