Dominating the case when you open the lid is the 14.1-inch TFT LCD screen, which is bright and sharp and offers plenty of workspace. Underneath this screen, which can handle a top resolution of 1024 x 768, is a keyboard whose keys are nearly all full-sized. Coupled with the large wrist-rest area, in which there's a track-pad mouse device, this means that touch-typing is a comfortable affair on the Vaio, although the notebook is probably a little too heavy to be used on the lap for very long.

Where the original Vaio lacked features, the PCG-F190 more than compensates. There's a built-in floppy drive, a built-in DVD-ROM drive, an i.Link (IEEE 1394) port for downloading still images from Sony's DV cameras, as well as USB and infra-red connectivity and a pair of PC Card (PCMCIA) ports. Sony contains a 56K PC Card modem with the notebook, and this can be upgraded to GSM, Ethernet and ISDN if required. Software supplied with the new Vaio contains a MiniDisc editor, video capture software, video editing software and win 98.

Sony - Vaio PCG-F190 features - Verdict

Sony - Vaio PCG-F190 Cost

£2559 + VAT

Sony: 0990 424424