SonyVaio E-Series VPC-EH1J1E review

Its 1,366×768 resolution is the norm for 15.6in screens. It can display all the detail in 720p HD content, but 1080p content will be downscaled unless you connect a suitable external screen. You have a choice of VGA or HDMI outputs for video; the latter can also output audio to AV amplifier. You’ll almost certainly want to avoid using the EH1’s built-in speakers which sound tinny and brash.

The EH1’s keyboard has Sony’s usual Chiclet-style keys, which look smart and have a light action with plenty of feedback for touch-typists. The layout is fairly standard, with a large Enter key, but the left Shift key isn’t wide enough for our liking. Sony has even shoehorned in a four-column numberpad. The touchpad has a rough surface but is responsive, and its two large buttons have a comfortably light action.

The battery lasted almost five hours in our light-use test but, in any case, the EH1 weighs 2.7kg so it’s not particularly suited to a life on the road. It’s not powerful enough to serve as a desktop replacement either, and you can buy the more powerful Packard Bell EasyNote TS11-HR-040UK for the same money without losing out in other departments. In fact, the TS11 also includes a USB3 port which the EH1 lacks, so is a wiser investment.