Sony Vaio Duo 11
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio Duo 11 (Vaio Duo Series)Processor: Intel Core i5 3317U
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 4000
Display: 11.6 inch, 16:9, 1920x1080 pixels, glossy: yes
Weight: 1.3kg
Price: 1100 euro
Average of 13 scores (from 18 reviews)
Reviews for the Sony Vaio Duo 11
Source: Ultrabook News
If you’re looking to replace an older desktop with something that can perform all day with an external keyboard, mouse and screen and is ready to offer consumption and web duties in other places then take a closer look. The Vaio Duo 11 is lightweight, fast, quiet and extremely stylish. If you do buy one and have never used a digitizer, take time to learn how to use it because it’s fun, quick and flexible.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/25/2013
Source: PC Advisor
It’s certainly nice having the option of using the Duo 11 as a tablet from time to time. However, at this price the Duo 11 also needs to earn its keep as a workhorse laptop, and that baby-sized keyboard could deter many people who need a laptop that they can use at work.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 12/20/2012
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 60% performance: 80% features: 60% workmanship: 60%
Source: V3.co.uk
As a notebook, however, it does perform really well, and the HD screen is high quality, and very clear and enjoyable to use with Windows 8. The small keyboard is a big factor here though, but if you can live without a trackpad, you will most probably just get used to its more compact design. But for £849 for the least powerful configuration, we think it is a little too expensive for what you get.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/20/2012
Rating: Total score: 63%
Source: Pocket Lint
Our take is that the Duo 11 is a little bit trapped in the middle of those two camps, and when spending so much on a machine it ought to be a more comfortable user experience. There are definitely some positives to pick up - namely the screen - but it's not quite enough for this model to shine as a whole.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/10/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Wired Magazine
The overall design is very Sony, with angular edges galore. It’s actually uncomfortable to hold for more than a few minutes, with sharp plastic and vent grilles literally digging into your hands at every turn. While it weighs just 2.8 pounds, it’s a major reason why the Duo feels “big.” Sorry Sony, but this Duo’s a dud no matter which way you try to use it.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/08/2012
Rating: Total score: 30%
Source: Techradar
If you're a business user who wants on-the-go convenience and power then take the plunge, but for most people the Duo will be a luxury for problems that can be solved with an enormous range of cheaper, more versatile devices.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/23/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: PC Pro
Despite some glimmers of brilliance, the VAIO Duo 11 is neither a great tablet nor a great laptop. Indeed, the problem is that, while ingenious and beautifully formed, Sony’s decision to go the true convertible tablet route has forced it to compromise usability in both modes. As a tablet, the VAIO Duo 11 is heavy, and in laptop mode the fiddly trackpoint and average keyboard are no competition for those of a good quality Ultrabook.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/15/2012
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 67% performance: 83% features: 67% ergonomy: 67%
Source: PC Mag
While there will be plenty of comparisons made in the coming weeks, the Sony VAIO Duo 11 doesn't make the best first-impression for the emerging hybrid ultrabook category. As an ultrabook the Duo 11's awkward keyboard and short battery-life hamper the productive potential it might have had. As a tablet, the design is uncomfortable and the short battery-life cripples the convenience and entertainment value. The Sony VAIO Duo 11 shows promise, but there's plenty of room to improve.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/11/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: PC World
At a starting price of $1100, the Duo 11 is not an inexpensive investment. It's a highly mobile laptop that behaves more like a tablet, but with laptop underpinnings. The machine is a tad heavy for a tablet, though the sliding keyboard adds limited convenience. The display is excellent, except for the noise we noticed in video playback. In the end, the Duo 11 is a superb vehicle for Windows 8, and if you need an ultracompact laptop that's usable mostly as a tablet, it's worth a closer look. But most users may shy away when they see the price.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/11/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Ultrabook King
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/10/2013
Rating: Total score: 73% price: 70% performance: 70% features: 70% display: 80% mobility: 70% workmanship: 80%
Source: Onlinekosten.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/25/2012
Rating: Total score: 78% performance: 87% features: 73% display: 93% mobility: 55% workmanship: 80% ergonomy: 70%
Source: HardwareLuxx
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/16/2012
Source: PC Welt
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/10/2012
Rating: Total score: 86% performance: 98% features: 83% display: 90% mobility: 76% ergonomy: 83% emissions: 91%
Source: Notebookinfo
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/26/2012
Rating: Total score: 94% performance: 95% display: 95% mobility: 90% ergonomy: 100% emissions: 90%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/23/2012
Rating: performance: 80% features: 50% display: 90% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 50%
Source: Netzwelt
DE→ENPositive: comfortable handling; very good and diverse input devices
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/11/2012
Source: MuyComputer
ES→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/07/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Hi-Tech Mail
RU→ENPositive: The touch screen; convertable from laptop to tablet. Negative: Quite heavy; expensive.
Review Type Unknown, online available, Length Unknown, Date: 11/08/2012
Comment
Series:
The Sony Vaio Duo 11 and many other touchscreen laptops, which utilize the new touch-oriented operating system from Microsoft, had their debut at the IFA in summer 2012. What set it apart from other flipping, twisting and dockable devices is its unique slider form factor and strong performance due to high-end hardware which is comparable with the best Ultrabooks in the market. This also means that the Vaio Duo 11 unlike e.g., Windows RT systems, which can run only a limited apps from the Windows market, can run all PC software build for the x86 architecture.
Other advantages of the Duo 11 include all full size ports like VGA, HDMI, Ethernet and USB, which are mandatory for business user when on-the-move. In addition, its bright and contrast-rich FullHD screen is the best of its kind, and its premium case composed of a massive magnesium parts make the Duo 11 very sturdy and durable.
However, every design has some trade-offs, and the Duo 11 is no exception. Intel’s i5 architecture require much more power than the ARM architecture, so the battery life of the Duo 11 barely meets the general Ultrabook requirement. Due to full size ports and keyboard, the Vaio Duo 11 is heavy and it is very hard to use as a stand-alone tablet. Due to the small form factor and the slider mechanism, the Vaio Duo 11 also falls behind standard Ultrabooks when it comes to user comfort.
Because of its disadvantages, the Vaio Duo 11 is not suited for average consumers. However, it is one of the best candidates for business users who want powerful performance and convenience on-the-go.
Intel HD Graphics 4000: Processor graphics card in the high end Ivy Bridge models. Offers a different clock speed in the different CPU models (ULV to desktop quad core) and therefore a different performance.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
3317U: Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q2 2012. Offers a core clock of 1.7 - 2.6 GHz and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1050 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
11.6": » To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
1.3 kg: This subnotebook is one of the most lightweight of all notebooks and can be carried very easily. There exist only few sub-notebooks, which weight less. 10 inch displays are normal for this class of weight.
Sony: Sony Corporation is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Japan. Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of electronics, video, communications, video game consoles, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its name is derived from sonus, the Latin word for sound. The company was founded 1946 with another name and renamed in 1958. Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit and the parent company of the Sony Group, which is engaged in business through its five operating segments—electronics, games, entertainment (motion pictures and music), financial services and other. Sony is a notebook manufacturer of medium size according international market shares.
70.85%: This rating is bad. Most notebooks are better rated. This is not a recommendation for purchase.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.
