Gaming on the go
One thing to note: once activated, 3D mode noticeably darkens everything. Images shot on a sunny day using your 3D camera or camcorder look fine in 2D preview mode but seem to lose their zing in 3D.
Yes, it’s a big’un: those large electronic spectacles should give you an idea of relative size.
The VPCF21Z1E/BI also offers the ability to artificially render 2D movies into 3D by pressing the subtly labelled ‘3D’ button above the keyboard. This is cute, if gimmicky, and it even does some pretty clever things to 2D anime, but I could only get it to work with DVDs. Sony’s documentation says it can be applied to Blu-ray movies too but all my attempts produced a ‘Cannot switch to 3D display’ error, no matter which Blu-ray player software I tried.
On a more positive note, the optical drive can read and write to Blu-ray, as well as all the usual DVD and CD formats.
Verdict
Overall, I was happy with performance of the Sony Vaio VPCF21Z1E/BI, it’s pretty damn good but not great. Yet compared to others in this class that Reg Hardware has tested lately, it seems Sony makes you pay for that extra performance.
Tech specs aside, the proof is in the playing, and Vaio’s frame rate seemed to be best for new games and worst for the oldest. In the cut-and-thrust of 3D gameplaying, as well as 3D movie-watching and 3D picture fun, the VPCF21Z1E/BI is not just great, but terrific. Whether it’s £1,799-worth of terrific, compared to a 3D-enabled tower system, depends on how much value you put on its luggable portability. ®
More Notebooks Reviews... |
||||
 Asus
NX90Jq |
 Acer
Aspire 5940G |
 Apple
MacBook Pro 17in |
 Asus
N73SV |
 Toshiba
Satellite A660 |
Sony Vaio VPCF21Z1E
COMMENTS
Not really
The main selling point of this laptop is that it supports 3D which means the screen refresh rate will be 120Hz + in order to properly support shuttering. I expect the other hardware specs are on par or superior too.
So I assume by "the good bits" you were referring to the apple logo?
re: Im trying not to rise to this
Well there's no fruit logo on the front.
I must say the macbooks look sexier, but this has a very rugged look, like something out of Aliens.
I have to say, it's a very tempting computer despite the seeming insurmountable issues of not fitting in a laptop bag that's made for smaller computers, not having a cover for the ports and featuring a firewire connector that means it'll connect to lots of kit. Damn! I mean connectivity for more formats than you'd expect? who would DO that?
icon for the review
Im trying not to rise to this....
But cant help myself!!
Ok, so this is faster, has a longer battery life, faster hard drive, more ram, supports 3d, has a higher res display and a Blu-ray burner.... oh and is cheaper...
where are the missing good bits????
3D==Gimmick
Once again, people trying to sell us what they want to make, not make something we want to buy.
Sigh.
Doesn't fit in your bag?
Get a bigger bag. I've got a gigantic lump of 6 year old HP Pavilion zv5000 here that probably won't fit your bag either if that Sony won't. Anyway, while it's slower than pigshit rolling uphill in Winter compared with anything modern, it still has those lovely Harman/Kardon speakers under the two front grills.
Best sounding laptop ever.
