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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.
HP Envy 14 review
The HP Envy 14 is like the final revision of a C+ term paper that always had potential, but just needed an bit of extra information and refinement to get an A. In fact, when HP introduced the Envy 14, the company was rather blunt about the fact that many of the issues that plagued the original Envy systems had been addressed, including the lack of an optical drive and backlight keyboard, the frustrating touchpad and the heat caused by the Core i7 processor. On paper, the 14.5-inch Envy 14 has everything we wanted to see in those first models while still maintaining its beautiful yet tough etched aluminum chassis. It's also got a new lower $999 starting price, though our review unit rang up at $1,290. So, has the Envy 14 finally make its way to the head of the class? We've spent some quality time with the rig to find out. %Gallery-98777%
Acer Aspire 8943G hits US retailers, less glorious laptops in tow
Hoping to get your hot little hands on those brushed metal keys and gorgeous LED touchpad? You're in luck, as the 18.4-inch Acer Aspire 8943G (aka Ethos) has finally arrived stateside. $1,549 buys you a 1.6GHz Core i7-720QM and 4GB of RAM, plus a 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 and Blu-ray drive to power that 1080p LED-backlit screen. If you'd rather not lug around a 10.1 pound desktop replacement, though, or if the 8943G's a little too rich for your blood, Acer's got some other machines that might better match your style. The Acer Aspire AS7745 and AS5745 -- incremental updates to these puppies -- bring home Core i5 and Core i7 processors, with the $1,399 17.3-inch AS7745G boasting Radeon HD 5650 graphics and Blu-ray while the $899 AS5745PG comes with a 15.6-inch multitouch screen. There's even a budget lineup starting at $429 next month if you're looking for a netbook alternative. No matter which you choose, you'll find details in the press releases after the break... but since you know you really want that 8943G (see the gallery below) you might as well hit Amazon at our more coverage link. You didn't need that rent money, right?%Gallery-94344%
