Sony VGN-SR19VN

The basics

The Sony VGN-SR19VN is a VIAO laptop form Sony that has a reputation of being ultraportable. It is equipped with an Intel 2 DUO core processor and a 4GB RAM. The Hard Drive is 200GB and it has a DVD Burner double layer optical drive. The VGN-SR19VN sports a 34 cm wide display. It is also equipped with a 1.3 MP built in webcam.

The good

Tipping the scales at just 1.9kg, Sony's slender VAIO laptop is light enough to lug with you wherever you need to be. The battery life cruises well over four hours, meaning you don’t need to worry about it flaking out on you. Featherweight it may be, yet it remains heavy on the features front. The 13.3-inch screen uses the latest LED technology, so images look brighter and samurai sharp, plus there's a decent graphics card for playing games or editing photos.

The bad

Sony has made an odd design choice here, as you’ll find magnesium-alloy on the lid and base, while the inside is plastic, so the build seems odd to the touch. To keep the size down you won’t find as many ports as on other Sony laptops. What’s worse, there are only two USB ports, which can make adding peripherals tricky. However, the biggest problem is the lack of processing grunt, as it’s slow to boot and a sluggish performer.

The bottom line

The screen, keyboard and battery life make this a great, lightweight, machine for working on the move. However, it lacks the overall processing power to be your sole PC, which is frustrating, as it’s a really smart little laptop.