SONY Z48 GD

Sony

Z48 GD

The Z48 GD is a cut above. Some of the hardware used here has never been seen in any other laptop until now

    The Sony Z48 GD is a cut above all laptops in most aspects, be it the feature set, style, portability, performance, you name it. Some of the hardware used here has never been seen in any other laptop until now. This laptop primarily targets elite power users with its businesslike looks. Apart from style and power, it scores heavily because of its weight—something that’s crucial as far as ultraportables are concerned. Since it weighs merely 1.39 kg, you won’t even feel it in your bag when you travel. Frequent flyers will rejoice, because this laptop provides the comfort of a standard 13-inch laptop, but weighs only as much as a netbook.

Another striking point of this laptop is its entertainment capabilities. Although the onboard Intel 4500 MHD graphics suffice for mainstream applications, the discrete GeForce 9300 M GS GPU adds significant value and more GPU power. The latter can be activated on-the-fly by simply switching from the Stamina mode to the Speed mode with the physical switch on the unit. While most games are playable at a full 1600 x 900 resolution with medium settings, watching movies is a completely enthralling experience. While watching full-HD video clips, the audio-visual experience was not only stutter-free, but jaw-dropping. This is all due to the good built-in speakers, the crisp 13.1-inch LED backlit display and its native resolution of 1600 x 900—it’s sheer eye candy! Further, there’s an HDMI port for connecting the laptop to an HDTV. You’ll enjoy watching movies on the laptop but you can also power a larger screen if the need arises.

The combination of an Intel Core 2 Duo P9700 processor (which features a hefty 6 MB L2 cache), 6 GB of DDR3 RAM and a 256 GB solid state drive (SSD) spells sheer performance. The Z48 even trounces the MacBook Pro when it comes to performance.

While the graphics are amazing, the processing power of this laptop propels it to a much higher level too. Be it photo editing or even audio and video editing, the Z48 will suffice for pretty much everything. Also, due to the LED backlight and lack of moving parts (except the DVD drive), even the battery runtime is far better than most other laptops. The lack of a Blu-ray drive is surprising, considering Sony's love for the format. With such a beautiful screen, Blu-ray movies would have looked amazing. Also disappointing is the lack of an eSata port for high-speed data transfers. These are becoming popular on laptops now and a premium model without eSata is a let-down.

Considering that this is a high-end laptop, we expected the latest features in it, and unsurprisingly we were impressed. The combination of Wi-Fi N and gigabit Ethernet connectivity ensures maximum bandwidth and broader wireless coverage. Biometric access control via the fingerprint reader adds an effective layer of security. Bluetooth can be used for file transfers in close proximity. The standard ports include 2 USB, Ethernet, RJ11 and FireWire. Other features include a DVD writer, a VGA webcam, memory stick reader, an SD card reader and a dial-up modem which can be used for faxing. The pre-loaded operating system is Windows Vista Business 64-bit. Also, there are some useful preinstalled useful programs for you to get started. Finally, the package includes a laptop bag, user manual, AC power adapter and a couple of accessory cables.

The design is stylish as expected. What got our attention the most was the ultra-slim lid and the overall weight of the unit. The overall delicate build makes the laptop physically vulnerable. But considering the weight and slick design, the fragility factor is justified. The laptop is all-black and has a matte finish all over. The satin chrome plated area that runs across the hinges gives it a sophisticated touch. The chiclet keyboard is comfortable and even the touchpad is quite spacious and the trackpad buttons are comfortable to use.

Overall, this is one of the most powerful and  comfortable laptops we've ever tested. Combined with its killer looks, this is one device that anyone would desire. If money is no constraint, there shouldn't be anything stopping you from picking one up.

Verdict: If you’re willing to shell out a premium amount for a stylish, lightweight laptop which is, buy the Sony Vaio Z48 without looking any further.