Sheer tech

For Sony, the Vaio VGN-A39GP is king of the hill in its notebook computer empire. It is the first release from Sony's new A-series Vaio family and carries a $27,980 price tag. It runs Intel's Centrino mobile system, which includes the 2.13-gigahertz Pentium M processor 770, 915PM Express chipset and PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection. Built to run most heavy-duty business or entertainment applications, the VGN-A39GP features an advanced 17-inch liquid crystal display and sensors that monitor ambient lighting conditions to automatically adjust the screen's brightness. It comes with a remote control, Sony's own S-Master amplifier, two-way external stereo speakers, a memory card adapter and a variety of entertainment software.