Sony Vaio Pro 13

A laptop PC that really challenges Apple's MacBook Air - Matt Warman welcomes a valiant attempt.

Sony's Vaio Pro 13 takes on the MacBook Air 

When Intel first announced its bid to encourage manufacturers to make laptops slim, sexy and appealing, it talked at length about how computers need not be clunky horrors, and implicitly it acknowledged that the PC needed to compete with the MacBook Air. Robust computers with decent battery life, it said, were just around the corner.

It’s taken a couple of years but new devices such as the Sony Vaio Pro are finally delivering on that 'ultrabook' vision – weighing barely a kilo and yet untroubled by any application you can throw at it, this is a laptop in an age of cheap products that it is worth spending £1,000 on.

For that money you get a carbon-fibre body, a full-size keyboard with a trackpad, the latest Intel 4th-generation processor and the kind of full HD display that clearly benefits from the expertise in TV that comes from elsewhere in Sony.

And design-wise you get a distinct experience that is clearly not trying to ape Apple – this is a touchscreen, Windows 8 laptop for a start, but it is also one with sharply angled corners rather than effortless curves. Rest it on your lap and you’ll feel the hard line of the hinge digging in to your legs.

There’s a fundamental problem with a slim, lightweight touchscreen laptop, in that unless you touch that screen very lightly, there appears to be some give in the whole construction. In practice, there’s nothing to worry about, and Sony say their laptops are tested to destruction, but the feeling is not one that’s inspiring. Even if the strength comes from their being some give, it’s hard not to question the build quality. Similarly, this is a laptop with sharp corners and sharply angled keys – it’s a pleasure to look at but not always to pick up.

My model came with an i5 processor, which was more than responsive enough for everything I threw at it, from basic games to Office. Although this is a business machine to be used on aeroplanes and on desks, its screen is lovely for films and media and its battery life was seven hours in my regular use. A larger battery can, Sony claims, make it up to 25 hours.

There are, of course, the usual irritants – this is Windows 8 and a PC so there are loads of bloatware additions that you’ll never need, and plenty of 'security' pop-ups that infuriate. There’s always updates to install the second you turn it on for the first time, too. But there are clever tricks as well: Sony's charger includes an additional clip that lets you turn an ethernet connection into a wifi signal for up to four devices, and is far less likely to be lost than a cable adapter.

Overall, the Pro 13 is a great PC for users who value style and substance – if you need a PC there aren’t many better out there. And if you need a gorgeous laptop and can have a Mac, it gives the Air a run for its money.

Manufactuer's specifications
Processor Up to Intel i7
OS Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro
Memory Up to 8GB DDR3 1600MHz SDRAM
Storage Up to 512GB SSD
Screen 13.3” Full HD (1920x1080) with wide (16:9) aspect ratio; capacitive touchscreen; TRILUMINOS® Display for mobile; X-Reality™ for mobile
Graphics Intel® HD Graphics 4400
Others WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n; Bluetooth® Ver. 4.0 + H; USB 3.0 (x1), USB 3.0 with USB charge (x1); HDMI out; SD memory card slot; stereo speakers with ClearAudio+ mode ; Front facing web camera with powered by ‘Exmor R for PC’; TCG ver1.2 Security chip (on Windows 8 Pro); NFC; HDMI to VGA adapter; AC powered Ethernet to Wi-Fi Router
Dimensions Approx. 322 mm x 17.2 mm x 216 mm
Weight Approx. 1.06kg (with standard supplied battery)