Sony unveiled on Wednesday a $549 laptop, indicating a shift in pricing strategy for the electronic giant. The Japanese firm introduced the Vaio Fit, a 14-inch laptop that is thin, light and has aluminium body.

CNET editors have the laptop three and a half stars rating or very good, noting its excellent features, performance and design for its price. The editors liked its bright and very responsive touch screen and higher resolution compared to competing laptops.

Like the HTC One which has been earning raves for its aluminium body, Sony Fit does not give owners a creaky, cheap-feeling plastic but provides brushed-aluminium lid with a solid body feel, the editors pointed out.

The lid gives the laptop the appearance of a higher-end laptop, even the price is in the mid-range, and provides more strength as well as protection to the device. CNET also found the bottom of the system nice, pointing to its smooth, matte black finish and fan vents hidden at the back.

There are upgrades to the Fit, the 15-inch version that has a price tag of $579 and non-E models priced at $649 and $699, respectively for the Fit 14 and Fit 15 models.

The $649 version features 1.8GHz Intel i5-337C processor, 8GB, 1,600MHz DDR3 memory, 750GB+8GB Hybrid hard drive, Intel HM77 chipset and Intel HD Graphics 4000. It runs on Windows 8, measures 13.3x9.3 inches, has a height of 0.8 inch, weights 4.3 lb or 4.75 lb including the AC adapter.

On the downside, CNET pointed out that its battery life runs for just five hours plus and it is not removable, while its speakers sound a bit thin.

However, overall, the editors are happy with the new Sony laptop given that it is an all-around excellent computing device at a price that will satisfy the basic demands for everyday use.

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