I bought this from the Microsoft Store after watching your video. I'm loving it so far. Battery lasts so long I've stopped taking the power cord to college with me after the first day! Leave home at 9am and come home at 9pm with plenty juice left! Grated I don't play any games or watch videos...mostly browsing, programming, writing papers, and viewing online text books during class, etc....
Yes, the design allows for better cooling of the underside and it raises the keyboard slightly for a more comfy typing angle. The sheet battery is kind of weird-- it doesn't sit flat against the base of the laptop at the rear (for cooling reasons).
I have the 15" version of this. Love the look. I just installed a Kingston 256 GB SSD and it runs like a rocket. Boots up in about 15 seconds. Never had a problem with it.
The SSD is upgradable and Samsung just announced availability of their new PCIe SSD drives. That's what the Vaio Pro (and MacBook Air with Haswell) uses, PCIe. The mSATA drive connector is gone.
We don't have the non-touchscreen model in the US. I do wonder how semi-matte would look. It could be grainy like the Sony Vaio S 13.3 or perhaps more pleasing like the Vaio Z.
The back edge of the display has a strip of metal for reinforcement and rubber feet. That's why it rests on when the display is open and pushed back. Same design as on the Vaio Z.
In our MacBook Air vs. Pro 13 you can see it playing Diablo 3. Ultrabooks aren't the bet choice for gaming but you can get by with low settings and resolutions. I've found it pretty good for HD video editing on the road, but I wouldn't buy it if that's what you do professionally 40 hours/week.
My Core i5 model's fan is generally close to silent even when streaming HD Netflix and Amazon Prime video (balanced performance mode). When plugged in, the fan is often audible (though I leave it in performance mode when plugged in, where it should run hotter and louder).
You can play those games at lower resolution and settings. For more than that, look at something with decent dedicated graphics (a rarity in Ultrabooks).
Sony doesn't mention an anti-fingerprint coating, but it does get a bit less mucky than some competing models like the Asus Transformer Book and Samsung Series 7 Ultra/ ATIV Book 7. At any rate, a damp cloth or microfiber cloth cleans it easy enough and a microfiber cloth is included.
Matte screens really hold onto fingerprint oils and are harder to clean. They also create more resistance to sliding your finger across the display, so touch screens are glossy.
I think you've said it yourself. The Samsung Series 7 Ultra is great for those who want to upgrade internals and want a quality piece for $999. The Sony is a pound lighter and runs on the new Haswell CPU. Is having the latest and lightest important to you, or is a lower price and upgradable RAM and SSD?
The guy at the Sony store said that the latest WiFi driver fixes that issue. I updated my drivers before I really started using the machine and I haven't had any problems at all with WiFi - give it a try.
There's the updated Acer Aspire S7 that's quite thin and light. It has a Gorilla Glass lid. Should be out July or August. And there's Sony's own Duo 13 that's a more rigid convertible (also a bit heavier at 3 lbs.). That's it for 13" models coming very soon.
Can't believe i bought one of these 10 years ago - still in use daily!! I upgraded the SSD to 512, it'll take a 1 or 2TB. Easy to take apart, don't listen to this reviewer lol. Windows 10 for the last few years running just fine. Windows 11 is a step too far though. Oh yeah, and I'm glad I opted for the battery expansion - makes it a little heavier, but fits underneath so you don't notice it in normal use. Doubles the battery life.
Wait for our full written review in a few days, where I'll provide detailed color gamut info. My X-Rite colorimeter died and I'm getting a replacement in on Weds. so I'll be able to include that in our written review. To my fairly trained eye, color gamut is looking good and the reds are truly red rather than orange.
Because of the fact that this laptop is so light, this laptop model comes without that. The CD Drive is really heavy, and usually in laptops, that's what takes up most of the space.
The glossy screen is the showstopper for me. I wanna be able to see what I'm doing whether i'm on the train where I have no control of the light, or in a plane where I don't like poeple behind me seeing my face when it's dark. Also, Lisa, I'm not sure what you were referring to when you said something like "touch screen equals glossy screen", but a glossy screen is not at all inherent to touch screen technology. It's perfectly possible to manufacture a matte touchscreen.
The biggest differences between the Zenbook Prime UX31A Touch and the Vaio Pro 13 would be the generational CPU/GPU upgrade to Haswell for the Sony, which means better battery life and weight (the Sony is significantly lighter).
