 4 GB DDR2-SDRAM 500 GB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT Windows Vista Ultimate Laptops (VGN-AR61ZU)")
- - Intel® Core™2 Duo T8300 2.4 GHz
- - 43.2 cm (17") 1920 x 1200 pixels 16:10
- - 4 GB DDR2-SDRAM 667 MHz
- - 500 GB
- - NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
- - 2.0+EDR
- - Windows Vista Ultimate
VGN-AR61ZU - Intel® Core™2 Duo T8300, Mobile Intel® PM965 Express, DDR2 SDRAM (2x2048MB), Blu-ray Disc™ Drive, 500Gb SATA HDD (5400 rpm), 17" X-black LCD, NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT GPU, 802.11a/b/g/Draft n, Windows Vista® Ultimate
An industry first
The VAIO AR Series marks another industry milestone for VAIO in terms of both design and capabilities. With its high-resolution widescreen display, dual-core processor and integrated Blu-ray optical drive, the AR Series is more than just a powerful mobile computer.
It is the first notebook able to unlock the true potential of High Definition multimedia. Whether it’s watching HD movies, editing HD content or using Blu-ray’s amazing 50GB (on double layer BD) capacity for backing up files or recording up to 4 hours of HD video on a single Blu-ray disc.
Thanks to the innovative use of strong but lightweight materials in its construction and attention to ergonomics in its design, the AR Series is easy to use at home or at the office and light enough for working anywhere in-between. All of which means that whatever your demands, and however you choose to use it, the AR Series can open the doors to a host of new creative, commercial and recreational possibilities.
Giant 17” screen
For the user on the move who wants desktop performance wherever their work may take them, the AR Series combines everything you would expect in a notebook with two items that you wouldn’t - a High Definition optimised 17” ultra widescreen display, and the latest Intel dual-core processor.
It means that as well as offering wireless connectivity and portability, you also have the power, screen size and resolution to get the most from professional software.
A larger viewing area makes it easier to use floating palettes or open documents side-by-side, while the boost to performance also makes it simple to work with audio and video editing applications that require both high resolution displays and high speed processing. Plus as the screen benefits from Sony’s next generation X-Black technology, definition is always sharper and brighter with almost no glare, so it is more comfortable to use for longer periods and less tiring on the eyes.
Freedom
Until now, the creative professional working with High Definition footage has had no choice other than to use a desktop system. The size of HD files and applications required to best exploit them would swamp most notebooks, filling their hard disks and denting their performance.
If a notebook is to meet these demands, it not only needs enough space to hold the footage you may need to finish the job, it has to be able to put the finished job on to a single disc. Thanks to its 200GB hard drive, applications and integrated Blu-ray optical drive, the AR Series doesn’t just let you review, edit and stream HD footage, it allows you to record up to 4 hours of footage on to a single Blu-ray disc.
Stunning graphics
For users that prize entertainment as highly as productivity, the AR Series features a HDMI output so that you can view HD footage and films on any HD ready TV, plus the latest NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics processor meets even the most serious gamer’s demand.
While the built-in hybrid (digital and analogue) TV tuner lets you watch and record all of your favourite shows and take them with you wherever you go.
The centre of attention
VAIO users expect the best performance from their notebooks whether designing a presentation for an important meeting or relaxing with a film or a favourite album after work is done.
The seamless integration of a panoramic 17” widescreen WUXGA display, hybrid (digital and analogue) TV tuner and the latest graphics technology helps to transform the AR Series from a high-powered notebook into a portable home entertainment centre or games platform.
WUXGA Resolution
Short for Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array, the WUXGA display on the AR Series has an exceptionally high 1920×1200-pixel resolution and a 16:10 screen aspect ratio. This makes it possible to watch High Definition movies and video footage at their native resolution of 1080p without having to reduce the quality in order for the image to fit on the screen.
When not working with HD files, the screen provides a huge desktop space for working with multiple applications and allows you to get the most from DVD playback and video gaming. Because the display ratio is also the format of most films, modern TV shows and computer games, whatever you’re watching always fills the screen.
And as this ratio is also much closer to the actual field of vision of the human eye than the traditional square shaped screens found on older televisions or computer monitors, it is always a superior viewing or gaming experience.
Videoconferencing made simple
The addition of a built-in Sony Motion Eye videocam and microphone brings another dimension to computing, allowing you to challenge and communicate with game opponents over the internet, but what’s more, it makes videoconferencing simple.
Easy to use, with integrated auto focus and auto brightness, it helps you get people to see the bigger picture, whether you’re communicating with the office while on the move, or just chatting online with absent family and friends.
Turn your computer into a phone
And keeping in touch is made even easier with the inclusion of Skype, an application that allows you to use your AR Series as a phone. Using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Skype converts speech into data that can be sent and received online, meaning that as long as you have a high-speed internet connection, you can call anyone, anywhere in the world. As it uses the web to make calls, the only cost is the cost of your internet connection.
- Blu-ray Disc™ drive (reader/writer) for watching HD movies and creating HD content
- Full HD 17.0” widescreen X-black LCD display with double lamp
- Watch and record TV with integrated hybrid digital and analogue TV tuner
- High power with Windows Vista® Ultimate, Intel® Centrino® Duo and NVIDIA® graphics
Sony VAIO VGN-AR61ZU, Intel® Core™2 Duo, 2.4 GHz, 43.2 cm (17"), 1920 x 1200 pixels, 4 GB, 500 GB
Sony VAIO VGN-AR61ZU. Processor family: Intel® Core™2 Duo, Processor: T8300, Processor frequency: 2.4 GHz. Display diagonal: 43.2 cm (17"), Display resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels. Internal memory: 4 GB, Internal memory type: DDR2-SDRAM. Total storage capacity: 500 GB. Discrete graphics card model: NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT. Operating system installed: Windows Vista Ultimate. Weight: 3.8 kg
The Sony Vaio VGN-AR61ZU is a very competent desktop-replacement laptop with impressive performance and good entertainment capabilities. Provided youre not planning on moving it too far and you can afford the high asking price it shouldnt disappoint... 
Good screen, solid build... 
Heavy, average specification... 
