Sony Vaio VPC-SE16FX/S

Sony VAIO VPC-SE16FX/S

The Sony VAIO VPC-SE16FX/S ($1,249.99 direct) is a 15-inch laptop that will appeal to shoppers tempted by sleek, thin chassis and high-end parts like a Blu-ray player and AMD discrete graphics. With a lustrous design, a gorgeous high-definition display, and a potent combination of processing and graphics hardware that would put the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Thunderbolt) ($2,199 direct, 4 stars) to shame, the Sony VAIO offers itself up in a light 4.4 pound package, without the Apple price tag. Those seeking the same rich feel and polished design of an Apple product, however, will be left a bit disappointed, with details like the keyboard and mouse feeling oddly unrefined. The VPC-SE16FX/S utilizes what Sony calls a "full flat" design, meaning that the laptop is flat with no degree of slope and no hint of a wedge shape in the profile. With a magnesium alloy skeleton inside and brushed aluminum covering the lid and palm rest, the VPC-SE16FX/S uses a combination of metal and plastic to keep the weight down to 4.4 pounds. It's actually a hair thinner than the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Thunderbolt) , which is 1-inch thick and weighs 5.5 pounds.