LOL, we've been doing plenty of reviews. Two in one day most recently (Vaio Pro and ThinkPad T431s). TH-cam's email notifications aren't working right though and only send notifications for a fraction of our recent videos.
This laptop and often others with touch screens come with cleaning cloths. Use a microfiber cloth or one that's intended for cleaning screens and you'll be fine. I often use a damp (not wet!) paper towel laced with a little soft soap to clean very dirty touch screens. Then I wipe it dry with a soft cotton towel.
The 15" Retina is still my work machine (I use it like a desktop in conjunction with a Thunderbolt display). I use a Windows 8 Ultrabook as my portable.
I'm bummed that Sony raised the price relative to the Duo 11, but the new Vaio Duo 13 looks like a very sweet, albeit expensive, convertible. We will review it.
Before you buy it, Google "Sony vaio pro wifi issues", and read the post on the Sony community forums. There is a major fault with the Wifi, to which Sony hasn't responded, despite so many complaints. Many reviewers haven't reported this issue because they may be close to a router or with exceptionally strong signals. Other than that everything else is 10/10.
How is the touchpad? I'm more concerned with that issue than the fan noise. I currently own a VAIO and the track pad is ridiculous. I've read tons of reviews about the track pad not functioning properly.
I'd pick the Vaio Pro 13 over the Asus Zenbook UX31A for the Haswell CPU, lighter weight and somewhat improved battery life. But the UX31A is pretty sweet.
If you read our full written review on MobileTechReview, you'll see I mention it. I downloaded Intel WiFi drivers from Intel's website and it cleared up the issue. Sony doesn't have updated WiFi drivers on their own site yet.
I want a silver model VAIO Pro 13. Unfortunately I can't buy at stores near me so I'll have to order it online without seeing it. I'm concerned about the keyboard in silver models. Is it any good? Are the labels on the keys clearly visible or I will have to use backlight all the time?
Enjoyed the Entire video.. and love the fact that you kept the ads in the end.. i let it run through completely.. Again awesome Video.. Subscribing.. =)
Mine is still running strong! Got it in early 2014 with all spec and never really haven't gotten any problems to this day! 2017 . Okay, after I updated to WIN 10 my Touch screen funktion started to fail on me, and so does the Assist button....Sometimes my Touch work, sometimes it dosen´t...Even thou, I never really use it...
It looks fragile but isn't. I've taken Sony carbon fiber laptops on business trips and they've done just fine. Bend doesn't equal break (which is the idea behind a flexible carbon fiber design).
An impressive looking laptop. They should have Logitech design the backlit keyboard. Some of the Logitech light-up keyboards have absolutely no light bleed around the keys at all so it isn't distracting when you're looking at the light-up keys. You simply see the letters lit up.
I ordered a Pro 13 today, and i'm so excited to get it!! There was a free extra battery with it when ordering from the Sony website (i think it's only for a limited time)
yeah man. I realise she commented its. However if you watch/read multiple reviews people are all reporting different information about the graphics. Once site has a screenshot of the bios showing a 4600 graphics configuration.
Yes, I take things apart and put them back together again exactly as they were. If something isn't meant to be taken apart by any reasonable means, then I don't take it apart for a teardown.
The screen hinge is actually very stiff and strong. The flex doesn't apply to the hinge mechanism. Honestly I'd get a Windows machine to run Windows 8, and a touchcreen machine even better. Bootcamp Windows drivers aren't great for power management and they're not often updated.
Keep in mind that you get a slower clock speed CPU with the HD 5000 so Intel can maintain their relatively low Haswell power rating. In the end, it depends on whether you need more computing power or more graphics power, and even the HD 5000 can't compete with dedicated graphics.
Thanks for the extremely detailed review Lisa. Just one suggestion for your future video reviews though, it'll be good if you can include a sort of "table of content" in the descriptions by including the timestamp. E.g. Hardware - 0:47 Upgrade options - 13:27 etc. Thanks and keep the great reviews coming.
Let it finish installing all those Windows updates and app updates (and it's also indexing the drive). After it did that and I rebooted, it was much quieter.
The 11.6" Vizio tablet with AMD low power CPU inside claims 5 hours of battery life. Compared to the Intel Atom Windows 8 tablets it competes with, that's not very long.
Im a sucking for Full HD, and carbon fiber. I'm comming from the Sony Vaio Z 2008 model.. so im really overdue for an upgrade. I'd definitly pull the trigger on this laptop if it was HD 5000.... but now with HD 4400... its a tough decission - I need this machine to last me 5 years, like my Z just has.
