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Rating: 
Summary: Great little machine, I bought two.
Review: After much shopping, this had all of the latest features that I wanted at the right price. Very reliable and I find myself using a computer much more now with the portability it gives. With the weight down to about 4 lbs., 40 Gb drive, USB 2.0 and a well thought out list of software utilities already loaded, it is the best computer I have ever owned. Nice build and rugged. I carry it room to room at home and on my camping trips. Great for downloading images from your digital cameras, even to edit my mini DV videos. Though the keyboard is a little awkward, I just plug in a keyboard and mouse at the USB to solve that when I have a lot of typing to do. If not available at Amazon, there are other sources that give good prices if you shop around.
Rating:
Summary: Great little machine, I bought two.
Review: After much shopping, this had all of the latest features that I wanted at the right price. Very reliable and I find myself using a computer much more now with the portability it gives. With the weight down to about 4 lbs., 40 Gb drive, USB 2.0 and a well thought out list of software utilities already loaded, it is the best computer I have ever owned. Nice build and rugged. I carry it room to room at home and on my camping trips. Great for downloading images from your digital cameras, even to edit my mini DV videos. Though the keyboard is a little awkward, I just plug in a keyboard and mouse at the USB to solve that when I have a lot of typing to do. If not available at Amazon, there are other sources that give good prices if you shop around.
Rating: 
Summary: A piece of junk
Review: I purchased a Sharp AV-18 in August of 2003 thinking that I got a really good notebook at a good price. I trusted the Sharp brand. That was dumb of me. Not only did the whole thing crash in November, causing me to have to reformat my hard drive 3 times, I ended up having to send it back entirely and getting a whole new computer. It is now October of 2004 and the CD/DVD drive doesn't work. Can their technical support staff provide any other suggestions than "use the recovery disc"? No. ( I can't use it because my computer doesn't recognize any disc, period.) So yet again I have to send in my computer for service. The previous reviewer's comment about non-existent support is right on the money---it just simply does not exist in any sufficient form.
Spend the money and get a different brand--it will save you money in the long run. I'm a very unhappy owner.
Rating: 
Summary: Smallest with a CDRW/DVD and inexpensive but...
Review: I purchased this laptop in April of 2004. My goal was to find the smallest and lightest laptop with a CDRW/DVD for the best price. My search led me to the Sharp AV18 and it met my needs well. I was able to forgive the slow speed since I knew ahead of time that the processor was slightly dated. The screen is great and I can live with the keyboard's slightly smaller size. What makes me slightly sour is the fact that Sharp's support is completely nonexistent. First off, good luck in finding the web support area for this laptop. When you think you've found it, you haven't. Although the main sharp website lulls you into to thinking you are at the main support area for their laptops, a quick google tells me otherwise. I found the real support site by accident (It's listed only as an IP address and not a name). This is dumb. But what makes matters worse is that the support area only has a few FAQ's that are VERY basic and a few files that are already found on the 3rd CD that comes with the laptop. What? No updates? No new bios's? No new drivers? NOPE, just the same exact versions that came with the CD. This laptop is over a year old yet Sharp has done zero to correct some of the bugs in the Bios as well as provide the latest and greatest drivers. On top of that, my experience with calling in to support has been less than stellar. Yes, they answered the phone right away but all of my questions were "beyond what they could provide". Dare to ask about the Mini-PCI slot on the back or the card that is in there (It's the win-modem by the way. Information courtesy of the FCC's site) and you'll get rebuffed quickly. In fact, they don't want you to know anything about the laptop. Just use it the way we tell you to and don't ask questions. To be fair, I have been satisfied with the laptop and I love the size and weight. I just wish it was a Toshiba or IBM as I have learned to appreciate a good support website and a willingness to help me with my questions.
Rating:
Summary: Smallest with a CDRW/DVD and inexpensive but...
Review: I purchased this laptop in April of 2004. My goal was to find the smallest and lightest laptop with a CDRW/DVD for the best price. My search led me to the Sharp AV18 and it met my needs well. I was able to forgive the slow speed since I knew ahead of time that the processor was slightly dated. The screen is great and I can live with the keyboard's slightly smaller size. What makes me slightly sour is the fact that Sharp's support is completely nonexistent. First off, good luck in finding the web support area for this laptop. When you think you've found it, you haven't. Although the main sharp website lulls you into to thinking you are at the main support area for their laptops, a quick google tells me otherwise. I found the real support site by accident (It's listed only as an IP address and not a name). This is dumb. But what makes matters worse is that the support area only has a few FAQ's that are VERY basic and a few files that are already found on the 3rd CD that comes with the laptop. What? No updates? No new bios's? No new drivers? NOPE, just the same exact versions that came with the CD. This laptop is over a year old yet Sharp has done zero to correct some of the bugs in the Bios as well as provide the latest and greatest drivers. On top of that, my experience with calling in to support has been less than stellar. Yes, they answered the phone right away but all of my questions were "beyond what they could provide". Dare to ask about the Mini-PCI slot on the back or the card that is in there (It's the win-modem by the way. Information courtesy of the FCC's site) and you'll get rebuffed quickly. In fact, they don't want you to know anything about the laptop. Just use it the way we tell you to and don't ask questions. To be fair, I have been satisfied with the laptop and I love the size and weight. I just wish it was a Toshiba or IBM as I have learned to appreciate a good support website and a willingness to help me with my questions.
Rating: 
Summary: great little computer
Review: I'm very happy with this computer,, I love it
great little machine for the money and it's light!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Nice, Light Machine at a Great Price
Review: My Sharp PC-AV18 is a nice little machine. Good performance, reliable (so far), decent features, and light as all get out. Overall, it seems well built, although one could justly accuse the keyboard of being a bit on the flimsy side. What sold me, however, was the price. Sony charges about twice as much for a comparable unit! If you are looking for a light laptop that won't deplete your bank account, you should check this one out.
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