SONY VAIO VPC-Z1390X

Sony VAIO VPC-Z1390X, the lightest 13-inch ultraportable with an optical drive, yet packs enough CPU and graphics horsepower to rival laptops three times its size. The twin 256GB solid-state drives (SSDs), a backlit keyboard, and a high resolution screen aren't offered anywhere else in such a small package, which is why we consider it one of our best laptops. Of course, no other ultraportable costs this much, either.

Design
The Z1390X is made up of magnesium metal, topped with a carbon fiber lid—some of the finest materials in the world, though you couldn't tell how sturdy it was by its incredibly scant, 3-pound frame. The metal is hammered into sheets as thin as the magnesium ones found in the Toshiba Portege R705-P35, which explains why these two 13-inch ultraportables are also the lightest. The sound the metal makes when you tap on it truly gives you a sense of how thin it is

The 13.1-inch widescreen is nothing special by itself, but paired with a 1,600-by-900 resolution, the clarity and vividness of photos, videos, and movies are superb. In addition, a higher resolution creates a larger workspace on the screen by packing in more pixels, allowing users to compare documents and websites side-by-side. By comparison, the Dell Latitude 13 and Toshiba R705-P35 have standard resolutions of 1,366 by 768. As if this resolution wasn't enough, Sony also offers a 1,920 by 1,080 option, which, on a 13-inch screen, might be overkill.

Features

Sony VAIO VPC-Z1390X has solid list of connectivity ports, including 3 USB ports, HDMI-Out, and separate card slots for SD and Memory Card formats. It has an Express Card 34 slot, if you decide against embedded 3G and opt for an external 3G wireless solution. A finger print reader, which sits between the two mouse buttons, provides an extra security blanket for logging into the laptop. With wireless, it has Bluetooth and uses the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi cards from Intel.

Performance
What makes this ultraportable special is despite being a featherweight, it doesn't compromise performance. It runs a standard volt 2.53GHz Core i5-460M processor. As if that weren't enough, the Z1390X houses both integrated (Intel GMA HD) and discrete graphics chipsets (the Nvidia GeForce GT 330M), in the form of switching mechanism. That way, 3D intensive task can make use of Nvidia's powerful graphics, while the integrated graphics will help conserve battery life. The Z1390X also has a third physical setting called the Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System, which switches the graphics system automatically by, say, unplugging the AC adapter (switches to integrated graphics) or connecting an HDMI cable (switches to the Nvidia chip). Every other switching scenario boils down to a two step process: Flip the physical switch and wait for a 2-second screen flicker. A three switch mechanism is awkward and somewhat confusing, though, especially when Nvidia's Optimus technology—a more seamless graphics switching technology—is already prevalent in many laptops.

Despite its processing and 3D muscle, the Z1390X performed admirably in battery tests. The 57WH (6-cell) battery lasted 5 hours 19 minutes in MobileMark 2007, which was tested using the integrated graphics chipset. The Z11390X couldn't make it past 3 hours when I switched over to the Nvidia graphics chipset

The Sony VAIO VPC-Z1390X is a unique and unprecedented in this space. Hands down, it's the most powerful and most luxurious laptop in the ultraportable category, having parts that you would normally find in media centers and desktop replacements. It's unusually pleasant to find dual SSDs, switchable graphics, and a Blu-ray drive in a 13-inch laptop. Alas, Sony prices out a lot of globe trekkers who would probably love to include this laptop in their travelling plans. The Editors' Choice Toshiba Portege R705-P35, on the other hand, is a more affordable alternative for those who can't afford Z-series prices.

Specifications

Type:                       Gaming, Media, Ultraportable, Business, Small Business, Gaming, Ultraportable

Processor Name:                Intel Core i5-460M

Operating System:      Microsoft Windows 7 Professional

Processor Speed:               2.53 GHz, RAM 4 GB

Weight/Screen Size:    3 lb/13.1 inches, Widescreen

Native Resolution:       1600 x 900

Graphics Card:           Intel GMA HD

Graphics Memory:      64

2nd Graphics Card:     nVidia GeForce GT 330M

2nd Graphics Memory:        1024

Storage Capacity:       512 GB

Rotation Speed:          SSD rpm

Networking Options:   802.11n

Primary Optical Drive: Blu-Ray Disc

Wireless Display Capability (WiDi): Yes

WiMax:                      Yes

Battery Type:             57 Whr (Watt hours)

Tech Support 1 year parts and labor.   

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