Processor on our Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 we've tested was Pentium M740 1.73GHz, and on Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G was Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz.
We think 17 inch screen at Vaio VGN-AR230G is better than 15.4 inch screen wide at Vaio VGN-FS980.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G notebook have finer maximum screen resolution(1440x900) than other (1280x800).
Quantity of RAM memory was 1GB on both Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 and Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G.
Weight of Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 is only 2.72kg, but Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G is heavier with 3.81kg.
Graphic card in use in Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 is Intel GMA900 and in laptop Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G is Nvidia Go 7400.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G seems to be better for gamers with 64MB of dedicated video memory.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G had more storage for multimedia files on its hard drive.
Same rotating speed (4200) is declared for their hard drives.
There are no bluetooth devices on Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 and that might be disadvantage.
Infrared isn't built in Sony Vaio VGN-FS980, which is slightly disadvantage.
Firewire is embedded in both models allows them to communicate with IEEE 1394 devices like some camcorders.
PCMCIA useful for some TV card for laptops is built in both laptops.
If you sometimes travel to destination without broadband internet connection, you don't have to worry since laptops have internal modems.
Very fast internet connection (1Gbit/s) supports only Sony Vaio VGN-FS980.
Cardreaders are available in both notebooks.
It is bad that these laptops cannot be connected to some new monitors since they don't have DVI.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G only has TV output.
Internet telephony is better with web camera but any of these laptops hasn't one .
Operating system is XP Home on Sony Vaio VGN-FS980 and XP Media Center on Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G.
There are some special software suits and software packs with both : Works 8.3, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0, Premiere Elements 2.0 with Sony Vaio VGN-AR230G and Works 8.5 with Sony Vaio VGN-FS980.
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