Sony VAIO Z13 (SVZ13114GXX)

The Sony VAIO Z13 ( SVZ13114GXX ) are premium ultaportable Sony laptop , bringing all of the thinness and performance you would expect from an ultrabook , but also offer top - of - the- line construction and many extras for a premium price . In direct contrast to $ 600 Ultrabooks , most ultraportables tend to cost a lot more , and the Sony VAIO Z13 is an extreme example of that , that sells for $ 1,949.99 (direct ) . And while it has the slim size of an ultrabook , the Sony VAIO Z13 is a standard - voltage processor - a mild , but important difference . The VAIO Z13 is certain to deliver a premium experience , but some elements fall short of what we expected, given its price .

Design
VAIO Z13 features premium carbon fiber chassis construction for a lightweight yet powerful other . Measuring 0.66 by 13.0 by 27.8 inches ( HWD ) , the ultraportable weighs only 2.58 pounds , closer in design to the slim Acer Aspire S5 - 391-9880 ultrabook than thicker , heavier Toshiba Portege R835 - P88 , our editor's Choice ' with ultraportables . Thinness is not entirely stem from the material , however , as Sony uses a special drop - hinge design that actually puts the rear legs of laptop hinge - the edge of the lid , so the laptop is propped open up slightly . Making for a more comfortable typing experience while also keeping everything very compact when closed system . On the downside , however , it makes for a slightly more comfortable experience when actually using the laptop on your lap - the hinge and feet are not too comfortable with thighs .

VAIO Z13 features a 13.1 - inch backlit panel display with 1,920 -by - 1 , 080 resolution . This resolution is well higher than those in the shows seen on most ultraportables and Ultrabooks , including the 1600- by- 900 display on the Samsung Series 9 15 - inch ( NP900X4C - A02US ) , but it is matched by 1080p shows the view of the editors ' Zenbook Prime ChoiceAsus UX32VD - DB71 and its Zenbook Prime brothers , some sold for under $ 1,000. Pairs of Sony VAIO Z13 display with built - in stereo speakers and Dolby Home Theater V4 software offers clear sound in most volumes . The audio provides sound enough for one or two people to listen to and understand the dialogue in a Netflix or Hulu video , but not enough to share a room with music .

The VAIO Z13 is a full - size chiclet keyboard , and the keys have a slight sheen to them despite their matte appearance . Although the keyboard is not as comfortable to type on as the one on the Lenovo ThinkPad X230 , it was more than passable . The accompanying touchpad is accurate and responsive , but it has a strange glossy , fingerprint - collecting over buttons and a textured snakeskin hexagonal pattern . I was not particularly important either . Between the two mouse buttons is a fingerprint reader for easy secure login .