It’s not a mobile powerhouse like the Dell Inspiron 17R (opposite), but neither is it a total weakling. That’s backed up by 4GB of DDR3L-1333 RAM, and a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics chip with 2GB of dedicated video memory. Powering the Vaio S is an Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core CPU from Intel’s ‘Ivy Bridge’ third-generation Core range. It would be enough to drop a half-star from the Vaio’s rating, if not for the fact that it’s the kind of laptop you use on a desk – meaning that with an external mouse hooked up, you’re unlikely to use the touchpad much anyway. Right-clicking in particular left me cursing under my breath. This works fine on some laptops, such as Apple’s MacBook Pro, but on the Vaio S it’s just awkward to click anything. The 5.4-inch (13.6cm) touchpad is big, but frequently alternates between responsive and contrary for no apparent reason.The click buttons are an invisible part of the touchpad surface. Keystrokes are a little soft – I prefer more of a discernable ‘click’ – but that does make for quiet typing. The backlit island keyboard has good key spacing and sufficient travel for comfortable text entry. Despite the Vaio S’s light weight (2.0kg) and thin build (24mm), this really is a machine ideal for use on sunlight-starved office desks. On-screen images are crisp with rich colours, though the screen’s maximum brightness is somewhat lacking – it’s hard to see under bright sunlight. The 1920 x 1080-pixel ‘Vaio Display Plus’ TFT panel seems awfully resilient to knocks and twists, which is comforting given the laptop’s overall lack of rigidity. However, even flexing the lid to a disturbing degree does not distort the on-screen image. The business focus is hinted at by the existence of a fingerprint scanner and a number-pad on the keyboard, neither of which are common on laptops that are designed solely for home users.Ĭonstruction feels fairly plastic, with flex not only in the lid, but in the body as well.
SONY VAIO S 15 SERIES
The ‘S’ series is oriented toward business users, and bridges the gap between the ultra-portable and performance categories.
Sony’s Vaio laptops have done mightily well in our books over the last couple of years, and the latest 15-inch Vaio S is no exception.