Sony VAIO GRX560 Notebook (1.60 GHz-M Pentium 4, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive)
Average Customer Review:
Personal Computers

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Reviews (15)

Sony support awful
Since I bought this notebook I am in trouble. The computer is slow and two months later the LCD screen did not worked. I claim for repair under warranty to Sony and I had to ship the computer to San Diego,California paying all shipment expenses. They knew what the problem with the LCD was before they received and now they do not want to repair it under the warranty. What kind of computer is this, that I bought it in September as a new model and now is discontinued.

awesome computer
This thing put me in the hole 2500 bucks with insurance, but id have to say it was worth it. One thing that is very underated on this computer is the sound is soooooo goood. Its a lap top with 3d sound. I dont even have my regular speakers hooked up. Also, its super rugged. I bring it everywhere, And i sereously abuse electronics, I brought it to florada once, and after that it broke down on me, so I just brought it were i bought it and got a new one, yea really good buy, wish it had a dvd burner though, well when this gets old, i'll bring it in for a new one.

Order fulfillment at Sonystyle
I would advise not to order GRX 500 series from Sonystyle's website.

Oct 22: Order placed

Oct 29: Order status not shown up on online order tracking.
Waited 30 min on customer hotline and was told order was in process and informationw would be available 7 days from order date.

Nov 3: E-mailed about status and was told order was built to order and in process of building.

Nov 5: Further enquiry about the same simple question: What is Order Status? Issue unresolved.

Nov 7: Same question. Possible Cancellation of order and was told to call customer hotline again. Issue unresolved.

Nov 8: Told me I would have received an e-mail. But, I never did.Will I ever receive a confirmation of cancellation of order? I don't want to be billed for it later on and want to place an order somewhere else. ... Read more

Asin: B000067NNY
Sales Rank: 436
Subjects:  1. Notebooks (Note Books)    2. Notebook Computers    3. Laptops (Lap Tops)   

Playstation 2 Starter Pack
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $369.99
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Editorial Review

The PlayStation2 Starter Pack includes the PlayStation2 console (with 90-day warranty), two Dual Shock 2 controllers, a Sony 8 MB memory card, and a six-month trial subscription to Electronic Gaming Monthly. At the heart of the PlayStation2 is the 128-bit Emotion Engine processor, which brings lightning-fast gameplay and unprecedented graphics power to your TV screen. ... Read more

Reviews (288)

GREAT system but...
i love the ps2. but i didnt know if i should get an xbox, i already have a gamecube. i read so many reviews and the ones 4 ps2 said that ps2 was the best and the ones 4 xbox said xbox was the best. i got so sick of it that i just went out and bought an xbox and kept my ps2 and gamecube. i am much happier havin all 3 systems, because each has there ups and downs, each has a lot of their own special games that r only 4 that 1 system. if there is a game 4 more than 1 of the systems then i just have to decide by like graphics and how realistic it is and stuff like that. and like i love online games. so maybe ps2 and xbox got a game but only ps2's was online id get the ps2 version. there was a recent game that was like this, Madden 2004, i wanted it but only ps2's was online so i got that version. i personally think its a lot better having all 3 systems. my favorite games for each of the systems are right now- PS2- i still like socom the best because of online play, gamecube- soul calibur 2 because link is F****** alsome, xbox-star wars:knights of the old republic because that is one realistic game u get to decide if u wanna b a good or bad guy its alsome.

PS2 is the only one worth having!!!
Sure the Gamecube has the Mario games that you can't get on anything else, but most everything else that is on Gamecube, you can get on PS2.Skip the XBOX altogether, it is a waste of money, there are hardly any decent games on it.The PS2 is the best value for the money, and it has the BEST games.Plus it's great as a back-up DVD player.I wouldn't use it as a primary DVD player, unless you get the remote control for it it's a pain in the you-know-what to operate it, and it loads really slow anyways.But as a back-up, or second DVD player, it's just fine.But more importantly are the gaming capabilites.The PS2 is FAR superior to the competition, at least in this humble reviewer's opinion.Of course, the optimum situation would be to have enough money for all the systems, but since that is not possible for most people, then this is the best one, and the best value as I mentioned before.

