Sony VAIO PCG-C1VFK review

Verdict:

Review Date: 1 Dec 2001

Price when reviewed: (£1,703)

Reviewed By: Martin Cooper

Our Rating 4 stars out of 5

Performance is certainly quick enough for office applications. It's also happy to manipulate graphics, scoring a passable 681 in 3DMark 2000. This was at a reduced resolution of 648x480, though, as the screen wouldn't run at our usual 1,024x768.

Battery life was the machine's real Achilles' heel. It's helped by the low-power processor, but the cell is simply too small, leading to a test lifetime of 1hr 17mins. This isn't enough for a dedicated commuter to make the most of their train journeys.

The notable absence is any form of CD or DVD drive. Of course, there's no room for one on the machine itself, but pretty much all other slimline notebooks come with an external drive that gives you the option to lug it around with you or leave it at home. With the Sony, you could possibly install software over some kind network connection, but it's more likely you'll have to spend more cash on an external drive.

Which leads us neatly on to our main gripe about this package. Sure, it's a desirable little thing with some excellent innovations, but the price is too high for our palette.

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