|
Sony VAIO VGN-C150P/BA head-turning design, good ergonomics, and lots of memory give this 13.3-inch notebook an edge over run-of-the-mill competitors. Price:
$1,449
By Justin Jaffe 
With some of the best design chops in the PC industry, Sony can take the same batch of components that other notebook makers use and package them into something that makes most other systems look downright bland. Exhibit A: the VGN-C150P/B. There are half a dozen comparably outfitted models that cost hundreds less, but this is one of the most attractive notebooks you'll find in this weight class. And it comes with a few outstanding features and enough performance to justify the premium price tag.
The VGN-C150P/B's aesthetic is simple but effective: The dimpled plastic around the keyboard and the tasteful, "urban gray" case and complementary bronze-colored detailing will lend elegance to any office or living room. If you want to spice things up a bit, the C series is available in four other colors: Seashell White, Blush Pink, Spring Green, and Espresso Black. Take that, MacBook. At 5.1 pounds, the VGN-C150P/B feels sturdily constructed but lightweight, and its 13 x 9.3 x 1.5-inch frame won't prohibit it from regular travel. We're fond of the laptop's keyboard: The exceptionally large keys offer the perfect amount of tactile feedback and are very satisfying to type on. Likewise, the responsive touchpad and firm mouse buttons are of sufficient size and quality for extended use. The beautiful 13.3-inch widescreen display delivers bright, rich colors and vibrant images; the 1280 x 800-pixel native resolution, average for a display of its size, affords enough screen real estate for working in multiple windows. Audio quality, however, is another story: With one lone speaker placed underneath the case, the VGN-C150P/B's weak, tinny sound will oblige you to use headphones for anything beyond system beeps. Entertainment enthusiasts beware: The VGN-C150P/B forgoes dedicated multimedia and volume controls, an instant-on media player, and quick-launch buttons. Further, it cannot be configured with Windows XP Media Center, although Sony throws in a few disc-burning applications and its own VAIO Media utility for managing music, photos, and videos. Our system also came preloaded with Windows XP Professional and Works 8.5, Microsoft's pared-down productivity suite, in addition to a handful of trial applications, most of which last only 30 days and needlessly take up hard drive space. Aside from a scarcity of USB 2.0 ports-there are only two, bunched together on the right edge-the VGN-C150P/B has most of the ports, slots, and connections the average user will need. You get one four-pin FireWire port for connecting to accessories, one ExpressCard slot for expansion modules, and a 5-in-1 media card reader that supports most of the major formats. Also on board is a dual-layer DVD burner, which can both read and burn all of the major DVD and CD formats. Built-in networking features include 10/100 Ethernet and modem jacks, and 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, though not Bluetooth or mobile broadband. The VGN-C150P/B's throughput of 17.4 Mbps from 15 feet and 17.8 Mbps from 50 feet was exceptional-about twice the average. Though it's not inexpensive, the VGN-C150P/B does feature some noteworthy components for its price: In addition to a 1.6-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor, you also get 2GB of DDR2 RAM-four times the amount found in most baseline systems-and a jumbo 120GB, 5,400-rpm hard drive. On the downside, you're relegated to integrated Intel graphics. These components delivered decent results on our benchmark tests: 183 on MobileMark 2005 and 1,484 on 3DMark03-scores that speak to the VGN-C150P/B's ability to handle most productivity tasks but also reflect its unsuitability for serious gaming or demanding graphics work. The six-cell battery lasted for just over three hours on our drain tests-slightly above average for a thin-and-light laptop but less than you'll get from similar Dell, HP, and Lenovo models. This laptop excels in the fundamentals: It has a very good-looking display, a comfortable keyboard and touchpad, and enough processing power to take on mainstream productivity tasks. If that's enough to satisfy you, the Sony VAIO VGN-C150P/B makes for a solid, stylish choice. Compare Prices | Sony VAIO VGN-C150P/B Specifications
Featured Site Sponsors
|
 |
|
