Product Reviews

The FX201 is instantly recognisable as a Vaio, but it doesn't quite ooze the class we've come to expect from Sony.

Features

The Sony is a medium-sized notebook so all its drives are integrated. These consist of a plain old 24-speed CD-ROM and an unexciting hard disk with just 10Gb capacity. This won't get you very far with the sort of tasks that Sony reckons its Vaio range is good at, such as video editing - a Firewire port is included for this very task. Strangely, Sony has forsaken its own Memory Stick, providing no accommodating

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slot.

Ergonomics

As we got to grips with the Sony, we couldn't help feeling it felt too plasticky. The whole thing can be propped up on feet, and one angled push is all it takes for them to pop back in. The keys are a good size, and the action is firm, but we were somewhat disappointed by the Vaio's screen. Even though it has a viewable 14.1in diagonal, its resolution was just 1,024x768 - something of a waste.

Portability

The Sony is lighter than the other large contenders but at 2.9kg it's still no featherweight. What's more, the lithium ion battery lasted just 39 minutes in our intensive tests.

Speed

Perhaps explaining the poor battery life, the Sony is a relatively fast notebook, scoring 2240 in the Buyer benchmarks and 733 in 3DMark 2000.

Overall

The Vaio range is normally a byword for power and class, but it seems that even Sony can have an off day. What's more battery life is appalling. If you want to go for a Sony badge and keep the machine plugged into the mains then it's an option, but otherwise save yourself 300 quid and go for the Compaq Armada 100s.