Sony Vaio PCG-V505EX Laptop (1.50-GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 60 GB, CDRW & DVD Combo Drive) | 
 enlarge | Brand: Sony
Category: Personal Computer
List Price: $1,899.00
Buy Used: $1,799.99
You Save: $99.01 (5%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 2218
Hardware Type: Notebook Computer
Platform: Windows Xp Home Edition
Media: Personal Computers
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 1.5
CPU Type: Intel Pentium M
Processors: 1
System Bus Speed: 400
System Memory: 512
Memory Type: DDR SDRAM
Secondary Cache Size: 512
Keyboard: Full sized QWERTY, 83 keys with 2mm stroke and 18.5mm pitch
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Hard Drive Size: 60
Floppy Disk Drive: 1.44 MB, 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
Graphics Card: ATI MOBILITY RADEON
Graphics RAM: 32
Native Resolution: 1024-by-768
Modem: 56 Kbps
Network Interface: 10-Mbps/100-Mbps Ethernet and (Wi-Fi) Wireless Ethernet
Includes Software: Microsoft Works, Sony DVgate Plus, InterVideo WinDVD 5 for VAIO PC, Music Software, Sony SonicStage, RealNetworks RealOne Player, Sony PictureGear Studio, Sony Network Smart Capture, Communication, VAIO Media software, America Online, Virus, Tools, and Support Software, Norton Internet Security Center Trial, VAIO Support Agent
Display Size: 12.1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.4
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 9.5 x 1.4
Memory Stick PRO Media Slot
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: PCG-V505EX
Model: PCG-V505EX
UPC: 027242642720
EAN: 0027242642720
ASIN: B00017G89E
Release Date: February 10, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: INCLUDES FACTORY SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
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Amazon.com Product Description
Stylish and utterly professional, the Sony Vaio PCG-V505EX is a lightweight notebook PC--only 4.39 pounds--that's geared for business and mobility. Thanks to the Intel Centrino processor, its enhanced battery life will keep you productive even on long flights. It features a built-in wireless LAN (802.11b), a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, spacious 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a good range of pre-installed Sony digital media software. Stepping up in price, the Sony Vaio PCG-V505EXP offers a 54g wireless LAN. The Basics
- Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage capacity for road warriors.
- Processor: The 1.5 GHz Pentium M processor is near the top of the speed range compared with other Centrino notebooks (with current speed topping out at 1.7 GHz). Because of its design, the Intel Pentium M gets more done per clock tick than a Mobile Intel Pentium 4, thus providing the discrepancy in GHz measurement (i.e., 1.7 versus 3.2). The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It also has a 512 KB L2 cache and a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) speed.
- Memory: The PCG-V505EX comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 2.05 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
- CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD-RW drive has 24x write, 10x rewrite, and 24x read speeds.
- Keyboard & Mouse:
Sound and Graphics
The installed ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 IGP video/graphics card is a relatively strong 3-D graphics renderer, and it has 32 MB of shared video memory. The 12.1-inch XGA TFT active matrix LCD has a native 1024 x 768 pixel display. It also has an sound card that's integrated into the main board, and offers built-in stereo speakers. Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The PCG-V505EX has an Intel Pro-Wireless 2100 integrated wireless LAN that connects using the 802.11b wireless standard, which is not exactly in step with the latest in wireless networking--54g, or 802.11g. You get a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including both high-speed USB 2.0 and FireWire: - 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
- 1 RGB monitor port
- 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
- 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
- 1 Memory Stick slot (Memory Stick Pro compatible)
It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems). Preloaded System and Software
The PCG-V505EX comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: PictureGear Studio (digital photo), DVgate Plus (digital video), and SonicStage (digital music). Other preloaded software includes InterVideo WinDVD and Norton Internet Security Center 7. Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.38 x 10.9 x 9.54 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 4.39 pounds, the PCG-V505EX is easily portable. Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery (PCGA-BP2V) offers between 2.5 and 6.5 hours of life with typical usage. What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-V505EX notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.
Product Description
The VAIO V505EX Notebook is as stylish and professional as it is powerful and multi-faceted. This is the solution for you at work and on the go - an ultra-compact notebook that works hard, plays hard, and looks great! Intel Centrino technology manages resources with mobility in mind, yielding more efficient power consumption and longer battery life. The V505EX Notebook offers a massive hard drive and plenty of RAM, as well as Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 very good although not quite perfect February 6, 2008
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
This laptop by Sony has been good to me for a while now and I recommend it for people who are on the go but yet do not need the very latest and greatest in technology. The Intel Centrino processor works fine. I have no complaints although, of course, at 1.5 GHz it's not the fastest processor out there. It works fine for me, though. The RAM I added to have the laptop be able to use a full gigabyte of RAM has not interfered with hibernation, as another reviewer experienced.
