Sony VAIO S Series SVS13A12FXB review

Simple yet bold, with a lightweight, highly durable magnesium alloy lid, the S Series features a full-flat design concept that abandons traditional bulky batteries, unnecessary seams and protruding ports and trays with a slot-loading optical drive. It’s powered by a third-generation Intel Core i5 dual-core processor (“Ivy Bridge”), which provides breakthrough digital media management, content creation, and 3D gaming capabilities. Enjoy the thrill of an automatic burst of speed when you need it with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for a boost in your performance that you can truly see and feel. This VAIO S Series laptop comes pre-installed with the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium and it includes Microsoft Office Starter 2010 with limited-functionality versions of Word and Excel.

Hybrid Graphics

Graphics are powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE chip with 1 GB of dedicated video RAM, delivering the perfect balance of graphics performance with long battery life. Behind the scenes, NVIDIA Optimus technology seamlessly determines how to best optimize your notebook computing experience so there’s no interference to what you’re doing on your laptop.

Rapid Wake

With Sony’s own Rapid Wake technology, you never have to shut down your computer again. Whether you are done working for the day or just heading out to get some coffee, simply close the lid to put your PC into sleep mode. Then, when you’re ready to start again, resume in 2 seconds with your data safe and secure. If you are unplugged, don’t worry about draining your battery. Your PC can stay in sleep mode for days.

PlayMemories Home Software

Uniquely smart and easy-to-use, PlayMemories Home software makes organizing, editing and sharing your photos and videos a cinch. Instantly import and sort your content by event or date. Then transform your favorites from ordinary to extraordinary with intuitive adjustments and stunning filters. You can even create heartwarming slideshows complete with transitions and soundtracks in three simple steps. Finally, share your picks privately with family and friends or on popular social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube. PlayMemories Online service can even securely store your content in the cloud allowing virtually all of your devices to access it anytime, anyplace.

Create Something Worth Sharing

Sony Imagination Studio VAIO Edition includes four powerful Sony applications: Vegas, ACID, Sound Forge, and DVD Architect software so you can create music and movies like never before.

Night Shift

Practical innovation is a cornerstone of Sony’s vision, and our keyboards are no exception. The keyboard features precisely engineered keys to create a comfortable and intuitive typing experience. When typing in dim light, an LED backlight creates a pleasant glow, framing the individual keys and illuminating the lettering to make it even easier to find the right keys.

Simple Multi-Gesture Touchpad

The multi-gesture touchpad is the most intuitive way to interact with your laptop. Scroll with two fingers, pinch to zoom in and out of images, swipe to flip through pages or photos, and you can even rotate an image, and much more. And rather than clicking on a button, just click on the left or right mouse areas in order to activate those functions.

The Handiest Port Around

Forgot to charge your phone or mp3 player? Just plug your device via USB cord into the USB sleep charge port and start charging. Even if the PC is shut down and not plugged in you can still use it. And don’t forget that the USB 3.0 port is perfect for connecting a compatible external hard drive and allowing you to wait less and transfer data up to 10x faster than USB 2.0.

Take It to the Big Screen

Now enjoy all of your personal and online content on your big screen-by wirelessly connecting your laptop to your TV. Stop crowding around a laptop screen, with Intel Wireless Display, you can sit back and experience your favorite videos, photos, movies, online TV shows, and more, all with great image clarity up to 1080p. Simply connect an optional adapter for Intel Wireless Display (such as the Netgear Push2TV PTV2000 and Belkin ScreenCast adapters) to your TV, follow a few simple steps, and you’re off and running. Set it up once, and sharing your screen is as easy as pushing a button. This VAIO PC also comes with an HDMI output, delivering both your video and audio via a single HDMI cable (sold separately) and providing the optimal digital connection to your HDMI-enabled HDTV.

HDD G-Sensor Shock Protection Technology

Sony’s G-Sensor Shock Protection technology counteracts sudden movements by locking up the spinning hard drive to help prevent potential damage, such as scratching, which could lead to data loss.

Control Your Power Settings

The VAIO S Series puts you in control by offering a stamina/speed switch that allows you to easily manage your performance to deliver power when you need it and energy savings when you don’t. You can even set your performance level on the fly without needing to reboot.

