Just saw what must have been the first laptop sporting AMD’s Fusion APU chip, Sony’s VAIO Y. The AMD Fusion APU has the GPU on the same die similar to the current Intel chips we have today. However, because of ATI technology (AMD Radeon now) which is used for their GPU, it has a big advantage over Intel’s integrated graphics.
We wrote a simple primer about AMD Fusion here so check that out if you want to learn more.
The Sony VAIO Y is an 11-inch netbook that will replace their 10-inch VAIO M and VAIO W. They told me that there are no plans yet to update their 10-inch line. Right now, the VAIO Y is their latest, most portable laptop.
I’m excited about this notebook simply because of their choice to go with a dual-core E-350 (1.6GHz) AMD Fusion on a 11.6-inch display. Nothing against netbooks really, but a 10-inch display can really be frustrating if you’re a heavy internet user. The 11.6-inch is a nice balance between casual usability and portability in my opinion. The integrated graphics on the E-350 is an AMD Radeon HD6310 which can play 1080p videos and your basic 3D games without stuttering. Easy to bring with you and connect to an HD TV.
It has the same mark and excellent craftsmanship of a VAIO device including the green power button on the right side of its hinge, nicely spaced island keyboard and adequately-sized touchpad. It also comes in three funky colors (apple green, red, silver) on a matte finish.
The only drawback I saw here was the 4-hour battery life. I checked the battery and it’s rating was a measly 3500 mAh. If I’m going to buy one of these, I’d make sure to upgrade the battery (maybe 5600 mAh at least) to get around 7 hours from it on a single charge.
For the price of Php29,999, it’s the same as when the 10-inch VAIO netbooks first showed up. Better take into consideration the additional cost when you wish to upgrade the battery. For me, this one’s a keeper.
Sony VAIO Y Specs:
- AMD Dual-Core E-350 processor (1.6GHz)
- 11.6-inch WXGA (1366 x 768)
- Genuine Windows 7 Starter 32-bit
- 2GB RAM
- AMD Radeon HD 6310 integrated graphics
- 320GB HDD
- Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
- 6-cell 3500mAh Li-Ion battery (4 hours)
- 1.46 kg
- SRP: Php29,999