Lol...I understand your point of view but I think the fact that people are looking for Lisa's recommendations is just a testament to how much they respect her knowledge and fair and balanced opinion....I think we can all agree that she does a fantastic job with her reviews. :-)
***** They still sell some of them on amazon (new), but at very steep prices. Ironically enough I bought one at a price that was 500 euros cheaper than 6 months before, due to some wifi complaints which my make was already 'cured' of.
Thank you Lisa for this great review! I could buy this Laptop with i7, 8gb ram and 256gb ssd here in Switzerland for about 1450 CHfr- but I'm a little worried about the fan-noise, which is really annoying and very loud on my Vaio SB when playing f.e. League of Legends or even when I'm just surfing. Does it get loud as well on the vaio pro?
Worst experience ever. I loved, loved, loved the specs and touchscreen on this new Sony Vaio Fit model. I really wanted it to work, but had to return it. Can't have an out of the box computer freezing regularly. As for the computer, it seemed to address a lot of the concerns you've talked about in your reviews regarding power 15.5 gaming computers not having touchscreen capability. Either way, I returned the comp a 3rd time, went home and ordered a Lenovo Y500 based on your review. Thanks!
Light and agile, thin and strong....this new product has got stamina.It can do many things in its little weighing body of an ultrabook...a great choice!!
The Sony VAIO Pro13 is one of the systems you should look at if you want a full-featured laptop that weighs just over two pounds. It has carbon fibre, a fourth -generation Intel Core Processor , PCIe SSD, a dozen other buzz-worthy features!
Thanks. Any other Haswell touchscreen ultrabooks you know of coming in the next month or so that are lightweight but sturdier than this one? The more reviews of the screen and keyboard flexing like that, the more I don't think I can live with it if I'm going to be touching it a lot.
I just bought a Sony Vaio Pro 13 and I'm starting to regret it. Mostly due to Windows 8, have to do a ton of customizing to get it how you want it. Also with track pad it's another thing you have to tweak hours to get perfect I presume, I'm nowhere near to getting it perfect. Because any slight mistake takes me to Windows 8 start tiles, it's gets really annoying after a while, I just want to stay in Desktop mode. Don't get black, finger prints and smudges are highly visible on the black.
Hey! i just bought a vaio pro 13, i was just reading a few forums(wish i noticed this before i ordered it), but apparently there is a huge problem with the wifi card, i have also heard that alot of recent ultrabooks have this problem, are there driver updates to fix this problem? I will be going to university and wont be able to sit beside the router to get my work done. i hope the problem is just people looking for something to complain about, does anyone have any updates on this issue?
Hey Lisa. Thanks for your reviews. Been learning a lot. Do you think now is a good time to buy a new laptop, or would you wait for more Haswell laptops to come out? Also, any chance you've taken a look at the Samsung Ativ Book 5? I have found almost no information about it available! I'm keen on the Samsung Series 7 you've reviewed (upgradability is fantastic!) but a little worried about the small ssd hard drive space (used to having 500gb to work with...), hence my interest in Ativ Book 5!
The fact that it sits up on the screen seems awkward to me. I feel that it may annoy me. What are your opinions on the design of the laptop, mainly concerning how it sits up on the screen instead of flat to the surface? Does this allow for better cooling of the machine? Also, how thick is the optional battery? Thank you for the great reviews!
Hi Lisa, Great review as usual. Will you be doing a review on the Sony Vaio Duo13 ? I bought the Duo11 largely due to your positive review but now very tempted with the Duo 13 due to the fantastic battery life. Would love to hear your impression on other features of the new model especially the touch pad, screen quality and viewing angle of the display.
it turns off after not touching the keyboard for a minute or so... Meaning won't really mess with watching movies during the night, unless of course if are typing and watching movies then u have a problem :D
don´t drop it. i love it except 3 things: GET a PROTECTIVE COVERING. I dropped it once 1 meter and it cracked. jesus. and now my quiet machine makes noises and I´m stuck in Afghanistan - not exactly full of VAIO repair shops. 2. The trackpad is lower quality than expected. You need to learn it. 3. Windows 8 is a learning curve. I don´t understand the hate it is just frustrating in the beginning because many previous "obvious" functions are not intuitive at first. 4. If you think the touchscreen at first is kind of useless, just wait a month and you will see that EVERY time yoou are on another computer you instinctively keep trying to scroll and do other things on the screen. I might get a mac next time but only touch screens from here. They say "once you go black you never go back." well for touchscreens at least that is true. Would not consider anything else from now on.
