Sony Vaio Duo 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.

Sony Vaio Duo 11

Specifications

Sony Vaio Duo 11 Review – Flexible, Stable, Stylish
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

70% Sony Vaio Duo 11 review
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%

63% Sony Vaio Duo 11 review
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%

70% Sony VAIO Duo 11 review
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%

30% Sony Vaio Duo 11
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%

70% Sony Vaio Duo 11 review
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%

67% Sony VAIO Duo 11 review
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%

60% Sony VAIO Duo 11 (D11213CX)
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%

70% Sony Duo 11 Ultrabook review: Blurring the line between tablet and laptop
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%

73% Convertible Sony VAIO Duo 11 im Ultrabook Test
Source: Ultrabook King DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/10/2013
Rating: Total score: 73% price: 70% performance: 70% features: 70% display: 80% mobility: 70% workmanship: 80%

78% Sony Vaio Duo 11
Source: Onlinekosten.de DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/25/2012
Rating: Total score: 78% performance: 87% features: 73% display: 93% mobility: 55% workmanship: 80% ergonomy: 70%

Sony Vaio Duo - Slider-Ultrabook für Windows 8
Source: HardwareLuxx DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/16/2012

86% Sony Vaio Duo 11 im Test
Source: PC Welt DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/10/2012
Rating: Total score: 86% performance: 98% features: 83% display: 90% mobility: 76% ergonomy: 83% emissions: 91%

94% Schiebe-Hybrid mit Ultrabook-Innereien
Source: Notebookinfo DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/26/2012
Rating: Total score: 94% performance: 95% display: 95% mobility: 90% ergonomy: 100% emissions: 90%

Transformer – Tablet-Ultrabook-Hybrid mit 11,6-Zoll-Touchscreen
Source: Notebookjournal DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/23/2012
Rating: performance: 80% features: 50% display: 90% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 50%

Interessantes Konzept mit kleinen Schönheitsfehlern
Source: Netzwelt DE→EN
Positive: comfortable handling; very good and diverse input devices
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/11/2012

90% Sony VAIO Duo 11
Source: MuyComputer ES→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/07/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%

Sony VAIO DUO 11 — гибридный ноутбук
Source: 3DNews.ru RU→EN
Positive: The display with wide viewing angles and high contrast; pretty good cooling system; good performance and battery life. Negative: Quite heavy; expensive.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/02/2013

Обзор Sony VAIO Duo 11: дорогой японский трансформер
Source: Hi-Tech Mail RU→EN
Positive: The touch screen; convertable from laptop to tablet. Negative: Quite heavy; expensive.
Review Type Unknown, online available, Length Unknown, Date: 11/08/2012

Sony Vaio Duo 11 SV-D1121X9EB

Specifications

80% Sony’s tablet slides up to become a fully-fledged laptop
Source: Good Gear Guide
The Sony VAIO Duo 11 is more than powerful enough for any everyday Windows 8 tasks — basic Web browsing, productivity in Word, Excel, or Outlook, some basic light-duty 3D gaming or photo editing — and the innovative slider format fits a full ultraportable laptop’s components into a tablet-centric form factor. It’s a big compromise to have a non-tilting screen, though, and the keyboard is cramped — if you can live with these limitations the VAIO Duo 11 is a surprisingly versatile hybrid tablet.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/13/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

65% Sony Vaio Duo 11 Review
Source: Tech2.in.com
At an MRP of Rs 89,990, the Sony Vaio Duo 11 (SVD11213CN) is quite expensive. Even if it was cheaper by a few thousand rupees, we would have still suggested you consider other options because the keyboard and pointing device can be quite frustrating to use. It would have been nice if Sony had gone in with a swivel screen design like in the Dell XPS 12 or a 360 degree folding screen like in the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga. We feel Sony should have concentrated more on ergonomics instead of focusing mainly on style.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/04/2013
Rating: Total score: 65%

79% Gleitender Wechsel
Source: Chip.de DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/17/2013
Rating: Total score: 79% price: 63% performance: 67% features: 63% display: 77% mobility: 85% ergonomy: 92%

91% Sony Vaio Duo 11 SVD1121X9E
Source: SFT - 1/13
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2013
Rating: Total score: 91%

Sony Vaio Duo 11 SV-D1121P2EB

Specifications

82% Ultraflexibel - Sony Vaio Duo 11 SVD1121P2EB
Source: Connect - 1/13
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2013
Rating: Total score: 82% performance: 93% features: 75% mobility: 81% ergonomy: 81%

Windows RT vs. Windows 8
Source: Business & IT - 2/13
Low performance but good battery runtime
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2013

80% SONY VAIO DUO 11 (SVD1121P2EB)
Source: 01Net FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/05/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%

Sony Vaio Duo 11 SV-D11213CN

Specifications

70% Sony VAIO Duo 11
Source: Techtree.com
The Sony VAIO Duo 11 is the first Windows 8 laptop with such a unique form factor. While it looks good, the form factor seems to be a compromise as far as ergonomics is concerned. It is too large and bulky to be carried as a tablet, and the keyboard is not ergonomic enough to use over long duration. The performance is top-notch with the powerful components such as the fast CPU and SSD. The Full HD touchscreen IPS panel that takes full advantage of the Windows 8 UI is very responsive and also looks good. Multimedia performance is quite good with the decently loud and clear speakers. The generous number of ports makes it very suitable even for office use. Battery life may not be sufficient for some, so you might want to invest in a battery slice to double it up. Priced at Rs 90,000, this can be a speedy and cool-looking gizmo to show off to your friends for bragging rights, if you are willing to overlook the lack of ergonomics.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/15/2013
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 50% performance: 80% features: 70% workmanship: 70%

