CNET has published a report of the Sony VAIO SZ. According to the review, the SZ has a “sleek, carbon-fiber case; large, comfortable keyboard; bright, high-quality display; integrated Webcam and microphone; solid performance and decent battery life.”

On the downside, however, the SZ lacks a multi-card reader, which is available on competitive models, and the speakers are apparently substandard.

The main concern CNET has with Sony’s new notebook is the price tag. The average price of the Sony VAIO SZ is $2,399, which is considerably steep. With that said, it’s important to note that notebooks designed for business class users are almost always expensive, because of the portability factor and the amount of finances manufacturers have to invest in R&D to release a competitive business class model that’s portable, has a fairly decent battery life and is packed with features in a congested format. Additionally, manufacturers also consider the fact that those who want a business class notebook can actually afford it, which is why you never see them on sale similar to standard models.

Despite the steep price, CNET concludes its review with the following:

“The Sony VAIO SZ manages to be eminently portable without sacrificing a readable screen or a usable keyboard, and it incorporates all of the features and components, and most of the connections, that business users need.”