Design

Much like the 13-inch VAIO S, the 15-inch version has a simple, understated look. Both the lid and deck are a matte black aluminum that’s great at resisting fingerprints. The only bits of flair are the chrome VAIO logo and hinge. Those looking for a little more bling can opt for a platinum silver finish. It’s a marked contrast to a system such as the Dell XPS 15z, whose silver chassis and myriad design elements stand out much more–for better and worse.

For a 15-inch laptop, the VAIO S is a remarkably light 4.4 pounds. That’s more than a pound lighter than the MacBook Pro (5.6 pounds) as well as the Acer Aspire TimelineX 5830T (5.4 pounds) and the Dell Inspiron 15z (5.6 pounds); with its slice battery, the VAIO S increases to 5.8 pounds.

The VAIO S’ lightness is only matched by its thinness. While it has a wide footprint–15 x 10.1 inches–it’s just under 1-inch thick. So while this notebook stretched our messenger bag a bit, we were able to cram it in and carry it home (along with the power brick) with ease.

Heat

After we streamed a Hulu video for 15 minutes at full screen, the 15-inch VAIO S’ touchpad was a cool 76 degrees Fahrenheit, and the space between the G and H keys was a similarly comfortable 79 degrees. The middle of the underside got up to 94 degrees, which is just on the edge of what we consider uncomfortable. Unfortunately, when the notebook’s fan kicked on, it got quite loud.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The wide deck of the 15-inch VAIO S allows it to comfortably fit a full-size keyboard and number pad alongside it. We also like that the keyboard is backlit, a standard feature for this model. However, we wish there were a way to adjust the brightness manually. The island-style keys were plenty large and comfortable to type on, but their travel was a bit shallow, so it wasn’t as ideal as typing on the MacBook Pro.

We liked the spacious 3.75 x 2.3-inch Synpatics touchpad and the gigantic mouse buttons. Multitouch gestures, such as pinch-to-zoom and rotate, worked fairly well, but we wish it supported two-finger scrolling; the right and bottom edges are set up as scroll zones. The mouse buttons are big and clicky, just the way we like.

Display and Audio

The Sony VAIO S display measures 15.5 inches and features a 1920 x 1080 resolution by default, a feature we greatly appreciate. We could easily view two web pages side by side, and Blu-rays looked splendid in their full HD glory. While watching Iron Man, Tony Stark’s suit–as well as his collection of hot rods–sparkled, blacks were nice and deep, and everything was as crisp as could be.

Especially considering Sony’s pedigree, the audio on the VAIO S was sorely disappointing. The two puny speakers above the keyboard produced flat, tinny audio. Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” sounded like it was playing on an AM station; vocals were thin and scratchy, and bass was almost non-existent. Explosions in Iron Man lacked punch and had a fuzzy quality to them.

Ports and Webcam

The right side of the 15-inch VAIO S has two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, an SD card slot, and a slot for Sony’s increasingly irrelevant Memory Sticks. The left side is bare, save for a tray-loading Blu-ray drive and a headphone jack. The front edge has a switch on the left side to activate the notebook’s wireless radios.

The VAIO S’ webcam captured high-quality video up to 1280 x 1024 in resolution. It was able to pick up details such as our blue checked shirt, but skin tones were slightly orange, as if we’d applied a spray tan. While the notebook has low-light compensation, it wasn’t as effective as the HP Pavilion dv7t or the Lenovo ThinkPad T420, both of which worked in pitch-black conditions.

However, the bundled ArcSoft Webcam utility has some nice features, including masques (which places your face inside a picture), frames, and a monitor, which will snap a photo when the webcam detects movement.

Sony VAIO Z (2011) Review

The VAIO Z offers unparalleled speed and portability along with a first-of-its kind dock that adds discrete graphics–if you’re willing to pay the price.

Lowest Price: $2,399.99

Not that the VAIO Z isn’t feature-rich on its own. Our top-of-the-line $2,749 configuration packs a fast Core i7 processor, a full HD 13-inch display, backlit keyboard, and dual 128GB SSDs. An extra $150 gets you the optional sheet battery, doubling your endurance. Does the VAIO Z’s versatility make it worth at least twice as much as the competition?

Design

The VAIO Z looks like the kind of laptop that would be at home on Christian Bale’s desk in American Psycho, and we mean that as a compliment. While the rounded edges on the MacBook Air and Samsung Series 9 give them more of a space-age vibe, this black machine is all about square edges and pointed corners, giving it more of a retro-80s look. (The front two corners are almost too sharp.)

