Sony Vaio VGN-AR61

Notebook Specifications

Sony Vaio VGN-AR61Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-AR61 (Vaio VGN-AR Series)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5450
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT
Display: 17.1 inch, 16:10, 1440x900 pixels, glossy: yes
Weight: 3.8kg
Price: 900 euro
Average Score: 77.75% - good
Average of 4 scores (from 5 reviews)
price: 80%, performance: 60%, features: 80%, display: 86% mobility: 40%, workmanship: 80%, ergonomy: 80%, emissions: - %

Reviews for the Sony Vaio VGN-AR61

70% Sony VAIO VGN-AR61E notebook review
Source: Pocket Lint English
The Sony VAIO VGN-AR61E proves that there is more to making a good multimedia machine than simply matching a big screen with plenty of software. While the build quality is good, the keyboard is something of a mixed blessing. However, we were disappointed with the specification – it is fine if you’re looking for a budget option but it won’t meet the needs of anyone looking to run high-end tasks.
7 von 10, Display gut, Verarbeitung gut, Mobilität mangelhaft
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 08/04/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% display: 80% mobility: 50% workmanship: 80%
70% Sony VAIO VGN-AR61E
Source: Techradar English
An affordable multimedia offering from Sony. Sony’s VAIO AR-series laptops have long been associated with multimedia use, thanks to big, vibrant screens, feature-packed specifications and cutting edge technology. The VAIO VGN-AR61E (£650 inc. VAT) is an entry-level machine, however, and can’t rival the others here when it comes to cutting-edge features. It has a 17-inch display, which is colourful and bright, but lacking in sharpness. Its resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels is quite low among compared to the competition. Screen quality is bright, but you can’t watch high-definition content at full resolution. In a bid to keep costs down, the Sony uses an nVidia GeForce 8400M GT graphics card. It’s one of the cheaper options, but it still provides adequate performance for most uses, with only the very latest games causing the system to slow.
3.5 von 5, Preis gut, Verarbeitung gut, Ergonomie gut, Display sehr gut, Leistung schlecht
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 07/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% performance: 40% display: 90% workmanship: 80% ergonomy: 80%

Foreign Reviews

91% Tragbares Heimkino
Source: SFT - 5/08 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 04/30/2008
Rating: Total score: 91% features: 80% display: 95% mobility: 40%
80% Sony Vaio AR61: Blu-ray-Notebook im Exklusivtest
Source: Netzwelt German DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/05/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 30%
Mobiele thuisbioscoop
Source: Computer Totaal Dutch NL→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/08/2008
Rating: display: 80%

Comment

NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT: NVidia GeForce 8400M GT is the DirectX 10 capable successor of the GeForce Go 7400 for laptops and technologically a slower 8600M GS video card. Not suited for DX 10 games in high details.

 

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

Intel Core 2 Duo: This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more power consumption. As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU).

The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Core 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower voltages (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). The performance of equally clocked notebooks is 20-25% lower than Desktop PCs because of the lower Frontside bus clock and the slower hard disks.

T5450: » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

17.1": Meanwhile the 17 inch display size is a more frequently offered standard format for desktop-replacements. The DTR-laptops can't be carried easily, need much energy but on the other side texts can be read easily and high resolutions are no problem. DTR mainly are intended for stationary usage on desks, where the weight and the energy need are unimportant.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

3.8 kg: This laptop is heavy below average, compared with the average of notebooks. Therefore especially desktop replacements fit in this class of weight.

Sony: Sony Corporation is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Japan. Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of electronics, video, communications, video game consoles, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its name is derived from sonus, the Latin word for sound. The company was founded 1946 with another name and renamed in 1958. Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit and the parent company of the Sony Group, which is engaged in business through its five operating segments—electronics, games, entertainment (motion pictures and music), financial services and other. Sony is a notebook manufacturer of medium size according international market shares.

