PCG-C1
Overview
The Sony VAIO PCG-C1 was a line of subnotebooks sold by Sony from 1998-2003.
It was branded as the "PictureBook", due to its inbuilt rotating camera and book-shaped design.
The PCG-C1 had a total of 4 revisions and 26 models including:
- Revision 1 (
- PCG-C1 (Pentium MMX 233MHz, 3.2GB HDD, 64MB RAM, 1024x480 TFT Display, 0.27MP camera, Windows 98, September 1998, JAPAN ONLY)
- PCG-C1X (Pentium MMX 266MHz, 4.3GB HDD, Windows 98, USA ONLY)
- PCG-C1F (PCG-C1X UK Variant)
- PCG-C1R (PCG-C1X Japan Variant)
- PCG-C1S (PCG-C1X Japan Variant)
- All units had mono speakers
- Revision 2
- PCG-C1XE (Intel Pentium 2 266MHz, 8.1GB HDD, 64MB RAM, Windows 98, 1999, JAPAN ONLY)
- PCG-C1XN (Intel Celeron 233MHz, 12GB HDD, 64MB RAM, Windows 98, January 2000, Global)
- PCG-C1XS (Intel Pentium 2 400MHz, 12GB MDD, 64MB RAM, Windows 98, January 2000, High end PCG-C1XN, Global)
- PCG-C1XD (PCG-C1XS German variant)
- PCG-C1XG/BP (PCG-C1XS Japanese variant)
- All units had stereo speakers
- Revision 3
- PCG-C1VN
- PCG-C1VE
- PCG-C1VP
- PCG-C1VFK
- PCG-C1VSX
- PCG-C1VS/BW
- Revision 4
- PCG-C1MV
- PCG-C1MW
- PCG-C1MGP
- PCG-C1MRX
- PCG-C1MR/BP
- PCG-C1MSX
- PCG-C1MEL
- PCG-C1MAH
- PCG-C1MHP
- PCG-C1MZX
All QR3s were white, with a purple-greyish palmrest and screen bezel. The keys on the very clicky keyboard are shaped to resemble the keys on a typewriter, and the whole laptop generally oozes with "Y2k" industral design touches.
The QR3 was powered by a Mobile Intel Celeron clocked at 750MHz. It shipped with 128MB of RAM and either a 20, 30 or 40GB IDE HDD, all made by Hitachi.
The QR3 is equipped with a CD-RW/DVD-ROM optical drive, a Memory Stick slot with MagicGate compatibility and two PCMCIA Type II slot. I/O includes two USB ports, an i.Link S400 (IEEE 1394/Apple FireWire 400 4-pin) port, two 3.5mm jacks (Audio-IN and Audio-OUT), an Ethernet port, a modem port and VGA-Out.
Interaction with Windows XP Home Edition happens through either the non-multitouch trackpad or although in a much more limited way, via the Jog Dial placed near the hinge on the right side.
Among the bundled software is possible to find classic Sony programs like SonicStage, on top of some So-Net (Sony's Japan-only ISP service) promotional material.
Detailed Specs
Processor: Intel Celeron 750Mz (Mobile)
Graphics: Intel 815EM
Memory: PC100, max 256MB, 2 slots
Storage: IDE Ultra ATA/100
Display: 13.3" XGA (1024x768) TFT LCD
OS: Windows XP Home Edition
Weight: around 2.7 kg
Problems
As with a lot of old laptops, this laptop has the problem of melting rubber feet. There is no proper solution, apart from 3D-Printing the feet with TPU plastic. We will add the STL file once it has been tested under the Resources tab.
Daily Usage Today
Today the QR3, almost like back in the day, is just a novelty item. It lacks any kind of usage, being woefully underpowered for tasks like retro gaming or video editing, the only thing it can do properly being text editing amd other office tasks, with its wonderful keyboard.
It is only a collector's item, reason why prices outside Japan can be very steep, if you can find one for sale at all. With enough patience it's still possible to find some good deals in Japan.
Resources
Sony JP VAIO PCG-QR3 Presentation Page
Sony JP VAIO PCG-QR3 Presentation PDF
Sony VAIO PCG-QR3 User Manual
Sony JP VAIO Lineup PDF
Disassembly Guide
Sony VAIO PCG-QR3 Disassembly Guide
If the link is broken, please input the URL in the Wayback Machine.
Downloads
Sony VAIO PCG-QR3 Recovery Discs.
They do not seem to be model locked. See Compatibility Problems section in the Recovery Discs page.
It is unknown if these discs are compatible with SVRP.
Follow our guides to download and install drivers.
Credits
Sony, Yahoo! JAPAN Auctions listing (Buyee)