Sony VAIO CR Series Notebook Reviewed

Notebook Review has reviewed the Sony VAIO CR Series of notebook PCs. The model being reviewed is the VAIO VGN-CR190 (Dove) which is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 1.8GHz processor, 1GB of RAM (max 4GB), a 120GB hard drive and the Intel GMA X3100 graphics.

Other features include a DVD+/-RW burner, WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n, a 14.1-inch LCD display with 1280×800 resolution.

Notebook Review’s conclusion:

The Sony VAIO CR is nice looking notebook with a solid set of features that are sure to be appealing to college students. It features an impressive multimedia AV Mode that can be launched without the need for Windows. However, the CR is cheaper and not quite as powerful as some other notebooks in the $1,000+ range due to the integrated graphics. The CR clearly stacks up well against the MacBook both in terms of features and appearance. Still, given the price point, the lack of dedicated graphics, and what can only be called a “design flaw” regarding the battery, college students might consider purchasing the Sony VAIO N series notebook. While the 15.4” N series only offers up to a 1.86GHz Intel Core Duo T2350 processor and up to 2GB of RAM, the performance is on par with the entry-level CR model and the N series costs several hundred dollars less.

Pros

* Very nice looks with a variety of colors you can choose
* Fast Core 2 Duo processors and up to 4GB of RAM provide plenty of system performance
* Screen has excellent horizontal viewing angles
* Solid build quality and sturdiness (with the exception of the battery)
* Stays cool and makes little noise
* Good keyboard with some exceptions (see below)

Cons

* Unacceptable amount of battery wiggle (design flaw)
* Too much bloatware installed
* Screen has bad vertical viewing angles
* Flat keyboard keys and lack of some dedicated keys
* Touchpad buttons have shallow feedback