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Sony updates VAIO F, E, and L with shiny new silicon, a pinch of Blu-ray and some denser screens
Fall is fully upon us and winter around the bend, which can only mean one thing -- time for Sony to refresh its alphabet soup of Vaio laptops with some seasonal upgrades. First and foremost, the 16.4-inch VAIO F is getting a kick in the graphical department -- just as expected, you can grab a GeForce GT 425M 1GB for a nominal $50 fee -- and there's a pair of standard-issue USB 3.0 ports to power some potent peripherals. The Vaio L touchscreen all-in-one, meanwhile, is getting a Blu-ray burner at the $2,199 level, and both the VAIO EA and VAIO EB have access to 2.53GHz Core i5-460M and 2.66GHz Core i5-580M processors for $130 and $230 premiums, respectively, as well as ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics for a mere $100. Last but not least, the EB and EC can trade in their weak 1366 x 768 displays for 1920 x 1080 full HD panels nearly worthy of Paul Miller's enthusiasm, and until October 9th that particular $50 upgrade costs you the very reasonable price of free.
Sony VAIO EC Series review (VPCEC25FX/WI)
Sony's always had a knack for making some of the best multimedia laptops around, and the VAIO EC Series is all about continuing the trend. The desk-dominating 17.3-inch laptop is a monster of a machine, and has the internal guns to match – it's got a Core i3 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 graphics card, 4GB of RAM, 500GB of storage and a Blu-ray drive. For $949.99, there are definitely more affordable desktop replacements on the market, but can Sony's usual superior manufacturing build, design and multimedia prowess elevate it above the others? Hit that 'read more' link to find out in our full review. %Gallery-96938%
Sony VAIO EA and EC Series excite with colors and Core i3
You've really got a thing for florescent these days, don't ya Sony? Just like its colorful 15.5-inch EB series, Sony's new 14-inch VAIO EA and 17.3-inch EC Series are available in colors that can only remind us of 80's workout attire, including bright green, blue, and pink. Though (thankfully!) for us more conservative types, the two new lines are also available in a matte white, brown and black. The budget systems ring up at around $700, and both feature a Core i3 350M CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. There is a Blu-ray option and an onboard HDMI port. Sony's also gone and added its own instant-on OS, which is launched by hitting the WEB button above the keyboard. Our favorite part about the two machines? Funny enough it has nothing to do with the laptops themselves -- it happens to be the rubber keyboard skins that Sony will sell for $25 along side these lappies for keeping the chiclet keyboards safe from crumbs and everyday ware. Both models will be up for pre-order today, though will ship in July. %Gallery-94643%
