Sony VAIO

Sony VAIO VPC-Z212GX/B Laptop Review

sony VAIO Sony VAIOThe Sony VAIO VPC-Z212GX/B is Sony’s latest entry into the ultraportable laptop market. With lots of power, plus the new Power Media Dock attachment which enables the machine to reach gaming-level standards, this device offers plenty to those who can afford it.

Key Specs For The Sony VAIO VPC-Z212GX/B

  • RRP: $1999.99
  • Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
  • Size: 13” x 8.3” x 0.7”
  • Weight: 2.57 lbs.
  • Display size: 13.1”
  • Storage: 128GB SSD
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 2.3GHz
  • RAM: 4GB DDR3
  • Battery life: 8 hours

Sony VAIO VPC-Z212GX/B: The Pros

Size and Weight: Those buying ultraportable laptops usually need something that’s easy to take with them wherever they go. Whether for business or pleasure, portability can make a significant difference to whether or not you decide to buy. The first thing you need to know about the Sony VAIO VPC-Z212GX/B is that it’s small. Whilst length and width are comparable with most high-end ultraportable laptops in the market, it’s the depth where this product really stands out: at just 0.7” it’s in the top thinnest ultraportable laptops out there. As a result, the Sony VAIO is also really light – just 2.57lbs! This makes it one of the lightest ultraportable laptops in the market, with the Macbook Air weighing in at only 0.19lbs less.

Speed: If you require high performance, then the Sony VAIO is one of the best options available. It has a dual core Intel i5 “Sandy Bridge” processor clocking in at 2.3Ghz! This puts it right at the top of the pack, well ahead of the Macbook Air’s 1.6Ghz processor.

Battery Life: Users who want to get the most out of their product’s portability will look to the battery life. The Sony VAIO has one of the best ultraportable batteries avilable, lasting for a full 8 hours before needing a recharge. A battery life this long is good enough as it is, but when you consider the speed and power that the Sony VAIO offers it becomes truly remarkable.

Power Media Dock: If your Sony VAIO isn’t quite powerful enough for your needs, then the Power Media Dock that comes with it should solve the problem. This free-standing device connects to the Sony VAIO and provides it with additional graphics card hardware in the form of a 1 GB AMD Radeon HD 6650M, enabling better performance for image and video editing and gaming. Better still, the dock also includes a full DVD-RW drive, meaning that you can watch DVDs, play games, and burn discs as you like.

Sony VAIO VPC-Z212GX/B: The Cons

Driver Compatibility: Whilst the Power Media Dock brings powerful graphics card technology to the Sony VAIO, the machine has only limited compatibility with driver updates, meaning that you can’t get the most out of your hardware.

Price: Even in the expensive ultraportable laptop field the Sony VAIO stands out as pricey. Whilst most ultraportable devices are not much over the $1600 mark, and with the Samsung Series 3 costing as little as $699, the Sony VAIO’s $1999.99 price tag could be a real deal breaker for many.

Disk Space: Despite the Sony VAIO’s high specs, it only offers a 128 GB SSD. Whilst this is comparable to a number of other devices in its category, you would expect to get a little more from a device as powerful, and as expensive, as this.

Fingerprint Magnet: Many users value the look of their product as much as its technical specifications. Whilst the Sony VAIO has a very good design, it does tend to attract fingerprints and smudges. This can make the product look grubby, reducing its visual appeal and meaning that you’ll have to clean it now and then.

Power Media Dock: In the ultraportable market users want something lightweight and small that can be transported easily. Unfortunately, if you want to user your Sony VAIO to its full capacity you’ll have to bring the Power Media Dock with you. The Power Media Dock is not that much smaller than the laptop itself, meaning that you’ll be carrying nearly twice as much hardware with you.

Is The Sony VAIO VPC-Z212GX/B Worth Buying?

The Sony VAIO is very powerful and really small. If you need a machine that's capable of playing games, then this is one of the only devices in the field that offers true gaming potential. However, the Power Media Dock which enables gaming functionality is also one of the product’s hindrances, as it means carrying an additional piece of hardware with you if you want to use the product to its full capacity.

If you’re happy to leave the Power Media Dock at home, then this need not be a problem – most rival products don’t offer anything like as much gaming performance so the Power Media Dock is an overall advantage. However, the price is still likely to be prohibitive unless you have limitless funds, as the Sony VAIO is several hundred dollars more than its competitors.