Sony Vaio Duo 11 SV-D1121Z9EB

Specifications

Review: Sony Vaio Duo 11 Ultrabook
Source: Reg Hardware
Despite all its functionality and inventiveness, the Vaio Duo 11 appears to be a product design that became so focused on touch tech that it lost sight of the screen. It’s powerful, well connected and highly portable too, but in some basic areas, it’s just not that usable.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/26/2013

40% Sony Vaio Duo 11 review
Source: Computer Active
Still, the specifications are impressive. The Intel Core i7 processor is a fast dual-core chip, while there is also 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD so the Duo is powerful enough for use as your only computer. Such impressive specifications made the Vaio quick with performance similar to top-of-the range Ultrabooks.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/22/2013
Rating: Total score: 40%

Sony Vaio Duo 11 SV-D1121Q2EB

Specifications

Sony VAIO Duo - luxusní tablet s notebookem v jednom
Source: Notebook.cz CZ→EN
Positive: Precise optical trackpad; option to draw and make hand notes stylus; maximum equipment. Negative: Weight.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/08/2013

Sony Vaio Duo 11 SV-D11223CXB

Specifications

40% Sony VAIO Duo SVD11223CXB
Source: Comp Reviews
Sony's VAIO Duo may be the lightest and smallest of the current generation of hybrid laptops but its high price and number of problems make it a less than ideal choice. Sony certainly gave it a great display and some very fast storage but this is hampered by a hinge design that makes it very hard to use as a laptop both from the screen perspective and the keyboard.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/07/2013
Rating: Total score: 40%

Sony Vaio Duo 11 SV-D11215CGB

Specifications

80% Sony VAIO Duo 11 SVD11215CGB convertible notebook review
Source: APC Mag
The Duo 11 is a surprisingly affordable convertible. Best of all, Sony hasn’t trimmed back the hardware at this price, with powerful components and plenty of storage. The hinge locking mechanism might not win any beauty pageants, but it more than makes up for that with usefulness, making it one of the nicer convertibles to use in laptop mode.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/10/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

Sony Vaio Duo 13 SV-D13213CXB

Specifications

75% Sony upsizes the sliding PC with the Vaio Duo 13
Source: CNet
Of all the new laptop designs that attempted to break into the mainstream with the launch of Windows 8 at the end of 2012, none was bolder than the slider-style PC.The Sony Vaio Duo 13 is ambitious, but less universally useful than other Windows 8 laptop-tablet hybrids. There may not be a real need for a slider-style PC.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/12/2013
Rating: Total score: 75% performance: 80% mobility: 90%

Sony Vaio Duo 13 pictures and hands-on
Source: Pocket Lint
The concept remains the same however, giving you a hybrid device offering both a tablet and notebook, with a display that slides between the two different states. The impressive thing is that although there's two additional inches of screen space, the design has been refined so that the overall footprint is only 9 per cent larger than the previous model. In reality, this mostly comes down to less bezel around the display.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/06/2013

Sony Vaio Duo 13
Source: Trusted Reviews
The closer you look, the more the Sony Vaio Duo 13 appears an ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ device that has a little too much of the oddball vibe of the original Duo 11. However, in use it still solves many of that earlier model’s problems, including a better keyboard, much better looks and an improved hinge. We'll have to spend more time with it to decide if it makes a cohesive whole.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/06/2013

Sony VAIO Duo 13 review: a much-improved take on the Windows 8 slider
Source: Engadget
It's always edifying to hand over a gadget to someone who doesn't play with devices for a living. When this reviewer's dad took the Duo 13 for a spin, he found the design compelling and impressive. As easy as it is for us jaded tech writers to dismiss the slider form factor for its inherent shortcomings, it's still a pretty nifty solution for users who don't want to carry around a separate tablet and laptop.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/04/2013

Comment

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.

Sony reviews

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

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.

Intel HD Graphics 4400:

ULV integrated GPU (GT2) with 20 EUs found on certain Haswell CPU models.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

Intel Core i5:

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.

3337U: Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q1 2013. Offers a core clock of 1.8 - 2.7 GHz and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1100 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.

4200U: Haswell-based ULV dual-core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz with Turbo Boost support up to 2.6 GHz. Offers an integrated HD Graphics 4400 and a dual channel DDR3 memory controller.

Intel Core i3:

3217U: Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q2 2012. Offers a core clock of 1.8 GHz (no Turbo Boost) and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1050 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.

Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.  

3517U: Fast Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q2 2012. Offers a core clock of 1.9 - 3.0 GHz and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1150 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.

13.3: This is a common display format for subnotebooks. Netbooks, UMPC and some subnotebooks have tinier displays. Nevertheless, the majority of standard laptops has a higher format. The advantage of a small display is, that the subnotebook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the small display needs few energy, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is a bit exhausting for the eyes, especially with high resolutions.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

1.287 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.

1.4 kg:

71.6%: 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.

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