Red + Blu = Gold
A few weeks ago, my IBM laptop got sick. What started out as a reddish tinge around the display's perimeter devolved into spontaneous video cut-outs and frequent uses of profanity on my part. Since I'd been thinking about it for a while already, it appeared as though the decision was finally made for me. It was time for a new laptop.
If this had happened a year or two ago, the choice of what to buy would have been a lot simpler; I really want an Apple MacBook. Like many shoppers these days, I consider form to be just as important as function. And if Apple hardware has taught me anything, it's that there's no substitute for an innovative design mated with sterling build quality. However, the observant among you will notice that this is not a MacBook review. This is a review of Sony's new VAIO CW Series, the machine I ultimately went with.
Apple's decision not to offer a Blu-ray drive on this year's crop of MacBook laptops was a major gaffe and it's one I don't suspect they'll be repeating next year. Like an ever-increasing number of computer shoppers, I want to use my notebook computer to obtain, view and share all manner of media - and that includes movies and television content on Blu-ray Disc.
I want to take my laptop on the plane and watch a few discs I brought from home. I'm not buying DVDs anymore; Blu-ray Disc, my heart belongs to thee. I want to bring my laptop into my hotel room, or my vacation rental or my parents' house. If there's no Blu-ray player there, I want to hook up my laptop via HDMI and play my Blu-ray movies on whatever TV I find there. Granted, the likelihood of that TV having an HDMI input is hardly a given, but the odds are improving every day. Bottom line: if I'm shopping for a laptop today, no Blu-ray means no sale. Sorry, Apple. Hello, Sony.
WinDVD BD for VAIO
For Blu-ray Disc playback, Sony has pre-loaded the CW with Intervideo's WinDVD BD for VAIO software. (Doesn't that just roll off the tongue? It makes me want to fire up a Toshiba "Regza.") Popping in a disc will launch the software automatically, though DVDs give you the option of using Windows Media Player or WinDVD. Windows Media Player will not play Blu-ray Discs, so you must either use WinDVD for those or purchase a different third party program.
Like most movie playback software, WinDVD has a standard toolbar of buttons standing in for your typical DVD player's remote control. You'll find an eject button on the toolbar, but it can only be used to open the optical drive tray. Like most laptops, the disc tray must be closed manually for disc playback to begin.
Before settling in for a Blu-ray movie, I first got out my trusty stopwatch and conducted our three load time speed tests. The test subjects included: a standard DVD (Gladiator), an early non-Java Blu-ray Disc (Sony's Underworld: Evolution - released on the same day as Sony's Hitch, our usual candidate) and finally a more recent, Java-enhanced Blu-ray Disc (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl). For each disc, I launched the playback software and then started the timer the moment the disc tray slammed home, stopping it when disc-specific content (usually a studio logo) appeared.
Whether you're watching Blu-ray movies or listening to music on the CW, you're definitely going to want to invest in a good pair of headphones. That's because the Sony's integrated stereo speakers are quite anemic, providing only passable audio and even that is being generous. Luckily, there is a headphone jack and things greatly improved when I plugged in my Monster Turbines.
With its relatively small screen size and integrated Blu-ray drive, the CW is ideal for use on an airplane tray table. Consequently, it would have been nice to get two headphone jacks to make movie sharing easier, but such an omission is hardly a deal breaker. Now, about that screen... wow.
The CW Series features a 14-inch widescreen, LED-backlit display. Of all the laptops I've owned, used and evaluated, I've never seen punchier colors or a greater capacity for overall brightness. The LED backlighting really does make a difference and I had to tone it down most of the time lest I sear my eyeballs. Trust me when I tell you that Blu-ray video looks utterly fantastic on this laptop.
As we must always take the good with the bad, the CW's display, though brilliant, is also extremely reflective. Too reflective. Although its high brightness combats sunlight quite well, table lamps and ambient light can be quite distracting when working indoors. Another negative, if you can call it that, is its minuscule screen height. My wife frequently grumbled about how short the display was and the constant need for vertical scrolling. However, these are the trade-offs when you want a compact laptop that can fully open up on airplane tray table. She didn't want to hear about that though; she just wanted to see more Facebook posts per page.
The Keyboard is Key
You may have noticed the abundance of Apple references in my review thus far. In part, that's because my initial instinct was to buy a MacBook. However, it's also because the Sony VAIO team has obviously been analyzing what makes the MacBook so popular and they've borrowed a few key details, starting with the CW's excellent keyboard.
It amazes me how many people buy a laptop without carefully inspecting and testing out the keyboard. A big, glossy screen and 1.21 gigawatts of processing power is pointless if you don't feel comfortable and connected when typing. Whereas Dell, HP and Toshiba keyboards frequently give you a slab of keys with little to no space between them, Sony's CW keyboard provides ample spacing between the keys and the keys themselves don't have far to travel before registering a keystroke. Anyone who has typed on an Apple MacBook will feel right at home on the CW keyboard. However, you'll also find yourself yearning for Apple's keyboard backlighting, something the CW sadly lacks. That said, when you consider the fact that the CW costs several hundred dollars less than a similarly-equipped MacBook Pro, it's a compromise I can live with.
Instant Internet
My favorite feature on the CW Series has to be its "Instant On" web browser. If all you want to do is check your webmail or surf the net, there's finally a faster way to get there. Instead of pushing the power button to turn the laptop on, you can instead push the "WEB" button and bypass the Windows operating system entirely. This loads a lightweight browser-only interface and gets you online in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, it will only work with a hard wire Ethernet connection so wireless is not an option. But you just know that's coming some day soon.
Turn Offs:
Final Thoughts
When you consider the fact that many Blu-ray Disc players are still selling for upwards of $300, this Sony's $879 price tag seems like a screaming bargain. Not only is it a portable, high quality Blu-ray player, it's also a cutting-edge, feature-packed notebook PC. With its brilliant display, excellent keyboard, tidy size and convenient features such as instant-on web browsing, integrated webcam and built-in Bluetooth support, it's hard to find fault with Sony's latest VAIO.
Where to Buy:
VPC-CW15FX Features and Specifications:
Manufacturer Contact Information:
Sony Electronics Inc
16530 Via Esprillo
San Diego, CA 92127
Phone: 877-865-7669
Web: SonyStyle.com
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