I love this Playstation 2!
I got my playstation 2 after playing at my friends house! There are soo many games for this system which makes it worth having. And most people that want it should get it because of all the games and sooner or later more game systems will come out and then they migh t stop making games for the playstation and then youll be sad you missed out so ya take my advice get one! And i know people say that the dvd player doesnt work sometimes but i have not had any problems. I think that the people that have had problems have problems! hahah just kidding! ya get a playstation 2! yaya ... Read more

Asin: B00005RT08
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Console (ps2console playstation2console)   

Sony CLIE PEG-T665C/U Handheld
Average Customer Review:
Electronics

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Editorial Review

Only a half-inch thick and weighing a light 4.9 ounces, the sleek and stylish Sony Clié PEG-T665C will help you stay organized and entertained. Housed in an attractive aluminum body, the PEG-T665C is not only a 16 MB, 66 MHz PDA with a color display, it's also an MP3 player and features a built-in speaker so you can enjoy music while you work. Plus, the unique Jog Dial navigator provides easy access to your info.

Display
The PEG-T665C provides high resolution on its 320 x 320 pixel TFT color display.

Expansion
With this Sony Clié's Memory Stick expansion slot, you can get virtually unlimited data storage with Memory Stick removable media. Transfer digital content between your Clié handheld and other Memory Stick-compatible products, including digital cameras, digital camcorders, and PCs.

Operating System
The Sony Clié PEG-T665C is powered by Palm OS 4.1, which means it comes complete with all the standard Palm OS applications you need for organizing your life, including Date Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, Mail, and Expense tools, and Address Book. Also included is HotSync software.

Extra Software
In addition to the built-in applications that come with Palm OS 4.1, the PEG-T665C comes with the following Sony software: Audio Player, Clié Mail, Clié Paint, Clié Photo Stand, Clié Remove Commander, Memory Stick Autorun, Memory Stick Backup, Memory Stick Export (for the PC), Memory Stick Gate, Memory Stick Import, PictureGear Lite (for PC), PictureGear Pocket, Sonic Stage LE, Sound Convert (for PC), Sound Utility, and World Alarm Clock.

Synchronization
Connect to your PC and synchronize your contacts and date book using the included USB cable. You can also beam information to other Palm OS handheld owners using the IrDA infrared port.

Compatibility
The Sony Clié PEG-T665C is compatible with Windows 98 SE, 2000 Professional, Me, XP Home, and XP Professional editions. PCs must have a minimum 233 MHz or faster processor, 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended), and at least 156 MB of available hard drive space. A USB port is also required.

In the Box
The Sony Clié PEG-T665C comes with a USB HotSync cradle, AC adapter, stylus, protective cover, headphones and volume controller, installation CD, application manual, Graffiti sticker, and registration materials. The Sony Clié PEG-T665C is covered by a one-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• What's in the box: Clie, USB HotSync cradle, AC adapter, stylus, protective cover, headphones and volume controller, installation CD, application manual
• Palm OS v.4.1
• Built-in MP3 Audio Player
• High resolution TFT color display (320 x 320 pixels)
• New DragonBall Super VZ Processor (66 MHz CPU)/16 MB (DRAM) Memory

Reviews (47)

good pda
i doubt anyone will even ever read this as sony has pulled out of the market, but this is a really solid pda.i need a new one b/c the screen is messed up from dropping it too many times (i am really hard on it).i have really enjoyed it though.as long as i am replacing it, i want a faster processor.66 Mhz is a lot faster than the original palms, and faster than most folks need...but i run some medical software on mine that utilizes every ounce of speed.if you are just a regular user, or relatively new to pdas, you won't be disappointed in this one!be sure to get the cradle that comes with it as it is pretty cool.

Awesome hanheld
Awesome palm pilot, great for almost any thing, games, camera, movies. Definetly worth the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best all around PDA out there
This has been one of the better electronics purschases I've made. Memory is great, full of features (MP3 audio is great), no stupid thumb keyboard. I've thought of upgrading just because, but despite being two years old, no other PDA on the market is as functional as the T-665C. The only drawback - no way to add a WiFi card. COme on SOny! Build it, and they will come! ... Read more

Asin: B000068MQU

Sony MZ-N505 Net MD Walkman Player/Recorder (Gold)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $159.99
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Editorial Review

Sony's MZ-N505 high-speed Net MD Walkman player/recorder records MP3s or audio CDs directly to minidiscs at up to 32x speed usinga USB connection. Now, affordable minidisc media can store more than five hours of music per standard 80-minute minidisc. A single AAbattery provides up to 56 hours of playback (in LP4 mode), and the player's easy-skip group/folder function lets you navigate minidiscs withease.

