Sony Vaio FW480J/T first look

In a growing field of Blu-ray-playing laptops, it’s important to take note of Sony, who created the Blu-ray format in the first place. The company’s Vaio laptops, particularly its higher-end lines, tend to be specifically oriented toward media playback. The last model from Sony’s FW line we reviewed, the Vaio FW351J/H, cost 9 and came with less-than-impressive graphics, but had an attractive aesthetic and good Blu-ray playback on a large 16.4-inch screen. The FW480J/T costs a bit more money–99–but it offers improvements to the processor and graphics. If you expected something more affordable, because Sony does make you pay for the improvements–there are Blu-ray equipped Vaios available for less money, such as the sub-0 15-inch NW180. Like the Vaio FW351J/H, the Vaio FW480J/T has an elegant, sleek style to it that’s reminiscent of Apple’s design work with the MacBooks. While the previous FW we reviewed came in a metallic gray color, this model has an all-black interior, with an attractive Chocolate Brown color on the outside. The materials inside and out are mostly plastic, but the layout and construction have a formal high-end look to them. Sony’s style tends to lean toward minimalist chic, and this Vaio fits right into that mold, and the slightly updated look is an overall improvement. The raised keyboard is similar to the VGN-FW351J/H, and is wide and comfortable. The touch pad–which has a smooth feel and clicky, flush buttons beneath–is good too. Some …