Sony VAIO PCG-K45 15.4" Laptop (Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor 538, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

I bought this laptop because I thought a Sony Vaio was top quality.--I was wrong. This computer is entirely too heavy to be considered even remotely portable. It's slow, noisy, and doesn't hold a charge. My laptop overheats constantly...I even purchased a "chill mat" in hopes of alleviating the problem. The computer gets so hot, it actually burnt out one of the fans in the chill pad. Also, the computer freezes constantly--I can hardly get through an essay without having to save and re-boot. Don't waste your time/money/energy!

If you work alot at home and use the programs like Word or Access, then this is the computer for you. If you enjoy gaming then you need a different computer. The Video card cant hold up to the newer games. I tried playing Civilzation III on it, and it wouldnt even start the game.
Like I said, regular programs are great on here, I make powerpoint slides all the time, and it does awesome for it.

Pro's:
Great screen, one of the best I've ever seen.
Excellent ability to run Office Program
Mouse Pad, never had a problem
Wireless Card, picks up great. I just love connecting to other peoples wireless routers without them knowing.

Con's:
Battery, sucks, really sucks, 1hr max
USB ports, all on one side
Video Card, needs updated
Fan is loud, it can be heard over 30 feet away

Overall: Except for gaming, this is an awesome computer. If you just want something for Work or School, then this computer is great.

Pros:
This is a very powerful notebook. It's a PC in a smaller package. If you run processor hungry apps this is the notebook for you.

Multiple office software can be run on this set up without any lag, it's perfect for those who care more about the "guts" of the system rather than what's "in".

I've found some reviewers who say this system runs hot. Never had a problem with that. And I run it for long periods of time 8+ hours. Crashes? None so far. The sound system is surprisingly adequate given the lack of speakers. The prize in this system is the graphical display. It's top notch!

Cons: It is very true what people say about the battery run time being ridiculous. You can get just over an hour from the battery if you're lucky. But given the immense power of this system it isn't beyond the realm of comprehension as to why it has a short battery life.

It's also quite heavy. But let's face it, if you're bringing this to the office, or library you'll have access to outlets and a surface to lay it on.

Conclusion:

Unless you're a teenager looking to show off your new laptop and all the games you can play, I highly recommend this laptop for serious work.

I have to chime in on this one. My PCG-K45 was an unsolicited, and much appreciated, gift. You get some bang for the buck with this laptop. And the screen is really nice. But in many other ways, you can see how you get what you pay for:

1) The "mobile pentium" must be one of the slowest processors for the given clock speed. My HT 2.4Ghz Pentium desktop is about as fast. Don't get fooled into thinking this is some speed demon. It's fast, sure. But it won't blow you away if you're used to other fairly recent computers.
2) Despite the "speedstep" technology, in actual use I can't get better than about 75 minutes battery life.
3) It weighs over eight pounds, and because of the short battery life, you'll end up carrying the brick-sized AC adapter with you, which weighs almost 2 lbs. Ten lbs. is more "luggable" than "portable."
4) The trackpad is not as nice as most others I've used. A little small, and too-sensitive sometimes, not sensitive enough other times. I can't get the settings right and mostly use a mouse instead.
5) The video uses "shared" (i.e., "stolen") RAM, meaning your 512Mb is really 448Mb, or 384Mb if you go to 128Mb vram like others have suggested.
6) The case is made of a plastic that feels flimsy and scratches easily.
7) The firewire port is the irritating smaller S400, so you'll probably need a special cable. This thing is huge, there's plenty of room for a regular port--I don't get it. Bad design, I guess.
8) All the USB ports are on the same side (the left) of the case, so you'll end up snaking some cables all the way around. A mess.
9) When will Sony just get over their memory stick fixation? Again, it's the money: I suppose this helps them sell cameras to people with Sony computers, and vice-versa, but lock-in is BAD FOR CUSTOMERS. Just stop.

You get the idea. It might make a good desktop replacement, in some cases, but its weight, lack of durability, and lack of battery life mean it's really not a portable.

The sheer magnifigence of this notebook always puts a smile on my face when I turn it on. The screen is very beautiful. I see a lot of copycats whenever I go to BestBuy or Compusa, but this screen (X-brite technology, I think) will always be better than the competition. Also, there is a decent video card(ATI Radeon 64MB, good networking, and conveniently located USB ports (3 total). This notebook also packs a lot of power with it's Pentium 4 processor, which makes it quite loud, however.

Some drawbacks:
1.)Loud (emabrassing when you are tyring to access wireless at the libary)

2.)Poor battery performance (only 2 hours at most)

3.)Poor sound system (Definitely get a set of decent speakers and an external sound card if you can afford it.)

4.)Only 512 MB RAM. This may be good only for about another few months until I have to upgrade it. They max is 1028 by the way.

5.)No recovery CD. Mine didn't come with one. Others may be different.

6.)No serial port

Overall, a good, solid laptop. It is very powerful and can be quite a beast with a set of good speakers, memory upgrade, and an extra battery.