Sony Vaio VPC-SA2FGX/BI

Sony VAIO VPC-SA2FGX/BI

Plenty of ultraportables are underpowered, eschewing powerful processors and graphics in favor of luxuriously thin profiles. But that isn't the case with the Sony VAIO VPC-SA2FGX/BI ($1,199.99 list). This ultraportable doesn't shy away from parts that are typically found in bigger, more powerful laptops: a Core i5-2410M processor and AMD Radeon graphics that provide "execute-anything" speed, and features like a backlit keyboard, high-resolution screen, and DVD drive. A few minor problems, including loud fan noise and excess heat while performing moderately intensive tasks, prevent the VPC-SA2FGX/BI from being perfect, but this is a solid ultraportable nonetheless. Sony has a rich history of manufacturing sleek ultraportables, and those design roots are obvious on the VPC-SA2FGX/BI. The metallic frame is entirely clad in a mixture of aluminum and magnesium - you'd be hard-pressed to find any traces of plastic here, compared with the Acer Aspire AS3830TG-6431 ($750 street, 4 stars), which uses aluminum only on its lid and palm rest area. The Sony is not as thin as the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (Thunderbolt) ($1,299 direct, 4 stars) or Samsung Series 9 ($1,650 list, 4 stars), as it includes a built-in DVD burner and complex parts that require a bigger chassis.