The Sony VAIO SB is a 13.3-inch ultraportable that weighs a modest 1.7kg, so a touch less for lower-end configurations. The top-end model, the VPCSB1A9E, may cost nearly £1,700, but you get some pretty impressive hardware for that price. There is an Intel Core i7-2620M processor, which is a dual-core CPU with hyperthreading that runs at a base clock speed of 2.7GHz. then, add to that very capable processor 8GB of RAM, switchable graphics between the Intel integrated and a Radeon HD 6630M with 1GB of graphics RAM, and a fast 128GB solid state drive.
It has dual-band 802.11n networking, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, a combination BD-ROM and DVD burner, and support for Intel’s WiDi wireless display technology. This 13-inch laptop is lightweight and slimline. Moreover, all that hardware is enough to deliver a WorldBench 6 score of 144, which is higher than any other laptop of this size and weight.
Then, many users asked: does that destroy battery life? Well, in the rundown test the VAIO SB series battery lasted an impressive 7 hours and 19 minutes. There is a physical switch above the F3 key to change between “stamina” (integrated graphics) and “speed” (discrete graphics).
Previously, in the battery stamina tests, it was run with the switch set to “stamina” enabling the Radeon discrete graphics will cut battery time in half or worse. This is tested the optional slice battery that fits neatly across the bottom of the laptop, making it a third of an inch thicker, and almost a pound heavier.
This optional accessory can add about 5 hours of maximum battery life. There is a lot to like about the design of the Sony VAIO SB series. Then, the matte display only has a resolution of 1366 by 768, but that’s typical for a 13.3-inch screen.
Its colour, contrast, and brightness are pretty good, and horizontal viewing angles are better than most laptops. However, the vertical viewing angles are predictably poor. It is because the screen will either get washed-out or too dark if the lid is open to far, or not enough.
Then, the island chiclet style keyboard is quite good. Its key travel is a bit on the short side, but spacing is nice and there’s a good tactile “clicky” feel to the keys. The trackpad is also similarly good.
Besides, the left side of the system is sparse, featuring only the BD-ROM and DVD burning combination optical drive. All the action is along the right edge. There are a memory stick slot, an SD card slot, VGA and HDMI outputs, one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and the power jack. The users who like physical switches to disable Wi-Fi will be happy to know there is one along the front edge.
As usual, Sony always loads down their system with a little too much software for my tastes. Actually, I am not a fan of the pop-out dock at the top of the screen, or the way Norton Internet Security constantly nags me to pay up once the 30-day trial is over. It is great that Sony bundles Photoshop Elements 8, Premiere Elements 8, and PowerDVD, though.
It is also equipped with ArcSoft webcam software, Sony’s media gallery, and Microsoft Office Starter 2010. If you are like me and you prefer your laptop a little more “lean and mean,” it is easy enough to remove most of this stuff.
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