Sony VAIO VGN AR550E 17" Laptop Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100, 2 GB RAM, 240 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium
Normal Price:$2,099.99
Our Price:$1,495.60
Availability:Usually ships in 6-10 business days
... For more information or Buy from Amazon.com ...
Manufacturer: Sony
Model: VGN-AR550E
Binding: Personal Computers
Publisher: Sony
Label: Sony
CPU: Intel Core Duo
System Memory Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Features for Sony VAIO VGN AR550E 17" Laptop Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100, 2 GB RAM, 240 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium :
- Multimedia studio notebook with 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 ("Santa Rosa") processor and 17-inch LCD
- Dual 120 GB hard drives (240 GB total), 2 GB installed RAM (4 GB max), dual-layer DVD burner, NTSC/ATSC TV tuners
- Three USB 2.0, one, FireWire, one HDMI output, S/PDIF audio output, ExpressCard 54 card slot, Memory Stick & SD readers
- Quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), 10/100 Ethernet, Nvidia GeForce 8400M video card with up to 895 MB of shared memory; Bluetooth
- Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)
Small Picture
Medium Picture
Editorial Review
Supplied Accessories: VGP-BPS9B Standard Lithium-Ion Battery, VGP-AC19V15 AC Adapter, Power Cord, ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner.
Sony's VAIO(R) AR VGN-AR550E Digital Studio Notebook PC is a premiere entertainment notebook, combining powerhouse multimedia features with convenience and portability of a notebook. Play back HD content on the 17" widescreen display, or load it up & enjoy it on the big-screen with the HDMI connection. An Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides screaming-fast performance and the mobility, power and flexibility you need. With built-in 802.11n wireless LAN technology , the VAIO® AR notebook lets you wirelessly surf the web and e-mail with greater performance, range and reliability than ever. This lightning-fast, super-powerful notebook is the ultimate desktop replacement. GPU - NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT, 895MB total available memory Built-in TV Tuner - ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner (NTSC and ATSC support) Sony Sound Reality - Audio Enhancer Multimedia Card Reader - Memory Stick(R) and Memory Stick(R) DUO, SD, PCMCIA Type II/Type I card slot with CardBus support Optical drive reads CD (24x), DVD (8x), DVD-RAM (5x) Optical drive writes to CD-R (24x), CD-RW (16x), DVD+R/-R/+RW (8x), DVD-RW (6x), DVD-RAM (5x), DVD+/-R DL (4x) Built-in camera and microphone Supports /54 Express Card, Memory Stick(R) 3 USB ports (2.0 compliant) 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet (RJ-45) V.92/V.90 modem (RJ-11) Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth Inputs - i.LINK(4-pin), Mic, Headphone, DC in Outputs - HDMI, S-Video, VGA out, S/PDIF Operating System - Windows Vista Home Premium Software - Microsoft Works 8.5, Office 2007 (90-day trial), AOL (90-day trial), Click to DVD, Norton Internet Security 2007 (60-day trial) Measurements(WxHxD) - 16.4 x 1.32 x 11.8 Weight - Approx. 8.4 lbs.
Cached date: AWS Called=true
Customer Reviews
Must Have HDCP Compliant HDMI Device 
2007-07-08
If you want to hook this up to a TV and watch BD movies, the TV must have a High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) compliant HDMI connection. Apparently this is a secret because you can't find this on Amazon's description or on Sony's website specifications. It also seems to be quite difficult to determine if a TV is HDCP compliant, so call the manufacturer if you can't find it in a specification sheet or in the manual. An external computer monitor must also be HDCP compliant for BD movies to play. If you watch a BD movie through the HDMI connection, you can't have the laptop display on simultaneously.
I don't see this in the description on Amazon, but I bought mine direct from Sony and it came with an external ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner that accepts a cable card. You can watch HDTV broadcasts on the laptop with it.
I think this is a great laptop.
Love this laptop! 2008-03-14
I bought this laptop elsewhere for half the price (it was a display) and I love this laptop! It's powerful, light for a 17", sleek and a staples of Sony's manufacturer prowess. HDMI as advertise, Vista Ultimate (32-bit) as advertised, 8400gt and a t7100.
Battery life is suprisingly good I usually get between 2.5 hrs and 3hrs with the wireless going and the screen dimmed all the way. Was not so impressed to see the inclusion of Fujitsu hard drives but I hope this isn't the Achilles heal.
Sony VAIO VGN-AR550U 17" Laptop 2008-01-07
This is a very good product it allows the use of Vista driven improvements quite easily. Simply ordering a cable compatable card you can view and record televsion signals including HD. There really is not a negative issue with this computer.
Enjoy your Sony VAIO VGN-AR550U 17" Laptops.
Sony - Not a laptop company 
2007-12-11
I had to give 1 star because I can not give zero star. I have purchase sony AR-520E for my self. The laptop touch, keybord design, screen quality everything is not what you paid for. Sony does not know how to build a laptop, especially after being so many years in business. I can say this becuase I bought HP as a gift for someone after I purchased sony. HP came at same price, had 7500 processor, 8600 GS video card, better screen. HP/ Toshiba are better computer companies with lots of good features in Computer usability. Sony is $400 expensive and less user friendly that similar products from HP.
Here is why you should not by any sony laptop, holds true for all sony models,
1. USB ports are at near end right side, instead of being further back near screen. If you use mouse and you are right handed, cable will make right side unusable.
2. It has only 2 USB ports, using 3rd USB port will block your speakers.
3. Notebook mousepad is located by edge of computer. You have to lift your hand if you have to use mouse.
4. Mouse button are expose and vunarable to damage.
5. The lock to keep laptop close, has hook big as fishing hook. dont forget to close it or it will hurt your hand.
6. Keyboard layout is the one which I have never seen before. HP has full keyboard. Sony keyboard is located way down, which means you dont have support while typing.
7. Full HD 1080 is low quality resolution than what HP and Toshiba has.
8. No Remote for Multimedia usage. Buttons for Multimedia do not have lights which means you have to search for them.
Here is much better product that you should consider.
HP Pavilion dv9500t 17" Laptop Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 at 1.8 GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, DVD+/-R/RW / Wireless / HDMI Port / 896MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400 w/Webcam/ Windows Vista Preimium)
The best notebook I have ever owned 2007-09-28
This is the second VAIO notebook I have purchased. I have been using it for about two months as a desktop replacement running dual monitors and have had no problems with it. It runs Vista well, the screen is beautiful, and has plenty of power for gaming.
I am a little confused about the previous reviews. This laptop *DOES* come with Vista Ultimate (that is what the U in VGN-AR550U means). Also, this laptop does *NOT* have a Blu-Ray drive. So trying to play BD movies in it simply will not work!
HELP ME AMAZON 
2007-08-18
I totally agree with Richard D. Unholz. I bought mine from antonline after placing the order with amazon first but they were out of stock. I am now expressing my dissatifaction with antonline since I have been trying to return the product 1 week now and although going through the necessary procedures they still have not sent me the RMA. I phoned them and the sent me back to their website. The pc is missing some key specs from the one I ordered. Guys be careful stay away from this company. You do not want to pay 3000 plus and its not worth it because the company itself ripped you off and they wont even respond to you email. I wish amazon could step in and do something cause all I want is exactly what I paid for or my money back if its out of stock. One would think that the service for a high priced machine would be better. Again guys stay away from antonline.
