Vaio F15 (SV F15212SN B)Price: Rs 34,990
Specs: Windows 8, 15.5-inch LED , Intel(registered) Core i3-3227U (1.90 GHz), 2GB RAM , 500GB SATA , Intel HD Graphics 4000, sub-woofer
One look at the Vaio F15 and we knew this is a design that
would work in a country like India . The unit we had came with a black matte finish body, which we think is ideal for our conditions. Plus, this is a full 15-inch laptop and not an ultrabook, so the price would definitely make it India-friendly.
Despite being a full-size laptop, the F15 is not that heavy at 2.5kg. There is a steely
Vaio branding on the front that adds to the style quotient. The keyboard is well laid out and very responsive. But we wouldn't say the same about the keypad, which seems a bit stubborn at times.
The F15 has a 15.5-inch 1366x768p LED screen which is quite good. The viewing angles are good, though the glossy screen tends to reflect at lot. One of the best things about this device is its sound. Sony has added some extra boost just for India. The audio settings comes with a Bollywood setting too, which is a more fullish, bass-heavy audio.
Plus, you have free access to Sony's new Jive HD music streaming service. It was almost instantaneous without a hint of buffering over Wi-Fi. The audio quality is really good and on a laptop as loud as this one that calls for a party with friends. The F15 is powered by an Intel Core i3-3227U processor (1.90 GHz) and is quite sprightly. It came through our regular tests quite well. In fact, we were really impressed at certain points as it did not lag even where mid-level notebook stutter often. The other good thing is the battery life, which can be stretched up to six hours with judicious use. Plus, this one comes with a DVD drive, RJ-45 and HDMI ports.
Bag it or junk it: A good budget option for students and entry-level executives.