BlackLabelSlushie if you want strong aluminium body and a good trackpad you should buy acer aspire s7-392 or macbook air. But if you need a more powerful laptop with a full intel processor (not ultra low voltage ) you should buy macbook pro
Where can I get the HD 5000 model? Does this model even exist? Or have reviewers made a mistake. Because ill sites I have found have said HD 4400 graphics
Thanks for the review! Have you seen the Vaio pro 13 without the touchscreen? I wonder what is the quality of the screen. Sony calls it "semi-matt" and it's about 200 dollars cheaper (at least in Europe).
Thank you for pointing out that the SD card doesn't stick out. Especially on these Ultrabooks that might only have SSDs, it's vital--for some of us--to be able to leave a 128GB camera card in the machine all the time.
Hey Lisa, great review like always. Quick question: Are you going to be doing the new macbook air 11 or 13" models? I am so curious to see if the battery life truly lasts 9h & 12h respectively.
If Sony makes a matte screen protector, it will probably be one of the best. I use their Xperia matte protectors even on other phones and other tablets because it doesn't make the screen look grainy and nasty.
There's an ethernet dongle included in the box. When inserted into the USB dongle on the charger, it actually transforms the charger into a portable Wifi-hotspot with a range of up to 10 meters. You can connect 5 different devices to this mini hotspot at the same time. So yes, Sony actually managed to include an Ethernet port in a very innovative and efficiënt way. There's also an HDMI to VGA dongle included, so all the necessary ports are there really.
Have read at least one review that complained that the wifi on the Pro 13 was wonky--did not reliably detect available networks, dropped connections, that sort of thing. Your review didn't specifically comment on wifi either way--can you confirm that you had no issues?
Hi Lisa, great review! I really appreciate all the details that you go into about the laptop's design. I'm tossing this Vaio 13 up against the new MacBook Air.I know you mentioned the OSX vs Win8 argument above, but what do you think about running Win8 in bootcamp on the Air? Part of the issue is that I don't think I can live with the super flex of the carbon fiber chassis, especially if I'm going to be poking and touching it, unless you can reassure me that the screen hinge is strong? Thanks!
Lisa, great review! I'm thinking of buying either this with an i7 or the Asus UX31A Touch with similar specs, which one would you recommend for mainly office tasks and movies? Also, are there any problems with light bleed on this model? (I'll most likely end up with the one which has the least amount of light bleed...)
I bought this from the Microsoft Store after watching your video. I'm loving it so far. Battery lasts so long I've stopped taking the power cord to college with me after the first day! Leave home at 9am and come home at 9pm with plenty juice left! Grated I don't play any games or watch videos...mostly browsing, programming, writing papers, and viewing online text books during class, etc....
The model number of this laptop configuration is SVP13213CXS. It's the base $1,249 model here in the US.
Yes, the design allows for better cooling of the underside and it raises the keyboard slightly for a more comfy typing angle. The sheet battery is kind of weird-- it doesn't sit flat against the base of the laptop at the rear (for cooling reasons).
Yes the non-touch version has a matte display. The touch version is as sensitive to touch as the iPad-- same capacitive technology.
Only a few Haswell machines are out right now. The Vaio Duo 13 with Haswell will be out next week though.
That changes every few months sometimes! Right now I'm torn between the Vaio Pro 13 and Asus Transformer Book TX300 as my next.
I have the 15" version of this. Love the look. I just installed a Kingston 256 GB SSD and it runs like a rocket. Boots up in about 15 seconds. Never had a problem with it.
The SSD is upgradable and Samsung just announced availability of their new PCIe SSD drives. That's what the Vaio Pro (and MacBook Air with Haswell) uses, PCIe. The mSATA drive connector is gone.
We don't have the non-touchscreen model in the US. I do wonder how semi-matte would look. It could be grainy like the Sony Vaio S 13.3 or perhaps more pleasing like the Vaio Z.
The back edge of the display has a strip of metal for reinforcement and rubber feet. That's why it rests on when the display is open and pushed back. Same design as on the Vaio Z.
Yes it has three fan/noise level modes including quiet mode.
Notice the fine print below Amazon video's big "get Silverlight" message. It says "just let me continue using Flash Player".
Hi guys!
I got mine about 3 days back, and by far it has had no wifi issues. It works really smooth. Good luck!
