In this year’s IFA, Sony announced a number of new VAIO hybrid PCs which immediately caught people’s attention. With a screen which can flexibly flip between tablet and laptop, a new kickstand and a series of other features, the new VAIO is seriously sexy. But which one is worth your investment?
Before you splash out on a new VAIO, here is some information on each model – so you can make an informed decision!
VAIO Fit Multi-flip PC
The VAIO Fit Multi-flip PC is a laptop-tablet hybrid which comes in a 15-inch model and a smaller 13-inch one. The aluminium shell gives the device a sleek and sharp look, but its main feature is the multi-flip element. The screen sits in a normal laptop position, but once unlocked, it can flip almost 180 degrees.
The VAIO Fit Multi-flip PC immediately became a rival to Samsung’s Ativ Q, which allows the screen to face almost any direction. By contrast, the Fit Multi-flip is loose and only stays still when locked by magnets. Sony also provides a proper keyboard and touchpad which you cannot find on the Ativ Q.
The VAIO Fit Multi-flip runs on regular Windows 8 or the Pro version on up to a Intel Haswell Core i7-4500U processor. The device comes with up to 16 GB of DDR3 RAM, and you can get hard drive combinations which go up to 1TB in a hybrid or up to 512 GB in an SSD.
The 15-inch Multi-flip has a 2880×1620 Triluminos display, driven by integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 or an Nvidia GeForce GT 735M. There’s Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB 3.0, Wi-Fi, HDMI and a front HD webcam. What else could you want?!
Tap 11
Claimed to be “the world’s thinnest Windows 8 tablet”, the VAIO Tap 11 is only 9.9mm thick. As the name suggests, it sports an 11-inch screen. Thanks to Sony’s Tiluminos technology, Tap 11’s full HD 1920×1080 resolution is capable to deliver snapshots and films with well-balanced colors and high clarity. Sony also enhances the battery for audio in Tap 11 with two speakers for stereo sound, which includes xLoud and a 3D front surround.
The VAIO Tap 11 comes either with an Intel Core i7-4610Y processor clocked at 1.7GHz or a Core i5-4210Y clocked at 1.5GHz. Both have a 128GB solid state drive and 4GB of DDR3 memory. One of its key features is the magnetic keyboard, which creates a one-to-one connection between the device and accessory using radio frequency instead of Bluetooth. The keyboard can be separated from the tablet easily – as a result, it might slip from the body easily.
Tap 21
Weighing 8 pounds, the Sony VAIO Tap 21 is about 30 percent lighter than its predecessor, the Tap 20. The 1920×1080 resolution makes it an ideal device to watch movies on. Moreover, software like Movie Studio Platinum, Acid Music Studio and Sound Forge Audio Studio pre-installed in Tap 21 makes editing video and audio more enjoyable.
The stand on the back allows the device to transform easily between a traditional all-in-one PC screen and a flat tablet. Like most touch PCs, there is a Bluetooth keyboard attached to the device.
Yuan LiuAbout the Author:
Yuan Liu is a technophile. Thanks to the rental services of Flexirent, she doesn’t have to spend too much on tech products.