Package and Accessories

As I mentioned above, we received test samples of the VAIO VGN-SZ1HRP/B and VAIO VGN-SZ1XRP/C models with a minimum of accessories: one power adapter for the two and a card-reader in the VAIO VGN-SZ1XRP/C. The card-reader supports almost all the existing memory card formats (Secure Digital, Multi Media Card, xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, and Memory Stick Duo) and looks like this:

Besides that, the following items are included with the serial versions of the products:

• Setup manual (describes the setup procedure from unpacking to turning the computer on)
• User manual
• Troubleshooting guide
• System restore guide
• Other documentation (warranty, safety instructions, and manuals on using the modem, WLAN and Bluetooth)

Besides Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition Service Pack 2, you get a very large software bundle with these notebooks:

Audio:

• SonicStage 3.3
• SonicStage Mastering Studio 2.1
• DSD Direct

Video and TV:

• Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0
• DVgate Plus 2.2
• VAIO Edit Components 6.0
• WinDVD 6.0 for VAIO

Photography:

• Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0

CD-DVD burning:

• Roxio DigitalMedia SE 7
• Click to DVD 2.5

Office applications:

• Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0 (trial)
• Adobe Acrobat Elements 7.0
• Adobe Reader 7.0
• Microsoft Works 8.0

Security, etc:

• Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition
• Norton Ghost (trial)
• VAIO Recovery Utility 2.6 (hard disk drive recovery)

Regrettably, Sony does not include Recovery discs with its notebooks. The recovery system is placed on a hidden partition on the hard drive, and the user can create his/her own recovery kit, but it is not very convenient and is often just too late.