I’ve had my VAIO SB for a couple of months now. It’s still a marvel in design and engineering that goes steps beyond most other laptops, but the bottom line is that it doesn’t make me as happy as the VGN-Z does, even if practically, it’s a better laptop. Maybe it’s just not VAIO enough for me. Thoughts in detail follow, although this is essentially comparing a £1,600 notebook with a £700 one.
- Although the feeling is sharper (less spongy) and more like a Macbook, the keyboard action is similarly shallow and I’m getting occasional missed keys (I guess it makes up for the years of double type). Doing away with the smaller key/extra spacing design of the VGN-Z/VPC-Z is giving me problems adjusting: I really think they were better before.
Keyboards are meant to define VAIO and I’m sad that the new Z will probably use these keys instead of insisting on a 3mm pitch over a point in thinness. The backlight is adequate, but in the same way I could’ve pictured Daisuke Iseki or someone insisting that it was more smoothly diffused.
I hate that I’m typing on a UK layout, but that’s not really a design issue.
- Vertical viewing angles are terrible to the point where moving my head means I have to adjust the screen. Horizontal viewing angle is acceptable, although there is no privacy filter for a screen of this size. Overall, the colour reproduction is more natural, but it’s hard to tell when the viewing angle is this bad. I think 13.3in is perfect for 1600x900… it’s a pity that it’s not an option here.
- Speaker quality is significantly worse and also fairly quiet. The audio jack has a weird location, which really feels like a compromised design.
- Grounding issue on the VGA-output results in a flickering screen while connected to the mains.
- Trackpad is much slower (possibly more innaccurate, too). I brush across the trackpad more often, probably because of the larger and less recessed keys. Fingerprint scanner is awkwardly placed to make it difficult to use both trackpad buttons with one finger.
- Graphics switching is completely seamless and ridiculously well implemented. It’s come a long way since its realisation in the SZ and I’m not even sure the PMD is a step forward from this. The performance of the Radeon chipset is very good and actually provides a huge gain over integrated graphics, enough to cope with everything I have to throw at it (I don’t think nVidia’s mobile chipsets are much good).
- Battery life is above average, although it’s not removable, so I expect it to degrade quickly. Battery capacity has fallen significantly (14%) since the SZ - I wonder what’s causing this trend.
- Excellent thermal and noise management. It’s a curiously placed vent, though.
- I thought the packaging was particularly well thought out: minimal, portable, strong and easy to dismantle, with thought given to storing the warranty and manuals.
- I think that long term build quality is better: the weak VGN-Z hinge is improved, but aesthetically, it has nothing on the VGN-Z or SZ.
My next post will be better.