In our MacBook Air vs. Pro 13 you can see it playing Diablo 3. Ultrabooks aren't the bet choice for gaming but you can get by with low settings and resolutions. I've found it pretty good for HD video editing on the road, but I wouldn't buy it if that's what you do professionally 40 hours/week.
It's pretty quick to charge since it doesn't have a huge battery. It gets to 50% in an hour or so. A full charge from 20% takes about 2.5 hours.
My Core i5 model's fan is generally close to silent even when streaming HD Netflix and Amazon Prime video (balanced performance mode). When plugged in, the fan is often audible (though I leave it in performance mode when plugged in, where it should run hotter and louder).
You can play those games at lower resolution and settings. For more than that, look at something with decent dedicated graphics (a rarity in Ultrabooks).
Sony doesn't mention an anti-fingerprint coating, but it does get a bit less mucky than some competing models like the Asus Transformer Book and Samsung Series 7 Ultra/ ATIV Book 7. At any rate, a damp cloth or microfiber cloth cleans it easy enough and a microfiber cloth is included.
I've heard the Vaio Pro 11 uses an mSATA rather than PCIe SSD interface, but I haven't taken one apart to verify that.
Matte screens really hold onto fingerprint oils and are harder to clean. They also create more resistance to sliding your finger across the display, so touch screens are glossy.
I think you've said it yourself. The Samsung Series 7 Ultra is great for those who want to upgrade internals and want a quality piece for $999. The Sony is a pound lighter and runs on the new Haswell CPU. Is having the latest and lightest important to you, or is a lower price and upgradable RAM and SSD?
The guy at the Sony store said that the latest WiFi driver fixes that issue. I updated my drivers before I really started using the machine and I haven't had any problems at all with WiFi - give it a try.
Don't know about the Kirabook timing, Toshiba has us on their list but no ETA yet.
There's the updated Acer Aspire S7 that's quite thin and light. It has a Gorilla Glass lid. Should be out July or August. And there's Sony's own Duo 13 that's a more rigid convertible (also a bit heavier at 3 lbs.). That's it for 13" models coming very soon.
Can't believe i bought one of these 10 years ago - still in use daily!! I upgraded the SSD to 512, it'll take a 1 or 2TB. Easy to take apart, don't listen to this reviewer lol. Windows 10 for the last few years running just fine. Windows 11 is a step too far though. Oh yeah, and I'm glad I opted for the battery expansion - makes it a little heavier, but fits underneath so you don't notice it in normal use. Doubles the battery life.
Wait for our full written review in a few days, where I'll provide detailed color gamut info. My X-Rite colorimeter died and I'm getting a replacement in on Weds. so I'll be able to include that in our written review. To my fairly trained eye, color gamut is looking good and the reds are truly red rather than orange.
That comes down to whether you'd rather run Mac OS X or Windows.
I can see a little less color saturation with the natural vs. vivid setting.
Because of the fact that this laptop is so light, this laptop model comes without that. The CD Drive is really heavy, and usually in laptops, that's what takes up most of the space.
The glossy screen is the showstopper for me. I wanna be able to see what I'm doing whether i'm on the train where I have no control of the light, or in a plane where I don't like poeple behind me seeing my face when it's dark.
Also, Lisa, I'm not sure what you were referring to when you said something like "touch screen equals glossy screen", but a glossy screen is not at all inherent to touch screen technology. It's perfectly possible to manufacture a matte touchscreen.
The biggest differences between the Zenbook Prime UX31A Touch and the Vaio Pro 13 would be the generational CPU/GPU upgrade to Haswell for the Sony, which means better battery life and weight (the Sony is significantly lighter).
LOL, we've been doing plenty of reviews. Two in one day most recently (Vaio Pro and ThinkPad T431s). TH-cam's email notifications aren't working right though and only send notifications for a fraction of our recent videos.
This laptop and often others with touch screens come with cleaning cloths. Use a microfiber cloth or one that's intended for cleaning screens and you'll be fine. I often use a damp (not wet!) paper towel laced with a little soft soap to clean very dirty touch screens. Then I wipe it dry with a soft cotton towel.
The 15" Retina is still my work machine (I use it like a desktop in conjunction with a Thunderbolt display). I use a Windows 8 Ultrabook as my portable.
I've used it with Sennheiser headphones and a 3.1 surround speaker system that's pretty good quality and headphone sound is excellent.
