Since there is no DisplayPort connection, there may be issues for resolutions beyond 1920x1200.
Two external monitors can be used via the VGA and HDMI ports. In contrast to the possible 30 MB/s via USB 2.0, this increase is nonetheless remarkable. We would need an external SSD to test even higher speeds. We tested the Corsair Flash Voyager 32 GB flash drive and reached its limit of 80 MB/s. Two of the three USB ports support the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard and are capable of gross data rates of up to 4 GBit/s. While there is nothing remarkable regarding the connectivity of the Sony Vaio SV-S13A, the available interfaces cover most daily needs. Despite the very good overall performance of the case, other notebooks such as the Dell XPS 13 do better and set the standard. The case defies strong selective pressure but torsional stiffness could be better. On the other hand, there are few complaints about the base unit. The hinges are precise and offer pleasant resistance but teeter a few millimeters when the notebook is placed on an unstable surface or the lap. A slight twisting is evident when the notebook’s display lid is opened at the outermost edge using only one hand. While Sony has done an almost perfect job with edges and transitions, there is still room for improvement in a number of areas, including screen stability.
Nonetheless, the Vaio SV-S13A provides excellent mobility considering that a MacBook Pro 13 weighs over 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds).Ĭompared to Apple’s line of ultrabooks, the Vaio obviously cannot compete with the quality of a unibody case. The Vaio SV-S13A is thus a bit thicker and heavier than comparably sized ultrabooks. The Vaio SV-S13A’s dimensions are now 22.8 x 331 x 225 millimeters (0.9 x 13.0 x 8.9 inches) and the notebook weighs 1.7 kilograms (3.7 pounds). The case has been modified slightly compared to our last test. This is perhaps a good thing as the device is designed for use on business trips. While the notebook gives an overall high-end impression, hardly anyone would be able to guess the notebook’s exorbitant price simply by looking at the exterior. The exterior is restrained and only a few details, such as the glossy Vaio logo on the display lid and wrist rest, highlight the unobtrusive and potentially boring design. The Vaio SV-13A comes wrapped in dark-gray magnesium and carbon fiber and is a proper metaphor for an affluent business manager in a tailored suit. The Vaio has no competition in this price range and other business notebooks, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, Dell Latitude E6320 / E6330, and Toshiba Tecra R840, all fall short of the Sony notebook’s combination of high-end hardware. The system is rounded out by an enormous 512 GB flash storage array, a built-in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) module, a Blu-ray writer, and a matte 13.3-inch screen. The processor is supported by a gigantic 12 GB memory and the Nvidia GeForce GT 640M LE graphics card. The Vaio comes with the fastest Intel dual-core processor, the Core i7-3520M. At this price, one would certainly expect the crème de la crème state-of-the-art hardware and the Vaio SVS-13A1Z9E/S certainly does not disappoint. Our test device, the Sony Vaio SVS-13A1Z9E/S, fits this description and is currently the most expensive notebook Sony has to offer with a price of almost 3000 Euro ($3660). However, the price quickly soars beyond the entry point when higher configurations are selected. The entry point to this world starts at just over 800 Euro ($975 USD), a lot less than one might normally pay for models from the twice-as-expensive Z series.
Famed Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály wrote, “Only the best is good enough.” The Sony Vaio S series of business notebooks is designed specifically for corporate clients who demand this philosophy from their mobile work devices.