Product spotlight: Sony Vaio Z Series
We review the latest gadgets on the market for you to pick and choose
With the new Z Series, Sony has created another Vaio true to its name — the brand actually started life as Sony Video Audio Integrated Operation. And this time, not only is it desirable but downright covetous.
The new Z Series blends ultra-desirable styling and premium carbon fibre with the portability of 1.16kg of weight. Its full HD display with an anti-reflective glossy finish provides exquisite images with vivid colours and is one of the best displays we have seen on a laptop.
At the core of the Z is the second-generation Intel Core i7 processor. The excellent graphics quality owes itself to the high speed AMD Radeon HD 6650M with 1GB VRAM built-in. Sony claims a boot time of only 14 seconds for Windows 7 Professional in the Quick Boot function and by the looks of things we see no reason to doubt them.
The Z Series owes its ultra-slim profile to the lack of an optical drive. That is not to say there isn't one, though. The unique Power Media Dock supplied with it is a docking station that links with the Vaio via an optical cable. The dock, a Blu-ray combo drive, has a stylishly designed upright stance and also boosts graphics performance with its own dedicated, built-in graphics memory.
External displays
With the dock attached, the Sony Vaio Z Series can manage up to three external displays via its HDMI and/or VGA output ports. In this configuration, Vaio Z Series makes a compelling choice for design, finance and science professionals who need to work across several screens simultaneously.
While the Vaio Z offers 6.5 hours of battery in continuous use, this can be increased to 13 hours by attaching an optional Sheet Battery, which can be charged separately and added without removing the internal battery. Its full-flat shape makes the series stay flat and slim even when the Sheet Battery is attached.
Digital noise-cancelling headphones come with the package and will let you listen to music without distraction. And for those who need to type a bit for their living, the automatically illuminating backlit keyboard is a boon in the dark, as are the well spaced-out keys.
If we are to nitpick, though, the build quality and panel gaps around the screen leave a little to be desired in so premium a product. That and the price tag of Dh11,495, inclusive of a nice leather carry case.
