Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program When opening up this striking new 14" Vaio T Series Touchscreen Ultrabook from Sony, before you even power it up you're greeted with a minimalistic, industrial design and handsome glass edge-to-edge LCD. It also feels extremely solid, with no flex to the system when picked up on any corners.
In the box: Sony Vaio, power cord, a few pieces of instructional paper (yep that's it)
Before You Even Turn it On:
With the system in front of you, you can tell that this is not going to be an Ultrabook you'll want to use near any light source, windows, or outside. The glare is shocking. Why? Because this has a glass touchscreen over the LCD. And unfortunately, the actual LCD screen is set extremely far back behind the touchscreen glass. You can easily see this gap by looking at an angle toward any of the four corners of the screen when it's on.. It cannot be understated that this is some severe glare, so buyer beware (hey, that rhymes!).
Second, the keyboard keys are quite shallow. This was somewhat forgivable on Sony's super-thin and light Vaio Z2 series of laptops, but on this noticeably thicker laptop, I do wish we'd seen a little more tactility in the key presses.
The touchpad is reasonable to use, though not as sensitive and smooth as, say, on a MacBook Air/Pro, and feels a little plastic-y. It's also not particularly smooth when two-finger scrolling. This is easy to notice when the touch screen is such a joy to scroll up and down web pages with, so going back to the touchpad just isn't much fun for scrolling. For general touchpad-ing, though, it works well enough.
Power-wise, this system does just fine. It's not a powerhouse with only a Core i3 low-voltage processor, 4GB RAM and the standard integrated Intel HD4000 graphics card, but it never really seems to struggle doing everyday things like surfing, word processing, watching HD videos etc.
Physically, this system is not exactly svelte. At 4.63lbs, it's no lightweight. It's also... not exactly thin either. Intel, who "invented" the Ultrabook standard stated that, among other things, a 14" or larger computer cannot exceed 0.82" in thickness to be considered an Ultrabook. Well, Sony's 14" T series Ultrabook comes in at.... 0.82 inches. Whew. And if you're looking at the 15" T Series Touchscreen Ultrabook, that comes in at 0.9" thick, so according to Intel, it's not even an Ultrabook at all!
Of course, for this 14-inch Ultrabook's size and weight you are getting a glass touchscreen and an optical drive. However, I question how useful an integrated optical drive is in 2013. I can't see myself ever using it, but your usage patterns will vary.
Moving back to the screen: Coupled with the significant glare issue, the resolution is also poor: At 1366x768 on a bottom-of-the-barrel TN panel, this is not a great screen by any means. Individual pixels are easily viewable, colors are faded, washed out, and viewing angles don't fare any better. My unit tends to completely wash out yellows, and there's a lot of "blue" in everything onscreen. Be sure to be sitting directly in front of the screen with the angle "just right" to get a usable picture. In my testing, to get the best contrast involves tilting the screen all the way back. Unfortunately, the panel's poor viewing angles come into play here and things turn "dark" at the top of the screen. You can't win... Just try and find that happy medium.
Noise levels are not great. Bizarrely, my unit here exhibited some very annoying fan noise for the first few hours of usage despite no hard disk or CPU usage going on just sitting there on the desktop doing nothing. Then, for no reason I can come up with, the fan spun down and is now just mildly annoying versus extremely irritating out of the box. Don't be fooled, though even doing HD-video watching on YouTube will send that fan RPM back up. In addition, any Windows-y things that take place in the background can send that fan RPM up even when you're not touching anything. My unit has been exhibiting this behavior all day. I don't doubt some of the blame lies in the fairly significant amount of bloatware this Ultrabook ships with, but it's something to bear in mind.
On the plus side, the system never got more than lukewarm in my lap, which pleased my more tender regions greatly.
