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.

Photo: Sony

The Sony Vaio F Series of laptops is Sony’s flagship range. These are commendably well engineered, exceptionally powerful and eye-wateringly expensive. Are they good enough to justify the usually painful sticker price? Let’s find out.

The price of beauty

Starting at $999 (about £650), the Sony Vaio F Series scales all the way up to a mind-boggling $2299 (£1,430). Ouch. But the core guts are undeniable.

All the F Series laptop configurations ship with a 16.4-inch full HD LCD screen. Minimum RAM out of the box is 4GB, scalable up to 8GB and the hard drive capacity starts at 500GB. All of the Sony Vaio F Series laptops ship with Intel Core i7 chipsets (740Q and 840QM variations) which means from a processing perspective, you won’t be left wanting and the graphics are provided by the very capable nVidia GeForce GT330M. An added bonus is that for media lovers, especially those who still carry physical discs, all the Vaio F Series laptops ship with a Blu-ray player/writer for high def viewing.

In short, work-wise, this laptop puts in the hours and the legs. What about how it looks?

Aesthetics

Photo: Sony

What’s odd about the Sony Vaio F Series – and all of Sony’s recent Vaio laptops, to be honest – is it lacks the design flair (or is that eccentricity?) Sony once had when it came to their laptops. The clean lines make for an aesthetically attractive laptop, but it doesn’t stand out the way Sony laptops from yesteryear did. The lid is matte – which is an awesome change from the gloss we’ve become accustomed to – with a bold Vaio logo on it. The fact that they ship in almost militaristic all-black further cements the seriousness with which Sony treats this range, and not being a fan of the two-tone designs in contemporary laptops, I appreciate that.

Verdict

In short, the same conundrum that’s always existed with Sony’s laptops exists now. They look great – even if not as out there as they used to – and they work hard, but they’re not cheap. If price is not a concern, jump in.

Photo: Sony

A premier consumer electronics brand since the late 1950s, Sony has always been regarded as an industry leader, with a broad product range that caters to every aspect of modern digital life.

Now in its twelfth year, the Vaio range of personal computers extends to all consumers’ needs and desires. The range includes laptops and PCs that are perfect for business and personal use, and offer many different configurations to suit users in all industries. The clean design of the Vaio range aids in keeping each system slim and light. Available in many customizable finishes and colours, laptops in this range allow users to maximise on style while not compromising on durability.

Innovation

Sony Vaio laptops use the latest high quality Intel processors to deliver not only increased speed, but also efficient use. Intel’s latest family of Core processors uses TurboBoost technology to provide extra processing power when needed, and energy efficiency in times of low demand. These processors are designed for modern heavy duty multi-tasking and support HD video and accelerated internet connectivity.

The Vaio range leads in innovation by offering Solid-State drives (SSDs), which use non-mechanical memory chips, in addition to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) to provide secure, long lasting storage options. Using SSDs means that Vaio laptops access data quickly and are less prone to mechanical failure.

Business time

Photo: Sony

With a number of professional-grade features, Sony Vaio laptops are ideal business companions. Models equipped with Sony’s Everywair 3G HSDPA technology use Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs) to access the Internet at speeds of up to 7.2mbps. Bluetooth 2.1+ and 801.11n wi-fi support also ensure connectivity anytime, anywhere. Integrated Motion Eye cameras and built-in microphones make video conferencing simple and easy. The ultraportable, fully featured P series fits easily in the hand and is the perfect travel companion for professionals on the go. Additionally, features like durable design, data encryption, biometric fingerprint scanning, hard drive anti-shock protection, and available privacy filter screens make Vaio business laptops key business tools.

The AV department

A leader in media production equipment, Sony has designed the Vaio range to complement all video, audio, and still imaging technology. Using LED screens, Vaio laptops offer superior brightness on slimmer screens that maximise battery life. With wider viewing angles and professional-grade colour saturation, these screens are ideal for video or still image editors.

Equipped with powerful Intel i7 processors and up to 8 GB of RAM, the F series laptops are more than capable of powering through even the most complex graphical task. The Z series offers dynamic video card switching – the standard Intel video card is perfectly suited for everyday tasks, and when extra processing power is needed, users can switch immediately to the powerful nVidia card. Other available options include HDMI output, Blu-ray DVD recorders, and eSATA ports for fast transfer of HD video and high-resolution images. For audio engineers, Dolby sound technology provides industry standard quality.

