Software and warranty
The Duo 13 may be different from the Duo 11
in some respects, but its pre-loaded software is not one of them. You will find
many of the similar applications, including Hulu Plus, Skype and Slacker Radio.
Unfortunately, Kaspersky Now is also present here, and it is also an annoying
thing as it was on Sony’s last-generation computer. We disabled the pop-ups
almost instantaneously, and we propose that all new owners should do the same.
The other pre-loaded applications consist of ArtRage Studio Pro and Note Anytime
using with the preloaded stylus. There is also the new CamScanner app of Sony
for shooting receipts and other documents, and of course you will see the
branded utilities such as VAIO Care and VAIO Control Center. It is worth noting
that NFC support is also present.
Sony packs the Duo 13 with a one- year
international warranty that includes in-home services for owners in the U.S.
The
Duo 13 may be different from the Duo 11 in some respects, but its pre-loaded
software is not one of them. You will find many of the similar applications,
including Hulu Plus, Skype and Slacker Radio.
Camera
You will find two cameras on the Duo 13: a
2MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear camera, each has an Exmor RS image
sensor for PC. Sony says the sensor is useful for both shooting in low light
conditions and snapping documents by using CamScanner application mentioned
earlier. Unfortunately, the 8MP camera is located in a somewhat awkward
position: right where you can hold the right side of the device when it is in tablet
mode. However, the sample images look pretty clear, and the shadowy areas have
a good amount of detail. We found the autofocus to work better than the manual
focus, which is not even the option for the front lens. That lens records video
in 1,080p, and sample footage showed precise colors, but it is not impressive
detail.
An
8MP rear camera with Exmor RS image sensor
Configuration options and competitors
Our test model will retail for $1,400
beginning on June 9th , and it is shipped with a 1.6GHz Core
i5-4,200U processor with 4GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4,400 and a 128GB SSD.
Sony will provide a configuration of the Duo 13 with AT&T LTE, which places
it at a $150 premium. You can also boost up to a Core i7 CPU, a 256GB or 512GB
SSD and 8GB of RAM. The most flagship model – with a Core i7-4,650U chip, 8GB
of memory, Windows 8 Pro, Intel HD Graphics 5,000 and LTE - will make you spend
$2,728. We reviewed a carbon black model, but the Duo 13 would also be
available in carbon white when it was released on June 9th. (The Duo
11was only available in black)
We have recently used the competition
section to remind you that Haswell chips are approaching, and our advice is
that we should wait and see what the new products will launch with that chip.
Now the 4th-generation processor from Intel is officially present,
we will soon have a lot of products to test and compare. Although it is still
early, we have already recognized several promising Haswell systems - check out
a few models below.
Based on initial impressions, the new Acer
Aspire S7 may be quite an attractive choice. We were fans of this Ultrabook,
and an optional 2,560 x 1,440 display and bigger battery option make it even
more compelling. Like the Duo 13, it costs $1,400 and up, so it's certainly
worth taking a look if you are considering of Sony’s slider. We also want to
know more about the Asus Zenbook Infinity, which has a Gorilla Glass 3 lid and
palm rest and a slim design. Finally, we have just reviewed Sony’s new VAIO Pro
11 ultraportable, which provides excellent battery life and a lightweight
design for $1,150 and up.
Conclusion
It
is still quite handy solution for users who do not want to bring their own
laptop and tablet. And the VAIO Duo 13 does a lot to make the category more
attractive with a graceful hinge design, a large keyboard and great battery
life.
When the author's father tried using the
Duo 13, he found that its design is appealing and impressive. But it is easy
for us the exhausted technology writers to ignore slider form factor for its
inherent pitfalls, it is still quite handy solution for users who do not want
to bring their own laptop and tablet. And the VAIO Duo 13 does a lot to make
the category more attractive with a graceful hinge design, a large keyboard and
great battery life. However, these changes do not make it perfect, since the
touchpad is small and a number of factors, such as the camera, are placed in
the strange positions. Do not call us slider converts, but at least we’d expect
that a variety of models with better designs will be released.
Consequently, should you buy this guy? Not
necessarily - and certainly not immediately. Many new devices running Haswell
silicon unveiled at Computex this week, and even more are certain to follow.
However, if you are mainly looking for a device made for the stylus input, the
VAIO Duo 13 is now one of the better options available.
Info
·
Product name: Sony VAIO Duo 13
·
Price: $1,400
Pros
·
The design is much more improved.
·
The 1,080p screen is bright.
·
The battery life is great.
Cons
·
The touchpad is cramped.
·
The rear camera is located in an odd position.
Verdict
·
Sony entirely improved its slider design for the
VAIO Duo 13, and as a result, a device is well built with longer battery life
and more comfortable keyboard.
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Sony VAIO Duo
13 Technical Specifications
·
Part Code: SVD1321X9E
·
Review Date: 7 Jun 2013
·
Rating: four stars
·
Processor: Intel Core i7-4500U
·
Processor clock speed: 1.8GHz
·
Memory: 4.00GB
·
Memory slots: 1
·
Memory slots free: 0
·
Maximum memory: 4GB
·
Size: 19x330x210mm
·
Weight: 1.3kg
·
Sound: Realtek HD Audio
·
Pointing device: touchpad and touchscreen
·
Viewable size: 13.3 in
·
Native resolution: 1,920x1,080
·
Graphics Processor: Intel HD Graphics 4,400
·
Graphics/video ports: HDMI
·
Graphics Memory: 128MB
·
Total storage capacity: 128GB
·
USB ports: 2
·
Wired network ports: 1x 10/100/1000 via
adaptor
·
Wireless networking support: 802.11a/b/g/n
·
PC Card slots: N/A
·
Supported memory cards: SD, Memory Stick Duo
·
Other ports: headphone, microphone
·
Operating system: Windows 8
·
Warranty: four years RTB
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