F15: Breaking the sound barrier

Sony is banking on the audio quality of its latest device to make a splash in the laptop market. But with just 2GB of RAM, users might be left wanting more

Having used a Sony Vaio laptop for over two years, I must confess I am certainly not a fan of it. Not because the laptops in the Vaio series aren’t good — in fact, they are among the better-looking machines in the market — but because the battery has let me down.

So, when Sony’s new F15 series was launched, I was sceptical about using it. The Japanese company is marketing the series as “the best sound laptop”. The device is designed (audio-wise) keeping in mind the Indian market. It comes with a dedicated sub-woofer and box speakers that are big. There are several EQ presets like ‘Bollywood’, ‘clear audio+music’ and ‘clear audio+video’. The F15’s audio quality doesn’t disappoint. It is pretty loud. It also comes with Sony’s JIVE app that allows free streaming and downloading of over 1.5-million songs.

It’s a rather big laptop, has a 15-inch screen and comes with an iLand keyboard. Unlike many other laptops, the touchpad area has a big enough palm rest (one of the better things about the laptop). Typing on the F15 is quite comfortable, but somehow the positioning of the touchpad is a bit strange. It’s not exactly at the centre; so, initially it’s a bit frustrating, but you get used to it. The touchpad, however, at times needs several taps before it actually clicks. Using a separate mouse is a better option.

Prices start from Rs 34,990 (for the Intel Core i3 processors) and go up to Rs 59,990 (for the Intel Core i5 processor). The performance of the laptop is good enough on the i3 processor, and though it is backed by only 2GB RAM, Windows 8 runs quite effectively. Even while using multiple apps and programmes, there isn’t a marked difference in its performance. It is, however, surprising the F15 comes only with 2GB RAM. Most laptops in this price range at least offer a 4GB RAM. Most of the ports in the F15 — USB, HDMI, headphone jacks — are easily accessible; the card reader is at the front.

F15’s battery life is just about average and can run for at least two-and-a-half hours without a charge, which is far better than other Vaio laptops. The sound quality — we compared it with a Lenovo and an HP laptop — is extremely good. Though there are modes for watching videos as well, they don’t make too much of a difference visually. Sony is looking to cash in on the sound quality of the laptop and it will find a lot of takers among people who use laptops as multimedia devices.

Is it a laptop worth spending money on? At Rs 34,990, it’s a solid laptop for those who use their machines just for watching movies and listening to music. For this target group, it’s an ideal buy. But the 2GB RAM might just alter your decision. For those looking for a laptop that delivers great performance and not just good sound quality, there are better options.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Intel® Core™ i3 Processor
• Windows 8
• Display : 39.4 cm; 1,366x768 pixels
• Memory: 2 GB
• Hard disk drive: 500 GB
• Built-in sub-woofer
• Price: Rs 34,990