Boot-up times are very respectable with the Hitachi (in my unit) 500GB 5400rpm drive coupled with the 24GB SSD Sony outfits this laptop with. A full boot (measured from the instance I pushed the power button) only 14.6 seconds. Excellent stuff. I was quite surprised by this. After putting the system to sleep, wake times are also excellent, taking just under 3 seconds.
The sound from this Ultrabook, too, is quite commendable. Clear, loud, and without any distortion. There's even a hint of bass, there! I freely admit to watching the Gangnam Style music video on YouTube with the volume cranked to 100 as part of my testing, and this system handled it perfectly with absolutely zero distortion. Nice!
Sony touts this system as coming with something called "Rapid Wake," which is designed to save your data and put the system into some special form of sleep mode that uses little battery but resumes quickly from its nap-time. This probably explains the curious behavior when putting the system to sleep: When closing the lid, the system appears to go to sleep, the fan shuts off and the hard drive spins down. A moment later the fan comes back on and the hard drive spins up. Then, the hard drive light flickers for a few seconds, and then everything goes back to sleep. This "Rapid Wake" sounds like some sort of mini-hibernation for the computer. I'm not sure why it needs to go to sleep, wake up, and then go to sleep again on its own, but it's what it does. If you shut the Rapid Wake feature off, this peculiarity doesn't take place.
The touch-screen, for all its glare and lack of color/contrast, is very slick to use. Supporting 10 fingers, you can swipe and tap to your heart's content. It's very much like a tablet's touch-screen. Very responsive, and with very little glass flex. However, when pressing the screen, the whole screen tends to move a little, but this is a limitation of just the laptop design trying to serve a touch-screen purpose. Also unfortunately, like with any touch-screen, the more you touch it, the more you smudge it. So be aware your screen is going to look pretty gross in short order! For those wondering, playing Civilization V using its built-in touch interface is actually a pretty reasonable proposition, but given that this is a laptop (and not a tablet!) your arms will grow tired long before you've conquered the enemy nations. Stick to a mouse and keyboard.
One feature I really like is the sleep/charge port built into the USB 3.0 port on the left side . You can shut the Sony T all the way off (not just in sleep mode), and then plug in any USB device to charge. This is a welcome addition I'd like to see on all laptops/ultrabooks. Just make sure to turn this option on in the Vaio Control Center, since it's not on by default. I measured the amount of power draw of the Vaio completely shut off with this option on and off, and could not see any tangible difference in watts used (both times I got readings of 0.0 watts with very, very occasional spikes to 0.3-0.6 watts).
Overall, it's hard to be too much in love with this system, though. Touch just doesn't feel natural enough with this sort of traditional-laptop design. It feels like a very, very entry level laptop with a few really nice features thrown in there. Is that going to be enough for you? It might be, but some general usage issues really limit this Ultrabook's uses, for me at least. It's hard to argue with that price, though...
3.5 stars out of 5.
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program When I first received this laptop, I had mixed feelings it looks beautiful, but it seemed slower than it should have been given the hardware specs and the hybrid drive. After a week of using it, I can say now that absolutely love it it is quiet, runs smooth and cool and feels very zippy. I don't love windows 8 but the laptop itself is dead quiet and stays nice and cool and very responsive. It wakes up from sleep almost instantly (I don't ever shut it down unless I have to, mostly I just let it go to sleep the power LED will flash when it needs to be plugged in, another nice touch) and it has a long enough battery life so that I don't have to keep it plugged in all the time.
The brushed aluminum finish on the cover is absolutely gorgeous it looks and feels like a high quality laptop, exactly what you would expect with the Ultrabook designation. However, I'm not sure about the ultrabook qualifications I read that the minimum specs for that designation was a 5 hr battery life and this one falls a little short of that (that's why I dinged it a half a star). It's also a little bit thicker and heavier than what I would have expected from an Ultrabook. However, if it were too much lighter I think it might feel kinda cheap and flimsy, so the weight is good for me.
