Sony Vaio VGN-TX37GP (Core Solo U1400 Processor 1.2GHz, 1GB RAM)

The small keyboard is surprisingly comfortable for short periods. (Click for larger image)

The TX37GP is fully Centrino-certified so it's capable of connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots for Internet access while away from home. Slightly disappointing was the fact that it doesn't come with an HSDPA card which is found in the FlyBook V33i that would have allowed the laptop to connect to the Internet at broadband speeds from just about anywhere. To its credit, the TX37GP comes with a PC Card slot so you can connect a third-party 3G datacard, and it has Bluetooth.

The TX37GP is very usable, for an ultraportable. Its keyboard is very comfortable, despite the keys being slightly cramped, as is the mouse, whose only drawback is its ultra-thin selector buttons. One thing you may not appreciate is the tiny 11.1-inch display. Yes, it runs at a widescreen resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels, and it uses LED backlights to save battery power, but it's very small for day-to-day use. You won't want to look at it for long periods unless you're watching a movie. In this respect, the TX37GP is pretty good--its glossy X-black screen highlights contrast and colors to improve picture quality.

The TX37GP comes with a good amount of software. You get Windows XP Professional Edition as standard, plus Microsoft Works, a trial version of Microsoft Office, Norton Internet Security (AntiSpyware Edition), Adobe Photoshop Elements and a variety of security software to help you get the most out of the laptop's integrated fingerprint reader. We have our reservations about fingerprint scanners--there will be countless examples of your fingerprint littered all over the surface of the laptop--but at least it means you don't have to remember complicated passwords. Unfortunately, you only get a one-year standard warranty, which is miserly considering the price of the laptop.

Performance And Battery Life
The TX37GP isn't built for speed, but that doesn't mean it's a slowcoach. It'll perform most tasks, as indicated by its respectable PCMark 2006 tally of 1,442. This isn't much higher than the TX2XP's 1,327 and it doesn't come close to the dual-core Samsung Q35's 2,618, but what it lacks in performance it makes up for in battery life.

The laptop lasted an amazing 538 minutes (nearly 9 hours) in our MobileMark 2005 test, building on the TX27GP's 4-hour battery life by a substantial margin. Battery life was slightly poorer during DVD playback, but it lasted 332 minutes, which is enough to watch more than three average-length movies without needing a charge.

Service And Support
Sony Vaio notebooks have a one-year local warranty. At Sony's support Web site, Vaio owners can download the latest drivers. For simple problems, the company offers an online knowledge database for troubleshooting. Should the unit require further diagnosis or repair, the customer will have to send the unit to the service center. For an additional S$90 (US$64.08), consumers can purchase the Vaio Overseas Service package which provides a 24-hour call center for repair requests and international warranty coverage at designated countries.

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