electronicsme - Computers / Notebooks made easy

Print this page

Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B: Review

Posted to Notebooks 2009-07-06

Review: Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B

If you are looking for a compact notebook with the performance of a much larger sibling then you may want to check out the Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B. With sleek matte black shell and a wealth of security features that keep your data safe and secure, this notebook looks as good as it performs. Equipped with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, this notebook offers users a notebook that can easily transition from work to play while being eco-friendly at the same time.

Weighing in at about 4.23 lbs with a standard battery, the Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B is Energy Star certified which seems to be becoming the popular feature among notebook manufacturers. It comes complete with an Intel Core 2 Duo p8400 2.26 GHz Processor with 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, Bluetooth, and the Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with Intel Clear Video technology all come standard on the VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B. Unlike other Sony models the VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B does not come equipped with a Blu-Ray player. While this may come as a disappointment to fans of HD movies, the other features that this notebook comes with may more than make up for the lack of this drive. This notebook also comes equipped with the Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100AGN with 802.11 a/b/g/n capabilities.

Rating:

4.0 out of 5

Features

The VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B measures 12.4" x 1.33" x 9.2" and comes equipped with a 13.3" XBRITE-ECO LCD with a 1280 x 800 resolution. Although this notebook offers a much smaller screen than its much larger siblings, the XBRITE-ECO technology allows this machine to delivers deeper blacks, brighter whites and true to life, razor sharp details. This feature allows this notebook to provide quality video performance without being a major drain on battery life.

For those who like a notebook that works and plays as hard as they do the VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B offers users the "Switch" Your Perspective functionality. This feature allows you to preset three different personalities or settings allowing your machine to look professional when you need it to while still allowing you the ability to customize your desktop and other settings to best meet your off work needs as well.

Those who are concerned about security will be happy to know that the VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B comes equipped with a biometric fingerprint sensor and hard disk protection software. Once the biometric settings are done, the notebook can store all your passwords for all the sites that you most commonly visit making authentication quick and easy. The hard drive can also be password protected which can help prevent unwanted eyes from seeing and modifying your sensitive data or applications.

The VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B also offers users a decent amount of ports, especially on a notebook of this size. It comes with 2 USB ports, a DC-in port, VGA output, headphone jack, microphone jack, an Ethernet port and a standard phone jack. The notebook also comes equipped with a quiet keyboard that is made up of individual keys raised above a solid layer. This configuration is different than the standard keyboard found on most competitors' notebooks and is what allows the keys to be so quiet.

Performance

Battery life on the VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B does quite well especially with all the features that this machine provides. Utilizing the standard battery, life span ranges from 2 to 6 hours. If you prefer even more time, an upgrade to the large capacity battery will earn you a little more time to the tune of 3.5 to 7 hours. While no notebook can provide you with unlimited hours of battery life, the VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B provides more than enough time for any task you desire.

Summary

In conclusion, the Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B offers users a lot of power and functionality in a portable package. As an Energy Star certified machine that can help keep all your data safe and secure while providing the functionality that allows you to store multiple "personalities" on one machine. So if screen size is not major concern in your notebook criteria, then the Sony VAIO SR Series VGN-SR240J/B may be the way to go.

Pros

Energy Star certified
13.3 inch XBRITE-ECO LCD with 1280 x 800 resolution
6 hrs battery life at normal usage with standard battery
"Switch" Your Perspective functionality
Biometrics and Hard Drive password protection

Cons

There are no cons for this product