Sony Vaio VPC-Z21M9E
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VPC-Z21M9E (Vaio VPC-Z Series)Processor: Intel Core i5 2410M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.1 inch, 16:9, 1600x900 pixels, glossy: no
Weight: 1.5kg
Price: 2300 euro
Average of 6 scores (from 9 reviews)
Reviews for the Sony Vaio VPC-Z21M9E
Source: Digital Trends
Judged by its technical achievements, the Sony Vaio Z is easily a 10/10 laptop. Sony has managed to pack a number of high-quality components into a very small space, achieving things that most ultrabooks shown at CES could only hope for. Better still, the Z isn’t particularly hot or noisy, nor is the battery life disappointing.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/09/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Trusted Reviews
Sony's carbon-fibre VAIO Z is the lightest, most powerful and most versatile ultraportable available. With highlights like an optional Full HD screen and up to a 512GB SSD, and with its optional dock offering dedicated graphics and Blu-ray playback, its rivals don't even come close – especially since battery life is also good. As a package, it has no competitors, though for many users the Z won't justify its extra cost over either its S-series cousin or other rivals like the MacBook Air. However, while it's not without its faults, if you can afford it this is a stunning machine.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/30/2011
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 60% performance: 90% features: 100% mobility: 80% ergonomy: 90%
Source: It Pro
It is possible to get a Vaio Z for £1,195 ex VAT by removing features such as the Power Media Dock, the 3G modem and opting for Windows 7 Home Premium instead of Professional. Even so, design issues such as the keyboard, concerns about sturdiness and the heat means it’s still a plaything for status-conscious C-level executives rather than an ultraportable workhorse for wide or even limited deployment. There's nothing quite like it at the moment, but more practical alternatives include the Apple MacBook Air, the Toshiba Portégé R830 or Sony’s own Vaio SB1V9E.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/08/2011
Rating: Total score: 67%
Source: PC Pro
Gram for gram, however, there’s simply nothing that can match the all-round performance of the Sony VAIO Z series. Yes, the ergonomics have suffered a little, and yes it’s brutally expensive, but as a notebook that takes the concept of a full-sized, high-powered ultraportable and pushes to its outer extremities, it’s untouchable; a laptop everyone should aspire to own.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 50% performance: 83% features: 83% ergonomy: 83%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Chip.de - 5/12
Single Review, , Medium, Date: 04/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 77% performance: 84% features: 83% display: 98% mobility: 65% ergonomy: 74%
Source: Chip.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/07/2012
Rating: Total score: 77% price: 45% performance: 84% features: 83% display: 98% mobility: 65% ergonomy: 74%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/23/2011
Rating: performance: 60% features: 50% display: 80% mobility: 70% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 50%
Source: c't - 20/11
light, compact, good performance, expensive
Single Review, , Medium, Date: 10/01/2011
Source: The Hikaku
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/25/2011
Comment
Intel HD Graphics 3000: Integrated graphics card in the Intel Sandy Bridge processors (Core ix-2xxx). The HD 3000 is the faster (internally GT2 called) version with 12 Execution Units (EUs).
Non demanding games should be playable with these graphics cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
2410M:
Dual-core processor based on the Sandy Bridge architecture with an integrated graphics card and dual-channel DDR3 memory controller. The CPU is clocked at 2.3 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.6-2.9 GHz) and the GPU at 650 (1200 MHz Turbo).
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
13.1": 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.
1.5 kg: This sub-notebook weighs less than the average of all notebooks and represents a medium class of weight among the sub-notebooks. 11 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.
77.33%: This rating is not convincing. The laptop is evaluated below average, this is not really a recommendation for purchase.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.