For your entertainment

Vaio laptops are perfectly suited for home and entertainment use. With included software, users can easily manage photos, music, and video. Available on most models, Sony’s Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) technology easily makes a Vaio laptop the hub of all Sony home entertainment products, including TVs, PlayStation 3s, home theatre and hi-fi systems, enabling easy sharing between devices.

Eco-friendly

Sony ensures that all Vaio laptops meet or exceed Energy Star specifications, and are designed to have minimal impact on the environment. Recycled materials are used in all possible components. Battery utility software ensures that power is used efficiently to maximise productivity time.

If you are among one of those people who believes in having the best of everything and is looking for a laptop that takes you far ahead of others in terms of laptop technology, then the Sony Vaio VGN-AW41MF/H is the most perfect option for you. The AW series laptop is powered by the Core 2 Duo P7450 processor that offers you a breakneck speed in all the tasks that you do. Additionally, the huge 4GB RAM of the Sony Vaio VGN-AW41MF/H provides you an unmatched performance while running multiple applications or opening multiple web pages.

The operating system pre-installed into the Sony Vaio VGN-AW41MF/H is the brand new Windows 7 that makes you stride ahead of everyone else. It has a massive 18.4 inch HD widescreen that offers you a high quality viewing experience while watching a movie or playing video games. The XBRITE_ECO LCD technology used in the display maximizes LCD space while reducing the chassis size.

The Sony Vaio VGN-AW41MF/H comes with a huge 1TB hard drive that provides enough space for storing more than 150,000 sound tracks and a number of other files. The optical drives included in the brand new Sony Vaio VGN-AW41MF/H laptop are DVD±RW (±R DL), DVD-RAM and BD-ROM so you also play those blu-ray discs and have an amazing HD movie watching experience. Another important feature of the Sony Vaio VGN-AW41MF/H include the NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT that provides a dedicated graphics memory of 512 MB, so that you can have an amazing 3D gaming experience and run smoothly those graphics hungry applications on your laptop.

The Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/R is the latest addition made by the market leader Sony Corp, to its Vaio CW series of notebooks. It comes in a completely colour coordinated design that includes a lustrous, high-gloss exterior and subtly coloured matching palm rests. The ultra-bright 14-Inch LED backlight wide screen display of the Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/R makes everything appear better. Movie clips never looked as amazing as on the Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/R owing to features like impressive colour saturation and razor-sharp detailing. The CW series notebook carries an aspect ratio of 16:9 which is ideal for movie watching as it eliminates those annoying black bars. To provide an easier viewing in direct sunlight, the screen of the Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/R also has an anti-glare coating.

The latest kid of Sony Vaio is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor P7450 and has a Cache memory of 3MB. Every application runs smoothly on the Genuine Windows (R) 7 Home Premium operating system owing to the 4 GB RAM. The Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/R notebook has a hard drive of 320 GB memory capacity providing enough space for storing all your songs, videos and other files. The Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/R contains an HDMI port for HDTV connectivity and also contains a 4 Pin i.LINK port.

With the Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/R, it is easy to work with HD video, large image files or graphics-hungry applications due to the dedicated graphics card, NVIDIA GeForce and the dedicated video RAM. You can have a video chat with your business associates and friends all over the world with the integrated webcam and the wireless internet connectivity feature.

The Sony Vaio NW is a very famous series of laptops which are in great demand world over. The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20EF/W is a recently launched product and is in great demand among customers all over the world. It is available in a sophisticated white colour which gives it an attractive and trendy look. This device from Sony is equipped with a webcam of 0.3 megapixel that allows you to click and share quality pictures. It weighs around 2.7 kg and can be easily carried as well.

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20EF/W is fitted with 3072 MB of RAM which ensures swift functionality. The RAM can be extended up to 8 GB which is more than enough. The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20EF/W is fitted with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4300 processor that enhances the overall performance of the device. The hard disk memory is around 320 GB which allows you to store all sorts of audio, video and various other files without any hassle. This laptop is equipped with a 15.5 inch display that provides a resolution of 1366 X 768. The device is also installed with an Intel GMA 4500M graphics card that enables you to run all sorts of software. The device is fixed with a number of connection ports which include 3 X USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 Firewire (i.Link) and ExpressCard.

It also has an inbuilt 5 in 1 card reader which enables you to connect all sorts of memory cards with the laptop. For best results you must carefully read the user manual provided with the whole kit.

