The Sony Vaio laptop range
By James • Sep 6th, 2010 • Category: Laptops, Mobile Computer News
- Photo: Sony
The Sony Vaio laptop range is notable for its once trail-blazing aesthetic sensibilities, early adoption of new technology, impressive performance and equally impressive price tag. Much like Macs – but maybe not to the same extent – they sell well because you either love them or hate them. Below are some of the more notable entries in the Sony Vaio laptop range, ranging from the unbelievably powerfully priced combination to the moderately capable (by Vaio standards) entries, after which we’ll recommend whether they’re for you or not.
The Vaio F Series
When price isn’t a concern, go big or go home right? Well, you can go absolutely colossal with the latest Sony Vaio F series laptop: the Sony Vaio VPCF12MOE/B. Tread lightly: it will cost you more than a £1,000, but every cent is well spent. You get an Intel Core i7 740QM processor with a clock speed of 2,930MHz. Add to that 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive out the box, a 16.4-inch Full HD (1920×1080) screen, and you soon notice that Sony really didn’t spare any expenses when they made this – and they’re gladly passing over the costs to you, friend.
The Vaio E Series
At a slightly more agreeable price tag is the Sony Vaio E series. The current range generally ships with Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i3 processors, with clock speeds at 2,130MHz. For most people this is plenty performance, while shaving off the price premium for the top of the range Sony Vaio F series.
Worth the plunge?
Even with these recommendations, it’s worth thinking carefully about whether these laptops are worth the plunge. And to be fair, we’re undecided. In terms of build quality and aesthetics, these laptops are undoubtedly top notch. Without question. There have been one or two occasions Sony has missed a beat slightly with its reflective glossy displays, but this is an extreme rarity.
This leaves two key considerations for laptop buyers – aesthetics and pricing. While the Sony Vaio laptop range still looks good, for the most part it’s almost as if the zany industrial designers they had in the early days have left the nest. The design is much much safer without being boring, and they’re still among the best looking laptops in the world, bested only by the Macs, perhaps.
The last thing to consider is price. And the truth is you should always pay for valuable product. These laptops certainly fit the billing, particularly the Sony Vaio F series, however, the Vaio E series are no joke, either.
So, in short, if you can afford the Sony Vaio laptop range go for it! Just remember, there was once a time Sony’s laptops were even more awesome looking than they are now.
Tags for this article: sony vaio, sony vaio laptops, intel core
How can Sony laptops once have been “more awesome”?
There cannot be degrees of awesomeness any more than there can be degrees of uniqueness. A laptop is either awesome or it isn’t.
Can any laptop really inspire awe?
Do not touch a Sony Vaio with a barge pole. It truly is overpriced with poor customer support. I spent £1100 on a Sony VaioVPCF12MOE from PC world. The customer service support is a joke also. The build quality is poor.
1. There’s an air gap between the key board and the screen.
2. A couple of keys on the keyboard are slightly askew and not consistent.
3. I bought DVD discs to make a back up copy of Windows. I installed Linux, made a partition etc. and ended up having to reinstall windows. I found that the back up copy of the 3 discs was corrupted and ended up having to buy a new version of windows. Sony want another 50 pounds for a recovery discs. Their attitude is appalling.
4. The power cable is problematic. the socket is damaged / was damaged and PC World blamed me when I tried to take it back.
5. Yes, it is powerful but that is more to do with intel and standard PC technology.
6. Buy an Asus. They may seem cheap and plasticy but they are really well made and put together well. They make motherboards and I had a small netbook which was brillian compared to this.
7. Don’t fall for the Sony brand when buying a computer. Stick to a manufacturer that actually makes and has experience of manufacturing computers. I now deduce that I fell foul of a multi-national corporation on the wane.
I’m sorry to say I am immensenly disapointed with this product.
oi darren… are you sure u havent had problems with your sony due to the fact you put linux on it ??? nob
Arsing around with Linux……what a complete cod