Sony VAIO VPC-F236FM Pro Reviews

Despite being a bit on the bulky side, the Vaio F did well in nearly every department--until we got to the battery test. It used to be common for big-screen multimedia/gaming laptops to run for only about an hour, but since Intel's current-gen Core i-series CPUs hit last year, scores have risen across the board. So, it was disappointing to see this 16-inch laptop run for only 1 hour and 44 minutes on our video-playback battery-drain test. The Sony Vaio F Series is backed by an industry-standard, one-year mail-in warranty. Upgrading to a three-year mail-in plan is an extra $179, or $329 with accidental damage protection. Support is accessible 24-7 via a toll-free phone line, an online knowledge base, and a Web site with driver downloads. Sony's support sites are clean and easy to navigate. For a den or dorm room, the big-boned Vaio F could find a good home as a Blu-ray or gaming center, but the large footprint and premium price also mean that the potential audience is somewhat limited, and you may be better served by a thinner high-end 15-inch laptop or an even larger desktop replacement.

The Sony VAIO VPC-F236FM is a laptop powerhouse. You can rely on its Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GT 540M to get the job done, whether that 'job' may entail gaming or manipulating images in Photoshop.