Sony offers three color choices for the lid: Carbon black, carbon indigo, and premium carbon black. Ours came in Carbon black, which looks cool and classy.

The VAIO Z is made pretty tough, too, with a carbon-fiber back, lid, and bezel, as well as an aluminum deck and palm rest. We especially like the way the hinge drops down on this notebook, which, in combination with the metal stripe on the lid’s bottom, gives the VAIO Z a striking profile.

And what a thin profile this laptop cuts. The VAIO Z measures 0.65 inches thick, which is just a hair thicker than the 13-inch Samsung Series 9 (0.62-0.64 inches) and slightly thinner than the 13-inch MacBook Air at its thickest point (0.11-0.68 inches). At 2.6 pounds, the VAIO Z is also lighter than the Series 9 and MacBook Air (both 2.9 pounds). Still, the all-aluminum Apple and Duralumin-infused Samsung both feel sturdier. For example, when pushing back the lid on the VAIO Z’s left side, we heard a slight pop.

The bottom of the VAIO Z houses a removable battery, though Sony says it prefers that customers have it replaced by Sony when the time comes. When you attach the optional sheet battery, the weight of this notebook increases to a still very manageable 3.6 pounds. Annoyingly, though, you have to screw, rather than snap, the battery into place.

Heat and Noise

Sony’s engineers deserve credit for creating such a cool-running ultraportable with a full-power processor. After playing a Hulu video for 15 minutes, the VAIO Z’s touchpad measured 83 degrees, the area between the G and H keys reached 93 degrees, and the underside only registered 89 degrees. We consider anything under 95 degrees to be fairly comfortable. The only trouble spot was the bottom left side near the fan; this area hit 99 degrees.

Unfortunately, the VAIO Z’s fan got pretty loud at times, especially when under a heavy workload. While installing a demo of the Homefront game with the Power Media Dock connected, the laptop sounded it like it was getting ready for takeoff.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Ergonomically, the VAIO Z doesn’t impress as much as the competition. We appreciate the keyboard’s pale yellow backlight, which kicks in automatically. However, the flat keys on this chiclet-style layout don’t offer much travel compared to the Samsung Series 9 or the MacBook Air. Worse, the right Shift key is tiny, and it sits right next to the up arrow. On several occasions, we went up a line in our document while attempting to capitalize a letter. Samsung made the better call by shrinking the arrow keys.

Above the keyboard you’ll find three capacitive buttons on the VAIO Z: Assist launches VAIO CARE software for troubleshooting; Web launches the browser; and the VAIO button launches Sony’s Media Gallery software. When powered off, the Web button lets you get online without starting Windows.

Measuring 2.8 x 1.6 inches, the VAIO Z’s touchpad is small but easy to find by feel, thanks to the textured oval pattern. Pinch-to-zoom, two-finger scrolling, and three-finger flicking all worked well on this touchpad; there’s just not a lot surface area here. By contrast, the touchpads on the VAIO S (3.7 x 2 inches), 13-inch Air (4.3 x 3 inches), and the Samsung Series 9 (3.9 x 2.7 inches) offer a lot more room.

You can click on the center of the touchpad to make selections, or use the integrated buttons, which provided decent feedback.

Display and Audio

Bright, sharp, and sporting an anti-glare treatment, the VAIO Z’s 13-inch display is one of the best we’ve seen on an ultraportable. The starting configuration of the VAIO Z features a display with a 1600 x 900 resolution, but our higher-end model came with a full HD (1920 x 1080) panel. Some might appreciate this level of detail, but we found it overkill for a 13-inch system; we had to zoom in on websites and documents constantly. In fact, we dialed down the resolution to 1600 x 900 to be more productive.

Nevertheless, a trailer of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows-Part II looked vibrant on this display. We could easily make out the reflections on a wood table as a snake slid over it.

The speakers on the VAIO Z underwhelmed. When streaming Florence and The Machine’s “Dog Days are Over” on Slacker, the audio was flat and tinny. Ironically, engaging the Dolby Home Theater enhancement technology (buried in the sound settings) resulted in harsher audio at maximum volume.

Sony VAIO S VPCSA290X (2011) Review

The Sony VAIO S’ impressive performance, light weight, and powerful graphics make it a solid contender in the ultraportable laptop category.

