3. Feather Light And Gorgeous, Continued

This mobile PC includes a 1.8" HD, which represents a good compromise between the performance and capacity of a larger, faster 2.5" hard disk, and a micro-drive in a 1" or smaller format. Naturally, a smaller drive also consumes less power and generates less heat. But more on that later...

The display on the TX is very easy to open. Instead of the usual grab and wrench maneuver needed to open most laptops, a spring inside the hinge on the display holds the clamshell lid open when the case latch is disengaged and the lid is lifted slightly. This is a small but elegant design touch, and one that you'll quickly learn to appreciate.

No heavy lifting needed - the display lid is easy to grab and simple to open.

To keep the case light but still strong, Sony chose a carbon fiber laminate for the display lid, and a carbon composite material for the rest of the case. According to the vendor, both of these materials are lighter and tougher than other materials, such as magnesium, and are the most popular choice for aircraft and racing gear construction. This helps explain the incredibly light weight of the Sony TX models.

The display lid is made of a carbon fiber laminate

Thin-walled but incredibly tough: schematic of TX Series case construction

Despite the many theoretical advantages of these carbon materials, you can't help but notice a quiet flexing sound from the case when you pick this lightweight laptop up with one hand. This left us with the purely subjective impression that this case wasn't especially stable or rigid.