We like the Vaio Z11's performance, portability and connectivity, but we were disappointed with the battery life - especially because its dual-GPU set-up is supposed to improve it. If battery life doesn't matter to you, you have deep pockets and you want a full-gamut RGB screen, there's a lot of to appreciate here. But more mainstream users can find better value machines out there.

70%, Leistung gut, Mobilität mäßig, Preis mangelhaft
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/28/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 50% performance: 80% mobility: 60%

Foreign Reviews

Tuschkästen
Source: c't - 23/09 German

Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 11/01/2009
Rating: performance: 60% features: 40% display: 80% ergonomy: 70% emissions: 70%

90% Scharf, schnell, schick und sicher
Source: PC Professionell German

DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% performance: 90% features: 90% mobility: 90% ergonomy: 80%

Rauschender Alleskönner
Source: c't - 20/08 German

Single Review, , Long, Date: 10/01/2008
Rating: performance: 60% features: 80% display: 90% mobility: 90% ergonomy: 80% emissions: 40%

90% Sony VAIO VGN-Z11VN
Source: Notebookjournal German

DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/25/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 70% performance: 90% features: 50% display: 70% mobility: 70% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 70% emissions: 40%

95% Sony Vaio VGN-Z11VN
Source: PC World Italia Italian

IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 08/22/2008
Rating: Total score: 95%

Comment

NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS: Compared to the 9300M G, the GS has only 8 unified shaders but a higher clock rate. Therefore, the performance should be similar according to Nvidia. Supports
Hybrid-SLI (GeForceBoost and HybridPower) with Nvidia 9100M G and PureVideo HD (VP3).

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

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

Intel Core 2 Duo: This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more power consumption. As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU).

The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Core 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower voltages (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). The performance of equally clocked notebooks is 20-25% lower than Desktop PCs because of the lower Frontside bus clock and the slower hard disks.

P9500:

The P9500 is a fast middle class dual core CPU for laptops and basically a Core 2 Duo T9400 with only 25 Watt TDP.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

13.30":

There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format.

The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops.

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

Sony: Sony Corporation is one of the largest Japanese electronics companies. The company was founded in 1946 under a different name and initially produced rice stoves. The company launched the first transistor radio. In 1958, the company was renamed Sony. Sony is a combination of the Latin word sonus (sound) and the English word sonny (little boy). Today, its core business is consumer electronics. The company is engaged in the development, design, manufacture and sale of electronic equipment, instruments, devices, game consoles and software. Sony operates in the following segments: Gaming and Network Services, Music, Images, Home Entertainment and Sound, Imaging Products and Solutions, Mobile Communications, Semiconductors, Financial Services and Others.

86.25%: This is an above-average rating. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that about one fifth of all tested models receive a better rating.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

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