Intel Wireless Display does work for streaming video such as Hulu.įor a midsize laptop, perhaps it's not surprising that the battery life was also midrange. Note: unfortunately, you can't use Intel Wireless Display to play Blu-ray discs on your HDTV (or DVDs, for that matter) the wireless video technology blocks such attempts, alas, because of licensing restrictions. They still look better than DVDs on the 14-inch screen, but to take advantage of the capabilities you'd really have hook up the laptop via HDMI to an HDTV. The included Blu-ray player/DVD burner is a nice touch, but the 720p-equivalent screen can't take advantage of the full-HD resolution of Blu-ray discs. Plus, with streaming-gaming services such as OnLive, 3D games can be played on laptops without relying on dedicated graphics. The EA24FM has no dedicated Nvidia or ATI GPU, but its integrated Intel HD graphics are fine for HD video, streaming video, and even some casual and retro gaming. The price-to-performance ratio on Core i3 processors has made us happy throughout 2010 though the Core i3 is technically the lowest rung on Intel's new Core-i series, it offers very good performance and general multimedia multitasking for most users. Like many sub-$1000 laptops we've seen recently, the Vaio EA24FM's CPU is an Intel Core i3 processor. RAM can be expanded up to 8GB after purchase. The Vaio EA24FM comes with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, both decent for the $799 price.
It's fine for basic Web chatting and conferencing, but isn't professional quality. The stereo speakers, situated above the keyboard and under plastic grilles, had good volume and clarity but didn't rise above the middle to provide real booming separation.Ī 640x480-pixel Webcam took grainy video footage, and the still photos we took didn't look much better.
However, the colors looked slightly more washed-out than on other recent laptops we've seen. The screen has decent but not spectacular brightness, and looked best when playing Blu-ray movies, showing off good detail. The glossy 16:9 ratio glossy 14-inch LED-backlit screen has a 1,366x768-pixel native resolution, which is common for laptop displays 15 inches and smaller. Some users might not even be aware the technology exists in their laptop, especially since it requires an additional $99 Netgear-made plug-in box for your TV called Push2TV, which isn't included.
In fact, we'd have much preferred a dedicated button for Intel Wireless Display, a method of streaming video and audio to an HDTV that's a little buried in the software on the Vaio. For real writing, you have to get this keyboard naked.Ībove the keyboard, a few dedicated buttons launch Vaio Care troubleshooting, Google's Chrome browser, and the Vaio media gallery app.
Though these skins are a clever idea for minor spill/crumb protection and for fashionistas/germophobes, the typing quality with the skin on takes a massive dive. When on, they look as if the keyboard simply always came in neon green, pink, or purple. The $19.99 skins aren't cheap, but they're snug-fitting silicone keyboard covers that seamlessly rest on top of the keyboard.
One of the quirkier design twists on the Vaio E series is its use of colored keyboard skins, which doll up the already eye-catching laptop in odd color combinations. OK, you got the idea: we love the keyboard and the touch pad. The buttons below are also somewhat perfectly sized with great click. The touch pad, though not particularly large, is recessed and has a great texture to it, making for easy navigation. We waxed enthusiastic on the E series keyboard in a recent best keyboards roundup, and the quality still holds true here writing using the large, responsive keys feels incredibly comfortable and crisp. The silver-and-white theme continues inside, framing the all-white raised Chiclet-style keyboard that lacks a number pad, but is superlative otherwise.
The upper lid opens on dual hinges to a wider angle than many midsize notebooks.