Tap (SVT)

From VAIO Library

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Overview

VAIO Tap 11 from different angles
VAIO Tap 11 from different angles

The Sony VAIO Tap (SVT) was a laptop-tablet hybrid created by Sony in 2013 and was part of the last generation of Sony's VAIO range. It boasted good specs in a less than 10mm thick chassis, such as an Intel Pentium or Core i5, 4GB (Standard) or 8GB (Maximum) of RAM and a 256GB SSD or, in some models, a combination of HDD and SSD, to maximize storage with little performance being affected.

On the back of the device there is an 8MP camera, which does a resolution of 3264x2449 which takes decent photos. On the front there is a 0.9MP camera which takes bad photos, but is alright for video conferences, but for what else would you be using it for anyway.

The VAIO Tap has quite good I/O for a tablet, with USB 3.0, Micro SD, Micro HDMI and a 3.5mm combo jack.

Included in the box is a digitizer pen (powered by AAAA batteries), guides and flyers. An optional Ethernet Wi-Fi and Micro HDMI to VGA adapter could be purchased separately for a total of 60 Euros in 2013. Also included is a keyboard which connects to the laptop via RF or Bluetooth. It is not sure how it connects because NotebookCheck.net mentions Bluetooth but a comment on the review mentions RF.

Black VAIO Tap
Black VAIO Tap

Also included with the laptop was a bunch of Sony software, which made the laptop much slower than it could've been and takes up a ton of storage, leaving the user with 140GB of storage left on the 256GB SDD model. Some of the bloat software included was Office 365 Trial, McAfee LiveSafe and Sociallife.

Battery life was labeled as "Mediocre", lasting "only" 5 hours.

Detailed Specs

Processor: Intel Pentium 3rd generation (low end) or Intel Core i5 Haswell 4th generation (higher end)

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000

Chipset: Intel HM77 Express

Memory: 4GB (standard) or 8GB (maximum)

Display: 11.6" 1080p 16:9 TFT Glossy 190ppi

Storage: 256GB SSD (top end models) or 500GB/320GB HDD + 32GB SSD (lower end models)

Weight: 1.4kg

MSRP: 800-1500 Euros

Ports: Headphone-Microphone combo jack, Micro HDMI, 1x USB 3.0, Micro SD

Daily Usage Today

This laptop-tablet hybrid is still very usable today, YouTube should run at 1080p perfectly, office and business tasks are very doable, web browsing should be a good experience and any other daily tasks will run fine. Gaming is not possible on this device, you could try some older console emulation which will likely work but any relatively modern games starting 2010 will be unplayable. It should be fine with some lightweight retro games but nothing newer than the early 00s. Its tablet functionality still obviously works fine and you can use to draw with its nice stylus and take notes of a lecture for example.

Resources

VAIO Tap Disassembly Guide

Credits

The Verge Review

NotebookCheck Review