A Review of the 13.3" Sony VAIO VGN-SZ760N/C Laptop

Sony has recently come out with a line of small notebooks that rival some desktop replacements in performance. Historically consumers have had to sacrifice performance for mobility but that is certainly not the case with the 13.3" Sony VAIO VGN-SZ760N/C Laptop. I have gotten my hands on one of these bad boys and have decided to give it a review. I'll let you know who will get the most out of purchasing one of these and if it really is worth all that cash Sony is asking for. First though let's get started by popping the hood.

Hardware:

Imaging: Bezel integrated webcam

Processor: 2.40 GHz "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo T8300

Storage Space: 250 GB G-Sensor hard disk

RAM: 2GB RAM (upgradable to a 4 GB maximum)

Optical drive: A CD R/RW with integrated dual-layer DVD drive (8x DVD+/-)

Graphics Accelerator: A Hybrid System that allows for the user to toggle between a NVidia GeForce Go 8400M (utilizing up to 831MB of shared video RAM) and an integrate Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (which uses up to 358MB of shared system RAM)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista

Dimensions: 12.5" x 1.5" x 9.3" and weighs in at about 4 pounds

This notebook is outstanding in both performance as well as mobility. The VGN-SZ760N/C weighs in at less than 4lbs yet still fells remarkably sturdy with a case made of carbon fiber. The battery life is great depending on your usage. If you're just watching a movie or surfing the Internet I had great battery life. If I was playing games or something a little more graphically intensive or required a great deal of processing power the battery fared a little worse.

This notebook has plenty of memory with a nice 250GB hard drive. The RAM is a little disappointing though considering this notebook's price point. I would have expected it to be maxed out, although the 2GB of RAM is adequate for most applications.

Connectivity:

Integrated Wireless

2 2.0 USB ports (these are the gold standard for connecting computer peripherals like digital cameras, iPods, and printers)

1 FireWire port (used for high speed data transfer between other PCs or digital camcorders)

1 ExpressCard slot (this slot can be used to add peripherals like a Bluetooth adapter or a cellular modem)

1 VGA out (a typical monitor connection)

1 audio out / 1 mic in

5 in 1 media card reader (this allows for users to directly insert the solid state memory from their mobile devices into the notebook)

1 Ethernet port (to connect to wired LANs)

1 Modem port (so you can dial up)

This notebook is wonderful as you would expect for one of Sony's top of the line Vaios. The price tag of $1700 may be a little high. If you step one step down on Sony's line of products you downgrade to the Core 2 Duo and loose a few GHz but you save about $200. If you just have to have one of these 13.3" Vaios I recommend looking at the other models in Sony's line up. If you have to be cutting edge then this notebook will do. It will likely please any consumer including gamers and professionals alike. If you can afford it be my guest, it is a great product.