Sony's VAIO VGN-A190 notebook is a great laptop for users who want to junk their big and bulky desktop without sacrificing usability.
Undeniably laptops are becoming more and more specialized. Any machine that tries to be everything to everyone will fail. The A190 has avoided that trap. It isn't some featherweight system that looks and feels like a toy laptop. It is a substantial machine both in terms of features and size. The A190 comes with a 1.70 AGHz Intel Pentium M Processor, 2 MB L2 cache, 512 MB of RAM, a 400 MHz bus and an 80 GB hard drive. Weighing in at 8.6 lbs and measuring 16 by 1.7 by 11 inches, the system perhaps isn't a laptop unless you're Shaquille O'Neal.
The A190's size is definitely offset by its features and usability. Its extra size means a full-size keyboard. One can type many a memo on the machine in comfort. But the centerpiece of the A190 is a 17-in. WUXGA screen with XBRITE Technology. The screen offers more than enough view space for business professionals.
Size is not the only sweet thing about the A190's screen. Its resolution is simply superb. It doesn't have the slight fuzziness that one sometimes sees in laptop screens. Images are crisp and clean. Watching a DVD on the system is a delight.
The A190 does come with an optional audio visual docking station and a set of high quality speakers. The station allows users to plug in a cable line and use Sony's TV tuner and personal digital recorder. It even has a remote control. The station itself is rather bulky and kind of awkward to use. The speakers produce vibrant sound but are rather large, especially if the notebook is going to be moved on a regular basis.
The A190's size is also one of its drawbacks. It is perhaps not the best machine for someone who will be traveling a lot, as its size and weight could prove irksome. For example, if you are flying coach, it's liable to hanging off the sides of your chair back tray.
The machine's battery life, which Sony estimates to be between 1.5 and 5 hours (testing found it to be about in the middle) isn't conducive to people who have to work for long periods of time on a charge.
So in the end, the A190 is simply a machine without a lot of compromises. It will easily replace your desktop system without much loss of functionality or usability. But you should probably leave it on your desktop when you go to that sales meeting in Chicago next year.
