"The Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E laptops are a great option for students, but they might be put off by the somewhat optimistic valuation Sony have put on their new E range"
Matthias Scherer
The tagline “trendsetting fashion notebook” would usually make PC Site run a mile, but since the Sony VAIO E laptop series was such a pleasant surprise in terms of combining good looks and reliable, quick computing, we took another look at the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E laptops.
What we like best
The Sony VAIO C Series is a range of 14 inch laptops whose models come in white, pink, neon green, orange and good ol’ Johnny Cash black. Arguing about personal taste might be great fun, but by providing five different colours, Sony sidesteps that point of contention: Fashionistas can go risky with the more bold colours, while traditionalists can opt for the safety white and black provide.
When it comes to technology, however, there is little room for argument – stuff either works well or it doesn’t. And you have to say that the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E laptops work well indeed, mainly thanks to its 2nd generation dual-core i5-2410M processor, which zips along at 2.3GHz.
The graphics are also pretty for a laptop of this small size. The graphics card is an AMD Radeon High-Definition 6470M, which won’t impress gamers but the 1366 x 768 resolution will let you watch films without making you want to see an ophthalmologist afterwards.
The chiclet keyboard is compact and stylish and owes a debt to Apple’s MacBook – which in our eyes is definitely a good thing.
All commonly available network connections are supported (RJ-45, Wireless, Bluetooth), and all essential ports (including three USB 3.0 ports) are integrated – hooking up the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E to an external network or hard drive won’t be a problem, which is great when you’re out and about.
What we like least
Considering its slight dimensions and screen size, the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E laptops are oddly heavy at almost 2.5Kg – and the battery, which makes up 1/6 of that weight, doesn’t even last that long (around 3 hours when used semi-intensely). This reduces mobility and will spoil it for users who were hoping to take this eye-catching laptop on the road.
Combine that with a price that is definitely on the steep side (but which will probably come down in a few months), and you might want to think twice before getting this device straight away.
It’s a shame about the divergence between the price you’re asked to pay and what you actually get – the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E laptops are a great option for students, but they might be put off by the somewhat optimistic valuation Sony have put on their new E range. It’s still a very decent laptop, mind, just not a great one.
Processor Speed
2.3 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz
Processor
2nd Gen Intel Core i5
RAM
Up to 4 Gb
Screen Size
14 inch
Graphics
AMD Radeon HD 6470M
Hard Drive Storage
Up to 320 Gb
Battery
up to 3.5 hours
Multimedia
HD Webcam
Dolby Home Theater Technology internal speakers
Ports
3 x USB 2.0
1 x USB 3.0
1 x Memory Stick Duo/SD memory card combined
1 x Mic stereo , mini jack
1 x Headphone stereo, mini jack
1 x SD card slot
1 x HDMI output
1 x VGA Output
RJ-45
Weight & Size
(W) 341 x (H) 27.9 x (D) 235 mm
2.45 Kg
Connectivity
Ethernet
WLAN
Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
The Sony VAIO C Series is a range of 14 inch laptops whose models come in pink, neon green and orange, as well as the more classic black and white. This means that the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E laptops cater to the taste of both fashionistas and those who prefer a more restrained look.
Looks are not everyting, however, so it is important to note that the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E laptops run on Intel’s 2nd generation dual-core i5-2410M processor, which lets users get about their daily tasks with ease.
Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E/G
Connectivity is one of the strong points of the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E/G: all main networks are supported, and there are more ports than you will know what to do with. You will be able to easily and quickly connect the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E/G to external networks or hard drives.
To read more about the Sony VAIO VPCCA1S1E/G and its features, read our review here.
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