Sony VAIO VPC-F233FX Pro Reviews

Performance issues aside, the Sony VAIO F Series isn't a bad buy. Sure, you'll have to contend with Sony's extra software (such as its VAIO Gate dock), and the FireWire port is weirdly located on the front of the computer, but otherwise the VAIO F Series is a decent laptop for multimedia playback and basic tasks. I don't love the design, but other people might. Plus, it's pretty portable for a desktop replacement.

As with other Sony notebooks we’ve tested recently, the F Series’ software bundle is impressive, especially given the price. In addition to the Sony multimedia creation suite mentioned earlier, you get the handy VAIO Gate application-launch utility, a customizable “ribbon” that drops down from the top of the screen to let you open applications or files with a single click. You also get the VAIO Care service and support tools, VAIO Easy Connect utility for help connecting to the Internet and sharing your wireless settings with another PC, and the VAIO Data Restore Tool. Another handy extra is the Sony Media Gallery utility for music, photo, and video playback—including files in shared folders on other PCs on your network. The program even includes a slick filter that lets you show only photos with faces or only those with smiles. As for third-party software, Sony preloads the easy-to-use ArcSoft Webcam Suite, which has the Webcam Companion 4 applet for capturing stills and video, and the Magic-i Visual Effects 2 program for adding effects to captured images. Sony also includes PMB VAIO Edition 5.5 for creating slideshows from stills, light video editing, burning media to disc, sharing media online, and more. You also get Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition, which contains ad-supported “lite” versions of Word and Excel. (The full version of Office is there for those who care to upgrade.) And naturally, there’s the inevitable 30-day trial subscription for Norton Internet Security. Sony backs the F Series with a one-year international warranty and 24/7 tech support—including on-site service, which is an unexpected bonus. With the VAIO F Series (VPCF233FX/B) and the similar models sold direct from Sony and through other retailers, Sony delivers a near-perfect balance of performance, features, and value. If you can find a better-performing notebook that can match these features at this price, go ahead and buy it.