Lowest Price: $1,479.95

Design

Aesthetically, the Sony VAIO S follows a less-is-more path. The notebook’s jet-black magnesium lid is highly resistant to fingerprints and smudges. (You can also order this version of the VAIO S in platinum silver.) The chrome-plated VAIO insignia and hinge are the only exterior flourishes. The polished hinge looks attractive, but it didn’t feel as sturdy as the rest of the system. The lid on our unit occasionally wobbled back and forth when we lifted or moved the notebook.

Following the same minimalist design as the exterior, the interior features a black aluminum deck with a smaller version of the VAIO logo and the mouse buttons done in chrome plating. The deck sinks in at a subtle angle, where it houses an island-style keyboard. The only splashes of color come from the gray touchpad, the purple text on the ASSIST button, and the power button that glows green when the laptop is on and pink when it’s sleeping.

The 13.0 x 8.8 x 0.9-inch VAIO S is around the same size as the 13-inch MacBook Pro (12.8 x 8.9 x 1 inches), but it weighs in at a waif-like 3.6 pounds, nearly a pound less than the Apple (4.5 pounds) and a little less than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (3.8 pounds). However, the VAIO S’ weight increases to 4.8 pounds–and its thickness to 1.3 inches–when its slice battery is snapped on, making it heavier than the MacBook Pro.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The VAIO S has an island-style backlit keyboard with generous space between its large black keys. The keys provided firm and ample feedback, which combined with the soft-touch palm rest allowed us to type comfortably with few errors. Using the Ten Thumbs Typing test, we achieved a strong score of 86 words per minute, a little higher than our typical 80-wpm average.

Multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, two-finger rotation, and flicks were quick and responsive on the large and smooth 3.7 x 2-inch touchpad (made by Alps). However, it took more swipes than we’d like to get from one side of the desktop to the other. Despite having a fingerprint sensor positioned between them, the long touchpad buttons were easy to activate. We just wish the fingerprint scanner itself made it easier to register a finger; we regularly received error messages telling us our swipe was either too fast or too slow.

Heat

After 15 minutes of streaming Hulu at full screen, the VAIO’s touchpad registered a chilly 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while the space between the G and H keys measured 91 degrees. The bottom of the laptop was slightly warmer at 97 degrees, two degrees warmer than what we deem to be comfortable. The hottest point on the VAIO S was the vent located under the back hinge, which kicked out hot 113-degree air.

Ports and Webcam

The right side of the VAIO houses one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, Ethernet, a VGA port, an SD card reader, a Memory Stick PRO Duo media slot, and a power jack. The left side features a Blu-ray drive and a headphone jack. On the notebook’s front lip sits the wireless switch.

The VAIO S’ webcam can capture stills and video up to 1280 x 1024. Images were vivid but somewhat grainy under florescent lights. We achieved better results at home in natural light after making a few adjustments in the ArcSoft Webcam Companion settings panel. We also noticed that the camera’s autofocus and facial tracking were quick and accurate, thanks to the built-in Exmor sensor, which also adjusted for the low-light conditions.

Display and Audio

The VAIO S’ 13.3-inch, backlit display has a matte finish and a relatively high resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels. We appreciate the extra pixels because it translates into more real estate when viewing web pages and opening windows side by side. Unfortunately, the picture quality wasn’t that impressive. During the 1080p YouTube trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, we noticed that images were rather muddy, nullifying the electric blue stream of power from Voldemort’s wand. An episode of the The Daily Show on Hulu looked better.

Audiophiles in search of crisp, clear sound should look elsewhere. Audio provided by the four tiny slots masquerading as speakers was loud enough to fill a small room, but it sounded flat. As we listened to “E.T.” by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, we noticed the bass line was non-existent while Perry’s vocals were high and tinny, especially during the chorus. Engaging the Dolby Audio Enhancer under the VAIO S’ settings helped clean up the sound a little.

Sony VAIO F 3D Review

The Sony VAIO F 3D combines fast performance and an immersive 3D experience in a head-turning design.

Lowest Price: $1,649.99

Sony VAIO YB Series Review

Sony’s 11-inch notebook provides 1080p video playback and superior style, but battery life and audio could be better.

Lowest Price: $543.65

Design

For a budget-minded ultraportable, the VAIO YB doesn’t skimp on style, incorporating the best design elements in Sony’s arsenal. Its metallic fuchsia lid (also available in silver) really stands out in a crowd, while its chrome-colored deck and trim ooze elegance. The sexy rounded metal hinges light up orange (for sleep) or green (for powered on) and give the VAIO YB a futuristic look and feel. A metallic textured palm rest completes the space-age aesthetic.

