Overall, Sony's suck donkeyballs. The feel of the keyboards and the sound are terrible. You would think of all things the sound on a SONY 15" would at least be as good as on a Compaq 13". But NO! It was a major disappointment. I can only imagine what it's like on the ultra portables.
5 months into my new $2k FE the power input is starting to act funny. The left click is showing extreme signs of wear and the is some kind of memory burp happening every 20 minutes or so.
I'm taking it to the Sony Style store on Monday since I bought the max insurance and I'm telling them to fix every little thing on this bitch.
For laptops I have owned a Sony, Apple, Toshiba, Compaq & IBM.
I would only buy a Compaq, Toshiba and an Apple again. So far, if you can get over the whole no right click thing (which I can't) the Apple Macbooks are probably the best bet.
I'm like you and I really wanted to buy an ultra portable next but I think next I'm going to just buy another big 15" and also pick up either an IPhone or a HTC
The processors on those have come along far enough for me to do basic stuff that I would lug my computer around for anyway.