Sony Vaio VGN-AR11S

Specifications

Price comparison

Reviews for the Sony Vaio VGN-AR11S

67% Sony VAIO VGN-AR11S Blu-ray Notebook
Source: Trusted Reviews Archive.org version
It would be easy to think of the AR11S solely as the first notebook available with a Blu-ray drive, but that really would be selling it short. What you've actually got here is a superb Media Center PC, with all the components to allow it to be the centre of your high-definition entertainment setup. Yes it's pretty expensive, but you really are getting not just cutting edge, but potentially future proof technology here - once Blu-ray movies start to appear, the AR11S will add another very impressive string to its bow. But the jewel in the crown of the AR11S is the HDCP enabled HDMI port, meaning that non only will you be able to watch Blu-ray movies on the excellent 17in internal screen, but you'll also be able to watch them on your high definition TV in the living room. This really is how Windows Media Center is supposed to be!
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4 von 6
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/17/2006
Rating: Total score: 67%

67% Sony VAIO VGN-AR11S
Source: PC Pro Archive.org version
With HD DVD finally making its debut last month in Toshiba's Qosmio G30, we didn't have to wait too long to see Blu-ray hit back. This month sees Sony introduce both the VAIO RC-204 PC and the VAIO VGN-AR11S - the first notebook to include the next-generation format drive. While the industry is still split, it's the high-end consumers that are initially being targeted, with both the Qosmio and AR11S being flagship products. An impressive showcase for the first Blu-ray drive in a notebook, but the price is very high.
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4 von 6
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/15/2006
Rating: Total score: 67%

90% Sony Vaio VGN-AR11S Blu-ray laptop Review
Source: Pocket Lint Archive.org version
We’ve never been too shy about our admiration for Sony notebooks. True, there are cheaper machines out there but when you want something that looks like nothing else on the market and just happens to have multimedia on mind, it’s hard to beat a VAIO notebook. Take the AR11S for instance, from the minute you clap your eyes on its hard not to be impressed. Sure, it weighs in at 3.8kg, but the black and chrome finish is designed to go head-to-head with Toshiba’s Qosmio, the only other notebook in this price bracket/luxury media centre market, and we think Sony has done a great job.
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9 von 10, Preis/Leistung nicht billig
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/12/2006
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 60%

Foreign Reviews

Neue Dimensionen
Source: Notebook / Organizer / Handy DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 09/15/2006

86% Sony Vaio VGN-AR11S
Source: Notebookcheck DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/11/2006
Rating: Total score: 86% performance: 92% display: 88% mobility: 60% workmanship: 80% ergonomy: 85% emissions: 80%

Scharfe Filmdose - Sonys erstes Blu-ray-Notebook
Source: c't DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/24/2006

Comment

NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600: The NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 is a middle class video card of the 7000 series and suited for games of the year 2006. The performance is very similar to ATI X1600 / X1700. Compared to the desktop 7600 it is clearly slower.

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

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

Intel Core Duo: Double Core processor with a very good relation of performance to current consumption. The 2 MB L2 Cache are used together by the double. The maximum capacity of 31 watts is only 4 watts more than with the Pentium M (predecessor). Both cores are lowered automatically and independently of each other by speed steps down to 1 GHz. In addition it now supports also SSE3 instructions. At least it is just as fast as a equivalent Pentium M. With applications, which were designed for multi-processors, the performance can be nearly twice as fast as with the Pentium M (e.g. CineBench around 86% fast)

T2500: » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

17.10": This display size is a standard format for desktop replacements (DTR). The DTR laptops are heavier to carry, need more power, but texts are easy to read and high resolutions are no problem. DTR are mainly intended for stationary desk use, where weight and energy hunger don't matter. In return, you enjoy the advantages of high resolutions (more details, better legibility).» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

3.8 kg:

Only a few laptops are in this weight class because the mobility is rather limited due to the high weight. 

Sony: Sony Corporation is one of the largest Japanese electronics companies. The company was founded in 1946 under a different name and initially produced rice stoves. The company launched the first transistor radio. In 1958, the company was renamed Sony. Sony is a combination of the Latin word sonus (sound) and the English word sonny (little boy). Today, its core business is consumer electronics. The company is engaged in the development, design, manufacture and sale of electronic equipment, instruments, devices, game consoles and software. Sony operates in the following segments: Gaming and Network Services, Music, Images, Home Entertainment and Sound, Imaging Products and Solutions, Mobile Communications, Semiconductors, Financial Services and Others.

77.5%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.

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