Sony's 18.4-inch VAIO VGN-AW190 gets reviewed

Time to face the music, folks -- 18.4-inches is the new 17-inch. Sony's recently unveiled VAIO AW is undoubtedly going toe-to-toe with HP's new HDX 18t, and while both will garner all sorts of stares from onlookers, it appears that the VGN-AW190 may have an edge in terms of extras. For starters, this unit's Adobe RGB-compatible display will be mighty impressive to those who dabble in photos to make ends meet, and the included RAM, CPU and Blu-ray drive were all smiled upon. Strangely enough, Sony tossed in a pathetically slow 4,200RPM hard drive to put a damper on overall performance, but that -- along with the $3k+ sticker -- was the only real weak spot. Overall, critics found that this machine would likely suit graphic designers and photographers quite well, but the average joe / jane may not appreciate the pricey extras enough to make it worthwhile.

[Flashpoint @ Oct 4th 2008 2:03PM]

The HP model with the same features as an equivalent SONY AW cost significantly less.

based on that alone, and your claim of the slower HDD, I don't condsider the AW to be a competitor at all.

"AW" stands for Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Alex @ Oct 4th 2008 10:05PM]

Looking on Amazon the VAIO VGN-AW120 ($1739.99) costs $35 less and then a similarly equipped HP HDX 18t ($1774.99) right?

HDX 18t
2.26Ghz
4GB RAM
320GB HDD 5400RPM
Blu-ray BD-R/RE
$1774.99 (www.shopping.hp.com)

VAIO VGN-AW120
2.26Ghz
4GB RAM
320GB HDD 5400RPM
Blu-ray BD-R/RE
$1799.99 - $60 (Amazon Discount) = $1739.99

The Engadget writer is somewhat to blame to make it clear the there are multiple AW models ranging from the AW110 ($1599) to the AW190($3219) with many different priced configurations in between.

[BigDaddyM @ Oct 5th 2008 1:11AM]

Not only did Engadget (The author) seem biased, the Vaio AW does come with a multitude of hard drive options... not to mention teh other options. Maybe Engadget you have the readers read the entire article and check the website for possible alternative solutions, I know and extra 5 minutes of work...
M

[b-man @ Oct 4th 2008 2:03PM]

That laptop looks AWSOME!!!!!!

[WiiFTW @ Oct 4th 2008 2:06PM]

You (I) know you're (I'm) still living in the 90s when current-day laptops have bigger screens than your (my) CRT desktop monitor...

17 in. CRT FTW!

[Ken @ Oct 4th 2008 2:19PM]

4200 RPM's!?

Please tell me I can get it with a 7200 RPM or SSD drive.

[BitBoy @ Oct 4th 2008 3:58PM]

SSD and faster drives will likely be a configurable option on sonystyle.com

[happy_penguin @ Oct 4th 2008 2:21PM]

Drive is too slow but it's a beautiful looking machine although too big for my taste. I have a 17" laptop now and it's too big to be a laptop/notebook. My next portable will be 15" which seems to be ideal for me.

[KarlW @ Oct 4th 2008 2:26PM]

Like the full keyboard. Really don't like the off-centre trackpad.

Why didn't they just put it in the middle?

[GadgetTamer @ Oct 4th 2008 2:31PM]

They center it to the "H" key on the keyboard. It's so that you won't end up resting your hand on the trackpad causing it to do funny things. I think it also has something to do with right vs. left hand users, not sure though...

[oZone @ Oct 4th 2008 2:48PM]

It's centered with the keyboard.

[GadgetTamer @ Oct 4th 2008 2:29PM]

Well, i can't stand the slowness of 5400RPM drives, so a 4200RPM drive would kill me...

NEXT!!!

[Zach @ Oct 4th 2008 8:59PM]

Just put in your own hard drive...

[TareX @ Oct 4th 2008 2:36PM]

If you're gonna get an overpriced laptop, might as well get an Alienware... at least it will play the new titles.

[TheAzureKnight @ Oct 4th 2008 2:36PM]

LMAO....this is a sick joke of a laptop.

The HDX 18t beats this piece of shit hands down in every important aspect.

sony = FAIL

[Chin-Poh @ Oct 4th 2008 7:13PM]

Wanna elaborate little man? : )

[Chin-Poh @ Oct 5th 2008 1:51AM]

You fail you little ******

[Justin @ Oct 5th 2008 6:27AM]

One thing I wish laptop builders would strip from larger "desktop replacement" models is the number pad. To me it throws off symmetry and makes you feel like you're offset to the monitor. I recently purchased a Dell 1735 and the one thing I can't stand is the number pad offsetting the keyboard.

[nikster @ Oct 4th 2008 9:00PM]

That's the reason I never considered one of these either. Symmetry - what's so hard?

The only exception seems to be Apple's 17" MBP, all others are firmly in the "more keys = better" camp. There should at least be an option to get one without number pad.

[michas_pi @ Oct 4th 2008 2:50PM]

Holy shit, 4200RPM? That's like putting the engine from a Pinto into a Testarossa.

[Kris @ Oct 4th 2008 2:55PM]

I am not entirely convinced about the bigger screen thing.. Isn't the whole purpose of a laptop to be small and portable?
But it would be really good to brag with ;)

[w00fy @ Oct 4th 2008 3:05PM]

[points]
Nice desktop!
[/points]

[Knifa @ Oct 4th 2008 3:16PM]

Why on earth would anyone want an 18" laptop that costs $3000 when they could buy a desktop with better performance and a large display?

