Nvidia's Optimus technology, for example, can turn the GPU off and on automatically as needed, in a way largely transparent to the user. However the implementation is a bit of a throwback, a problem we've seen in several Sony laptops over the past couple of years. The AMD Radeon HD 6470M GPU can switch off with the basic Intel HD 3000 graphics found on every Intel laptop in order to maximize battery life.
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But for everyday computing, such as Web surfing, media playback, and even heavier tasks such as photo and video editing, the Vaio SE has more than enough power to handle most workloads with no slowdown or stuttering, although a Core i7 15-inch MacBook Pro was faster in each of our benchmark tests (but also more expensive). Still, we've seen the faster Core i7 chips start to filter down to lower priced systems as well.
The results aren't lag-free enough for gaming, but it's fine for video playback.įor a sub-$1,000 midsize laptop, Intel's Core i5 CPU is what you'd expect to find, represented in this case by the 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 2430M. This requires a sold-separately receiver box, which usually runs around $99 and connects to an external display via HDMI. One nice extra is Intel's Wireless Display technology, which can send the video output of the system to a nearby big-screen TV. That space comes at a premium as well, as all the ports and connections are crowded along the right edge, with the exception of a lone headphone jack tucked away at the very back of the left side edge. Like nearly all Sony laptops, special space had to be carved out for a Memory Stick slot, in addition to the normal SD card reader. Scroll zones for vertical and horizontal scrolling are set too wide by default, and we had to go into the control panel to resize them.
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Our long-standing gripe with Sony touch pads is in the software defaults. The large touch pad has a pleasing matte surface and two large separate mouse buttons. Function key commands for volume and brightness control are unfortunately not function-reversed, so you'll have to hold down the Fn key to access them-which is inconvenient for a multimedia laptop. In fact, with the light shining through the white letter stamps on the key faces, as well as around the edge of each key, this is the brightest backlit keyboard we can recall ever seeing. The keyboard is backlit, which we always appreciate. The space bar, however, could be longer, and we frequently found ourselves missing it while touch typing. The chassis is wide enough to also fit in a full-size number pad, and the important keys (Shift, Enter, Ctrl, etc.) avoid any unnecessary shrinkage. The individual keys are large and easy to hit, but shallow and little on the clacky side. Sony has been doing the island-style keyboard, with its flat-topped, widely spaced keys, as long as anyone, and it has since become an industry standard. For regular travel, you'll want a laptop 13 inches or smaller. While it certainly makes these machines easier to carry around, it's still too big for a daily commute. That's part of a continuing evolution of Sony laptops, moving away from the long-time stylistic stamp of a tube-like round hinge, with the power button and AC adapter plug on opposite sides.Īt 1 inch thick and a bit over 4 pounds (not counting the AC adapter or slice battery), it's the latest in a recent move toward very thin and light midsize laptops, such as the Dell XPS 15z (or even the new Inspiron 14z). The look and feel is pure Vaio, and the system looks like a matte black slab when closed, offset by an angular chrome hinge.
Like Sony's other high-end laptops, such as the Vaio Z, the body is made of magnesium and aluminum, for a combination of ruggedness and light weight.
Our review unit is black, but a silver version is also available (Sony calls them jet black and platinum silver).