I think the initial feeling that it's performance was not up to par for the hybrid dive was because it takes a little time to build up the cache on the ssd portion of the drive which means that it gets faster as you use it longer. After a week of use, you can really tell the difference that the hybrid drive makes in speed almost as good as having a pure SSD drive, but you get much more space.
This screen on this bright and crisp videos and pictures look fantastic, as do web pages. And I really don't notice much difference between the 14inch screen and the 15inch screen I had before, but overall, the 14 inch actually seems like a much better size for portability. The touchscreen is nice and responsive, but unfortunately when you look at it with the screen off, you can see where your fingers have been all over the screen. not sure much can be done about that.
I will say this DON"T EVER BUY A WINDOWS 8 COMPUTER WITHOUT A TOUCHSCREEN! It is just too hard to get around and to get the charms bar to pop up without a touchscreen I've tried setting up other peoples laptops running windows 8 without a touchscreen and it was a complete exercise in frustration. This one is much easier to navigate around because of the touchscreen.
Apps in the windows 8 store are pitiful tho, very few official apps (google, facebook, pinterest, etc) and the ones they offer instead are cheap cheesy homebrew versions. The kindle app also appears to be broken in the latest release says it encountered an error trying to register. The lack of quality apps is really disappointing, as is the fact that you can no longer sync google contacts and calendars with the windows apps. As is Microsoft's decision to make you toggle between the touch interface and the desktop very kludgy sometimes I will download and run something from the browser and think it is not responding only to toggle back to the desktop and see that it is running there novice users will have a hard time with this I'm sure. I am hoping they will release a windows 9 soon that fixes all the horrible awkwardness of windows 8, or that Google will release a stand-alone Chrome/Android install for PC's (and I have read that Windows 8.1 is inn beta and hopefully that will fix some of the shortcomings). I have a feeling that this laptop would absolutely fly if it were running Chrome.
My only complaint, and it's a minor quibble, is the corners are kinda sharp and not rounded, so sometimes I stab my wrist on the front corners.
This laptop is also cooler and quieter than any laptop I've ever used. Even under heavy processor load, the bottom doesn't get very warm at all, and the fans run very quietly even when kicked up to high.
Overall, I give this laptop a 4.5 out of 5 stars, particularly at this price point, with the only deduction in half a star being for the slightly shorter battery life than you would expect from an Ultrabook. This is probably one of the nicest ultrabooks you can get for this price.
*** Update just for fun I ordered the Corsair Vengeance 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory for sale here on Amazon for $35 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006EWUP4Y/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to up the total RAM on this to 8gb and it is noticeably faster now. Install of the memory couldn't have been easier, Sony was kind enough to leave the top RAM slot open, so I just unscrewed the small square on the bottom (middle towards the top near the screen) and slid the memory right in (memory slides in at a slight angle then you snap it down into place). Took a whole 30secs. I mainly did it just to see if it was worth it, since memory is so cheap, and I would have to say yes it is definitely worth it, as the laptop practically flies along now, and for $35 bucks it's hard to argue with an extra 4gb of memory and a boost in speed.
Buy Sony VAIO T Series SVT14124CXS 14-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Silver) Now
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program If you're looking for the best technology this is it. For starters its got great looksright away I was impressed by the outside. It's a high polished silver/aluminum color with a 14 inch touchscreen. Never owned a Sony before so this was a first and I have to say I am quite impressed. For one it's a beautiful machine, also on the thin side, pretty light weight and easy to handle and carry. Which is a plus with computers/laptops.
Set up was incredibly simple. All you had to do was plug it in, rest is up to youSince it has all the latest technology. It does have Windows 8which may take some getting used to, you can learn more in 'Help and Support' if you're concerned about that. Has charms, a touchscreen which was different, but I got the hang of it pretty quick, also has your Anti-Virus installed in it, all you have to do is connect to the net and you're good to go.