[Casey @ Oct 4th 2008 3:33PM]

So they can move it around.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 4th 2008 3:12PM]

Are these notebooks actually for sale ?!?!?!!!!!?

The price dosent seem to show that !!!

[s.sahmad @ Oct 4th 2008 3:17PM]

Hopefully they universalize those keyboards throughout their notebook line.

[HDG Mansur US Musl im Christ ian Workers @ Oct 4th 2008 3:19PM]

Not so sure the 17 in. is so sweet. Portability. Portability. Pricey...maybe next year. do they even listen to what the people want?

[Gary92110 @ Oct 4th 2008 3:35PM]

Sager has offered a QUAD CORE laptop for over a year now that simply SMOKES this newest Sony!!!

[KA @ Oct 4th 2008 3:31PM]

Surely the keyboard will be really uncomfortable for typing when it's on your lap? With desktops, you can shove the keyboard to the right. With the laptop, you have to move your hands to the left.

[thehamsterman @ Oct 4th 2008 3:54PM]

My girlfriend has a 17" laptop, and i can't stand having to move my hands to the left of center to type when its on my lap.....Plus putting it on my lap is challenging since its so big. Maybe if the keyboard ahd some soft of slidey typewriter like action that would center the keyboard, making the keypad stick off the side....or something...its pretty hard to get used to..

15.4" is the way to be!

[Allen Jazeera @ Oct 4th 2008 4:03PM]

Maybe I'm an atypical American, but this laptop is a bit large for my lap. Maybe "sofa" top is more appropriate. Or "desk" top .... wait ...

[Tamer Brad @ Oct 4th 2008 4:27PM]

At this point you may as well get an all-in-one desktop.

[Jordan Lee @ Oct 4th 2008 4:40PM]

HP's has better performance, more options and costs a hell of a lot less. I am a photographer so I'll give Sony a point for the Adobe RGB; but that doesn't justify the raping of my wallet with their crap.

[Jgalkin @ Oct 4th 2008 11:19PM]

Just a thought. I've been looking at this laptop and the HP competition. If you're really looking for power, the HP offers an optional 2.5ghz quad-core 12mb cache intel chip - the Sony does not. As far as the adobe RGB thing - does anyone know if theres a NOTICEABLE difference?

[NeoXY @ Oct 4th 2008 6:06PM]

I'm not gonna lie. I screamed at the 18.4inch part. Holy crap thats a huge laptop.

But yet...so hot.

[ben m @ Oct 5th 2008 10:16AM]

pretty. always nice when someone out-apples apple

18.4 inches is stupid though - i'm all about desktops and small laptops with this amazing thing called The Internet that allows them to have similar stuff on.

that said i'm typing this on my 24"imac so that sort of goes against all my points. i'll get my coat.

[Alex @ Oct 4th 2008 10:09PM]

Looking on Amazon you realize that the VAIO VGN-AW120 ($1739.99) costs $35 less and then a similarly equipped HP HDX 18t ($1774.99) right?

HDX 18t
2.26Ghz
4GB RAM
320GB HDD 5400RPM
Blu-ray BD-R/RE
$1774.99 (www.shopping.hp.com)

VAIO VGN-AW120
2.26Ghz
4GB RAM
320GB HDD 5400RPM
Blu-ray BD-R/RE
$1799.99 - $60 (Amazon Discount) = $1739.99

The Engadget writer is somewhat to blame to make it clear the there are multiple AW models ranging from the AW110 ($1599) to the AW190($3219) with many different priced configurations in between.

*pokes engadget's broken comment system for my comment not appearing the first time*

[Alex @ Oct 4th 2008 10:13PM]

Heh, and now it appears 4 minutes later after I decide to try posting it again. I apologize. The comment system really needs a delete comment function.

[St.Angle @ Oct 5th 2008 9:51AM]

I love Acer 8930G more....
Toshiba G50 is also a choice.

Asus G70S is the strongest...
Heh, Heh, Heh...

[Keith M @ Oct 8th 2008 5:52PM]

I knew this would degenerate into a "who needs an 18 inch laptop..." For those of you who didn't read far enough down in the story:

"...this machine would likely suit graphic designers and photographers quite well, but the average joe / jane may not..."

As a graphic designer who spends a lot of time on the road working - I appreciate all the screen realestate I can get, even if it means lugging a bigger and heavier laptop through airport scanners. The downside is that even my 17 in MacBook Pro is too big to work in coach but a 15.4 is imposable for anything in creative suite. Guess its Business Class + or late nights in some hotel room banging out a project.

[Rouslan @ Nov 8th 2008 5:46PM]

I bought it recently from Newegg:VGN-AW190 2.4hz, 4GB, 250GB 7200 RPM, 1200x1080 true high def., 512MB video card - $1550. Awsome laptop. I had my A190 for a while which has 1900x1200 resolution so I was hunting for the same or better. If 18.4" screen is too big for you consider AR series with 1200x1920 resolution.I'm a res freak, and can never have too much resolution (well, not yet anyway).Comparing colors on thise two laptops made me think of which one is better and truth to tell I havn't decided yet, both are just fine. Even though this AW doesn't have resolution I used to, it still have superb picture quality. I wouldn't compare HP to Sony as Sony is classic in everything.(my opinion) I'd reccommend this laptop(if you can call it that) to everyone. It's true desktop replacement.