Lisa, why is it $90 to upgrade to 256GB SSD for canada and $220 for the same upgrade in the U.S
The highest HDMI output is 1920 x 1200 according to the notebook's display options.
I'm bummed that Sony raised the price relative to the Duo 11, but the new Vaio Duo 13 looks like a very sweet, albeit expensive, convertible. We will review it.
Before you buy it, Google "Sony vaio pro wifi issues", and read the post on the Sony community forums. There is a major fault with the Wifi, to which Sony hasn't responded, despite so many complaints. Many reviewers haven't reported this issue because they may be close to a router or with exceptionally strong signals. Other than that everything else is 10/10.
How is the touchpad? I'm more concerned with that issue than the fan noise. I currently own a VAIO and the track pad is ridiculous. I've read tons of reviews about the track pad not functioning properly.
I'd pick the Vaio Pro 13 over the Asus Zenbook UX31A for the Haswell CPU, lighter weight and somewhat improved battery life. But the UX31A is pretty sweet.
There was no Ethernet adapter in the box with our US model.
If you read our full written review on MobileTechReview, you'll see I mention it. I downloaded Intel WiFi drivers from Intel's website and it cleared up the issue. Sony doesn't have updated WiFi drivers on their own site yet.
I want a silver model VAIO Pro 13. Unfortunately I can't buy at stores near me so I'll have to order it online without seeing it. I'm concerned about the keyboard in silver models. Is it any good? Are the labels on the keys clearly visible or I will have to use backlight all the time?
you do the best reviews! nobody goes as in depth as you do :) keep up the good work.
Civ V plays pretty well and it's fun to use the game's touch input option.
Enjoyed the Entire video.. and love the fact that you kept the ads in the end.. i let it run through completely..
Again awesome Video.. Subscribing.. =)
We do link to the full written review once it's written and posted. That typically takes a few days after the video review is posted.
No it doesn't overhead or run loud. Most ULV-based Ultrabooks don't run hot since they use low power/low voltage and thus low heat CPUs.
Mine is still running strong! Got it in early 2014 with all spec and never really haven't gotten any problems to this day! 2017 .
Okay, after I updated to WIN 10 my Touch screen funktion started to fail on me, and so does the Assist button....Sometimes my Touch work, sometimes it dosen´t...Even thou, I never really use it...
im curious,does it still work right now ?
@@KelcesCorner oh ya. But the battery is statting to discharge. I got a New laptop last year tho. I do sometimes turn it on, just to update Windows
It looks fragile but isn't. I've taken Sony carbon fiber laptops on business trips and they've done just fine. Bend doesn't equal break (which is the idea behind a flexible carbon fiber design).
An impressive looking laptop. They should have Logitech design the backlit keyboard. Some of the Logitech light-up keyboards have absolutely no light bleed around the keys at all so it isn't distracting when you're looking at the light-up keys. You simply see the letters lit up.
I'm getting the duo 13 can't wait all reviews I've seen so far are pretty good
I ordered a Pro 13 today, and i'm so excited to get it!! There was a free extra battery with it when ordering from the Sony website (i think it's only for a limited time)
This is the base model SVP13213CXB
yeah man. I realise she commented its. However if you watch/read multiple reviews people are all reporting different information about the graphics. Once site has a screenshot of the bios showing a 4600 graphics configuration.
Yes, I take things apart and put them back together again exactly as they were. If something isn't meant to be taken apart by any reasonable means, then I don't take it apart for a teardown.
The screen hinge is actually very stiff and strong. The flex doesn't apply to the hinge mechanism. Honestly I'd get a Windows machine to run Windows 8, and a touchcreen machine even better. Bootcamp Windows drivers aren't great for power management and they're not often updated.
Keep in mind that you get a slower clock speed CPU with the HD 5000 so Intel can maintain their relatively low Haswell power rating. In the end, it depends on whether you need more computing power or more graphics power, and even the HD 5000 can't compete with dedicated graphics.
Thanks for the extremely detailed review Lisa.
Just one suggestion for your future video reviews though, it'll be good if you can include a sort of "table of content" in the descriptions by including the timestamp.
E.g.
Hardware - 0:47
Upgrade options - 13:27
etc.
Thanks and keep the great reviews coming.
For 3D modeling, it's always nicer to have dedicated graphics, which you generally won't find in an Ultrabook. Other than that, it would be fine.
Let it finish installing all those Windows updates and app updates (and it's also indexing the drive). After it did that and I rebooted, it was much quieter.
