Sony VPCM12M1E (Laptop Computers)

Bring a touch of pink to your netbook

Eye-catching looks and decent performance

So you've decided you want something bright and easily portable. The M12 is your netbook and its beauty is more than skin deep, with good specs and a highly usable keyboard to keep you going. Sony's build quality is generally excellent and this feels...

So you've decided you want something bright and easily portable. The M12 is your netbook and its beauty is more than skin deep, with good specs and a highly usable keyboard to keep you going. Sony's build quality is generally excellent and this feels...

With a smooth white lid and embossed VAIO logo, there's no mistaking the M12M1E for a Sony product. The sleek curves and subtle design cues make it stand out against most other netbooks.

A reasonably cheap netbook let down by low battery life and average usability.

The Sony Vaio M-series VPCM12M1E/P doesn't exactly break new ground in terms of its performance, but it impresses with a bright, clear screen and a comfortable keyboard. We wish the trackpad were more comfortable and the battery lasted longer, but, if...

Great display ; Comfortable keyboard ; Lightweight

Annoying trackpad ; Mediocre battery life

The left- and right-click buttons are quite fiddly too. Unlike those on some laptops, however, they don't require a huge effort to press. We didn't find that they became uncomfortable during long periods of use either