The latest Sony Z-series laptops, the Sony VAIO PCV-Z214GX ($ 2499.99 list with dock and battery slice), is as thin as the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch ($ 1,299 direct, 4 stars) many times more powerful. It comes with a docking station that provides high-end a ton of features and extended battery slice. While the "Light Peak" Power Media Dock, which includes a Blu-ray, AMD discrete graphics, and host of connectivity ports, is innovative, it's a desktop unit and not meant to be carted around. The laptop provides an unprecedented 15 hours of battery life, but does so with the extended battery slice (which is part of the bundle) added to the laptop, yet another external component that tacks on weight. The loud fan noises (during resource-intensive tasks) and below-par typing experience hold this laptop back.