At 11.4 x 8 x 1.25 inches and 3.2 pounds, the Sony VAIO YB isn’t MacBook Air-light (2.9 pounds). However, this notebook is lighter than other 11-inch Fusion ultraportables, such as the HP Pavilion dm1z (11.4 x 8.4 x 1.2 inches, 3.4 pounds) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X120e (11.1 x 8.2 x 1.2-inches, 3.4 pounds).

Keyboard and Touchpad

The VAIO YB’s island-style keyboard is attractive and offers a reasonable amount of tactile feedback. However, the keyboard is noticeably smaller than those on 11-inch competitors such as the ThinkPad X120e and the 11-inch MacBook Air. Considering that 11-inch notebooks have smaller-than-normal keyboards in the first place, this means the VAIO YB has some undersized keys, including a tiny right Shift key. The keys are also completely flat, making it more difficult to detect their boundaries by feel alone.

On the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, we found ourselves typing as quickly as usual, but making a lot more errors, particularly involving the Shift and punctuation keys. Rather than our usual 80 words per minute and 1- to 2-percent error rate, we managed 82 words per minute with a 5-percent error rate.

On the bright side, the VAIO YB’s palm rest has a pleasant texture, stays cool, and slopes downward. So, even though our hands hung over the edge of the chassis a bit, the notebook was a lot more comfortable for resting our wrists than other 11-inchers with short palm rests, such as the ThinkPad X120e.

The 2.5 x 1.4-inch touchpad is a little on the small side, but its smooth matter surface provides accurate navigation around the desktop; it also supported multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom. The two discrete buttons offer just the right amount of feedback.

Heat

Unlike the Lenovo ThinkPad X120e, which had a few warm spots in the high 90s and over 100 degrees, the VAIO YB stayed so cool that we could barely tell it was on. After streaming a video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured the touchpad at only 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the keyboard at a chilly 89 degrees, and the bottom at a maximum of 92 degrees.

Sony VAIO EC Series (VPCEC490X) Review

This big-screen notebook delivers good performance for a reasonable price.

Price as Reviewed: $749.00

Design

The VAIO EC isn’t as flashy as other Sony notebooks such as the F Series, but overall we like the clean look. The laptop sports a matte black lid and a glossy black deck with specks of silver that glitter when they catch the light just right. A green, glowing power button adds a dash of color.

Measuring 16.1 x 10.8 x 1.3 inches, the VAIO EC isn’t as thin as the 17-inch MacBook Pro, but it’s a lot less chunky than an 18-inch monster such as the Toshiba X505. At 6.8 pounds, the EC is also on the lighter side for a desktop replacement; the HP Envy 17 weighs in at 7.5 pounds.

Heat

In most areas, the VAIO EC stayed cool. Temperatures between the G and H keys and the touchpad were 88 and 83 degrees after watching a Hulu clip for 15 minutes. The middle of the underside only reached 84 degrees. The area by the vent reached a hot 108 degrees, but since it’s on the left side you won’t notice it when computing at a desk.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The VAIO EC offers a large and comfortable keyboard and number pad and even has room to spare. The keys are all well sized and in the right place, and they provided a snappy spring when we were typing.

We wish the 3 x 1.8-inch touchpad was larger, as there’s plenty of space on the deck. The touch surface is dimpled and sits in a shallow well, making it easy to find without looking. However, we found the Alps touchpad somewhat wonky. For example, selecting text sometimes took multiple attempts. (You have to be careful not to stray into the scroll area.) The two distinct mouse buttons were springy and responsive, though.

Sony VAIO F Series Review

Combining Core i7 muscle with Nvidia graphics, this big-screen multimedia laptop is a pleasure to use.

Lowest Price: $1,019.99

Design

Design-wise, the Sony VAIO F plays a very conservative game. Our model’s chassis sports a smooth, matte gray lid, with the only embellishment being the understated Sony branding and larger VAIO logo writ in metallic silver. Weighing in at a hefty 6.4 pounds, the VAIO F has a decidedly sturdy feel to it. Measuring 15.3 x 10.4 x 1.6 inches, the VAIO F can be stuffed into most laptop bags. However, this laptop’s girth will make you think twice about lugging it anywhere for long. That said, the VAIO F is lighter than other desktop-replacement laptops on the market, such as the HP Envy 17 (7.5 pounds).

