Sony VAIO VGN-FW11ZU review

The VGN-FW11ZU is part of Sony's latest range of entertainment laptops, and is one of the few Centrino 2-enabled notebooks on test this month. It includes a brand-new processor, draft-n wireless, and the only Blu-ray writer in the Labs.

As expected, performance is stellar, and the VAIO delivered some of the best benchmark results thanks to its 2.53GHz T9400 processor. A 2D benchmark score of 1.40 is the best on test and highlights the Sony's credentials as a versatile home laptop capable of handling anything you can throw at it.

The Sony's entertainment credentials are impressive, too. Aside from the only Blu-ray writer on test - the Acer, HP and Rock can only read high-definition discs - there's a 16.4in screen to enjoy movies on. While the native resolution of 1,600 x 900 means the FW11ZU isn't capable of Full HD without resorting to the HDMI output, it's still a fantastic panel, offering superb colour definition as well as sharp detail.

The VAIO cuts a stylish figure, too: the silver chassis contrasts well with the Scrabble-style keyboard, while the typing position is improved by bringing the keyboard slightly closer to the front of the machine. The trackpad is comfortable, too, making the FW11ZU a pleasure to use.

While the Sony may provide the best performance here, build quality isn't quite as good. The lid submits to pressure a little too easily, while the chassis feels cheap to the touch.

Battery life isn't the best, either. In our light-use test, the VAIO lasted for 2hrs 15mins, with this figure dropping to just under an hour when asked to run more demanding tasks.

Niggling issues like these are enough to prevent us from wholeheartedly recommending the Sony, despite its powerful spec. If you're looking for a desktop replacement in this price bracket, we'd recommend the Acer - with its bigger, Full HD screen.

Author: Mike Jennings