Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T - Budget Laptop that Looks Pricey!

The Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T is one of the over-looked, under the radar range laptop that is not one to really stand out in any respect. Just a mainstream laptop, the Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/Tisn't as cute and light as an ultra portabel, but isn't as pakced with features and attention grabbing as a desktop replacement. Thankfully, this also means that the Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T is one of the cheapest laptops that Sony has to offer at only $1,099. However, what the Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T lacks in power and features, it makes up in design and stuling. So if you're looking for a laptop that looks snazzy, and performance is not a real concern, the Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T might present an affordable option.

The primary lack of power comes from the under-powered Intel Core Duo 2 processor and the lack of a good separate video display card. Measuring 14.4 inches wide, 10.6 inches deep, and 1.5 inches high, the Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T sits in the category of the mainstream laptops that are large enough to comfortably work on, yet light enough to carry around occasionally. The Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T weights 6.7 lbs, with the AC adapter weighing an extra pound. The 15.4 inch LCD screen offers a 1280x800 resolution which is just fine for the screen size. One welcome addition that the Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T offers is the anti-reflective coating on the screen that improves the readability of the screen a whole lot.

Now the main strength of the Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T - the design and style. The Sony VAIO VGN-N170G/T sports a new dark brown color that resembles the Microsoft Zune's dark brown shade. Called the wedge Brown, the color is described as "a creamy, coffee color made to resemble wood furniture" by Sony. A minimalist silver keyboard tray greets you when you open the laptop. Set against the white full-sized keyboard, the color fits well, especially with the mouse buttons and the touch pad of the similar color. The flat keys feel comfortable when typed on, though the touch pad is slippery and the mouse buttons are incredibly loud (for mouse buttons that is).