Sony Vaio VGN-CS Series
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400, Intel Core 2 Duo P8600, Intel Core 2 Duo T5800, Intel Core 2 Duo T6400, Intel Core 2 Duo T9600, Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200Graphics Adapter: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD, NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS
Display: 14.10 inch
Weight: 2.4kg, 2.6kg, 2.7kg
Price: 650, 700, 900, 1000, 1200 euro
Average of 12 scores (from 14 reviews)
Sony Vaio VGN-CS11Z/R
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-CS11Z/RProcessor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 1200 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series)
Pricecompare
Average Score:
Reviews
Source: PC Pro Archive.org version
Sony's newest addition to the VAIO range has been drawing stares from the PC Pro troops since it arrived - largely because it's lipstick red. Whether this is a plus or not is open to interpretation, but you'd better learn to live with it, as the only other colour on offer is an even less appealing brown. Decent power and a solid spec, but the garish design and poor value limit its appeal.
4 von 6, Leistung gut, Ausstattung gut, Preis gut
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 80% performance: 80% features: 80%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Notebook / Organizer / Handy - 3-4/09
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80%
Source: MuyComputer ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/29/2009
Rating: Total score: 71%
Source: Techno Zoom IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/15/2009
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 90% mobility: 85% workmanship: 90%
Sony Vaio VGN-CS190
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-CS190Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5800
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.4kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series) Vaio VGN-CS190 (Model)
Pricecompare
Average Score:
Reviews
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
I've seen my share of pink laptops, but nothing epitomizes "pretty in pink" like the Sony VAIO VGN-CS190 that I reviewed. Clearly it's aimed at those who can't get enough of the color. (Luckily, it also comes in red, white, and black versions.) Although its drop-dead-gorgeous design is its focal point, the CS190 is also highly configurable. Clad in pink, the Sony VAIO VGN-CS190's design will reel you in right away despite its other flaws.
3.5 von 5, Mobilität gut
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/20/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% mobility: 80%
Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/Q
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/QProcessor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series)
Pricecompare
Average Score:
Reviews
Source: Trusted Reviews Archive.org version
Style is a funny thing, especially in that functionality is often sacrificed at its altar. Case in point is the new VAIO CS Series VGN-CS11S/W notebook that's the subject of today's review. Sony has really hurt the VAIO name with its VGN-CS11S/W. Shockingly poor build quality is just one among a whole raft of other issues and given its high price you're better off looking elsewhere.
von 10: 5, Preis 5, Ausstattung 6, Leistung 8, Verarbeitung extrem schlecht
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/12/2008
Rating: Total score: 50% price: 50% performance: 80% features: 60% workmanship: 20%
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
The Sony VAIO VGN-CS11S/Q offers a good balance of virtues, with very good processor performance, reasonable graphics and usable battery life, all packed into a style-conscious form. With a range of accessories to match, such as cases, mice and mousemat, this should appeal to a younger audience that doesn’t want to sacrifice utility in the name of fashion.
(von 5): 4, Verarbeitung 3.5, Ausstattung 4, Preis 4
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/27/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% features: 80% workmanship: 70%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Notebookjournal DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/30/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 60% performance: 40% features: 50% display: 30% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 90% emissions: 40%
Sony Vaio VGN-CS118E
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-CS118EProcessor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series) Vaio VGN-CS118E (Model)
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Average Score:
Reviews
Source: Comp Reviews Archive.org version
The Sony VAIO VGN-CS118E avoids much of the bulk of many laptops in this class because it uses a smaller 14.1-inch display over more common 15.4-inch or the newer 16-inch panels. It also has some decent performance thanks to its strong Core 2 Duo P8400 processor and large hard drive. The downside is that this system lacks a dedicated graphics processor that most in this price range now include and Sony decided not to include such peripheral connectors as HDMI or eSATA.
3 von 5, Leistung mäßig, Mobilität gut
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/20/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% performance: 60% mobility: 80%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Aha.vn VN→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/21/2009
Rating: Total score: 90%
Sony Vaio VGN-CS215J/W
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-CS215J/WProcessor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 700 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series) Vaio VGN-CS215J/W (Model)
Pricecompare
Average Score:
Reviews
Source: CNet Archive.org version
The $799 Sony Vaio CS215J/W is a clean-looking, glossy white laptop that is a slight step up in terms of features from Sony's other budget retail offering, the $699 Sony Vaio VGN-NS240E/W. Sony makes a handful of even cheaper laptops, but the CS215J/W hits good compromise between design, features, and price among sub-$900 systems.
