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Sony VAIO PCG-TR3A Laptop (1.0 GHz Pentium Centrino, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive)

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Brand: Sony
Category: Personal Computer

List Price: ~~$2,199.99~~
Buy Used: $999.99
You Save: $1200.00 (55%)

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

32 reviews
Sales Rank: 1185

Hardware Type: Notebook Computer
Platform: Windows Xp Home Edition
Media: Personal Computers
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 1
CPU Type: Intel Pentium M
Processors: 1
System Bus Speed: 400
System Memory: 512
Memory Type: DDR SDRAM
Secondary Cache Size: 64
Keyboard: QWERTY, 83 keys with 2 mm stroke and 17 mm pitch
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Hard Drive Size: 40
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Graphics Card: Intel 855GM Chipset Integrated Graphics
Graphics RAM: 64
Modem: 56 Kbps
Network Interface: 10-Mbps/100-Mbps Ethernet and (Wi-Fi) Wireless Ethernet
Display Size: 10.6
Shipping Weight (lbs): 6.5
Dimensions (in): 14.7 x 11.1 x 6.9
Memory Stick PRO Media Slot, Swivel digital camera integrated
Warranty: 1 year warranty

MPN: PCG-TR3A
Model: PCG-TR3A
UPC: 027242642751
EAN: 0027242642751
ASIN: B00017H7QW

Release Date: February 10, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: INCLUDES AC-ADAPTER

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 6-10 of 32

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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly March 22, 2005
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The Good: it's *very* sexy, light, compact and fast.
The Bad: Month 4 of use -- hard drive dies but Sony replaces.
Month 11 of use -- no power -- totally dead. Sony fixes.

The Ugly: at month 12, my warranty is expired; the system runs hot ALL THE TIME. It's a simple matter of time before something blows again.

Net-Net: Owning this laptop is like owning a Lambo -- you don't know if it's going to start when you turn the key -- but when it's working -- you're the coolest kid in town. Better have a regular computer; keep this as your 'toy'.

3 out of 5 stars

Screen prone to damage w/the slightest touch - $$$ repair! December 14, 2004
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

Written December 13, 2004 (see update below)

I've had this unit since April 2004, and it currently is at Sony for repair. The brilliant crystal clear screen is being replaced for $726.73 even though it is still under the first year of warranty. I dropped a pen on the screen, it barely tapped the surface, and the screen burst forth with white and rainbow, wiping out all readable text and display.

Again, THE PEN BARELY TAPPED THE SURFACE, AND THE SCREEN WENT OUT! I remember the salesman telling me to buy the warranty for just that reason, however Sony tells me that the warranty does not cover physical damage. So I am screwed, and must treat this notebook like a fragile (and expensive) carton of eggs. Beware of the XBrite screen if you are looking for a notebook that needs to stand up to the road, or any sensitive contact with the outside world.

Outside of the costly penalty to enjoy the screen on the product, it is a great machine. I'm just sick to my stomach that such a fine item has such a sensitive and expensive screen to repair. It hurt enough to cough up $2300 for this baby, but when you have to pay hundreds more for repairs, or the accidental damage warranty, it's time to think again.

UPDATE: 9-27-2005
I'm still using my TR3a, and the repaired screen works just fine. Apparently the pen accident cracked the very thin membrane beneath the protective screen, and the only repair was a full replacement of the screen component. The repair people, got it fixed in about a week's time, and were nice enough to include the old screen component, where I could clearly see the damage. It's still a fine notebook, as long as you don't have to cough up the cash to repair it.
You've been warned!

1 out of 5 stars

Looks 10 reliability 0 November 25, 2004
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

I have had this expensive machine for a little over two years and have not gone six months without major problems. This includes two trips to the service center in San Diego. I love the size, its features and it's eye catching looks. However it's lack of an internal fan leads to overheating which I am sure is contributing to the poor performance--including the need to replace the hard drive after less than 6 months of light home use by my wife. I noticed that Sony produced an early micro similar for the Japenese market which was pulled due to over heating problems and have wondered if the TR3A is a relative. I have anorther VAIO desktop that runs Media Center XP and it is outstanding. I also believe Sony's technical support is one of the best---I just wish I wasn't on a first name basis with them. I would strongly recommend against anyone purchasing this machine.

3 out of 5 stars

the manufacturer's warranty sucks... well Duh it's a laptop! November 15, 2004
5 out of 10 found this review helpful

I sell this and many other laptops and I have to tell those who are interested in it that you should buy some sort of extended coverage plan if you are going to buy any laptop. I know there are plenty of people out there that thing they are smarter than that but in reality they aren't. It's a laptop folks, if your gonna own one chances are VERY good that your gonna have to get it fixed from time to time, as the person who payed $700+ can attest.

About the laptop itself it is a very handy unit but one that is best used as a companion pc to a large notebook or desktop because trying to type on it is a pain, both because of the small keyboard and the small screen.

As to battery life if you don't charge the battery for a good 12 hours the first time you use it you'll get poor performance. If you do charge it right the first time and still get less than 4-5 hours of time per charge then you prbly have a faulty machine (if so I hope you weren't too "smart" to get a third party warranty from a reputable company).

5 out of 5 stars

This computer is great! October 24, 2004
5 out of 9 found this review helpful

The keyboard is very small, and since I have extra-small hands, it's the most comfortable keyboard I have ever used.

Everyone oohs and ahhs over my stylish little computer. I use it to take notes in class - I don't miss a beat!

I carry it in a cool Guatemalan bag. It's so small, no-one even knows I have a computer in there until I take it out. It's lighter than any of my textbooks.

It has been surprisingly durable. It's taken a few knocks in the backpack and been OK.

The important thing to do is to make the backup disks *right away* when you get the computer. I had an IT friend do it since I wasn't sure how.

My computer was recently hosed by a virus, and I would have been S.O.L. if I hadn't had those backup disks.

I decided on the version *without* Office/Photoshop/EndNote etc., since I can get that stuff at the student bookstore.

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