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People who wish to have the latest laptop technology must have a look at Sony Vaio VGN-Z51XG/B. The laptop comes with the new Windows 7 operating system that would keep you ahead of the crowd. Sony Vaio VGN-Z51XG/B has an imposing Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 processor with a 4GB RAM that offers you unmatched for performance with every task. The massive 400GB hard drive enables storage of bulk data. Apart from performance it has various other special features as well which make it a complete package.

The Sony Vaio VGN-Z51XG/B has been constructed using carbon fibre so it is 200% stronger as compared to the traditional laptops. It offers a scratch resistant screen that would offer vibrant visuals always. The other attractive features include the 5 hours battery life along with the 3G mobile broadband. One of the best things is that Sony Vaio VGN-Z51XG/B comes with NVIDIA GeForce 9300M graphics card. It has 13.1 inches LCD display. It offers resolution of 1600 x 900 that helps in deeper contrast with truly natural realization.

The battery and the AC adapter terminal are aligned along with the elegant cylindrical spine that makes it convenient for the users. The keyboard is carved with a single aluminium sheet that provides the required rest to your palm. The keyboard offers a continuous surface that is then styled into smooth curve at the front of this laptop. The addition of this feature makes the Sony notebook appear even more stylish. It also adds comfort as well as durability.

Sony is a world leader in manufacturing a wide variety of electronic goods which are in great demand as well. The company is one of the biggest manufacturers of quality laptops as well. The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/S is a recently launched product and is in great demand all over the world. It is the part of the very famous Sony Vaio NW series. This laptop is equipped with all latest features which offer swift functionality and hassle free performance. The device is fitted with an amazing rechargeable battery which provides a long battery back up.

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/S is fitted with an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor that offers optimum performance for a number of years to come. The clock speed of the device is around 2200 MHz. It is also equipped with 4,096 MB of RAM which further enhances the functionality speed of the device. The hard disk memory is around 320 GB which allows you to store all sorts of files. The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/S laptop is fitted with a 15.4 inch display that offers crystal clear pictures. The resolution of the display is around 1280 X 800. It is also installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system which further enhances the overall performance.

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/S is also equipped with a webcam that allows you to video chat without connecting any external device. The entire device weighs around 3.1 kg and can be easily carried. The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/S is one of the best laptops available in the market.

Sony is a world leader in manufacturing a wide range of laptops that are in great demand all over the world. The Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/W is a recently launched product and is in great demand all over the world. It is fitted with all latest features which enhances the overall functionality of the device. It is available in a stylish white colour which gives it a sophisticated and royal look. The CW series laptop is very portable and compact and can be easily carried without any hassle.

The Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/W is equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 which provides swift functionality. The clock speed of the device is around 2130 MHz. The Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/W is also fitted with 4,096 MB RAM that further enhances the speed of the device. The RAM can be expanded up to 8 GB which is more than enough. The hard disk memory is around 320 GB that allows you to store all sorts of files. The 14.0 inch display provides crystal clear pictures. The resolution of the display is around 1366 X 768 which is quite high in comparison with other devices. The device is also fitted with nVidia GeForce GT230M graphics card which enables you to play all sorts of PC games.

The Sony Vaio VPCCW1S1E/W is also installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit operating system which enhances the overall performance. It is also equipped with a webcam which enables you video chat without connecting any external device. This is one of the best laptop available in the market.

Sony is a world leader in producing a wide range of laptops that are in great demand all over the world. These are fitted with a number of latest features which enhances the overall performance of the device. Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/P is a recently launched product and is in great demand all over the world as well. It is a product of the very famous Sony Vaio NW series which has already sold millions of laptops. This device is available in a stylish pink colour which gives it a trendy and attractive look.

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/P is fitted with an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor which offers swift performance to the device. The clock speed of the laptop is around 2200 MHz. Furthermore, the Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/P is also fitted with 4096 MB of RAM which further enhances the functionality speed of the device. The hard disk memory of the laptop is around 320 GB which enables you to store all sorts of songs, videos and various other documents. It is also fitted with a 15.5 inch display which offers crystal clear pictures that will take your breath away. It is also fitted with a DVD writer which enables you to burn DVD’s as well.

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20SF/P is installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system which further enhances the overall performance of the device. It is also fitted with a webcam which enables you to video chat without connecting any external device. It is one of the best laptops available in the market.