Some of the other features it has is an HD Hybrid hard-drive, Rapid Wake, USB Charger, Multi gesture Track Pad and VAIO's gesture controls which enable users to make hand gestures in front of the web camera to skip songs, turn pages or control the volume. Has VAIO Supporta tool that tunes up, updates and troubleshoots PC issues and a Sony Entertainment Pack with free music, movies and TV shows, Total over 65 dollars, you get 2 months of Hulu Plus free, 2 months of Slacker Plus and Unlimited free Crackle plus those 3 free movies with it. You can also play back HD content with your camcorder on your compatible big screen HDTV. Also a 'PlayMemories' feature which allows you to make movies complete with transitions and soundtracks in 3 easy steps.
There's so many different things in this computer you just have to check it out for yourself. When I buy laptops it's usually another brand, but I was pleasantly surprised by this VAIO, sure it's 'different' but it's a great machine. If you've never owned a Sony I'd recommend it. For those who demand the highest levels of design and performance, i'd recommend it. Overall, i'd say it's a great computer.
System Specifications-
14 inch backlit LCD Display
Touchscreen
Processors Ci3/3227U, Ci5/3337U, Ci7/3537U
Operating SystemGenuine Windows 8 or Windows 8 Professional
Graphics Intel HD 4000
Hard Drive StorageUp to 11b+24 GB MLC Hybrid Up to 512 GB SSD
Memory4GB,6GB, 8GB
Web cam with built-in microphone, 2 USB ports.
Read Best Reviews of Sony VAIO T Series SVT14124CXS 14-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Silver) Here
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I guess you could consider our home to be 'highly connected'. We have 2 PC's, a laptop (for work), 3 chromebooks, 4 kindles, 4 iOS devices, and several Internet-connected A/V components. But yet, with all that, we still had a use for a notebook-type device that married the convenience of the Chromebook with some of the more powerful functionalities of a laptop.
That is where the 'Ultrabook' came in. This is not a device for gaming or serious business use, but one we can keep handy for looking things up quickly, communicating with friends and family, and handling some important documents. Certainly a tablet device would have been worth consideration, but we need to update a lot of documents frequently, which presented a bit of a roadblock. For all of the details on Ultrabooks vs. Laptops, I highly recommend you read this Amazon Guide: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000989991
So how does the Sony VAIO T Series SVT14124CXS 14-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Silver) stack up? Overall, we have really enjoyed it thus far. I can attest from a usability perspective that the Ultrabook is everything we needed, and then some. Most of our frustrations have been with the quirks of Windows 8 and growing accustomed to the touch interface combined with some of the shortcomings of the Metro apps. Hopefully the forthcoming "Windows 8.1" (aka Blue) release will address some of those. The SVT14124CXS does come with included software. Some we may use, some we likely will not. The Microsoft Office trial is for Office 365, which is Microsoft's new subscription plan. Long term, that will cost you. Fortunately I had a 2-PC copy of Office 2013, which installed without issue. The included Kaspersky Internet Security is, as noted, a 30-day trial. To me that is fairly worthless, as Windows ships with Windows Defender built in. As such, I removed it since I have no intention to pay for it later. The VAIO care and other Sony "helper" applications seem to function well, although there were MANY updates I had to apply to get it up-to-date. The biggest frustration with that process is that EVERY time I update the Sony applications, I have to tell it that I'm in the United States. Why it can't detect that from previous installations, I don't know, but it's an annoyance that could easily be addressed. Applying all of the Windows updates also took a lot of time, but that is not Sony's fault and does not detract from this review.
