Sony took the wraps off its new line of low-cost notebooks this week.
The Vaio E Series notebook made its vibrant debut–vibrant because the PCs come in five translucent, high-gloss colors–as senior vice president of the Vaio business group at Sony Mike Abary made claims of his company’s “bringing innovation to the PC industry.”
“The E Series delivers contemporary-cool designs at mainstream prices, proving consumers no longer have to sacrifice style for affordability,” Abary told Vaio loyalists and speculators.
E Series Features
Select E Series models pack an Intel Core i5 processor with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies. Up to 500 GB hard drives are available. All E Series PCs come pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium OS.
Data can be quickly transfered and stored peripheral devices using the E Series’ eSATA/USB port and three USB ports. Select models incorporate Bluetooth technology.
The E Series is Energy Star 5.0 Qualified, EPEAT Silver registered, and RoHS compliant. Its corrugated cardboard packaging is comprised of 95 percent recycled content. Sony will also help recycle old PCs (recycling fees may apply).
The model features a 15.5-inch (measured diagonally) widescreen display with optional HD capability. It also sports and option for Blu-ray Disc ROM drive technology and DVD and CD read/write functionalities. All E Series model include an HDMI output.
A built-in webcam with face-tracking technology and microphone enable communications, but of course, a third-party service provider is required.
The E Series notebook also comes with three unique hardware buttons–“Web,” “Vaio,” and “Assist.” These are aimed at making it easy for users to quickly get to the functionality they desire. For example, access the Internet needn’t demand a full boot up in Windows. Similarly, media can be enjoyed via the “Viao” button, and DIY PC maintenance tips can be sought via the “Assist” button.
The VAIO E Series notebook will retail for about $700. It is available for pre-orders online. It will also be sold at Sony Style stores and at other major retailers around the country starting next month.
