Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 went with Pentium M740 1.73GHz processor built in, and Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI with Core Duo T2500 2.0GHz.
Screen size on both models(Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 and Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI) is 15.4".
For people who likes higher screen resolutions, 1680x1050 on TravelMate 8204WLMI might be more preferable than 1280x800 on Vaio VGN-FS980 screen.
To runs many programs at once we've found Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI better with its 2GB of RAM than Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 with 1GB. More memory means less swapping.
2GB is maximum supportable RAM memory on both notebooks
Vaio VGN-FS980 is significantly lighter with its 2.72kg weight, than TravelMate 8204WLMI with 3.6kg.
Graphic card in Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 is Intel GMA900 and in laptop Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI is X1600.
We like that video card on Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI have its own video memory (256MB) and therefore its faster since it doesn't use main memory and mainboard controller is less loaded.
More storage for multimedia (mpeg, avi) were available at Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI (more conforable space on hard disk).
Fast hard disk (5400 rpm) on Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI beats another model.
If you have bluetooth devices if you buy Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 you will need external bluetooth dongle which is not excellent idea.
Infrared connection has only Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI.
Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI doesn't support firewire connections.
Modem is built in both laptops.
Note that Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI cannot perform 1Gbit/s connection on fast networks, it will work on those, but with speed of 100Mbit/s.
Cardreader in Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI can read 5 different card types and in Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 can read 4 different card types.
They don't have DVI for new monitors.
Only TravelMate 8204WLMI has TV output.
Laptops are able to use standard 54Mbit/s wireless connection.
Quite disadvantage of both models is lack of web camera which is needed for Internet telephony.
Operating system on Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 is XP Home and on Acer TravelMate 8204WLMI is XP Pro.
Only Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 has special software pack : Works 8.5.
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