Toshiba’s top-of-the-line Qosmio costs $1,899 and weighs a ton, but it’s packed full of impressive processing power and has a 3D display and glasses. Read on for our review.
We see countless laptops come and go through the seasons, but a rare few have built up something of a following. Make no mistake: the Sony VAIO Z, a skinny ultraportable brimming with cutting-edge technology and powerful innards, is that kind of gem. So when it disappeared from Sony’s online store earlier this year, more than a few techies took note. After all, the Z is part of a small fraternity of notebooks that combine an impossibly lightweight design with performance worthy of a larger system. People who missed out on the last-gen Z wondered when they’d next get the chance to buy, while some lucky folks out there with thousands to burn started itching for something thinner, something lighter, something… better.
Well, it’s here. The 2011 VAIO Z is, indeed, thinner, lighter, and more powerful. It also might not be the Z you were expecting. Whereas the last generation combined it all, cramming in an optical drive and switchable graphics, this year’s model leaves much of that at the door — or, at least, in an external dock that ships with the laptop. This time around, the Z has no optical drive, and packs just an integrated Intel graphics card on board. (Don’t worry, it does squeeze in lots of other goodies, including standard-voltage Sandy Bridge processors and expanded solid-state storage.) If you want that Blu-ray burner or the stock AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics card, you’ll have to plug into the Power Media Dock, an external peripheral that uses Intel’s Light Peak technology.
That’s quite the gamble Sony is taking — after all, the company is essentially betting that you won’t need to do anything too intensive while you’re on the go. On the one hand, this inventive design is sure to intrigue the Z’s usual early adopter fanbase. But will it satisfy those who always liked the Z because of its no-compromise design? And then there’s the issue of that $1,969 starting price, a likely stumbling block for people trying to decide between this and an equally thin, less expensive ultraportable. What’s a well-heeled geek to do? Let’s find out.
Gallery: Sony VAIO Z review (2011)
Continue reading Sony VAIO Z review (2011)
Sony VAIO Z review (2011) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The iPad is the most highly recommended tablet by owners, among a group of 11 tablets surveyed, said market researcher IHS iSuppli.
Originally posted at Nanotech – The Circuits Blog
If you’ve still got an unlimited AT&T data plan that you’re holding onto for dear life to stream gigs and gigs of Spotify and Netflix and god knows what else, your life is about to suck a lot more. More »
An update to the Gmail client gives smartphone users additional sync and notification options. For tablets, a revamped Google search experience is on the way.
Originally posted at Android Atlas
At $800, Leica’s D-Lux 5 is one of the company’s more affordable cameras, and it boasts the same trademark, understated style that you’d expect from some of its considerably pricier offerings. Colorware’s new custom D-Lux 5, on the other hand, costs $1,200 (or $400 if you send your own camera in), and it can range from somewhat subtle in appearance to downright garish depending on your color choices. Of course, there is also a happy, stylish medium, but you’ll have to decide for yourself if that’s worth the $400 premium — heck, that’s almost enough to buy a Colorware’d Dyson Air Multiplier.
Leica D-Lux 5 gets the deluxe Colorware treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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I have often said that it is both a gift and a curse that we as tech bloggers live so far out on the bleeding edge of the industry. Especially right now. There are mind-blowingly great phones about to come to market, yet we’re already focused on what is coming next. There’s always something better […]
Last year, on July 29th, we asked you to show a little love to your sysadmin because, without them, our world would probably come to a screeching halt. We suggested a card, or at least a polite nod in the hallway. Instead, you went all out and actually gave them a bit of raise. That doesn’t mean you can let System Administrator Appreciation Day slip by this year without acknowledgment, however. We’re not saying you’ve got to outdo yourselves and get them some sort of super yacht — a simple thanks will do. But, they probably wouldn’t mind a repeat of last year’s gift either.
System Administrator Appreciation Day is here, show them some love (or suffer the consequences) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Yes! Summer! Pool time! Aqua fun! Time to splish and splash! Get yer bathing suit! Round up your pals! Hop in the Banzai Whale Pool with three amigos! Wait, what’s that? It’s tiny and the box is deceptively photoshopped? Oh. More »
Social music services like Rdio and Spotify are a great way to discover new tunes because they pipe what your friends are listening to right to your dashboard. That can be embarrassing sometimes, but it can also be deviously fun. More »
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