Sony Vaio Tap 11 Hits Microsoft Surface Where It Hurts

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By Pete Pachal2013-09-04 14:45:48 UTC

Do you like the Microsoft Surface Pro but wish it were thinner, lighter or included a kickstand with more than one angle? The Sony Vaio Tap 11 is that machine — taking the idea of the Windows tablet and refining it in some key ways.

Like the Surface Pro, the Vaio Tap 11 is an Intel Core-based machine, although in the Tap's case it uses the company's latest fourth-generation chips, codenamed "

See also: The Problem With Windows 8

The more efficient chips give the machine a decent 6-hour rated battery life (the Surface Pro's is four). Unlike the Surface Pro, it runs plain Windows 8 out of the box, not Windows 8 Pro.

The 1,920 x 1,080 screen measures 11 inches, just slightly larger than the Surface family. It also comes with a wireless keyboard, an important difference between the Tap 11 and the Surface Pro's clickable Type and Touch Covers. The keyboard still acts as a cover for the screen when you're carrying it, staying in place via magnets, but it doesn't have a physical connection — helpful in those cramped airport seats.

I got a little hands-on time with the Tap 11 and came away very impressed by the overall form factor. Compared to the 2-pound Surface Pro, which took the idea of "mobile computing" to a new level, it feels like a featherweight. A big design advantage over the Surface is that the kickstand's hinge lets you view the display at multiple angles. However, since the stand is right in the middle and there's no keyboard to help "ground" the tablet, I found finger taps on the side of the screen would jostle it more than I expected.

The Vaio Tap 11 is an impressive amount of PC crammed into a small form factor, something Sony is getting very good at building — witness the Vaio Pro 11 laptop. The machine's solid-state drive (SSD) goes up to 512GB of storage. There's also an infrared blaster built in that works with a Vaio remote control app — a feature borrowed from the Android-based Xperia Z tablet and phone.

Sony throws a pressure-sensitive digitizing pen in the box for use with drawing and writing apps — including Adobe Creative Cloud programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator. There are ports for micro HDMI and USB 3.0 as well as a microSD card slot. It'll be on sale in October; no word yet on price.

In addition to the Tap 11, Sony is updating its big-screen Tap offering. The Vaio Tap 21 is a slightly bigger, updated version of the Tap 20 all-in-one. The biggest design change is the hinge (see below), which can now be easily adjusted with one hand.

How do you like Sony's answer to the Surface Pro, and how much would you pay for it? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Images: Mashable

Topics: Gadgets, IFA, IFA2013, Mobile, sony, sony vaio, Tech, vaio, Windows 8