Sony VAIO VPC-Z116GXS

Before it lost serious ground to netbooks and CULV laptops the Sony Z-Series laptop reigned as the most elegant, the most powerful, and naturally, the most expensive ultraportable in the market. Well, not much has changed. The Sony VAIO VPC-Z116GXS ($1,800 direct) still has its predecessor's bragging rights, as it's the only 13-inch ultraportable (at the moment) that runs an Intel Core i5 processor and a switchable graphics system. And luxuries such as a backlit keyboard, high resolution screen, and support for multiple SSD drives rarely come in packages this small. And yes, its price tag can buy you at least four netbooks, but it still earns an Editors' Choice (in the ultraportable category) for being such a powerful, feature-packed ultraportable.

Sony Corporation

http://www.sonystyle.com

• Price as Tested: $1,800.00 Direct
• Type: Gaming, Media, Ultraportable, Business, Small Business
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
• Processor Name: Intel Core i5-520M
• Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 3 lb
• Screen Size: 13.1 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA HD
• Storage Capacity: 256 GB
• SSD Memory: Yes
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW