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| Sony VAIO VGN AR11S Bluray Notebook Review |
For a long time Toshiba has had its own way when it comes to fully featured Media Center notebooks, with its Qosmio range pretty much dominating the market, but it looks like that's all about to change. Sony has finally decided to embrace Media Center, placing it at the heart of its latest range of multimedia notebooks and the results are pretty impressive.Sitting in front of me right now is Sony's top of the range multimedia notebook, the VAIO VGN-AR11S. This machine is notable for a number of reasons, like the inclusion of Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition, the implementation of a Full HD compatible 17in screen, but most important of all, the fact that nestling in the left side of the chassis is a Blu-ray re-writable drive.
Unless you're really not into technology (in which case, why are you reading this?), you would have heard about Blu-ray. This is one of two competing formats (the other being HD DVD) which have been designed to deliver high definition video. However, like DVD before it, Blu-ray is also very handy for backing up and storing massive amounts of data. So, with a single layer Blu-ray disc, you'll be able to store 25GB of data, which is quite useful in these days of 10-megapixel digital cameras, not to mention the recent introduction of affordable high definition camcorders like the Sony HDR-HC3E.
...Verdict
It would be easy to think of the AR11S solely as the first notebook available with a Blu-ray drive, but that really would be selling it short. What you've actually got here is a superb Media Center PC, with all the components to allow it to be the centre of your high-definition entertainment setup. Yes it's pretty expensive, but you really are getting not just cutting edge, but potentially future proof technology here - once Blu-ray movies start to appear, the AR11S will add another very impressive string to its bow.
But the jewel in the crown of the AR11S is the HDCP enabled HDMI port, meaning that non only will you be able to watch Blu-ray movies on the excellent 17in internal screen, but you'll also be able to watch them on your high definition TV in the living room. This really is how Windows Media Center is supposed to be! TrustedReviews - Sony VAIO VGN-AR11S Blu-ray Notebook Linked by LT Hacker
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