Sony VAIO Pro 13 review: Specs of the Windows Uiltrabook Sony VAIO Pro 13 include a 13.3-inch display, Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM. Retailing for $1,250, the unit is a decent buy but not a grand slam for a laptop.

With a measurement of 0.68 x 12.75 x 8.5 inches and a weight of 2.3 pounds, the Vaio Pro 13's sleek metallic body has a plus in terms of portability. Recommended for travel, it can fit most travel bags and even on an airline tray table.

It is made of carbon fiber for a stronger built, quite similar to the Acer Aspire S7 and to the Apple Macbook 13-inch model.

The VAIO Pro 13's 13.3-inch 10-point touchscreen displays has a 1920x1080 resolution, bright and clear enough for a good media viewing experience.

Thanks to its fourth-generation Intel Core i5-4200U processor and PCIe-based 128GB SSD, this ultrabook delivers a sound performance. However, because of its 128 GB memory, it is not really a treat for multimedia savvies. Still, the VAIO Pro 13 gets a thumbs up for starting up quickly after a sleep or a cold boot.

In terms of battery life, Sony could have worked on this ultrabook more. In PC Mag's bench test, it lasted for 6 hours 23 minutes, "a few minutes short of the Asus UX31A-BH15T, but hours longer than the Dell XPS 13-MLK and Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch." However, all the mentioned ultrabooks are still way beyond Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air which lasted for 15.5 hours.

Moreover, PC Mag's verdict says, "It's very good, though Sony really needs a grand slam to distance itself from similar rivals." Although it brings stiff competition, it doesn't have the oomph that will make it stand out.