The VAIO F is crafted from black and dark gray plastics. While this lends a sober, business-like style to the laptop, it also isn’t what we’d call terribly premium; other machines in this price range offer metallic finishes. There is a little bit of flair here, such as the power button that sits in the circular hinge and glows green when the laptop is on and slowly pulses orange when asleep. Above the keyboard is a long speaker grille which subtly blends into the VAIO F’s dark gray color scheme. The expansive palm rest area is delicately textured.

Heat

The VAIO F didn’t get hot under the collar. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured the temperature at the center of the keyboard to be 93 degrees. The touchpad returned a slightly cooler reading of 90 degrees, and the underside of the chassis registered 89 degrees. However, once the laptop really starts to flex its muscle, fans begin to audibly pump air out of vents on the VAIO’s left side.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The VAIO F’s large, comfortable keyboard is virtually identical to the previous F series model we enjoyed before. Featuring big, black, chiclet-style keys that are similar to those found on MacBooks, the keyboard offered satisfying feedback with a nice soft pop with each stroke. Another welcome feature is the backlighting. Illumination is set to adjust automatically by default, but you can also toggle brightness manually to suit your tastes.

To the right of the keyboard is a full number pad that will please home accountants and gamers alike. An unfortunate side effect of this addition is that the keyboard is shifted a little left on the deck. As a result, the touchpad sits directly below the spacebar and is positioned on the deck’s left side; this alignment can take some getting used to. Still, the touchpad provides friction-free navigation as well as multitouch gestures. Though not as big as the MacBook’s or the HP Envy 17, the VIAO F’s 3.2 x 2-inch touchpad is also on the large side and offers lots of room to maneuver. The two mouse buttons below are big as well.

Display

Outfitted with a 16.4-inch display, the VIAO F’s expansive screen pumps out a sharp resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels. While its pixel density is not quite high enough to natively display 1080p video content, movies looked great on the laptop’s screen. After popping in our Apocalypse Now Blu-ray disc, we were treated to an impressive show. The glossy screen delivered deep blacks in nighttime segments and rich colors especially during the pivotal chopper attack scene. Viewing angles were not bad either, letting groups gather around to enjoy the experience. That said, the VAIO’s display didn’t appear as bright as other large mainstream notebooks we’ve tested, specifically the HP Envy 17 and Dell Studio 17.

Audio and Optional Headphones

The long speaker grille positioned directly below the screen and above the keyboard generates a sizeable amount of volume. Unfortunately, bass was noticeably lacking. Playing Slacker Radio tracks from electronic to Motown stations resulted in a tinny, alarm clock radio sound. For music appreciation and proper audio treatment of movies, we suggest opting for a good set of headphones.

Speaking of which, Sony sells a new Digital Surround Headset System ($200) which promises to provide a virtual surround-sound experience. The system consists of a DR-GA500 processing unit and a specially designed gaming headset. Essentially acting as both an external audio device and breakout box, the DR-GA500 supports analog audio inputs from stereo all the way up to 7.1 channels. For digital input, the DR-GA500 connects to PCs via USB.

We tested this Digital Surround System with the VAIO F and found it improved our audio experience a good deal. The bundled headphones are light and comfortable, provide a decent amount of bass, and sport a flip-down mic for audio chat during gameplay. Also cool are the DR-GA500′s surround audio effects. While not quite the amazing virtual surround as advertised, these cans did expand our perceived sonic field and made music, movies, and games more enjoyable.

Ports and Webcam

Due to this laptop’s large size, the VAIO F comes well equipped with connectors. Running along the left side you’ll find Ethernet, VGA, and ExpressCard ports. There’s an HDMI connection for outputting HD video and sound to home theater systems. There’s also a combo eSATA/USB port and iLINK for connecting extra peripherals. Two more USB ports and the Blu-ray drive can be found on the VAIO F’s right side. There are headphone and mic jacks plus a S/PDIF port here as well. The front lip features Memory Stick and SD Card slots, plus a physical switch for activating the wireless radios.

The laptop’s 1.3-megapixel webcam is standard fare and identical to the one we saw on the previous VAIO F Series earlier this year. It snaps colorful images, but photos and videos possessed the typical grainy quality we tend to see from notebook webcams. To control the camera, Sony bundles the ArcSoft WebCam Companion 3 software. We like this tool’s sleek black UI and its inclusion of some neat extras, such as Masques, which humorously lets you merge your mug with the body of, say, a baby or wizard.

