Sony Vaio VGN-FJ58GP (Pentium M 1.73GHz, 512MB RAM)

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List price as of Oct 12, 2005:
S$2799

First Take

In contrast with the fanfare during the launch of the ultrasmall VGN-TX16GP and TX17GP, the Vaio FJ58GP laptop felt almost neglected. Yet this notebook with a 14.1-inch display, though singularly unspectacular except for the built-in camera, is more suited for serious work than the former. ...

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First Take

By
Oct 12, 2005

In contrast with the fanfare during the launch of the ultrasmall VGN-TX16GP and TX17GP, the Vaio FJ58GP laptop felt almost neglected. Yet this notebook with a 14.1-inch display, though singularly unspectacular except for the built-in camera, is more suited for serious work than the former.

Upside: Like the Sony Vaio PCG-TR5GP, the key feature of this notebook is the built-in camera lens located at the top of the screen. Integrated with a proprietary Sony Webcam software, this portable reduces the technical skills needed to set up a video conference. Combine that with its slim profile and light weight, and you can see every pimple and freckle of the other party on the 14.1-inch transflective widescreen LCD as you chat using the Wi-Fi connection at your local cafe. Based on the latest Intel Sonoma platform, this notebook's performance should be comparable with the Acer TravelMate 5500 series which did well in our benchmark tests.

Downside: Sadly, the SD memory reader support found in the Vaio TX series is absent from this machine. Digital camera buffs will need either a memory card adapter or stick with models using Sony's proprietary Memory Stick format. The camera is capable of capturing only VGA-quality images, which dashes any hope of taking candid shots and printing 3R-sized photographs. Due to the location of the lens, this notebook does not have a latch to keep it closed. This could be detrimental to the screen if it opens during an accidental drop. Without a dedicated graphics card, this laptop cannot be considered a serious gaming machine.

Outlook: Unless you are a Sony aficionado or diehard user of video chats, the Vaio VGN-FJ58GP does not have much else to offer. Though more suited for serious work than the Vaio TX series, due to the full-size keyboard and larger screen, Vaio's premium pricing and lack of a dedicated graphics card may make it hard for this notebook to compete with other brands.