Sony VAIO S Series: All Day Consumer Computing
by Dustin Sklavos on September 9, 2011 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
- AMD
- Intel
- Sony
- Sandy Bridge
- 6000M
- VAIO S
- Switchable Graphics
Battery, Noise, and Heat
While the Sony VAIO S' performance (at least in our configuration) is fairly middle of the road, we're now squarely in its home turf. There were multiple points during the VAIO S' battery testing where I would actually check on it and then roll my eyes because the screen was still on. I tested the VAIO S using its "Stamina" mode and our traditional settings (including setting the screen's brightness to 100nits).
So basically what we have is a mainstream notebook with a netbook's running time. Note that of our platforms, only Brazos is able to get close to the relative battery life Sony's managed to squeeze out of the VAIO S; Atom + NG-ION can't compete, and even the other Optimus-equipped Sandy Bridge notebooks are left in the dust, including the low voltage Alienware M11x R3. The optional sheet battery is almost redundant, but it's there for those of you that want to marathon the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy on a 13.3" screen.
There's a tradeoff, though. While the notebook honestly doesn't get particularly hot (I imagine the AMD Radeon HD 6630M version might), the exhaust fan can get irritating in a hurry. It's noisy in a way that a dB reading won't measure, because the fan is very high pitched. Some users will probably be able to adjust to it, but unfortunately you're probably going to want to check out the VAIO S in retail before you make a final determination. And how about those thermals?
The Radeon gets a little toasty, but otherwise the notebook runs remarkably cool. Surfaces warmed up but never got uncomfortably hot, and it's unlikely that your palms will start sweating profusely while using the VAIO S. It's worth mentioning that the sheet battery will cover up the bottom ventilation, leaving tiny channels on the sides, but that didn't seem to cause any serious issues; most of the VAIO S' air circulation is done through the rear vent.
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Rookierookie - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
$200 is 10 times $20, and yes I do need more than 120GB of space.On desktops I'll gladly do a boot SSD + storage HDD. On laptops I'm not quite ready to do that.
JNo - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
You might well be able to do boot SSD + storage HDD on this (and other) laptops too, so long as you don't mind losing the ODD.One solution I'm becoming aware of is to google/ebay "optical hard drive bay" for your laptop model and you can usually then get a bay to slot in to the lappy's optical bay which can hold a mechanical HDD instead...
Then bingo - fast SSD + spacey HDD in a laptop
tmensonides - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
I was thinking of ordering a Sony because there one of the only manufacturers that offers what they call a "fresh start" option when cto... it is supposed to be vaio/sony, demo, game free....Looks like it is still in the cto options....
Do you know anything more about that option?
hp79 - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
You have to upgrade your Windows to a Professional version and pay more in order to be able to select "fresh start" which really sucks. Other manufacturers business lines such as Dell's Latitude or Lenovo's Thinkpad lines doesn't come with demos and stuff.tmensonides - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
Yeah but you still get that thinkvantage stuff (dells got their own suite of junk..i have both a thinkpad and latitude at work)...at least the option is there....Zoomer - Saturday, September 17, 2011 - link
Yeah, they have had that option for some time. I guess they need to make money somewhere.Think of it as a "can't fix my own computer" tax. ;)
docp - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
Dustin,Thanks for awesome review as always clear and very well detailed.
brought back my old memories of sony crapware.
I have been vaio FZ user right when vista came out and this new series got announced,
I have been formatting the any new laptop that comes in family,Install clean windows 7 and then update essential programs to make all extra utilities working and security software that all and performance is amazing after this ritual.
Regarding HDD also,I got 200 gb Toshiba 4200 rpm HDD(that times biggest HDD) to 7200 rpm hitachi 500 GB and its running as it is supposed to.fast and quiet.
I dont know why sony installs so much of crap and why bog down pretty good hardware with stupid software.
Its hurting their own business .
Just plain stupid of sony .
docp - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
their is this little program which does backup and restore your windows 7 activation .it came out for vista and it works beautifully for windows 7 as well.this is completely legal and no shady grey tricks for activation.
Saidas - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
ABR?docp - Friday, September 9, 2011 - link
yes ABR,awesome software.on side note,sony does allow you to debloate your laptop for additional 50 $ in form of windows 7 business upgrade.
so only home premium version targeted at home users is bloated most.
wrong strategy.