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CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 08/04/2003
- Updated on: 11/06/2009
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 Although small, the keyboard won't cause your fingers to cramp when used on short stints. |
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The VAIO TR1A sports the most impressive laptop design we've seen from Sony in quite a while. The system's 1.4-by-10.6-by-7.4-inch case is reminiscent of the old VAIO C1 PictureBook, although the VAIO TR1A's slightly larger footprint allows for a bigger, more comfortable keyboard. Granted, the keyboard, the touchpad, and the two mouse buttons are still too small for hours of intense typing, but they won't cause your fingers to cramp when used on short stints. The keys themselves feature a futuristic font that gives the whole laptop a slick look.
Considering it includes an integrated DVD/CD-RW drive, the VAIO TR1A weighs a reasonable 3.1 pounds. We'd be even happier if you could swap the drive out for other modules, such as a second battery, but unfortunately, the bay is fixed. At least the primary battery lasted an exceptionally long time in CNET Labs' drain tests. The 0.76-pound AC adapter is also easy to slip into your bag, thanks to its very slim 0.75-by-6-by-2.3-inch footprint.
 The integrated digital camera rotates 180 degrees so that you can snap pictures in front, above, or behind the system. |
 Handy capture, zoom, and volume buttons line the right-hand edge of the screen. |
The VAIO TR1A uses Sony's proprietary Xbrite screen technology, which makes its 10.6-inch display appear especially bright and clear. The inflated 1,280x768 native resolution lets you see fine graphic detail in the shots you take with the integrated digital camera, but the resolution also makes text frustratingly small on such a petite screen. The extracool camera--a holdover from the PictureBook--is built into the edge above the screen. Its 180-degree rotation lets you snap pictures in front, above, or behind the system. Two convenient buttons to the right of the display help you capture and zoom, while two additional volume buttons control the average-sounding speakers located above the screen.
The system comes with all the requisite ports and slots. The left edge contains VGA, iLink (FireWire), and one USB port, along with a slot for chewing-gum-size Memory Stick media cards. On the opposite edge, there are headphone, microphone, 56K modem, and Ethernet ports, along with one Type II PC Card slot. The front edge features an On/Off switch for the internal 802.11b wireless (Wi-Fi) mini-PCI card.
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 The VAIO TR1A comes in a svelte and lightweight package but still includes a built-in DVD/CD-RW combo drive. |
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The VAIO TR1A includes the three essential Centrino parts: Intel's ultra-low-voltage 900MHz Pentium M processor, the 855PM chipset, and the Pro/Wireless 802.11b mini-PCI card. The VAIO TR1A also ships with a decent-size 30GB hard drive, an integrated DVD/CD-RW drive, a 10.6-inch display, and a sufficient 512MB of 266MHz SDRAM. The laptop supports up to 1GB of memory, but you'll have to add it on your own, since you can't customize your system when you buy.
Every VAIO TR1A comes preloaded with the Windows XP Home operating system. Microsoft Works, Money 2003, and Encarta Online take care of office-productivity duties.
As always, Sony piles on the cool multimedia software. The company's own DVGate Plus handles moviemaking responsibilities. Sony SonicStage is on tap for music-related tasks, and Sony PictureGear Studio helps with photo editing. Adobe Premiere LE and Photoshop Elements lend a hand with video and photo work.
The Sony VAIO TR1A scored a measly eight points lower than the similarly configured Fujitsu LifeBook P5000. The difference in operating systems could account for the small discrepancy: the VAIO TR1A comes with Windows XP Home instead of Windows XP Professional, which tends to perform better on our benchmarks. For a 900MHz Pentium ultraportable, however, the VAIO TR1A does well on office and multimedia apps.
Mobile application performance (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark2002. MobileMark measures both application performance and battery life concurrently using a number of popular applications (Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Netscape Communicator 6.0, WinZip Computing WinZip 8.0, McAfee VirusScan 5.13, Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1, and Macromedia Flash 5.0).
Find out more about how we test notebooks.
System configurations:Dell Inspiron 300m
Windows XP Home; 1.2GHz Intel Pentium M; 384MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Hitachi DK23EB-40 40GB 5,400rpm
Fujitsu LifeBook P5000
Windows XP Professional; 900MHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Hitachi DK23EA-60 60GB 4,200rpm
Sony VAIO TR1A
Windows XP Home; 900MHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Toshiba MK3004GAH 30GB 4,200rpm
With its 11.1V, 4,300mAh (48WHr) battery, the VAIO TR1A lasted more than four hours, slightly ahead of the Fujitsu LifeBook P5000, which houses a 10.8V, 4,400mAh (48WHr) battery. With its long battery life, the VAIO TR1A will get you almost all the way from L.A. to N.Y.C on a single charge.
Battery life (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark2002. MobileMark measures both application performance and battery life concurrently using a number of popular applications (Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Netscape Communicator 6.0, WinZip Computing WinZip 8.0, McAfee VirusScan 5.13, Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1, and Macromedia Flash 5.0).
Find out more about how we test notebooks.
System configurations:Dell Inspiron 300m
Windows XP Home; 1.2GHz Intel Pentium M; 384MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Hitachi DK23EB-40 40GB 5,400rpm
Fujitsu LifeBook P5000
Windows XP Professional; 900MHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Hitachi DK23EA-60 60GB 4,200rpm
Sony VAIO TR1A
Windows XP Home; 900MHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Toshiba MK3004GAH 30GB 4,200rpm
Sony offers adequate service and support. The VAIO TR1A comes with a one-year, parts-and-labor warranty, but you must send your system to a Sony repair center for fixes. The company also offers free, around-the-clock telephone support but only for the length of the warranty. An extra $200 buys you two additional years on your plan.
The sparse support Web site includes a handful of downloads for the VAIO TR1A, access to an online search engine, and a few helpful automated tutorials on how to use general laptop features. However, a customer forum where you can chat with other users or directly with a tech-support rep would prove more helpful.
To find out more about how this product's warranty really stacks up and what you should look for in terms of service and support, take a look at CNET's hardware warranty explainer.
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