Not Just for Video Chatting

A built-in HD web camera offers superb video conferencing quality. Powered by an Exmor sensor, this HD web camera offers amazing low-light performance and includes face-tracking technology that allows the camera to automatically adjust and keep you in focus as you move about. And with certain programs, you make hand gestures in front of your camera to skip songs, turn pages, or turn the volume up.

Sensational Sound

Experience full-impact surround sound anywhere with Dolby Home Theater v4 technology on your PC. Whether you listen through headphones, the speakers in your laptop, or a connected home theater, a more captivating entertainment experience can be yours anytime. Dolby Home Theater technology offers total control over audio settings, so you can customize the sound for the maximum impact. It makes audio levels more consistent: set the volume once, and that’s where it stays.

Security Measures

TPM (Trusted Platform Module) provides secure information management and enhanced business protection. TPM is built into a computer to store cryptographic information, such as encryption keys. Because TPM uses its own internal firmware and logic circuits for processing instructions, it does not rely upon the operating system and is not exposed to external software vulnerabilities. As a result, information stored on TPM is more secure from external software attacks and physical theft.

Optional Docking Station

With the optional docking station, you can quickly and easily connect to your external monitor, AC adapter and multiple peripherals without needing to plug and unplug each one every time you arrive at your desk or workstation. Featuring four USB ports, HDMI out, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet port and DC in, you have the connectivity that you need. The built-in hard drive provides expanded storage for your files and a simple backup solution.

Service and Support

There’s nothing standard about the standard Sony limited warranty on VAIO computers. To give you the ultimate in speedy and convenient service, we come to you to repair PC issues whenever possible. Not many other PC manufacturers can match our expertise or comprehensive level of in-home support. And we have extensive on-line support where you can chat with an associate and access drivers, software updates, FAQs, user forums and more.

PC Tune-ups and Maintenance Made Easy

With the newest version of VAIO Care software you get an easy-to-use tool that lets you tune up, update and troubleshoot your VAIO PC. Effortlessly install and uninstall new software and drivers, use the visual interface to quickly identify and troubleshoot issues, create restore and recovery media, and connect with Sony phone, chat or online support when you need to talk with a Sony expert.

Key Specifications

13.3-inch LED-backlit display with 1366 x 768 resolution for native HD 720p viewing 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core processor (3.1 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology; 3 MB L3 cache) 640 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM) 6 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1333 MHz; 4 GB fixed onboard plus 2 GB removable; 12 GB maximum) NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE graphics with 1 GB of dedicated video RAM and Optimus technology for an excellent balance battery life and performance 8x multi-format CD/DVD drive Built-in stereo speakers with Dolby Home Theater technology (v4) Up to 7 hours of battery life at default brightness with standard 4000 mAh battery Dimensions and Weight: 13.04 x 8.85 x 0.95 inches (WxDxH); 3.8 pounds

Wireless & Networking

– Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks. – Intel Wireless Display capabilities enables you to wirelessly stream videos, photos and music from your hard drive, home network, or the internet straight to your HDTV. – Bluetooth 4.0 + HS connectivity with wireless stereo music streaming (embedded A2DP profile). – Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)

Connectivity & Expansion

– 2 ultra-fast USB 3.0 ports with up to 10x the speed of USB 2.0 (and is backward compatible with your USB 2.0 peripherals). – 1 standard USB 2.0 port – HDMI port for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable. – VGA video output (analog, RGB) – Memory Stick Duo slot – Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards) – Microphone and headphone jacks

What’s in the Box

Sony VAIO S Series 13.3-inch laptop (model SVS13A12FXB); standard lithium-ion battery (4000 mAh); AC adapter; power cord; operating instructions

Included Software

Microsoft Office Starter with reduced-functionality versions of Word and Excel; Sony Imagination Studio VAIO Edition; Media Gallery; VAIO Care; PlayMemories Home; Kaspersky Internet Security (30-day trial offer)

Warranty

1-year limited hardware warranty, and 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance (onsite/in-home service and international service availability).

Environmental Specifications

– Energy Star 5.0 – Gold EPEAT for reducing environmental impact. – RoHS compliant restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

Product Description

The VAIO® S Series 13 laptop offers stepped up performance, all day mobility in a sleek, full-flat design with carbon fiber elements. Features like slot-loading optical drive, large clickable touchpad and backlit keyboard are standard. Get even longer battery life with the optional extended sheet battery.