70, Preis 80, Ausstattung 80
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/06/2009
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% features: 80%
Sony VAIO VGN-CS230J/Q
Specifications
Notebook: Sony VAIO VGN-CS230J/QProcessor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD
Display: 14.10 inch, , 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 900 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series)
Pricecompare
Average Score:
Reviews
Source: Comp Reviews Archive.org version
May 23 2009 - Sony's VAIO CS series laptops have the advantage of being more portable over most of their competitors thanks to the use of the 14.1-inch LCD panel. While performance is quite strong in the CS230J models and it has a decent price around $1000, it is possible to get better equipped 15-inch laptops for roughly the same price. This makes the laptops only real selling point its portability and the Sony name.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/22/2009
Rating: Total score: 40%
Sony Vaio VGN-CS220J/T
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-CS220J/TProcessor: Intel Core 2 Duo T6400
Graphics Adapter: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 900 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series)
Pricecompare
Reviews
Source: Notebookreview.com Archive.org version
The Sony VAIO CS is a nice multimedia notebook with good looks and some pretty cool features. The pulsing light bar adds a bit of flare to this notebook, with the closest alternative being LED’s on some large gaming rigs. Build quality could be better, with a lot of flex in the upper half of the notebook. The plastic creaks when you are opening and closing the lid ... not really the sound you want coming from your notebook. Sony also limited the amount of ports on the notebook, not even including eSATA or HDMI. With an optional Blu-ray drive it is inexcusable not to offer an HDMI to hook it up to a stereo and HDTV. Overall I think if you like the design and the pulsing lights this notebook is worth checking out in retail stores like Best Buy, but still look at other VAIOs above and below the size of the CS.
Mobilität 80, Verarbeitung 40
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/01/2009
Rating: mobility: 80% workmanship: 40%
Sony Vaio VGN-CS390
Specifications
Notebook: Sony Vaio VGN-CS390Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixels
Weight: 2.7kg
Price: 650 euro
Links: Sony homepage Sony notebook section Vaio VGN-CS (Series)
Pricecompare
Foreign Reviews
Source: Sohoa VN Express VN→EN Archive.org version
User Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 08/05/2009
Rating: performance: 60% display: 65% mobility: 65% workmanship: 65%
Comment
Sony: Sony Corporation is one of the largest Japanese electronics companies. The company was founded in 1946 under a different name and initially produced rice stoves. The company launched the first transistor radio. In 1958, the company was renamed Sony. Sony is a combination of the Latin word sonus (sound) and the English word sonny (little boy). Today, its core business is consumer electronics. The company is engaged in the development, design, manufacture and sale of electronic equipment, instruments, devices, game consoles and software. Sony operates in the following segments: Gaming and Network Services, Music, Images, Home Entertainment and Sound, Imaging Products and Solutions, Mobile Communications, Semiconductors, Financial Services and Others.
Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.
NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS: Compared to the 9300M G, the GS has only 8 unified shaders but a higher clock rate. Therefore, the performance should be similar according to Nvidia. Supports
Hybrid-SLI (GeForceBoost and HybridPower) with Nvidia 9100M G and PureVideo HD (VP3).
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD: Onboard (shared Memory) GPU built in the GM45, GE45 and GS45 chipset (Montevina). Because of two more shaders and a higher core clock, much faster than the old GMA X3100. Still not advisable for gamers (DirectX 10 games not playable or only with very low settings). The integrated video processor is able to help decode HD videos (AVC/VC-2/MPEG2) , e.g., for a fluent Blu-Ray playback with slow CPUs.
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430: Entry level low end dedicated graphics adapter with slower clock rates than the HD 3450.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core 2 Duo: This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more power consumption. As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU).
The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Core 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower voltages (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). The performance of equally clocked notebooks is 20-25% lower than Desktop PCs because of the lower Frontside bus clock and the slower hard disks.
P8400:
Middle class dual core CPU with a TDP of 25 Watt. For high end gamer the performance could be not sufficient (for class 1 graphic cards).
T5800: Entry level dual core processor based on the Merom core without Virtualization support and a low maximum temperature.
T9600:
High-end dual core CPU and similar to the Core 2 Duo P9700 but with a higher power consumption (35 W versus 28 W). Should be sufficient for all games of 2009.
P8600:
Fast but still not overpriced dual core CPU. For most games and multimedia applications sufficient and due to the 25W TDP even for smaller notebooks useable.
T6400: Entry level dual core processor based on the Penryn core with only 2 MB level 2 cache and a low clock speed.
Intel Pentium Dual Core: The return of the name Pentium, though it is a Yonah core. In fact, it is a double Core processor with a very good relation of performance to current consumption.
T4200:
Entry class dual core CPU with 1 MB level 2 cache and no virtualization technology. Compared to the Core 2 Duo line, some power saving mechanism are deactivated.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
2.4 kg:
2.7 kg:
With this weight, a laptop is rather heavier than average. Devices in this range shine more with screen size and performance than with mobility.
69.83%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.