Like other laptop vendors, Sony has outfitted the VAIO F’s webcam with motion-sensing technology, called Motion Eye. It automatically identifies your face and pans the camera accordingly to keep you in the frame and in focus. You can also set the notebook up to operate in sentry mode. If movement is detected, the VAIO F automatically snaps a picture. These features worked fairly well, but the camera took a few seconds to lock on to faces.

Sony VAIO EA Series (VPCEA636FM/V) Review

This fashionable 14-inch notebook delivers lots of style, Blu-ray playback, and fun gesture controls.

Lowest Price: $699.99

Design

Much like the 15.5-inch VAIO E series, the EA is available in a wide variety of colors, including Caribbean Green, Iridescent Blue, and Passion Purple, along with the more mundane Coconut White, Gunmetal Black, and Lava Black. Ours came in purple, and we really like the look of the swirl pattern. It’s dark purple in the center around the silver VAIO lettering, which fades in a circular dotted pattern to a black-purple around the edges of the lid. The standard keyboard is black, but our system came with a bright teal blue removable keyboard skin (a $19.99 option), which protects against crumbs.

Also like its sibling, the EA’s speaker bar sits just above the keyboard along with three buttons labeled Assist, Web, and VAIO. These buttons open VAIO Care, the default web browser, and Media Gallery, respectively. To the far right of that cluster is the power button, which glows green when the machine is on and red when it’s asleep.

At just 5 pounds, this 13.6 x 9.39 x 1.07-inch laptop is portable enough for occasional travel. We found that the system fit nicely on our lap and on a tray table during a flight. It’s comparable in size to the 5-pound Samsung Q430-11 (13.5 x 9.4 x 1.04 inches). While that aluminum-clad notebook would fit right in at a board meeting, the VAIO EA’s glossy plastic lid is more suited for a living room or college dorm room.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The chiclet-style keyboard on the VAIO EA provided good feedback and a nice overall typing experience. The print on the keys themselves is larger than we’re used to seeing, but it wasn’t distracting. The function keys act like traditional function keys, which meant we had to press the Fn key before we could turn the volume up or down or adjust the screen brightness. We would have preferred inverted function keys that allow you to adjust volume and brightness with one touch.

The multi-touch touchpad on the VAIO EA was a little small for our tastes at 3 x 1.8-inches, but the two discrete mouse buttons provided excellent feedback. Multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom were smooth and easy to execute.

Heat

The VAIO EA series remained comfortably cool during use. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the keyboard and touchpad measured a reasonable 90 degrees and the underside of the machine registered 92 degrees. We consider anything over 100 degrees to be uncomfortable. We noticed some fan noise after a few hours of using the laptop and playing music, but it wasn’t overly loud or distracting.

Editors’ Note: Portions of this review were taken from an earlier review of the VAIO Z.

Design

The silver VAIO Z (also available in black for the same price and Carbon Fiber for $50) is decked out in aluminum and magnesium, which gives the system a premium feel. We especially like the brushed metal deck and the circular hinges (complete with the green glowing power button on the right). The black bezel serves as a nice accent, and we appreciate that the surface is matte instead of glossy.

Other design elements include four buttons above the keyboard: Assist (which launches VAIO Care software), a shortcut button, a button for launching the VAIO Media Gallery, and an eject button for the optical drive. On the left side you’ll find a switch for the notebook’s graphics system, which you can toggle between Speed, Stamina, and Auto modes.

Weighing an even three pounds–about 3.2 ounces heavier than most netbooks–and measuring 12.4 x 8.3 x 1.3 inches, the VAIO Z is remarkably light given its features. In fact, we barely felt it in our backpack on the way home from the office.

Touchpad and Keyboard

With plenty of space between the keys and a nice bouncy feel, the keyboard on the VAIO Z is one of the best we’ve used on an ultraportable. Although the keys themselves are a bit on the small side, we typed on the notebook quickly and comfortably. Touch typists will appreciate the large Enter and Right Shift keys.

As you would expect at this price, each key is individually backlit, making it easy for us to continue working as we entered the Lincoln Tunnel while riding on a bus. We just wish Sony would reverse the function keys like other notebook vendors, so you could raise and lower the volume or brightness without having to press the Fn key first, but that’s a minor nitpick.

