Processor in Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G is Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz and in Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 is Centrino 753 Ultra Low Voltage 1.2GHz.
Chipset used in Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G is Intel 945PM and Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 uses Intel 915GMS.
Screen size at Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G is quite larger with its 17" than Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 with its 10.3".
Maximum screen resulution on Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G is 1440x900, which might prefer graphic experts rather than 1024x768 on Panasonic Toughbook CG-18.
For customers whose need more RAM we've found Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G with its 1GB better than 0.5 GB on Panasonic Toughbook CG-18.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G supports more maximum amount of RAM (2) than Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 (-1GB).
Both Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G and Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 on our test use same type of RAM memory - DDR2.
For people who travells , Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 might be better choise because of 2.1kg in weight, comparing to 3.81kg weight with Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G.
Video card inside Vaio VGN-AR230G is Nvidia Go 7400 and other laptop has Intel 915GMS inside.
Graphic card is better on Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G with embedded 64MB of memory.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G had more capacity of hard disk (200GB, comparing to 60GB).
We regret the lack of blutooth on these models.
Keep in mind that these models don't have infrared device built-in.
Firewire is available only on Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G.
PCMCIA isn't built in Panasonic Toughbook CG-18.
For some rare location without proper Internet connection, you might need modem which is available in both laptops in this comparison.
Cardreader is inside only Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G.
Floppy drive is embedded in Panasonic Toughbook CG-18, but we see this as disadvantage since floppy disks are unreliable and obsolete.
Disadvantage of both is lack of DVI output for connection to some modern TFT monitors.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G only has TV output.
The lack of webcamera in both models makes them bad in video conferencing.
Operating system on Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G is XP Media Center and on Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 is XP Pro.
Only Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G has some additional software : Works 8.3, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0, Premiere Elements 2.0.
Notable advantages of these notebooks are : touch pad and touch screen for Panasonic Toughbook CG-18 and for Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G.
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