No-one can argue concerning the VAIO X Series' layout credentials. At 12. 2mm, it's precisely as thick being an iPhone, and its matte-black finish is reminiscent of a sheet of graphite (the solely design oddity is a brown bottom). Even the particular screen drew admiring gasps: it is wafer-thin, measuring 4. 4mm whenever we clamped our calipers all over it.
The main chassis is similarly slight. It's so skinny the D-SUB port about the right-hand side looks outsized. There isn't even room to get a conventional network port, but rather than force people to help you lug around an adapter, Sony offers cleverly created a hinged slot: when you want to utilise it, the idea is to increase two tiny feet and also this gives the hinge space to expand enough that you should slot in your cord.
Like other Sony laptops, the keyboard on the particular VAIO X is island style, but at 88 per-cent of full size, it抯 a little smaller than most netbooks with 10- to 12-inch screens. Measuring 9. 5 x 3. 5 inches, the keyboard is all about half an inch smaller in both directions compared to the Toshiba mini NB205, despite the fact that the VAIO X features a larger keyboard deck. The reason being there抯 about half a powerful inch of space on either side of your keyboard.
Also notable may be the Vaio's touchpad, which helps multi-touch input. This allows gestures for instance pinching together two fingers to zoom in, for instance. A pair of flip-out feet within the chassis lifts it that will angle the keyboard when over a desk, and we found any Vaio X Series comfortable to make use of when sitting on your lap in addition, as the screen may be pushed quite far in to a suitable angle.
So although it was a 'wow' aspect machine, Sony decided to try again that has a cheaper Atom netbook with all the VAIO W that stuck with the regular form factor that you find in most netbook computers but with the VAIO feel and look. The W wasn't too bad of the effort, and was priced at a more affordable range just like other netbooks. Sure, it performed virtually similar to other netbooks too, but well, it is a Sony product you're discussing.
Now, fast forward to just a couple months later, and Sony provides unveiled its latest minilaptop, the VAIO X. This time around, the X looks established to razzle and dazzle using its super slim form consideration, lightweight design and definitely expensive price. Of lessons, the magnesium alloy chassis and carbon fiber frame from the notebook doesn't come less expensive by any standards, however it does give it a fabulous feel that's just perfect for the business users that it netbook is targeted by. How perfect you consult? We'll find out more covering the next few pages but let's choose our usual exterior photos and table of standards first.
HDD scores within our PCMark 05 tests have been definitely way up in that respect there compared against your ordinary 5400 RPM drives plus handily beat the ASUS netbooks, so we've no complains there. Overall, it does show the fact that Intel Atom Z550 processer does handle better compared to the N280, though its main advantage continues to be the power savings involving its lower power lure and TDP requirement despite which has a higher clock speed.
You will find two USB ports around the left-hand side of all the chassis, plus a headphone outlet, while slots for Memory space Stick media and SD cards occupy the leading. And that's your whole lot. The rest of the style carries on this minimal feel. Aside from a radio switch, the only buttons to press will be the two for the simple touchpad as well as the keyboard itself.
We were sceptical connected with Sony's claimed eight-hour battery life for that Vaio X Series, especially after seeing the thinness from the battery pack in the bottom of the unit. Nonetheless, the unit lasted meant for five hours and 18 minutes inside our tests using the Power Eater Pro benchmark, that is an impressive score for this sort of thin and light netbook. We tested the Vaio with its configuration as delivered, except that the tv screen and suspend-to-disk timeouts were disabled to circumvent the system turning over backlight or going to sleep while the battery lifespan test was running. Users may experience any shorter battery life than this being used, depending on how heavily they use a wireless communications, but should still be able to get several hours of use on the Vaio before a recharge is necessary.
