Sony Vaio SB with 2nd-gen Core i5 processor

More and more laptops are now coming in with the new second-generation Intel Core i5 processors. This one, a Sony Vaio SB, comes with a Core i5 2410M running at 2.3GHz.

Coming at 3.8lbs, the Vaio SB attempts to be a thin and light yet powerful 13-incher (the 13″ Macbook is 4.7lbs).

The unit has a dark, matte finish in the exterior although but the interior is painted with bright colors (the review unit we have is violet).

Complete specs of this variant include an embedded GPU and a discrete graphics that you can switch between Speed or Stamina.

Sony Vaio S (VPC-SB16FG)
13.3″ display @ 1366×768 pixels
Intel Core i5 2410M 2.3GHz (Turbo Boost to 2.9GHz)
Intel HD Graphics
AMD Radeon HD 6470M 512MB VRAM
4GB DDR3 RAM
320GB Western Digital HDD
DVD+RW
USB 3.0 port
2 x USB 2.0 ports
HDMI out
Memory Stick/SD Card Reader
WiFi 802.11/b/g/n
GigaBit LAN
Bluetooth 2.1 w/ A2DP
4540mAh Li-Ion battery

The chiclet-type keyboard is also back-lit to give it a nice touch. Several buttons are lined on the top of the keyboard including the eject button for the DVD drive.

The video is switchable between the embedded Intel HD Graphics and the AMD Radeon HD 6470M (which is a middle class graphics card based on the Seymore XT codename featuring the UVD3 video processor).

Windows Experience Index gives the Core i5 a 6.9 (which is pretty high for its category) while the Radeon HD 6470 got a sub-score of 6.4.

sony vaio sb

Others claim this is Sony’s answer to the much-expected Asus U36 laptop though the latter does not come with an ODD. The Sony Vaio SB has a suggested retail price of Php69,999.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

18 Comments

george says:

13 years ago

macbooks are overpriced as well, lets say the 13 inch macbook pro with an i7 processor. it would be okay, but than again it has no decent video card, and that cost around 79990, makakakuha ka pa ng masmagandang mga laptops doon na same price with better specs, bili ka nalang ng os x lion at install mo sa laptops mo na mas magandang graphics card, cheaper pa, so i would say na over priced din ang apple when it comes to their laptops, masyado lang tayong nadadala sa pagka “apple” brand niya.
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alix says:

14 years ago

where can i buy this laptop?
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Macky says:

14 years ago

@ Sony Stores

Dominic says:

14 years ago

This is a great laptop, except for the price. Considering to buy one as a backup. Currently using Macbook Pro 13′
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Jay says:

14 years ago

just curious. bakit ang mahal ng sony laptop sa philippines? pati iyong lenovo e220? when you can see sa internet na mura lang sa US. Bakit ang mac, malapit ang price sa US market, while some brands sobrang mahal talaga? what explains this? really really curious about this
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bus ads manila says:

14 years ago

Seems price tag is kinda hefty :) konti na lng and you get the low end macbook or an entry level of macbook pro. I just noticed, the parts of sony after a warranty are expensive too – ala Mac na din. Sony is somewhat late on the laptops again :(
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imitation watches says:

14 years ago

The design looks good and minimalistic. However, it reminds me a bit of my acer aspire 4750 which (to me) looks exactly the same. What I do like about it is the plastic cover around teh keyboard because it is very strong and doesnt look dirty or old and is very easy to clean with a cloth. Also, the new USB 3.0 actually appears to speed up some USB 2.0 devices.
About I5 CPU – i can not feel any difference from my I5 cpu vs the old T5550 core 2 duo cpu. Am sure it is faster for number crunching but i can’t feel any difference in normal work usage. I even have mine with 8 GB ram and 1 GB Nvidia GT540M vga card so it should be up to date.
Still, Sony always make good products.
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Macky says:

14 years ago

Just purchased one yesterday and im loving it!
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vince says:

14 years ago

“2nd-gen Core i5 processor” is soo long and cumbersome. Lets call it a core i5.1 and retcon the first gen as core i5.0
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XxXxX says:

14 years ago

it’s ugly
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razorous says:

14 years ago

This sounds like a perfect upgrade for me. I’m just not sure why Bluetooth installed is not the 3.0+HS version. :(
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technobaboy says:

14 years ago

nice laptop. but the price is still quite high. sony should set their prices more competitively.
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paulkev09 says:

14 years ago

Everything about this notebook is great. I want to see how long will this last with a battery. Asus U36 lasted 10 hours despite having a standard voltage CPU and a discrete Nvidia Graphics.

If this notebook last longer than the Asus U36, this is going to be great competitor to the Asus U36.
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CamBoy says:

14 years ago

Still will go with my Mac… I can run everything … especially with my parallel desktop…
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Best Canon Telephoto says:

14 years ago

The 53Â°C and 57Â°C for the processor and motherboard respectively, were full load condition?
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Jhay says:

14 years ago

Guess I’ll have to amputate my arm and leg again.
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Joel says:

14 years ago

What’s Sony thinking with their price points? If they were Apple, I’d understand but Sony making laptops similar to every other laptops manufacturer in terms of specs? Crazy!
Paul says:

14 years ago

Just saw these on the mall today. There are SB laptops from other manufacturers too like Acer and MSI, they have theirs starting at around 35k which is around half what Sony asks.

So you will only have to amputate an arm OR a leg. Again.

YugaGaming