Sony Sony VAIO VGN-TZ150N/B

Not Much RAM for Multitasking

This laptop has a relatively low amount of RAM. Generally speaking, 1-2GB of RAM is okay for light usage on a netbook or ultraportable laptop, but if you want to run Windows 7 or newer apps, you'll want more than that.

The more RAM your laptop has, the faster programs will run and the greater number of windows you can work in at one time. If your needs are simple and you rarely do more than two things at once on your PC, the relatively modest amount of memory that comes installed in inexpensive laptops will be enough.

Low Maximum Resolution Limits Screen's Viewable Area

A screen resolution of 1024 by 768 is also known as XGA (Extended Graphics Array). XGA became the de facto entry-level standard for most laptops around 2000, since it's easy to read and great for getting mainstream work done on small screens that have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Today, however, 1024 by 768 is a low resolution that limits how much you can see on screen at once. Wide-aspect laptops with screens of a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio have introduced resolutions that display more picture. The most common entry-level resolution is 1280 by 768 or 1280 by 800, aka WXGA (Wide Extended Graphics Array). Screens ranging in size from 10.6 inches to as large as 17 inches can have a WXGA native resolution, which provides about 25 percent more screen content than a display of 1024 by 768 does.

Supports SD Cards

Like most new laptops, this one has either a multiformat card reader or a dedicated slot that accepts an SD (Secure Digital) Card. More popular than Memory Stick, CompactFlash, and xD-Picture Card, SD is found in a large number of digital cameras, PDAs, printers, and other devices. SD Cards have built-in security functions to protect data, including music copyright protection. (The cards have a small write-protection switch on the side similar to that of a floppy disk.) The latest SD card, the microSDHC, is the tiniest flash memory card to date, measuring only 11mm across. It's also the fastest and roomiest, capable of holding up to 16GB of data.