Sony has been touting the Vaio Pro 13, their latest ultrabook released this summer, as the slimmest in the segment where thin is always in.

True to form, this 13.3-inch screen ultrabook is approximately only 1.2 centimeters thick, hence, closely rivaling the measurements of the 13-inch MacBook Air.

Besides slimness, the Vaio Pro 13, at slightly above 1 kilogram, stares down market competitors in the weight department.

Sony has accredited the lightness of their latest ultrabook to the use of carbon fiber in the casing.

According to the Japanese electronics giant, this carbon fiber casing is 50 percent lighter and 25 percent stronger than the aluminum exteriors common among other ultrabooks in the market.

The litheness of the Sony Vaio Pro 13, however, has its drawbacks. Although Sony promises that the casing is rigorous despite being ultra-thin, the keyboard creaks slightly when the ultrabook is lifted, with its screen popped open, with one hand.

The super-slim screen also rattles at the hinges when being tapped, so users need to either tap gently or grip on to one side of the screen to keep it stable.

In addition, the clamshell-style screen cannot be tilted much further than 90 degrees, reducing viewing comfort when the ultrabook is placed on surfaces below eye-level, including on the lap.

When fully pushed back, the screen acts as a prop that will lift the back-lit keyboard into a slant for the benefit of the wrists.

It would have been great if Sony allowed more screen flexibility so that users could better enjoy the crispness of the screen'€™s resolution and wide viewing angles. After all, Sony has embedded the Triluminos Display technology '€” similar to that found in their Bravia televisions '€” in the Vaio Pro 13.

Battery wise, the Sony Vaio Pro 13 holds up well. On full battery, the ultrabook did without re-charging when used for a full work day of typing and accessing text and images on the Internet via Wi-Fi.

The ultrabook also comes with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, allowing '€œone-touch listening'€, in which users can transmit songs in their Vaio to nearby NFC-enabled devices, such as speakers.

All in all, Sony has put the wow factor into their latest ultrabooks via the lightness and slimness of the construction. However, Sony could have made the experience even better through a rattle-free and more flexible screen.

Sony estimates that its summer releases, which include the smaller-screen Vaio Pro 11, will hit the shelves in Indonesia starting in August. Prices for the new Vaio Pro series are forecast to range between Rp 10 '€“ Rp 17 million.

The Good
Ultra slim and lightweight for great portability
Wide, crisp screen
Comfortable typing angle

The Bad
Lack of flexibility with screen
Rattly screen hinges
Slightly creaky keyboard

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