PCG-GT

Overview

Sony VAIO PCG-GT3 promotional image

The Sony VAIO PCG-GT was a line of ultraportable subnotebooks with a built-in digital camera sold by Sony exclusively in Japan from November 2000 to late 2001.

The original model, PCG-GT1 released on November 18, 2000. A higher-end model featuring darker colors and larger hard drive, PCG-GT3 (/K) was released on June 30, 2001.

Both models featured a large camera on the side, intended to be primarily used for taking pictures that could later be shared on an image sharing service ImageStation, and for video recording and live streaming to PercasTV service, one of the first live video streaming services.

PCG-GT1 in camcorder mode

Since the PCG-GT is designed like a sort of camcorder, the lid is able to rotate 180°, meaning you can close the lid with the display on the outside. The camera is also able to rotate vertically, allowing for a fairly pleasing experience when taking pictures or videos. The PCG-GT is able to capture pictures up to 640x480 resolution, and videos up to 640x480 (15FPS) or 320x240 (30FPS) in AVI format.

Build quality is good, made out of metal for the lid, and plastic for the rest. The keyboard, being much smaller than full size because of the form factor of the device, is still usable, however don't expect a very pleasing experience. No trackpad is provided, only a trackpoint.

A total of 5000 PCG-GT1 units were made. The number of PCG-GT3 units produced is unknown, but is likely the same as for PCG-GT1.

Some of the design choices featured in PCG-GT line were carried over to the PCG-U line in 2002.

Detailed Specs

There were two models released, PCG-GT1 and PCG-GT3 (/K). Both of them were very similar aside from a few minor differences in appearance, different hard drives, and Windows 2000 instead of ME in PCG-GT3. Both featured a Transmeta Crusoe TM5600 processor built on VLIW architecture, similar to the TM5800 found in PCG-U series, however the one in PCG-GT is earlier and thus slower.

PCG-GT1

Sony VAIO PCG-GT1

Processor: Transmeta Crusoe TM5600 600MHz

Graphics: ATI RAGE Mobility M1, 8MB VRAM

Memory: 128MB

Display: 6.4" 1024×768

Camera: 1/4-inch CCD 680,000 pixels (340,000 effective pixels) f=3.3-33mm (42-420mm in 35mm camera equivalent) F1.7-2.2

Storage: 20GB 2.5-inch IDE HDD

Weight: 1.1kg

Original OS: Microsoft Windows Millenium Edition

MSRP: ¥285,800

PCG-GT3 (/K)

Sony VAIO PCG-GT3/K

Processor: Transmeta Crusoe TM5600 600MHz

Graphics: ATI RAGE Mobility M1, 8MB VRAM

Memory: 128MB

Display: 6.4" 1024×768

Camera: 1/4-inch CCD 680,000 pixels (340,000 effective pixels) f=3.3-33mm (42-420mm in 35mm camera equivalent) F1.7-2.2

Storage: 30GB 2.5-inch IDE HDD

Weight: 1.1kg

Original OS: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

MSRP: ¥230,000

Daily Usage Today

Much like back then, the PCG-GT is slow, and is only good enough for light tasks of its era. Camera is not acceptable by modern standards, but was fairly good back then. There is little to no usability in modern tasks for any PCG-GT model.

The PCG-GT is a very rare collector's item, and is rarely found for sale anywhere.

Resources

Recovery Discs

PCG-GT1

Internet Archive

Hard drive images

PCG-GT1

Internet Archive

Manuals and Useful Links

PCG-GT1	Internet Archive
PCG-GT1 (English translated)	Internet Archive

Disassembly Guide

Sony VAIO PCG-GT1 Disassembly Guide

Credits

Sony, pc.watch.impress.co.jp