Sony VAIO SVE1511AFXS Pro Reviews

Sony’s refreshed Sony Vaio E fits snuggly into the current mainstream laptop market, but the computer is also what you make of it. The review unit we received is a typical budget laptop that makes a few subtle attempts to class things up. It includes a good keyboard with backlighting, a stylish exterior and an aluminum lid. If you choose, you can outfit this laptop with a quad-core processor, or Radeon 7550M discrete graphics. Both options are unusual for laptops of this type, and may attract buyers who can’t find the exact options they want from the competition. The price of the Sony is its biggest weakness. Although $639 is not a lot for laptop with this hardware, other companies offer similar hardware for less. The HP g6 and Lenovo Edge E530 are just two examples. Customization only makes the problem worse. A Vaio E with a Core i7 and Radeon 7550M might seem like an entry-level gaming laptop or budget workstation, but Lenovo’s Y480 offers a more powerful graphics solutions at the same price. Acer also provides some products with much better bang for your buck. We enjoyed our time with the Sony Vaio E, but nothing justifies its premium price relative to similar competitors. Even the laptop’s design is unexceptional, negating one of Sony’s traditional strengths.