Sony's VAIO laptops have always been known for their ultra-portability, and their new VAIO TZ line (which we sampled with the baseline VGN-TZ150N/B model) lives up to that reputation nicely. Weighing in at a miniscule 2.7 pounds, these laptops are some of the smallest portable computers on the market.

But that tiny size doesn't mean that these systems are slouches with regards to performance. They're armed with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, albeit the U7500 chip running at 1.06GHz; these CPUs are designed for smaller systems like the TZ series, however, and their performance is larger than their size and hertz. Sony pairs that processor with a healthy 1GB of 533MHz memory, and there's room for another gig if you want to upgrade down the road.

The display is, naturally, smaller than you'll find on other laptops, but the 11.1-inch screen is large enough for watching movies, and it offers deep 1366X768 resolution, so documents appear crisp. The sharp screen adds to the overall impression of sleekness that the carbon-fiber casing of this laptop inspires.

Even with its less-than-1-inch thickness, these laptops sport decent drives. Storage space is a respectable 100GB on a slower 4,200rpm drive that features G-sensor shock protection that locks the hard drive head if the laptop is dropped. The optical drive is a Dual Layer DVD writer that can burn to traditional CDs and DVDs, high-capacity DL media and even DVD-RAM disks for repeated backups.

But it's the extras that Sony manages to pack into the TZ's small frame that really impress us. There's a built-in webcam and microphone, so this laptop is ready for videoconferencing. There's also an integrated biometric fingerprint scanner that provides another layer of security for your data in case the laptop is lost or stolen. Additionally, the Instant Mode of the TZ lets you instantly start watching DVD movies or listening to audio CDs without having to boot up the entire operating system.

Connectivity is also well above par. The built-in wireless includes 802.11a/b/g/h for hotspots and home networks that support the new faster standard. There's also a 1GB Ethernet for hopping on your company's high-speed network. These laptops also feature Bluetooth connectivity for connecting cordless peripherals and synching to compatible PDAs and cell phones.

Even though the TZ features smaller keys than you'll find on most laptops, typing is comfortable and smooth. What's more, the standard battery provides well over four hours of life (depending on your usage), so these laptops are great for extended operation, such as watching movies on a cross-country flight. They ship with Windows Vista Business, so you'll have all the networking and security tools that you need for your portable computer.

As is often the bane of ultra-portable laptops, these systems are expensive, but the Sony VAIO TZ laptops are designed for serious road warriors who have the funds to afford a laptop that's easy to carry but still offers solid performance away from the office.


Pros: Extremely portable, sharp screen, lots of extras
Cons: Expensive, integrated graphics

Warranty
1 year, limited