In addition, this recorder supports multiple Internet audio formats, including MP3 and WMA, and enables ATRAC3 playback. ATRAC(Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) is the data-compression scheme developed for minidisc, and ATRAC3--the format used by Sony'sMemory Stick--offers even greater compression while maintaining near-CD quality. The Net MD Simple Burner QuickRip CD-dubbingapplication facilitates fast transfer of CDs to minidisc without the need to store files on a hard drive as an interim step. Simply launch theapplication and select the tracks you want to transfer to the player. (Actual transfer speed depends on your PC.)

The player records in standard mode for the richest sound quality or two different long-play modes for the most effective use of space. Thebundled OpenMG Jukebox management software supports secure music downloads (including tracks from pressplay.com), organizesplaylists, and titles tracks. As with all minidisc products, this Net MD player records from various sources and offers flexible audio editingtools. Minidisc media is affordable, durable, and re-recordable up to a million times without degradation.

Sony's ultra skip-free G-Protection technology reduces or eliminates skipping for active users who want uninterrupted music. The packageincludes OpenMG Jukebox software, QuickRip CD-dubbing application, one blank 80-minute minidisc, headphones, and a USB connectingcable. Net MD Walkman players are compatible with Microsoft Windows 98 SE, 2000, Me, and XP operating systems. ... Read more

Features

• Includes USB cable, headphones, AC adapter, Open MG Jukebox Windows installer CD, manual
• Record MP3s or CDs at up to 32x speed on affordable MD media for over 5 hours of music per standard 80-minute disc
• Easy Skip group/folder navigation in player; plays ATRAC3, MP3, WMA, and WAV files
• Music-management software ensures seamless file transfers to and from your hard drive; multi-speed transfers via USB port (4x SP, 16x LP2, and 32x LP4)
• Sony's ATRAC3 DSP encoder improves audio quality in high frequencies over previous MD compression schemes

Reviews (105)

Excellent music player
In a world now flooded and governed by Apple I Pod's and Dell DJ's this little player could not last very long in a battle it was destined to loose.Almost three years ago I bought a Sony NET MD Walkman, and even then, if I remember correctly, it was already loosing ground to MP3, flash and hard-disk, based players.Nonetheless, to me, this device was all that I needed.

Some of the features that impressed me the most were the very compact and good looking design.Also, the interface was extremely easy to learn and use.Initially, I was not very pleased with the software it included because it was confusing, not to mention it created copies of the songs in the format that could be used by the player, but it stored them deep in Windows where you could not find them. As time went on I became irritated on why my computer free space kept decreasing even when I didn't install any new programs.

Transferring songs to the player became a lot easier once Real included a plug-in for this device on their media player.After that I absolutely started loving this walkman.Yeah, you could not have all your songs in one MD disk, but that was a minor fault.The quality of the sound depended on the quality of your original files; for example the higher the "bit" rate on you MP3's or WAV's the higher the quality on you MD.One time I was able to fit well over 50 songs on one MD, and used to carry about five MD's; therefore, that was all that I needed.

As I mentioned before I have had this walkman for about three years now, and every button works - the silver paint is starting to come off.However, as long as it works there is no reason for me to get anything else.Overall, the Sony NET MD Walkman is an excellent product.

crappy crappy software and no mp3 support
here's the quick and dirty on the sony net md walkman line... they work great and play great and the mini-discs are cool BUT their software absolutely sucks. you CANNOT just transfer mp3 files, you have to convert EVERYTHING to the sony proprietary format first and then transfer the files, and you have to do this all with the sony sonicstage software which is a major pain to use. on top of that the transfer rates are WAAAY slow. stay away unless you really love sony for some reason. had I known that you have to convert everything to ATRAC3 before it would transfer the files I would have never bought this thing.

