Sony PCG-FX109K

Notebooks have always been more desirable than their desktop cousins, and it's more so now that mobile processor performance is approaching that of desktop chips.

It's little wonder, then, that most of the major laptop manufacturers are producing fully featured machines with specifications that would make any desktop machine blush. Sony is no different, and the latest machine in its FX100 range will not leave you wanting when it comes to features.

While the PCG-FX109K doesn't use the latest processor technology, its mobile Pentium III 850Mhz chip is no slouch. This is set by default to fall back to 700Mhz when not connected to the mains, but you can change this to operate at full speed if you need the extra grunt while mobile.

There's 128Mb of RAM, which is normal on a notebook nowadays. The memory-hungry Windows 2000 Professional is pre-loaded, but, unfortunately, no office applications are included.

Interestingly, Sony has opted for a combined Panasonic DVD/CD-RW drive, which gets our vote for versatility. The drive writes at eight speed for CD-Rs or four-speed for CD-RWs. It reads DVDs at eight-speed or CDs at 24-speed.

Sony has also thrown in a copy of Roxio's Easy CD Creator and Direct CD, and WinDVD.

As well as the CD-RW/DVD combo drive, there's a removable floppy unit that can be used to house a second optional battery.

There's plenty of room on the 30Gb hard drive, which will come in useful if you've got a DV camcorder, as the laptop is kitted out with a mini FireWire port, or i.LINK. Sony is obviously aiming this machine at movie-making fans and there's the usual Sony suite of DV capturing and editing applications.

The notebook uses Intel's 815EM mobile chipset, so the sound is taken care of by the SoundMax software solution. Ideally, we would prefer to see a hardware chip being used, as the software option taxes the processor.

The built-in speakers are standard laptop affairs and generally lack any kind of significant bass response.

The second small disappointment is the graphics chipset. The 815 chipset uses anything from 1Mb to 11Mb of main system memory, so a separate chip with its own memory would have been preferable.

That said, you can use both the composite-out and D-SUB connectors at the same time.

The notebook is well endowed when it comes to external connections. It has both an integrated 10/100 Ethernet and a 56K modem. There are also two USB ports, a serial connector and a parallel port.

On the left-hand side of the laptop you'll find a stacked pair of PC Card sockets supporting a single Type III card or two Type II cards.

There's also a D-SUB connector on the rear of the unit for attaching the laptop to an external monitor. Not that you'd necessarily want to, as the 15in screen is excellent, with an impressive native resolution of 1400 x 1050 without a dead pixel in sight.

The machine scored below average in our battery test, lasting just one hour 50 minutes using the single lithium-ion battery. With this battery installed and no floppy in the multi-purpose bay, the unit weighs in at 3.5kg, which is no featherweight, but still reasonably light for a fully featured notebook.

The keyboard is excellent, with good travel and response to the touch. It's comfortable to type on for long periods and doesn't flex when you're hammering away at the keys.

There are also tilt stands on the bottom of the machine to help you set up a good typing position. And, as is usual on Sony laptops, there's a touchpad for navigating your way around Windows.

Overall, the PCG-FX109K is a good, functional desktop replacement, but there's not much to set it apart from the other laptops in its class.

Contact
Sony 08705 424 424 www.sony.co.uk