A look at the 11.6-inch Sony Vaio VPCYA15FG

I have been interested in the 11.6-inch Sony Vaio Y since I heard that an 11.6-inch model had been released in Japan. The Y series is Sony's lower end business laptop. The 11.6-inch Vaio Y finally arrived on Philippine shores. The model being offered is powered by an Intel Core i3-380UM processor and is priced at Php47,900.  As expected, it is priced a fair premium over its competitors. 

Here are the quick specifications:  

• Screen: 11.6" HD 1366 x 768 (WXGA) LED-backlit TFT LCD screen
• O.S.: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Core i3-380M (1.33GHz, 3MB cache)
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
• Memory: 2GB DDR3 Memory
• Storage: 320GB SATA Hard Drive with SD Card and Memory Stick readers
• Optical drive: None
• Connectivity: WiFi, LAN and Bluetooth
• Ports: HDMI, Analogue RGB, Mini D-Sub 15 pin ans USB (x3) 
• Dimensions: 11.4 x 8 x 1.0-1.3 inches
• Battery: 4-cell (4 hours)
• Weight: 3.2 lbs.

Except for the larger hard drive, the hardware specifications are similar to the Acer Aspire TimelineX 1830T. Surprisingly enough, the Acer actually seems to have the better design. The Acer weighs in at 3 pounds with a 6-cell battery. The Sony weighs in at 3.2 pounds despite coming with a smaller 4-cell battery. The end result is that the Acer is lighter and has 2 hours more battery life. The Sony is built better, but I am not sure if that is enough to justify the 50% higher price.

At Php47,900, the price is also getting pretty close to the 11.6" MacBook Air at Php51,990. As compared to the MacBook Air, the Sony has more power and more storage. Still, at this price point, I suspect most would choose the Air. The 11.6-inch market is not all that crowded right now, but the 11.6-inch Vaio Y looks like it is going to have a hard time finding breathing room.

Related Article: Battle at 11.6": Apple MacBook Air versus Acer Aspire TimelineX 1830T