For those of you who feel having a notebook with a beautiful design is just as or more important than its performance, this is the notebook for you.
The Vaio forgoes the usual matte screen for high gloss, and the end result is gorgeous. With its resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels, the screen delivers images that are sharp and clear -- even on a 10.6-in. screen. The slight glare is the only downside; however, it is not bad enough to keep you away.
The keyboard is pretty easy to become accustomed to after the first couple of uses and the design is straightforward and clean. The system is made of light-colored plastic and magnesium alloy.
So now that you know what it looks like, you must be wondering what's on the inside.
Weighing in at only 3.1 pounds, this notebook is ultra compact and ideal for the traveling worker. In addition, the TR1 comes with Wi-Fi built in and the promise of up to seven hours of battery life. (I made it to five hours without any programs running.) The computer runs the Intel Pentium M 900 MHz CPU.
Other features include 1 GB of memory, 64 MB of video RAM, a 30 GB hard disk, an integrated camera with 370,000 pixels that also works as a Webcam, and a slot for a memory stick.
In addition to the slight glare on the screen, the other downsides are the integrated media bay (which is more a matter of personal opinion, as I prefer to be able to change the bays as needed), the high price and the lack of any other word processing software than the basics. For students and writers, you might want to consider upgrading this.
All in all, the first word that comes to mind when using the TR1 is "fun." It's quick, easy to maneuver and has enough gadgets to keep everyone from a novice to a toy expert entertained. Although I would never consider this as a desktop replacement, I'd definitely consider keeping it on the side.
Editor's note: By the time this review comes out, Sony will have released the TR2. Basically it's the same computer, except it has an extra 10 GB on the hard disk, it is 100 MHz faster, and it costs slightly more.
