Sony Vaio Duo 11 user reviews

Pros Very good hybrid that suits my needs for on the go computing. Way better than Intel Atom powered tablets. Good production and media consumption tool.

Cons Pricey for some just testing the waters with Windows 8. Keyboard is somewhat cramped and trackball navigation can be challenging, Thankfully the touch responsiveness of the screen, virtual keyboard and digitizer pen help overcome this drawback.

Summary A great, cool device I'd highly recommend for those who don't mind the price. While it has drawbacks, it's an excellent iteration of the hybrid concept by Sony and with just some refinements, could be the perfect device for those who want the best of both worlds.

Pros Form factor - portable and easy to use
Screen
RAM - 8G on i7 model
Always attached keyboard
Build quality

Cons Battery life
Slightly heavy to hold up with one hand
No slot for the pen

Summary Sony has been able to successfully merge two, possibly three devices into one. The i7 with 8GB of ram and 256GB SSD replaces my laptop and android tablet. It has specifications that when connected to a monitor or HDTV via HDMI port can replace my desktop as well. I have tried other Windows 8 tablets from Samsung and the Surface that do a good job at being a PC tablet. The Duo 11 surpasses those devices by having a slightly larger and more brilliant screen as well as always having a connected keyboard. I have been using this device or over three months and it has not failed me in any way. All games, productivity software and entertainment have run flawlessly. To the other people that have had bad experience with the Duo 11, it was just bad luck on the device(s) that you ended up with.

Pros All full sized ports. I7, 256 SSD, 8 GB. Monitor is more stable than a traditional laptop, the keyboard is comfortable, display is amazing, camera front and back, battery life great, keyboard protected in tablet mode, good balance open or closed.

Cons No trackpad a disappointment although I've learned that Windows 8 is quite efficient using the touch screen, plus the mouse nub thing is optical so it actually works really well.

Summary After looking at all the convertible options available today, this is the best. It has 8GB of RAM. It has a 256GB SSD drive. In tablet mode, the keyboard isn't exposed. Those benefits leave you down to the Sony Duo and the Dell Duo. The final decision point is the Sony is 2.7 lbs while the Dell is around 4 lbs. Sony is the winner for a while in my book.

Pros Excellent Sony build quality
Brilliant screen
Backlit key board
Connectivity options
Digitizer Stylus
i5 or i7 processor
6Gb or 8Gb RAM

Cons Expensive
Lack of conventional trackpad

Summary With an i7 processor and 8Gb of RAM the Sony Vaio Duo 11 (SVD11) is a powerful cross between a tablet and laptop. The key is to recognize that it is not a tablet nor a laptop in the conventional sense. If it were not for the lack of a trackpad it would be the perfect device in terms of form factor and design... IMO.

The screen is brilliant and the backlit keys are a great bonus for a unit of this type. No other cross over device has the built-in connectivity options offered by the SVD 11 (USB 3.0, VGA, HDMI, SD slot, Headphone, and Ethernet). Battery life is not great so the optional Sheet Battery is a must plus you get a holder for the digitizer pen. Unlike some reviews I don't have a problem with viewing angle in laptop mode. Although not a brick you won't be holding it in one hand for extended periods of time when in tablet mode.

The SVD 11 like any tablet or laptop is not for everyone so don't buy it on impulse. It compares well against the Microsoft Surface Pro (i5 processor build) in terms of performance, looses a little ground with the lack of a trackpad, but beats it in connectivity options. As a Windows 8 hybrid device the Sony Vaio Duo 11 deserves a close look.