X-bit labs

Sony VAIO and HP Compaq: Two Office Notebooks in Our Lab (page 13)

Category: Mobile

by Galina Sudareva

[ 06/17/2005 | 11:34 AM ]

Conclusion

Sometimes it’s not simple to make a conclusion. The tests I’ve performed today suggest that the separating line between office notebooks and desktop-replacement notebooks is becoming ever thinner. The former can now deliver good performance in graphics applications which you could earlier have with desknotes only.

And still, the Sony VAIO and the HP Compaq belong to the office class rather. They run office and multimedia applications at a high speed and can handle professional graphics applications, too. They are handy at work and offer you excellent functionality. They can also work in the field as well as in office.

The Sony VAIO looks gorgeous and its ergonomic qualities are up to the mark, too. It also features a big hard drive and an optical disc recorder. Its disadvantages are a rather low performance in games due to the graphics controller employed and a short battery life time (it might be better), and the lack of an infrared port.

The HP Compaq features good performance, excellent battery life time, numerous ports/connectors/communications, and a handy touchpad. Its drawbacks are the over-conservative exterior, the not-very-convenient keyboard (but you get used to it after some time) and the eject button of the optical drive.

If we compare these two notebooks (taken at random for today’s review), we see that you have got a choice between the appealing design of the Sony VAIO VGN-FS115ZR and the higher performance of the HP Compaq nx8220 in graphics applications.