Sony reviews

77.75%: This rating is not convincing. It must be considered, that there exist hardly any laptops, which receive a rating below 60%. This notebook is evaluated below average, this is not really a recommendation for purchase.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

Notebooks from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

» Sony Vaio VGN-AR830E
Core 2 Duo T8300
» Sony Vaio VGN-AR730E
Core 2 Duo T8100
» Sony Vaio VGN-AR51E
Core 2 Duo T7250
» Sony Vaio VGN-AR51J
Core 2 Duo T7250
» Sony Vaio VGN-AR630E
Core 2 Duo T7250
» Sony Vaio VGN-AR51M
Core 2 Duo T7250
» Sony Vaio VGN-AR41L
Core 2 Duo T7100

Notebooks with the same GPU

» Sony Vaio VGN-NR38Z/S
Core 2 Duo T5750, 15.4", 2.9 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-AR71J
Pentium Dual Core T2370, 17.0", 3.8 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-NR31J/S
Pentium Dual Core T2390, 15.4", 2.9 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ470E/B
Core 2 Duo T8100, 15.4", 2.8 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ38M
Core 2 Duo T8100, 15.4", 2.8 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ485U
Core 2 Duo T8100, 15.4", 2.8 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-NR21Z
Core 2 Duo T8100, 15.4", 2.9 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-NR21S
Core 2 Duo T5500, 15.4", 2.8 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ280E
Core 2 Duo T7250, 15.4", 2.6 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ11M
Core 2 Duo T7100, 15.4", 2.7 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ21M
Core 2 Duo T7250, 15.4", 2.8 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ21E
Core 2 Duo T7250, 15.4", 2.8 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ18G
Core 2 Duo T7500, 15.4", 2.7 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ18M
Core 2 Duo T7100, 15.4", 2.7 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ180
Core 2 Duo T7300, 15.4", 2.6 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ11Z
Core 2 Duo T7300, 15.4", 2.7 kg
» Sony Vaio VGN-FZ11L
Core 2 Duo T7100, 15.4", 2.7 kg

Laptops with Same Screen Size and/or Weight

» Medion Akoya P7615-MD97561
GeForce GT 330M, Core i5 450M
» HP Pavilion dv7-4020ew
Mobility Radeon HD 5650, Core i5 450M
» HP Pavilion dv7-4010sw
Mobility Radeon HD 5470, Core i3 350M
» Asus G71G
GeForce 9800M GS, Core 2 Duo T9400
» HP Pavilion dv7-1280EG
GeForce 9600M GT, Core 2 Duo P7450
Preisvergleich

 

Price comparison

Reviews on Sony Laptops at Ciao
Sony Laptops at Idealo

Eletec Genuine Original Laptop AC Adapter Power Supply Unit Charger for Sony VAIO VGN-AR61S VGN-AR61ZU. With UK Power Cord. 1 Year Warranty. In Stock
» 25.20 GBP (lowest price)
25.20 GBP Amazon Marketplace UK

Smart Parts Laptop Battery VGP-BPS9A/S for Sony Vaio VGN-AR11S VGN-AR21S VGN-AR41E VGN-AR41L VGN-AR41S VGN-AR41M VGN-AR51E VGN-AR51S VGN-AR51J VGN-AR51M VGN-AR51SU VGN-AR61E VGN-AR61M VGN-AR61S VGN-AR71E VGN-AR71M VGN-AR71S VGN-AR71ZU VGN-AR88E VGN-SZ6 VGN-SZ7, also
» 255.90 GBP (lowest price)
255.90 GBP Amazon Marketplace UK

Smart Parts Laptop Battery VGP-BPS9A/B for Sony Vaio VGN-AR11S VGN-AR21S VGN-AR41E VGN-AR41L VGN-AR41S VGN-AR41M VGN-AR51E VGN-AR51S VGN-AR51J VGN-AR51M VGN-AR51SU VGN-AR61E VGN-AR61M VGN-AR61S VGN-AR71E VGN-AR71M VGN-AR71S VGN-AR71ZU VGN-AR88E, also fits VGP-BPS9 VG
» 59.78 GBP (lowest price)
59.78 GBP Amazon Marketplace UK

Smart Parts AC Adapter for Sony Vaio VPCF1 VGN-AW VGN-AR VGN-K Series VGN-AR61E VGN-AR61M VPCF12M0E/B VPCF12S1E/B VPCF13M0E/B VPCF13S1E/B fits PCGA-AC19V5 PCGA-AC19V7 VGP-AC19V15 VGP-AC19V16 Laptop Charger Power Supply
» 20.90 GBP (lowest price)
20.90 GBP Amazon Marketplace UK

Smart Parts AC Adapter Charger for Sony Vaio VGN-AR61E Laptop, with UK power cord
» 20.90 GBP (lowest price)
20.90 GBP Amazon Marketplace UK

The displayed prices can be up to one day old.

> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > Library > Laptop Review Library > Sony > Sony Vaio VGN-AR61
Author: Stefan Hinum, 2008-03- 8 (Update: 2011-08-25)