The VAIO Z sports a fairly wide multitouch-enabled touchpad (3.2 x 1.2 inches) that allowed for smooth and quick cursor navigation. The pinch-to-zoom gesture worked well in the Pictures library, but you don’t have a lot of room vertically to stretch your fingers. Our bigger issue, which we didn’t encounter with the machine we tested in March, was that the cursor sometimes jumped when our left palm accidentally brushed against the touchpad.

Because the touch buttons are separated by a fingerprint sensor, they’re on the small side. Because these buttons are located on the lip of the machine, which has a slight downward slope, they were somewhat difficult to press until we got used to them. However, they offered solid feedback.

Heat

Despite having a speedier processor, this version of the VAIO Z actually ran cooler than the last-generation model. After streaming a Hulu video for 15 minutes, we measured temperatures of 81, 90, and 92 degrees, respectively, on the touchpad, between the G and H keys, and on the underside of the laptop. The VPCZ114GX/S we tested in March registered temps of 90, 98, and 101 degrees in the same areas. The only part of the notebook that got noticeably warm was the area near the vent, which reached 106 degrees. However, that’s still cooler than last time around (114).

Display and Audio

One of our favorite features of the VAIO Z–and one of the reasons why it’s worth the premium–is its high-resolution 1600 x 900 LED display. This bright and crisp panel really makes it feel as if you’re working on a larger monitor. Colors popped when we were editing photos and watching DVDs, and the screen’s horizontal viewing angles are among the best we’ve seen. In other words, this ultraportable is ideal for giving deskside presentations, watching movies, and playing games (and it has the graphics chops to back it up). We also love this high resolution for making the most of Windows 7 features like Snap for comparing two windows side by side.

The twin speakers above the VAIO Z’s keyboard produced fairly clean but not very loud audio when we streamed Green Day songs from Slacker. Dialog during an episode of Glee on Fox.com was clear.

Ports and Webcam

The left side of the VAIO Z houses the power jack, Ethernet port, HDMI port, two USB 2.0 ports, an ExpressCard/34 slot, and a Kensington lock slot. You’ll find the DVD burner on the right side, along with another USB 2.0 port, and the VGA port. An SD Card slot and Memory Stick Pro slot are located on the front left side of the notebook, and the front right side has the wireless on/off switch and mic and headphone jacks.

Sony’s Motion Eye webcam delivered a clear picture when we made a Skype video call to a colleague. He noted that the colors were a bit bland but that the audio was sufficiently loud.

Design

The VAIO P’s unique form factor is, by far, its greatest asset. At 9.7 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches, the VAIO P is small enough to fit in a woman’s purse or a man’s long coat pocket. And at 1.4 pounds, it weighs half as much as a netbook, yet has a full-size keyboard that’s fit for touch typists.

If you’re familiar with the original P series, you’ll notice that the most noticeable design difference is the color. While the original P had a classy metal keyboard and deck with tasteful lid colors such as Garnet Red and Onyx Black, the new P has a plastic keyboard and deck that matches its lid, and comes in loud neon shades like lime green and hot pink. Conservative white and black colors are also available.

Keyboard and Pointing Devices

For a netbook this tiny, the VAIO P provides a rather large 88-percent of full-size keyboard with plenty of spacing between its keys. The right Shift key is a little small, but the keyboard’s real problem is its stiffness and complete lack of a palm rest. Despite these drawbacks, the generous key size and spacing allowed us to achieve our typical 80 word-per-minute rate in the Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor test, albeit with a slightly higher 2 percent error rate. Even though the VAIO P is small enough to hold and use while standing, its keyboard is too wide for thumb-only typing.

The VAIO P offers two different pointing devices. A pointing stick sits in the middle of the keyboard and allows users to navigate without removing their fingers from the home row. We found the comfortable texture and impeccable accuracy of Sony’s pointing stick similar to that of Lenovo’s famous TrackPoints.

On the right screen bezel sits a tiny square touchpad perfect for navigating while you’re holding the system in the air (for example, when you’re standing). Left and right mouse buttons are located on the left side of the bezel. We found that, while the touchpad was less accurate than the pointing stick, it was more than adequate for launching programs, web browsing, or controlling videos.

Heat

Because it’s so small, parts of the VAIO P do get warm during heavy use. After streaming a web video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured the keyboard at 96 degrees Fahrenheit and the bottom at 97 degrees. The area below the spacebar clocked in at a cool 86 degrees. We consider temperatures above 95 degrees to be uncomfortable, so this was right on the border.