Fantastic, convenient, economical, great sound, bad software
The Type-R upgrade to ATRAC3 adds better sound and LP modes along with compatibility with your older minidiscs.Power management is better than anything else out there: the minidisc only spins when data is read from it, so most of the time the device is idle while playing music.This achieves enormous battery life of over 50 hours per single AA battery.That's right, a single AA battery powers this unit for over 50 hours.I don't even have portable radios that can last as long.

The sound is pleasant with the in-ear headphones that Sony makes, but not the throw-aways that come with this product.There are two "mega-bass" levels which make up for ambient noises in an office or subway train.Artifacts from the ATRAC3 recording are not as noticeable as they are with MP3, but are more noticeable than Apple iPod's AAC.Even the older ATRAC minidiscs from my older minidisc player sound better on this machine.I'm not sure how Sony managed to do that.

One of my two chief complaints with all the Sony minidiscs is the rather lousy software used to transfer CD, MP3, WAV, and WMA music to the unit, but luckily you can use RealPlayer from www.real.com to record minidiscs.

The second complaint is the use of "folders".In order to listen to your minidisc all the way through, which is how I think most people listen to music, you need to record your songs at the root level.If they are in folders the device requires you to "navigate" out of the sub-folders using, of all things, the "Group/Cancel" button on the front bezel.There is no way to remove the group feature if it's recorded already without re-recording your disc.Again, luckily, the RealPlayer can avoid this silliness.

Transferring songs via USB takes about 5 minutes for an entire 5-hour minidisc.As for the copy-protected rules that control copying data to and from a minidisc, I will leave that to other reviewers; a similar scheme is in place for Sony Magicgate and other Sony portables and I won't discuss it here.See www.minidisc.org for more information on how Sony tries to protect copyrights.

If you want to record 5 hours of music per two-dollar disc, then this product is the right one.Per hour, that cost is a tiny fraction of any portable music player that uses flash memory.If you're really into music but don't enjoy wasting money on players with bad sound and horribly expensive memory storage then you must get a minidisc! ... Read more

Asin: B000065CE1
Subjects:  1. Portable MiniDisc Player (Personal Mini-Disc, Minidisk)    2. MiniDisc (Mini-Disc)    3. mzn505, mzn-505, mzn5, mz-n5, mz-n50    4. mnz505, mini disc, netmd, net-md    5. disk, disc, sonie, soni, soney, sonee, sone    6. sonny, n505, minidisc   

JVC HX-Z1 Compact Stereo System
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $329.95
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Editorial Review

The HX-Z1 "Tower of Power" asserts JVC's domination of the minisystem category, though calling this powerhouse "mini" is a bit of a stretch. But domination is what the 350-watt monster's twin hyper-power-drive woofers are all about. The HX-Z1 also includes a three-CD changer with play exchange and 32-track programming, a full-logic cassette deck with auto reverse and music scan, and an FM/AM tuner with 45 presets (30 FM, 15 AM). The speakers, with their rocket-engine design and silver grilles, are the focal point of the HX-Z1. Each speaker uses a 4-inch cone woofer, a 2-inch cone tweeter, and an additional 6.3-inch cone subwoofer with four-layer voice coils for extra efficiency.

Delivering ground-pounding bass below 30 Hz isn't easy, but JVC pulls it off by using separate amplifiers for the woofer and subwoofers, routing 120 watts to each of the speakers and an additional rafter-rattling 55 watts to each of the subs. This design ensures efficient power delivery and the bass you demand. The subwoofers even get their own separate level control and an Extended Super Bass setting for driving the low-end all the way to "11."

