Luxury is where this Ultrabook really falls short.Īnother television feature worth mention is X-Reality, an image processing chip used by Sony to enhance standard-definition content on high-definition TVs. We became so frustrated with the unreliable touchpad that we resorted to using the touchscreen whenever possible. As is always the case with such gremlins, finding the source of the problem proved impossible. Though certainly large enough, touch input often felt unresponsive, and we had trouble with unwanted activation of multi-touch gestures while using the touchpad and even while typing. The touchpad doesn’t live up to the keyboard’s quality. The backlight turns on automatically when ambient light is low, but can be permanently turned on or off using bundled software. We noticed substantial light leak around the function keys, which may be a problem for those who frequently work in a dark room. White LED backlighting is standard on all variants, and there are no brightness adjustments. The “Pro” in this laptop’s name seems to be sincere, rather than marketing fluff, as this laptop can keep typists happy for hours on end. Key feel is reasonable, the layout is spacious, and no keys are unusually small. With so little room, we’d expect the keyboard to lack travel, but Sony has mostly dodged the problem. The tapered chassis of this Ultrabook is no more than 0.68 inches thick and is as slim as a half and inch at the front. While Ultrabooks are known for poor port selection, this model is among the most sparse we’ve tested. Audio is available only through a combo headphone/microphone jack, and the obligatory card reader tops off the Pro’s connectivity. The slim profile leaves room for just two USB 3.0 ports, however, and HDMI is the lone video connection. Such attention to function will help some users forgive the wallflower looks. And the fan routes hot air through the rear, keeping it away from the user. The thin-bezel display, when fully reclined, tilts the rear of the laptop up to provide a more comfortable typing position. This is an incredibly slim laptop even compared to other Ultrabooks.
SONY VAIO S 2013 PRO
What the Pro 13 lacks in aesthetics, it makes up through engineering. While strong, the material is prone to flex, imbuing this Ultrabook with a cheap feel, which betrays the premium price. The Pro 13’s carbon fiber chassis actually enhances the problem. Sony introduced slightly rounded corners, which don’t break up the feeling of a slab-like system.Ĭompared to the Dell XPS 13, Apple MacBook, or Asus Zenbook, Sony’s simple design comes up short. Like its predecessors, this laptop features a clean, sharp design that offers few flourishes besides a chrome Vaio logo and a backlit power button. If you’ve handled a Sony laptop within the last three years, you already understand the Pro 13’s style. Let’s see if the Vaio Pro 13 can live up to the legacy of the Z-Series.
SONY VAIO S 2013 PC
This puts the Pro 13 in competition with the very best PC Ultrabooks. Upgrading the processor or the solid-state drive’s capacity can quickly bump the MSRP north of $1,500. Touch is standard, too, and the display uses Sony’s unique Triluminos LCD technology.Īll of this sounds great, and – given the price – it should. Starting at $1,250, the Pro 13 is yet another Sony product that tries to break new ground among its peers – this time by combining a powerful 4th-gen Core processor with an incredibly thin chassis that weighs just 2.35 pounds, making the Pro 13 the lightest 13-inch laptop available today. The company’s Z-series pioneered many features over the years (like switchable graphics), and while that name has now been put to rest, its ideals are upheld by a spiritual successor: the Sony Vaio Pro 13. Thin-and-light laptops have always been an area in which Sony impresses, if not dominates.