Advantages: Light, Slim, fun to use, easy to use, great expantion options.
Disadvantages: battery life is low when using DVDs.

...For years I have been using desktops with low power, poor performance & boring layout. My Vaio VGN-FS285e is my first proper laptop. When I've looked at computers in shops and online I have always looked at the brands most famous for computing, such as Apple & Hewlett Packard. I always have recognized Sony as one of the most advanced electronic companies in the World, and always loved the unique design of their computer systems. But have never been able to properly afford them. Most of their systems are over £1000 and, at my age, that is too much to spend. But after deciding I wanted a new computer, I discovered the FS285e. I bought it on Dabs.com as part of a promotion; I'd looked at the exact model in John Lewis in Manchester for £999 pounds a week before I bought it. It was £649. Which I think is incredible value, not only... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Reliable, great functionality and an overall sexy looking laptop
Disadvantages: Battery life could always be improved

...I've been using my Vaio for over a year now and would never be without it as the functionality and reliability are excellent. If you are looking for a multimedia laptop then this must surely be one to consider. With the laptop comes a docking station, external speakers and the much needed remote control! Watching films on the 15.4" TFT active matrix screen gives you a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) allowing great viewing of those wide screen movies. As a multimedia laptop it isn't going to be one of the thinnist but the dimensions of Width 36.4 cm, Depth 26.4 cm, Height 3.6 cm and weighing just 2.9 kg made it a winner for me. It comes with windows XP as standard but due to its Pentium intel 1.73 GHz processor this laptop is quick in operation. The Laptop also comes with 2 hard drives as a standard. The first... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Unbelievably Clear Screen. Stylish Design. Great Keyboard
Disadvantages: No Floppy Drive. Too Little Memory. Expensive

...With the FS-115Z and their range of Vaio computers equipped with the new X-Black display screens, Sony have gone a long way towards dispelling the myth that you can't replace a desktop system with a laptop. The only reasons laptops have failed to completely eliminate desktops has been the woefully poor display technology they have been saddled with and their poor upgrade ability. I've had very many laptops through the years and have always had to resort to using a desktop with a quality monitor attached if I needed to get a lot of work done. Well now there's no real excuse for sticking with that enormous box you have stuffed under your desk, get yourself a Vaio. I did. So what did I get for my money? £1105 inc VAT. Technically most of the hardware is pretty middle-of-the-road fare. CPU This Vaio model is powered... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The Laptop Design
Disadvantages: 1GB RAM limit, and lack of Bluetooth and IrDA

...I have been using the Sony VAIO FS295XP for six months now. In that time, I have used the laptop as a complete replacement for a P4-2.5GHz desktop. The FS295XP is the business version of the popular FS2 series. Since this laptop is aimed at the business market, it comes complete with Windows XP Professional instead of the usual Windows XP Home. Another difference from the usual FS2 series that the FS2 business models (such as the FS295XP) have is the body is a gunmetal/silver colour and the keyboard has black keys. This looks very different to the FS2 series home models, which make use of white and grey colours. Although different, the finish of the FS295XP is nothing short of stylish, professional and thoughtful - after all, white keys on a keyboard will soon discolour with extended use! The FS295XP comes shipped with 512MB... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A reasonably priced mid range laptop with a respectable name
Disadvantages: Hard drive size will not be sufficient for the more demanding user

...you still sometimes do get broken pixels, if its just 1 or 2 you probably wont notice it or worry about it, my laptop doesnt have any broken pixels so maybe paying extra for the Sony brand name irons out these problems. *Networking* The built in wireless network is the most useful feature of this laptop working on 802.11b and g. This has a handly little switch on the front to turn it on or off depending on whether you want it to be able to connect to a wireless network or not saving always going into the windows settings. This Vaio also has an RJ45 connector so you can easily attach it to an existing network hub or router that you may have. *Operating System* This laptop comes with Windows XP preinstalled however if you wish to have a recovery CD you must write it yourself. Sony's factory settings for the laptop allocate enough... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Ultra Silent Fan, Intergrated Wireless, Clear & Bright LCD Display, Sturdy Scratch Resistent Magnesium Case
Disadvantages: Slightly Heavy

...~ Background Info~ I have owned three laptops within the last 5 years. All were purchased with a budget ( £699 or under ) in mind. I have had the misfortune of owning a Toshiba Equium L10 and the fortune of owning the Sony Vaio FS-415e. ~Product Description~ ~Case: The FS-415e features a metallic scratch proof magnesium case that offers as much pleasure as it does confidence through sturdiness. The scratch proof properties of the magnesium mean that the case looks good as new months after the purchase date. ~Screen: The 15.4" LCD displays uses Sonys X-Black technology. This provides an outstanding visual experience. Colour contrast & brightness when watching movies are faultless. ~Keyboard/Touch pad: Response from the touch pad and the "feel" from the keyboard are excellent. The heavy metal touch pad buttons are a welcome... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good looks, good price, nice screen.
Disadvantages: Processing and graphics speed.

...I got my VAIO laptop for around £550. After searching the internet at the time for it I found it was the best laptop I could find for its price. It came pre-installed with XP Home and a neat software bundle including Photoshop Elements and Adobe Premiere, both of which I have found very useful. Looks wise, I think it looks great. Its very thin compared to other laptops especially the screen and therefore it makes itself very easy to transport around. It has a nice contrast of the colours black and grey and overall I think its looks are top notch. Computing wise its power isn't great with an Intel Celeron M processor which aren't renound for their speed and its quite lacking with graphics power. Using on-board graphics mine can play basic games such as Theme Hospital and Age of Empires II but struggles heavily with nearly anything... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Compact and stylish
Disadvantages: Havent found any yet!

...using it, i much prefer using this to a normal mouse.The keypad is also well designed so you dont have to reach to far or give yourself finger strain! It comes complete with CDRW and DVDRW and burning is very fast easy. Most laptops get quite warm if left on for a long time but the Vaio stays cool compared to others I have had the misfortune of having on my lap for a while! I am very pleased with my purchase of this laptop so if you are looking for a laptop I would definitley recommend the Sony Vaio FS195VP, I found it great value for money and you always know you cannot go wrong with Sony, they make great products and provide a great service to the consumer. I hope this helps, Kind regards, Adam... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Slim, sleek, fast and very user friendly.
Disadvantages: Had a loose connection to the power which was easily fixed.

...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Superb display, quiet, runs cool
Disadvantages: Max 1GB ram limit

...I purchased my Vaio FS215Z back in August 2005 so I've been using it over 2 years now, costing about £1250 at the time. It came with a "docking station" and external speakers, but these went straight on ebay so recovering me about £100. It's a standard 1280x800 widescreen resolution, which for a 15.4" monitor gives an ideal 98 pixels per inch, so that text is easy to read, unlike some newer laptops which try to cram in too many pixels! I do quite a lot of photo editing and the colours displayed seem very good and true. It is a very quiet machine and the fan only cuts in occasionally. About a year ago I upgraded the ram from 512MB to 1024MB for about £90. There are 2 ram slots and it was supplied with 2x256MB so the old ram had to be discarded. I could do with 2GB, but 1GB is the max ram this laptop will accept. I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful