PCG-QR3
Overview
The Sony VAIO PCG-QR3 was a mid-low end, multimedia-oriented and design-centric laptop computer sold by Sony only in Japan around 2001.
The main peculiarity of the QR3 are the two surprisingly high quality detachable speakers placed at the left and right of the screen.
Design
The QR3, like the QR1, was designed to stand out when compared to any other laptop at the time. The build is entirely plastic and, compared to other all-plastic VAIOs of around that same period, it feels somewhat cheaper. It's also harder to work on than most laptops of its time, since to access any component that isn't the modem card you're required to disassembly the whole bottom of the machine.
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.
Specifications
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 Laptop 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.
The QR3 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 gaming or video editing and absolutely unusable for text editing (unless you are comfortable with the Japanese keyboard, of course). It is only a collector's item, reason why prices outside Japan can be very steep. With enough patience it's still possible to find some good deals in Japan though auctions.
Resoruces
Downloads
Follow our guides to download and install drivers. PCG-QR3 recovery discs are available