On the outside, the 14-inch capacitive touch backlit LED display is attactive (although not 1080p). However, it attracts fingerprints and other 'static' things (like hair!) like mad, and requires frequent cleaning. Since the screen is glass, it can also be a bit glary at times, too. I did like the "piano hinged" screen, though, and the touch functionality has largely worked well. In fact, I can't imagine using Windows 8 without it. The included power supply is small, but is also perhaps a bit short. If you need to use it while "plugged in", you have to sit pretty close to the plug. The casing is attractive, but I honestly do not care much for the "chrome/brushed-chrome" look. I prefer more of a brushed metal look that does not attract fingerprints. As such, the chrome-metal look can have kind of a plastic-like appearance and has to be wiped off a lot. The SVT14124CXS has sufficient auxilliary ports, with one USB 3.0 port and one 2.0 port. Since USB 3.0 is backwards compatible, I really do not understand the USB 2.0 port inclusion. It has an HDMI port for connecting to a TV or external monitor, but the VGA port also seems like a dinosaur. If someone has a VGA monitor, they should either upgrade or buy an adapter! I would have much preferred a DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, or even an additional USB 3.0 port. The "Memory Stick Duo" and "Secure Digital" memory card slots may be helpful for some, but also seem a bit antiquated. Does anyone actually remove their cards from their devices and plug them into their systems? And if so, can't they use a USB adapter? Finally, the keyboard is almost "chicklet" style, meaning it's very shallow. Some may not like this, but I've had no issues with it. I DO wish the keys were backlit, though, as that would help a lot in low-light conditions like the bedroom or TV room.
Internally, the 1.9 GHz Intel Core i3 dual-core processor is probably the biggest letdown. In looking at other Ultrabooks in at a similar pricepoint, most have i5 or i7 processors. To understand this, just know that i7 is better than i5, which is better than i3. Ironically, the numbers are not indicative of how many cores they have, but their relative processing powers. Think of them as star ratings. That said, the i3's are capable of hyperthreading (i5's are not), so they are probably sufficient for an Ultrabook. The HHD 500GB (5400 RPM) hard drive is OK, size-wise, but I don't understand why 7200RPM (or all SSD) is not the standard by now. But the addition of the 24GB SSD drive makes boot and wake-from-sleep times very snappy. The 4GB of installed DDR3 RAM (memory) is also sufficient, at best. At this price and with a capability of supporting up to 8Gb, I'd like to see at least 6Gb installed by default. The integrated Intel graphics have been capable of handling everything we've thrown at it, and it processes and plays audio and video without issue. The CD/DVD drive is also just 'okay', but why not Blu-ray when Sony was a major driver of that technology? I found the 1.3-mp webcam to be only serviceable. Honestly, my $250 Chromebook has better camera quality, and 1.3mp is just old tech at this point.
Thus far, the battery has help up as promised, and the weight and size have been easy to handle though at 4.6lbs perhaps a big weighty for an 'Ultrabook'. The integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) was easy to connect to our home wireless and has been fairly speedy. The Sony also has Bluetooth 4.0 and Gigabit Ethernet, but I have not had the occasion to use either of those functions yet.
One thing that Sony is known for is their warranty and service. The 1-year hardware and 1-year of free (telephone) technical assistance is a nice value add.
Overall, this is a nicely competitive Ultrabook at the current price-point (note: I compared features to the Dell Inspiron 15z Ultrabook for this review). I am knocking one star from my rating for the combination of the "little things" that could have improved this a lot, such as the webcam quality, USB ports, inclusion of VGA over more modern options, low-end processor, 'skimpy' memory, and DVD over Blu-ray. I give it a rating of 3.5-4 stars out of 5 and my recommendation, with the caveat that buyers should always do their homework and compare brands and models before making a purchase.
Want Sony VAIO T Series SVT14124CXS 14-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Silver) Discount?
Great Laptop... it's so beautiful... I will recommend to other people... little miss understanding how the web camera working, great
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I'm a techie, sure. But I also know that if you're patient, -you can get exceptional technology at a stunning price. You MUST be patient. This HP computer is absolutely stunning when you factor the price in (I paid $359). It's considered a "middle of the road" unit. It replaced a top-of-the-line HP DV-8000 that was beginning to show it's age. Considering the DV-8000 cost many times the price, --Let me tell you that waiting is the best policy as opposed to "buying today's best". I'm writing this review on it.
