The new Sony VAIO E is about as far away from a conservative business laptop as you can get with its bright, patterned case, but if you can cope with a garish shade, this 14-inch machine makes a surprisingly good choice for the commute. Read on for our Sony VAIO E review, and find out why it’s such a sell for frequent travelers.
Read the rest of our Sony VAIO E review:
Sony VAIO E review: Perfect all rounder?
Sony VAIO E review: HD video skills and multimedia
Sony VAIO E review: Core i3 speed and performance
While the Sony VAIO E comes in bigger 15.6 and 17.3-inch flavours, we tested the Sony VAIO E VPC-EA1S1E/P model, which slims things down with a 14-inch screen. While this size used to be fairly common four or five years ago, it’s been almost entirely replaced by 13.3-inch panels at the semi-portable end of the market.
It’s a comeback we welcome however. There’s a lot to be said for the Sony VAIO E’s 14-inch screen, as it’s a perfect size for most siutatins. It’s just about big enough to use as your main machine, unlike most 13.3-inch laptops, and the 1600×900 pixel resolution also suits it perfectly. You’ll be able to work with three or four windows open at the same time, and it’s also better suited to displaying web pages and high def video.
Naturally, because it’s a little bit larger than 13.3-inch models like the Sony VAIO S Series, the Sony VAIO E is slightly bulkier and carries more weight. That said, at 2.4kg it’s still light enough to carry around frequently, and the bulk is only ever a problem if you also carry lots of other kit in your bag alongside it.
The build quality on the Sony VAIO E is impressive, and reassuringly sturdy. It lacks the high-end feel found on other VAIOs, but that’s mainly due to the use of plastic in place of aluminium, magnesium or carbon fibre. It’s a price worth paying if you’re on a tight budget though, and all of the materials on the Sony VAIO E are still solid.
?There’s no sign of flex from the chassis at all when you pick the Sony VAIO E up, and the thick lid also provides loads of protection for the fragile display. As for the finish of the Sony VAIO E? It’s, shall we say, distinctive, with a clear coating over the top of the patterned hot pink plastic. Fingerprints and scuffs do show up, but they’re hidden a lot better than with most glossy laptops. If you’re not a fan of the hue, Sony VAIO E series models are also available in a neon green, or slightly more conspicuous blue, white and black options.
The SOny VAIO E’s 14-inch chassis is more than spacious enough for a great keyboard, which is finished in contrasting black plastic. It features the same isolated style that’s so popular among Sony and Apple kit, with keys poking up through individual holes in the chassis, and is comfortable enough for serious report reaming sessions. All of the keys are big, with plenty of space between them, and it’s easy to type at speed without mistakes.
The fact that three of the Sony VAIO E’s USB ports are located next to each other is a bit problematic if you plan on connecting bulky peripherals, but there’s also a forth port that doubles as an eSATA interface on the left-hand side. There’s plenty of space on the chassis for HDMI and VGA ports, and an ExpressCard reader on the front corner. Sony’s Memory Card and SD card formats are both supported, and there’s a Gigabit Ethernet connection towards the back of the machine if you’re out of reach of Wi-Fi.
If you’re a fan of the Sony VAIO E series styling, but need something a little larger, it’s still worth sticking with the range, and plumping for one of the 15.6 and 17.3-inch numbers. The 15.6-inch Sony VAIO E variants are perfect for less frequent travelers, while the much bigger 17.3-inch models are ideally suited to home multimedia use.
Overall then, we like the Sony VAIO E’s 14-inch form factor. Sure, there are smaller and more portable options, but this is still a compact and relatively lightweight machine, and the larger screen and more comfortable keyboard make it a great replacement for your desktop PC you’ll have no qualms about taking out on the town with you.
Read the rest of our Sony VAIO E review:
Sony VAIO E review: Perfect all rounder?
Sony VAIO E review: HD video skills and multimedia
Sony VAIO E review: Core i3 speed and performance