The CD player offers play exchange, letting you swap two discs while the third plays, and 32-track programming. A single-bit digital-to-analog converter delivers music with clarity and punch. CD synchro-start recording makes copying discs to cassette a cinch. Three preset and three manual equalizer curves and four simulated surround sound settings (dance, club, hall, stadium) let you tailor the system's sound to any musical preference. The HX-Z1 comes with a full-function remote control. ... Read more

Features

• Auxiliary stereo analog input lets you hook up an MP3 player, minidisc player, or VCR
• 3-CD changer with play exchange, 45-preset FM/AM tuner, auto-reverse cassette deck
• 350 watts total power (120 watts + 55 watts) x 2
• Stereo speakers with dual 6.3-inch subwoofers
• 3 preset and 3 manual equalization settings and simulated surround sound (dance/club/hall/stadium)

Reviews (7)

Scoops, Vents, and Las Vegas Lighting
The scoops, vents, Las Vegas lighting, and cyborg cladding will appeal to mall rats and lane-changers, but don't let the looks fool you. The HX-Z1 sounds just fine with Ozzy, AC-DC, and other parental unit fare.

The speakers are heftier than they look and are finished attractively, except on the back. Each cabinet has two mid/bass drivers flanking a cone tweeter, as well as a side mounted long-throw subwoofer (bass frequencies get progressively more non-directional with each octave drop, so this is not a problem). The speakers are bi-wired, with separate color-coded thin gauge cables for the subwoofers.

Overall, the bass sounds fairly tuneful, especially compared to the one-note thudding that often passes for bass in this price range. The subwoofer output integrates well with the mid/bass drivers, and there is little of that chesty "voice in a barrel" sound peak dilaed in around 100 Hz to conceals a lack of deep bass. I was mildly astonished to measure usable in-room bass response below 30Hz.

The treble is a little hot on-axis, as confirmed by a test disc and SPL meter, though I didn't notice any sibilance. Also, some transformer hum was noticeable in nearfield listening, but it goes away when you sit back more than 4-5 feet. For this reason, and because they are not magnetically shielded, don't place them next to a computer monitor or directly next to a TV set. These speakers like a little room to breathe.

The main unit's control layout is dominated by a bright, cascading fluorescent and LED display that will turn any room into Times Square. The volume knob is helpfully oversized, which makes it easy to locate when aggrieved neighbors pound on the walls.

The subwoofer control has five settings, but only bass freaks will want the seismic subwoofery beyond the middle setting. The remote (model RM-SHXZ3A -- not to be confused with the RM-SHXZ3, I guess) is unexceptional, with an awkwardly located the volume rocker.

The various surround modes (stadium, dance, hall, rock, and classic) are fine if you like that sort of thing, however "off" seems like the best way to hear what the musicians and recording engineers intended.

The 3-drawer CD changer doesn't impress. While it lets you swap out a CD while another plays, the mechanism is slow and makes thrashy noises as it shuttles discs around. It also will occasionally indicate that no disc is present in a drawer when one is in fact loaded correctly. A single-drawer player with fewer histrionics would be preferable, but that would hardly be in keeping with this unit's bigger / badder / louder design philosophy.

BOTTOM LINE
This sytem is all about playing clean and loud. And did I mention loud? As for footprint, this isn't exactly a compact system -- think three PC towers. All in all, the HX-Z1 offers extended, well controlled bass at a low price. The uninspiring CD changer tempts me to lower it to 4, but solid value argues for a fifth star.

Great System!
I just bought this system on Sunday and it is great! Here's what I thought about it:
Looks:4.5/5 I think this stereo looks great and should be displayed, not hidden.

Sound:4.5/5 This system has some deep, room rattling bass. The neighbors got mad at me because they could hear the bass and I didn't even have the volume loud! It can also handle the mids and highs good. The bass is nice and clear and the mids and highs too. Even at high volume it sounds accurate and not disstorted. I hooked up my tv to it and it's awesome. Try playing Halo with this hooked up to the tv.

Price:4/5 I thought the price was excellent
for this system. Not too expensive.

Durability:?/5 I just got it so I don't know how long it will last. It seems to be doing fine.

Display:4.5/5 The display is bright and colorful and also big and easy to read.

Remote:4/5 The remote seemed fine although I don't really care how it looks or feels.

Overall:4.5/5 I think this is a great system for the price. It's especially good for rap and r&b music.

exellent piece of sound machinery
The speaker system on this unit seems to be beyond what the amplification is able to deliver, it would be wonderful if instead of putting in a large cassette system delete the cassette system altogether and put in a more powerful c.d. package. ... Read more

Asin: B000065UV1
Subjects:  1. Compact System    2. Mini System    3. Mini Shelf System    4. Micro Component Stereo