The 11.6" Vizio tablet with AMD low power CPU inside claims 5 hours of battery life. Compared to the Intel Atom Windows 8 tablets it competes with, that's not very long.
Im a sucking for Full HD, and carbon fiber. I'm comming from the Sony Vaio Z 2008 model.. so im really overdue for an upgrade. I'd definitly pull the trigger on this laptop if it was HD 5000.... but now with HD 4400... its a tough decission - I need this machine to last me 5 years, like my Z just has.
Lol...I understand your point of view but I think the fact that people are looking for Lisa's recommendations is just a testament to how much they respect her knowledge and fair and balanced opinion....I think we can all agree that she does a fantastic job with her reviews. :-)
If Vaio was still around I would definitely get this over a MacBook Pro.
***** They still sell some of them on amazon (new), but at very steep prices. Ironically enough I bought one at a price that was 500 euros cheaper than 6 months before, due to some wifi complaints which my make was already 'cured' of.
when lisa makes a review, Its Always A Must Watch! great job as always! :)
Thank you Lisa for this great review!
I could buy this Laptop with i7, 8gb ram and 256gb ssd here in Switzerland for about 1450 CHfr- but I'm a little worried about the fan-noise, which is really annoying and very loud on my Vaio SB when playing f.e. League of Legends or even when I'm just surfing. Does it get loud as well on the vaio pro?
Worst experience ever. I loved, loved, loved the specs and touchscreen on this new Sony Vaio Fit model. I really wanted it to work, but had to return it. Can't have an out of the box computer freezing regularly. As for the computer, it seemed to address a lot of the concerns you've talked about in your reviews regarding power 15.5 gaming computers not having touchscreen capability. Either way, I returned the comp a 3rd time, went home and ordered a Lenovo Y500 based on your review. Thanks!
Light and agile, thin and strong....this new product has got stamina.It can do many things in its little weighing body of an ultrabook...a great choice!!
I love your reviews!
It would be nice if you linked your full written review in the description box of your videos though... :/
The Sony VAIO Pro13 is one of the systems you should look at if you want a full-featured laptop that weighs just over two pounds. It has carbon fibre, a fourth -generation Intel Core Processor , PCIe SSD, a dozen other buzz-worthy features!
Thnx Lisa I bought the VAIO pro 13 because of u, comes in 2 days can't wait :D
We might do it, but you know neither the Sony Vaio Pro or the MacBook Air are much for serious gaming.
Hi Lisa, great review. I just have one question. Do you buy ALL the gadgets you review or are some o them sponsored?
We probably won't review the 11" Vaio Pro since they have so much in common. But if Sony offers to send us a review loaner, I surely won't say no.
Thanks. Any other Haswell touchscreen ultrabooks you know of coming in the next month or so that are lightweight but sturdier than this one? The more reviews of the screen and keyboard flexing like that, the more I don't think I can live with it if I'm going to be touching it a lot.
I just bought a Sony Vaio Pro 13 and I'm starting to regret it. Mostly due to Windows 8, have to do a ton of customizing to get it how you want it. Also with track pad it's another thing you have to tweak hours to get perfect I presume, I'm nowhere near to getting it perfect. Because any slight mistake takes me to Windows 8 start tiles, it's gets really annoying after a while, I just want to stay in Desktop mode. Don't get black, finger prints and smudges are highly visible on the black.
Hey! i just bought a vaio pro 13, i was just reading a few forums(wish i noticed this before i ordered it), but apparently there is a huge problem with the wifi card, i have also heard that alot of recent ultrabooks have this problem, are there driver updates to fix this problem? I will be going to university and wont be able to sit beside the router to get my work done. i hope the problem is just people looking for something to complain about, does anyone have any updates on this issue?
The sheet battery adds about 1 lb. weight.
Hey Lisa.
Thanks for your reviews. Been learning a lot. Do you think now is a good time to buy a new laptop, or would you wait for more Haswell laptops to come out?
Also, any chance you've taken a look at the Samsung Ativ Book 5? I have found almost no information about it available! I'm keen on the Samsung Series 7 you've reviewed (upgradability is fantastic!) but a little worried about the small ssd hard drive space (used to having 500gb to work with...), hence my interest in Ativ Book 5!
Is it good for gaming if not what laptops that are cheap and good at gaming
And can u buy a separate disc dive
The fact that it sits up on the screen seems awkward to me. I feel that it may annoy me. What are your opinions on the design of the laptop, mainly concerning how it sits up on the screen instead of flat to the surface? Does this allow for better cooling of the machine?
