Sony VAIO W

Processor: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 160GB hard drive
Optical Drive: None
Screen: 10.1 inches (1,366x768 native resolution)
Graphics: Integrated Intel GMA 950
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Dimensions (HWD): 1.3x10.5x7.1 inches
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition


Sony's highly anticipated entry into the netbook market doesn't bring with it any real surprises or advances. But it does pack a uniquely Sony design and a superb high-resolution screen that make it a welcome entry into the crowded netbook market.

The VAIO W looks like a miniaturized version of Sony's full-sized VAIO design.

The VAIO W is available in pink, brown, and white. Other than color, the exterior design doesn't look very distinctive from the competition. With its rounded, 1.3-inch–thick case, only the silver VAIO logo on the lid clearly differentiates it from an MSI Wind or Samsung netbook. Crack open the lid, though, and the design is distinctly Sony.
Sony paid attention to color, with the silver Chiclet-style keyboard surrounded by a textured wrist-rest that's a lighter version of the netbook's primary color. The touch pad has a darker, patterned design and is notable as the first of its kind. But the highlight is the bright, sharp 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen. With superb color reproduction, it does a great job with photos and video, and its 1,366x768 resolution eliminates the excessive scrolling you're forced to do on 1,024x600- and 1,024x576-resolution netbooks. The only thing we'd change is its glossy surface; we'd like a matte option, as the current design is very reflective.
The keyboard has good spacing between the springy keys, and it allows deep key presses, making it relatively comfortable to type on. However, at 9 inches wide, it's lacking a full inch in width compared with newer netbooks such as the Samsung N120, and those with larger fingers may find it slightly cramped. The layout is good overall, except for the right Shift key, which is the same size as the letter keys to make room for the up-arrow and extraneous second Function key to its right. The touch pad is superb, with a larger surface than many netbooks and an excellent button design with just the right amount of resistance.

When the system is closed, only the color and logo differentiate the VAIO W from your average netbook.

The rest of the design is vanilla. The VAIO W is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU, backed by 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and Windows XP Home Edition. Along with the integrated Webcam, you’ll find the usual VGA, microphone, headphone, and Ethernet ports, but there are only two USB 2.0 ports instead of the three we’ve grown accustomed to. Unusually, this netbook supplies two memory-card slots; instead of opting for the usual multiformat slot, Sony includes separate SD and Memory Stick Pro Duo slots.
Most netbooks are bereft of bundled software, but the VAIO W includes some useful applications. You'll find full versions of InterVideo WinDVD, QuickBooks Simple Start 2009, and ArcSoft WebCam Companion, as well as the ad-supported version of Microsoft Works. It also has 30-day trial versions of Norton Internet Security and Microsoft Office 2007. Finally, the VAIO W includes Sony's VAIO Media Plus, a utility designed to play music, photos, and videos stored both on your netbook and on your home network. It's a slick and useful application, with a PlayStation 3–like user interface.

Unusually, the VAIO W includes separate Memory Stick Pro Duo and SD-card slots instead of a multiformat card reader.

Performance is also unsurprising. The VAIO W took a middle-of-the-road 27 minutes and 23 seconds on our Windows Media Encoder test, well behind the fastest N280-equipped netbooks, such as the $399 Asus Eee PC 1000HE, but on a par with most N270-based netbooks. Its iTunes encoding performance was more impressive, with its 18-minute-and-33-second time near the top of the performance pack.
On 3DMark06, which measures graphics performance, the VAIO W’s score was among the slowest we've seen, at 76. The GMA 950 graphics integrated within Intel's 945 chipset is anemic even on netbooks with only 1,024x576 pixels to push, so we're not surprised that its performance was even more lackluster on the higher-resolution 1,366x768 display. Audio volume is surprisingly loud for a netbook, though clarity degrades when you pass about 75 percent volume.

Ports are pretty standard on this netbook. On the left edge: power, VGA, microphone, and headphone jacks.

Battery life was disappointing, at 2 hours and 24 minutes on our demanding Wi-Fi video-streaming test; Sony claims you can get up to 3 hours with the included three-cell battery. Considering that the netbook average is over 4 hours, we expect better. A six-cell battery will be available soon (September, 2009), which should approximately double the battery life. However, it will cost $129, making the total VAIO W investment pretty steep when you consider that many $399 netbooks ship with six-cell batteries.
At $499, the VAIO W might seem a little on the pricey side for a netbook. However, given its superb high-res screen, the premium is actually tiny. Dell's Mini 10, for instance, lacks the VAIO W's stylish design, but when you configure it with the same-resolution screen, the system starts at just $399. You can opt for a six-cell battery on the Mini 10 (instead of its standard three-cell), however, for just $35 extra; this option is not available with Sony.
Whether the Sony VAIO W is a competitive entry in the netbook market depends on what you need from a netbook. Despite the pedestrian exterior, we like the stylish interior design, and the extra room afforded by the 1,366x768 display is a pleasure. We’re disappointed in the battery life, however. If the three-cell battery delivered closer to average performance—or if an affordable six-cell upgrade were available—we would highly recommend this netbook. But as is, we feel we have to hold back a bit.
That said, there's no going back from this screen resolution. If you've ever been frustrated with the scrolling issues on a 10-inch netbook LCD, you might just be willing to trade in battery life for the excellent display on the Sony VAIO W.
Price (at time of review): $499 (direct, as tested)