The case DOES scratch easily; and the sound is fair. I use earphones that let me increase the sound beyond what the computer is capable of producing; and that's an obvious plus. The keyboard is much tighter and smaller than a desktop keyboard and this took some getting used to. I wound up buying a mouse to avoid that pad upon which you slide your finger to control the cursor and mouse pointer on the screen.
You will need a special cleaner to wash the screen--this screen is not made of glass but fortunately the cleaning products are relatively affordable.
In addition, I really like that this comes with a combination CDRW--DVD drive. I have often used this to watch movies while I travel or lie in bed just lazing around on a Sunday afternoon. The drive works very well and there are no software issues so far for me.
As Amazon notes, you get Norton anti-virus software and Microsoft Works with this and all this and more runs on the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, which is fine with me. There are ports and more to make this laptop exactly the way you personally want it to be. Excellent!
Overall, this laptop is very solid. Sure, the smaller keyboard took some getting used to; but that came in time. This little computer's got a lot of life in it; and I think you'll be able to make good use of it. If you still have any questions, you can download the product manual from this website or you can also read the product description above. The other reviews are well done, too.
 Junk and More More - For Fred Sanford's Backyard January 27, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am an IT Person for a midsized company. Back In 2002 I decided to buy about 12 of these PCG V505's. They have been the unmitigated bane of my existence for almost 5 years. As you can see by other reviews the hard drives (which are made by toshiba ) go bad. That is the least of the troubles. The biggest problem with these units is the pcmcia slot that is almost guaranteed to go bad- especially using 32 bit Verizon cards. Of the 12 we bought 8 of them within as little as a year had bad slots which make them unusable for portable use- as the slot doesn't work. I found a company called Elan Digital systems that sold me 5 PCM to USB card converters that, with some tweaking can get you back on line- but for the $249.00 I'm not sure if its worth it. Also the keybaords have flimsy keys which have very often broken off,save for the fact that I have a few on the junkpile to pick from, a new keybaord is $95 from which you must carefully pick off the bad keys and replace your keyboard. In addition, SONY in all its brilliance, designed the spare RAM chip slot so that its too close to the back and is not always fully protected fron Static electricity. Of course you'll find this out after sitting the laptop on staticy pants or A Hotel Bedspread and shortly thereafter the computer locks up. This again has happened with at least 6 of 12 computers we own. New Chips at sometimes 100.00 a pop add up quickly. I haven't even mentioned the clueless people at SONY who claim they know nothing about BAD PCM slots and of which there is no mention of the problem on the search part of their tech support.
All in all everyone who thinks this these are great beacuse of size and weight well, take my advice: think twice. They are and have been my nightmare and truly the happiest day of my life will be when the last one hits the scrap heap. Try Averatec's 2150 half the price and non of the BS with SONY.
 Yep, Hard Drive Died...beware December 23, 2006
Have been pretty happy with this for two years -- lightweight, reasonable performance. I take it with me everywhere.
Hard drive gave signs of dying, and finally gave up the ghost this week. I would probably give this three stars because it gave me a relatively useful life, but the Sony support has been very poor. Review sites like this make it clear that hard drive failures are common for this product, but Sony buries and obscures hard drive assistance online. Frustrating.
Hard drive, sound card, CDRW/DVD drive failures... November 28, 2006
Purchased for my wife about 2.5 years ago. Not a bad little computer--save for about one year after purchasing the speakers quit working--which Sony fixed quickly as it was still under warranty. Then about 6 months ago the DVD combo-drive began to fail. Most recently, (two weeks ago) the hard drive has failed completely. (with some warning, but I was unable to back up some of the data before complete failure)
Bottom line: Wife loved the computer--it was light, small, and had great battery life. However, ours had its share of problems and there are many people who seem to have similar problems with hard drive.
Nice, but... November 8, 2006
I can't complain too much, as I got this computer two years ago for around $1400 on sale, which seems to be less than most paid. Mostly it's been a great computer, long battery life, and the screen is still in great shape after 2 years. I haven't had any problems with the case scuffing, and I just use a normal laptop bag to carry it around. However, the hard drive did fail right at 15 months. In my case it was the read heads (which seems to be the common failure mode), but the problem was slow enough to develop I had time to move all of my data off the drive before it completely died. I just recently replaced it with a relatively cheap 80GB 5400 RPM drive and everything works great, plus it runs faster than it ever did with the original 4200 RPM drive that was installed. If you get this computer, do yourself a favor and replace the HD with a 5400 RPM drive, it makes what's already (still) a good computer even a little better.
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