Sony VAIO E Series: Core i3/i5 Overshadowed By Color

As painfully garish color schemes go, Sony's new VAIO E series will take some beating.  The company has taken a 15.5-inch notebook with an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and up to a 500GB hard-drive, and clad it in a variety of hues and finishes; they'll even sell you a matching (or eye-wateringly contrasting) keyboard skin.

If you can look past the finish, battery life is 3.5hrs and optional upgrades to Core i5 processors, Blu-ray (rather than the standard DVD burner) and Bluetooth are possible.  Connectivity includes an eSATA/USB combo, three further USB ports and an HDMI port, and there's a face-tracking webcam too.

The Sony VAIO E series is expected to begin shipping in February 2010, with prices kicking off at around $799.99.  You'll have to bring your own sense of taste, however.

Press Release:

SONY DELIVERS ENTRY-LEVEL PRICED NOTEBOOKS IN HIP NEW COLORS

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 2, 2010 – Sony today took the wraps off its new line of affordably-priced notebooks in chic new colors— the VAIO® E Series.

The E Series comes in five translucent, high-gloss colors— Caribbean Green, Iridescent Blue, Coconut White, Hibiscus Pink and Lava Black— and three matte colors—Maple Brown, Silver White and Gunmetal. Subtle patterns can be found on the lids, of the glossy models, with the palm rest mirroring the color of the PC adding a splash of brightness to the unit.

"Sony is once again bringing innovation to the PC industry," said Mike Abary, senior vice president of the VAIO business group at Sony. "The E Series delivers contemporary-cool designs at mainstream prices, proving consumers no longer have to sacrifice style for affordability."

The edge-to-edge isolated keyboard has a numeric pad built-in, giving you the experience of using a larger computer in a much smaller footprint. A pleasing dimpled touch pad is seamlessly integrated into the palm rest.

The E Series notebook features an optional Blu-ray Disc™ ROM drive, making it ideal for viewing pristine HD content on-the-go. It also has the added convenience of DVD and CD read/write functionalities.

The model features a stunning 15.5-inch (measured diagonally) widescreen display with optional HD capability so movies, video and photos can be enjoyed in brilliant clarity and razor-sharp detail.

For those who prefer to watch content on a big screen television, the PC has an HDMI™ output so it can be connected to a compatible HDTV set for a larger viewing experience (HDMI cable required, sold separately).

The E Series notebook also comes with three unique hardware buttons– WEB, VAIO and ASSIST to get you to where you want to go with a touch of a button.

Quickly access the Internet, without full boot up into Windows®, by simply pressing the WEB button. Launch directly into Sony's own Media Gallery software by pushing the designated VAIO button on the keyboard and create high-quality home movies. Finally troubleshoot any issues or facilitate simple do-it-yourself PC maintenance procedures by pressing the ASSIST button and launching the included VAIO Care™ software program.

Easily and quickly transfer and store data to peripheral devices utilizing the notebook's eSATA/ USB port and three convenient USB ports. Select models incorporate Bluetooth® technology, enabling peripherals such as a wireless mouse to be utilized without tying up the unit's ports.

A built-in webcam with face-tracking technology and microphone let you video chat with family, friends and colleagues. A third-party internet service provider is required.

Select E Series models pack an Intel® Core™ i5 processor with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies, delivering the performance needed for multitasking. Up to 500GB hard drives are available, providing ample storage for all your photos, files and videos. All E Series PCs come pre-installed with Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium operating system.

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 your old PC (www.sony.com/green; recycling fees may apply).

The VAIO E Series notebook will retail for about $700. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/e. It will also be sold at Sony Style® stores and at other major retailers around the country starting next month.