Also, how thick is the optional battery?
Thank you for the great reviews!
Hi Lisa, Great review as usual. Will you be doing a review on the Sony Vaio Duo13 ?
I bought the Duo11 largely due to your positive review but now very tempted with the Duo 13 due to the fantastic battery life. Would love to hear your impression on other features of the new model especially the touch pad, screen quality and viewing angle of the display.
Can you disable the keyboardlight? Would be annoying while watching a movie at night
it turns off after not touching the keyboard for a minute or so... Meaning won't really mess with watching movies during the night, unless of course if are typing and watching movies then u have a problem :D
Yes you can turn it off.
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I just bought it and I love it so far.
BlackLabelSlushie
Does it get very hot while watching videos
is the laptop good? because I'm thinking to buy one
Nisa J. Yes it Is best 13 inch laptop. If you don't want pen or 4k display
don´t drop it. i love it except 3 things: GET a PROTECTIVE COVERING. I dropped it once 1 meter and it cracked. jesus. and now my quiet machine makes noises and I´m stuck in Afghanistan - not exactly full of VAIO repair shops. 2. The trackpad is lower quality than expected. You need to learn it. 3. Windows 8 is a learning curve. I don´t understand the hate it is just frustrating in the beginning because many previous "obvious" functions are not intuitive at first. 4. If you think the touchscreen at first is kind of useless, just wait a month and you will see that EVERY time yoou are on another computer you instinctively keep trying to scroll and do other things on the screen. I might get a mac next time but only touch screens from here. They say "once you go black you never go back." well for touchscreens at least that is true. Would not consider anything else from now on.
BlackLabelSlushie if you want strong aluminium body and a good trackpad you should buy acer aspire s7-392 or macbook air. But if you need a more powerful laptop with a full intel processor (not ultra low voltage ) you should buy macbook pro
Where can I get the HD 5000 model? Does this model even exist? Or have reviewers made a mistake. Because ill sites I have found have said HD 4400 graphics
Thanks for the review! Have you seen the Vaio pro 13 without the touchscreen? I wonder what is the quality of the screen. Sony calls it "semi-matt" and it's about 200 dollars cheaper (at least in Europe).
Thank you for pointing out that the SD card doesn't stick out. Especially on these Ultrabooks that might only have SSDs, it's vital--for some of us--to be able to leave a 128GB camera card in the machine all the time.
just custom ordered mine for college, cant wait to get it
Our ThinkPad Helix review unit is finally arriving next week.
We don't accept sponsorships. These are review units (loaners) that manufacturers send out to review sites like ours, and some we buy from the store.
Hey Lisa, great review like always. Quick question: Are you going to be doing the new macbook air 11 or 13" models? I am so curious to see if the battery life truly lasts 9h & 12h respectively.
You could get a matte screen protector if you hate glossy.
If Sony makes a matte screen protector, it will probably be one of the best. I use their Xperia matte protectors even on other phones and other tablets because it doesn't make the screen look grainy and nasty.
There's an ethernet dongle included in the box. When inserted into the USB dongle on the charger, it actually transforms the charger into a portable Wifi-hotspot with a range of up to 10 meters. You can connect 5 different devices to this mini hotspot at the same time. So yes, Sony actually managed to include an Ethernet port in a very innovative and efficiënt way. There's also an HDMI to VGA dongle included, so all the necessary ports are there really.
Have read at least one review that complained that the wifi on the Pro 13 was wonky--did not reliably detect available networks, dropped connections, that sort of thing. Your review didn't specifically comment on wifi either way--can you confirm that you had no issues?
Hi Lisa, great review! I really appreciate all the details that you go into about the laptop's design. I'm tossing this Vaio 13 up against the new MacBook Air.I know you mentioned the OSX vs Win8 argument above, but what do you think about running Win8 in bootcamp on the Air? Part of the issue is that I don't think I can live with the super flex of the carbon fiber chassis, especially if I'm going to be poking and touching it, unless you can reassure me that the screen hinge is strong? Thanks!
Lisa, great review! I'm thinking of buying either this with an i7 or the Asus UX31A Touch with similar specs, which one would you recommend for mainly office tasks and movies? Also, are there any problems with light bleed on this model? (I'll most likely end up with the one which has the least amount of light bleed...)
Sony sells a VGA adapter for $30, and I believe it's simply and HDMI to VGA adapter, so I'd say it must work.