Central processor unit on our Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 we've tested was Pentium M740 1.73GHz, and on HP Pavilion dv9056ea was Turion X2 Dual 1.6GHz.
We prefere 17 inch wide screen size at model Pavilion dv9056ea than 15.4 built at model Vaio VGN-FS980.
HP Pavilion dv9056ea laptop have finer maximum screen resolution(1440x900) than other (1280x800).
If you want to run many programs at once 2GB of RAM on this HP Pavilion dv9056ea is better than Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 with 1GB.
With maximum 2GB of RAM it can support Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 can feel a bit more proud than HP Pavilion dv9056ea.
Both notebooks use same RAM memory (DDR2).
Graphic card inside Vaio VGN-FS980 is Intel GMA900 and other laptop uses Nvidia Go 7600.
HP Pavilion dv9056ea had more capacity of hard drive (120GB, comparing to 80GB).
Bluetooth dongle available only at HP Pavilion dv9056ea is usefull if one have bluetooth devices like cameras, phones, etc.
Only HP Pavilion dv9056ea is able to communicate with some small devices using infrared connection.
Only Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 has PCMCIA.
If you need fast internet connection of 1Gbit/s note that only Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 can support it. HP Pavilion dv9056ea will run 100Mbit/s on faster connection.
Cardreaders are inside both of these laptops.
None has DVI output so you cannot connect them to some new LCD monitors.
Advantage of HP Pavilion dv9056ea is existance of TV output.
Both notebooks are equipped with stardard 54Mbit/s internal wireless.
Quite disadvantage of both models is lack of web camera which is needed for Internet telephony.
Both came with XP Home on them.
There are additional software only on Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 and it is Works 8.5.
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