Sony VAIO VGN-S3HP

You buy a machine like the Sony VGN S3HP for business, powerful, small, lightweight, well built, hopefully reliable. It seems all that and you also get features like a good keyboard, good signal on the wifi and XP Pro. The spec may seem similar to less costly machines but they will be bigger, heavier, saggy keyboards etc. Definately recommended and great for travelling light. The screen is fantastic, photographs look as good as glossy prints!

Ok, what's wrong with it? Battery life, 2-3 hours but they have to keep battery weight down, lots of bloatware but you can delete most of it, 60Gb but you could do with 160! Two usb's, but do you really need more at one time? Sometimes gets a bit warm but there's a lot going on in that little body.

Want a laptop for what they were really intended? Easily transported and light, work on the move quickly and efficiently without feeling much of a compromise on your desktop machine this is it. And don't forget you get the envious looks when you bring out a classy Vaio!

The Sony VGN S3HP is light and easy to set up.

For £1300 it only has 2 USB's. As I mention under bad points, there is lots of useless space consuming software, but not a single CD or DVD for backup. You have to make your own. For this money Sony should supply them. Microsoft Office Professional would be the suite to have on a business computer. Most of the software I will remove to free up precious hard disc space.

I also bought a Sony Handycam. This really hurts. The camcorder came with this nasty cradle for downloading by i-Link to the Vaio. Only neither came with the cable, so another £20 for that. Click to DVD does not work without the i-Link cable. The computer is small and light, but for all this money it does not come with a custom case. Most laptop cases are for 15 inch screens. The Vaio looks lost in them. Again a fitted case would have emphasised the small size and convenience.

Then there is the software. Click to DVD is the one I am struggling with. It really is a brute. I think the solution is to buy Nero 6 Reloaded. Another £50.

Not a manual in sight. All on the computer. Very difficult to read the help text and do the task. The model I have is the S3VP but very similar. Nice bit of hardware but lousy supporting software and manuals. Much better choice of software would make it appear better value. It just remains to be seen how reliable it is. As I have said, "come on Sony you can do better than this".