![sony vaio s series ultrabook sony vaio s series ultrabook](https://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/_migrated/pics/t_family_galleryTab_8_01.jpg)
Why did Sony decide to make its ultrabook a low-priced alternative? We were told by the division's product manager that the company didn't want to compete with its 13-inch S and Z series models, and instead used Intel's specifications to make an affordable alternative. Of course, a few more corners had to be cut to get that price: the minimum-spec system has a 320GB hard drive + 32GB flash storage hybrid drive for quick boot-times, and the screen has a mediocre 1366 x 768 resolution. The system has an aluminum-clad lid and lots of plastic on the bottom, but it may be a worthwhile tradeoff: the T series ultrabook costs a very reasonable $769.99.
![sony vaio s series ultrabook sony vaio s series ultrabook](https://www.notebookcheck.net/uploads/tx_nbc2/sonySA2CF.jpg)
The 3.54-pound, 0.71-inch thick ultrabook comes in only a 13.3-inch version on this side of the pond, and it is powered by a 1.7GHz Core i5-3317U processor. Sony Europe has already spilled the beans on the company's entry into the ultrabook market, the VAIO T, but here in the US the company has held off in order to include Ivy Bridge processors in the machines. Other than the processor change, Sony is bringing larger, buttonless trackpads to its VAIO lineup (excluding the VAIO Z), and in practice we were pleased with them - they're not the best we've seen, but they're improved. The base CPU is the 2.5GHz Core i5-3210M across all of the models, and they're available with Nvidia GT640M LE switchable graphics or Intel's far-improved integrated HD Graphics 4000. Of course, each and every one has been upgraded with standard-voltage Ivy Bridge processors. The series has always shared a design philosophy with the Z series, but all of these models still have slot-loading optical drives and are thicker and heavier than their exclusive cousin. There's still the standard 13.3-inch and 15.5-inch models (they start at $899.99 and $999.99, respectively) as well as the "premium" 13.3-inch S, which now starts at $1,119.99. We heard a bit about these new models earlier, but now we have more information. Next is the Sony VAIO S, which has also hardly been changed from its predecessor. Lastly, all VAIO Z's now come with 13.1-inch, 1920 x 1080 displays - the lower-res option is now gone - and at that $1,599.99 starting price you'll get a 128GB SSD. Of course, the big change to the VAIO Z is that it now has Ivy Bridge processors - you'll get to choose from either the standard-voltage i5-3210M or i7-3612QM processors (the latter is a $150 upgrade). If you're interested in the dock it starts at $300 with a DVD burner and costs $100 more for a Blu-ray burner, though, unfortunately, it has the same AMD 6650M GPU from last year. The difference now is that you won't have to purchase the Power Media Dock to get the VAIO Z, which means that the starting price is now much lower at $1,599.99. The new laptop shares the same "full flat" chassis design as its predecessor and still has a proprietary Light Peak port that connects it to that unique external GPU / optical drive combo from last year. First up is the Z series, which, like most of the systems being announced today, has only been given a mild refresh.