Japanese manufacturer VAIO has just released the new SX12 Ultrabook, making the tiny and port-heavy laptop available for customers in the United States.
The SX12 is the slightly smaller version of the VAIO SX14 that was rolled out earlier in the year. Despite its diminutive size, it packs one heck of a wallop with its U-series Core i5 processor and 8 GB RAM with 256 GB of storage.
There's also an i7 version with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD storage available for heavy users.
A Port-Heavy Laptop
The i5-processor Ultrabook has a 12.5-inch 1080p non-touchscreen display and features eight different ports for input/output needs. It has two SuperSpeed USB (3.0) port, one charge-capable SuperSpeed USB (3.1) port, one USB Type-C 3.1) port with power delivery and DisplayPort (1.2), one 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T Ethernet port, one HDMI port, one VGA port, and one headphone and microphone port.
Meanwhile, the i7 version has a similar display size but with six ports. It has two SuperSpeed USB (3.0), a charge-capable SuperSpeed USB (3.1) port, a USB Type-C 3.1) port with power delivery and DisplayPort (1.2), and a 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T Ethernet port. The last port is reserved for the laptop's HDMI1, VGA1, headphone, and microphone input/output.
Both versions also have dedicated slots for full-sized Secure Digital (SD) cards.
The i5 VAIO SX12 is priced at $1,199 and comes in pink or silver, while the i7 SX12 is priced at $2,119 and comes in black. They are now available for order at VAIO's website. There were rumors that the new Ultrabook would only be rolled out in Japan, but some U.S.-based buyers reportedly were able to place their orders without any problems.
The VAIO Brand
Sony helped usher in the VAIO-line of personal computers in the late 1990s through the early to mid-2000s. Due to poor PC sales, the company was forced to sell the brand to investment group Japan Industrial Partners in 2014.
Instead of continuing Sony's line of laptops, JIP decided to hit the refresh button and developed its own VAIO devices. One of its most recent creations is the VAIO SX14, a thin and lightweight laptop with all the bells and whistles of a modern PC.
The SX14 provides more options when it comes to connectivity. Unlike many other modern laptops, the 14-inch VAIO features two USB-A 3.0 ports, one USB-A 3.1 port, one USB-C 3.1 port, one HDMI port, one VGA port, one Ethernet port, one SD card slot, and a headphone jack.
These ports could come in handy in different situations, such as having to connect the VAIO SX14 to a separate monitor or a multimedia projector during workplace presentations. The built-in Ethernet port could also be a godsend when there are no available Wi-Fi connections and users need to tap to their office's internet network.
