Sony E Series on SonyStyle US

The Sony EB Series finally arrives on SonyStyle US!
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...98552921644699998&N=4294953240#specifications

I'm not too sure if I like the new colors though.
Especially disappointed at the ATI Mobility 5470 too...was hoping for the ATI 5650.
Release Date stated: Feb 7th

 

ahhhhhhh! those colors!! what in the world, lol

 

Those keyboards with skins look like laptops in Toysrus.

 

Wow, those colors are awful!

I'm really disappointed to see that they used a keyboard with keypad. I was really hoping for a layout like the NW series - with separate home, pgup, pgdn, end keys along the right edge - on this refresh of the 15" line.

 

How lucky that Europe doesn't have such awful colors! The colors that are available in Europe are Brown, white and black.

http://gallery.vaio.eu/product_gallery/index.php?s=y&c=nl&l=nl

 

I canceled my F-series VAIO and ordered an E-series VAIO via the Dutch SonyStyle-website. In glossy black.

A few advantages for me compared to the F-series:

-smaller size (15,5" and no 16,4", and still an option for a full hd-screen)
-an option for a faster video card (ati 5650 instead of a nvidia 330m edit: I noticed that the 5650 is not an option in the US though)
-the black color option with an i5 cpu (and no i7 cpu necessary to choose for a black color)
-lower weight (2,7 kg instead of 3kg)
-longer batterylife

 

A few interesting links:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/laptops/275503/sony-vaio-vpc-eb1s0e-wi

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/laptops/355240/sony-vaio-vpc-eb1s0e

 

Lucky for Europe to have better specs!!!

The Ati 5650 card plus the better battery life would win me over the F.
We'll see what happens when options become available in February 7.
If USA is stuck with an embarrasing 5470 card, this is not worth it.

Who are they marketing this laptop too? Barney? Sponge Bob? I have hope for the Gunmetal finish..

 

I think I just figured it out. Sony has given Toys R Us exclusive rights to sell the EB series as their "Blue Label" line. It all makes sense to me now LOL.

 

Aww...I was just about to pull the trigger on the F-Series, but now I think I'm gonna go with the E instead, since it's got better specs by comparison and it's cheaper!

One thing I can't quite decide though, is whether there's any noticeable difference in performance in daily use between the the i5-430M and the i3-330M to warrant the extra £50, or maybe I should save the cash on something else?

Can anybody help?

 

If you don't care about the display the E series is the better choice, otherwise there only can be the F series.

 

@asdamine

sorry i've got no info on i3 vs i5 since i've been only paying attention to the i7

Check out : http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3704 for an article to get a general idea on the i3 vs i5

In my experience buying laptops, if the price difference isn't that great then I would go for the higher spec. Besides if I went for lower spec I would always have buyers remorse and wished I have gone the other way everytime I look at the laptop.

 

@SSJ

If Sony US will bring over current Europe specs for the E series, then they can be configured with 1920x1080 screeens I believe.

I just realized that those kooky colors are removable keyboard skins

 

They are wasting their time with making more new models that their line-up never needed. They should be focusing on refining their already existing notebooks, which have plenty of problems of their own.

Already, there are a few setbacks for this machine, even for a budget notebook.

1. No switchable graphics and as a consequence...
2. Short battery life
Also...
3. Poor display quality
4. Incredibly weak speakers (somehow became a recent trend)

The only thing good about this notebook is the option for the Core i5 processor and the Ati 5650 graphics card. The design is something fresh, but would have been better if they got rid of the glossy surfaces (matte>glossy).

They have been focusing on things of far less importance, such as backlit keyboards. Now, they have ruined the look by adding a numberpad on the side.

That said, anything around 15" is the ideal size for a notebook.
The fact that Sony doesn't have any "good" notebooks in this range is rather disappointing.

The price needs to match the quality if they want to stay competitive.
They seem to forget that there is a substantial number of people who would pay a bit more to get the optimal configuration they are looking for.
Failing to offer options is what plagues this company these days.

 

Thanks for the link. Shame it's only about the Clarkdale Desktop versions. But I've already read a bit on i3 vs i5 and judging from the benchmarks it seems to me that there isn't really big a difference between the 2 chips, even when the i5-430M has Turbo Boost on.

But like you said I don't want to regret later for having opted for a (slightly) inferior CPU, assuming the i5 does saves me time with the Boost. On the other hand I could certainly use the £50 for something else like a laptop sleeve or a bigger HDD...what a tough choice!

 

Actually the profile reminds me of the old Vaio FS series but now rounded off and outfitted with a number pad.

 

My, that is one ugly laptop (in the garish colours, that is). Almost ugly enough to be cool, but only almost.

The specs aren't too bad, though -- solid midrange.

 

I'm a little disappointed. I wish they would have stuck with the NW keyboard and finish. Glossy laptops look terrible after a year. Hmmm...I may just find a NW on clearance.

So how long until we expect the pre-configs to show up in stores???

 

With budget 14"-15" laptops you generally don't find laptops with hybrid graphics.
For the price the spec is very good.
The high res display might be of decent quality, we don't know yet.
Yes, those skins can be removed. If you click on gallery you will see that.
They really could do with changing the splash page picture.
It would be good if Sony could make the 5650 an option for the F series also.

I didn't like the NW texture at all. That rippled texture i always found a bit strange.

 

I definitely would want the 5650 on the F. I'd pay more for that if there will be an option. I did buy an F and am very confused by Sony's line-up strategy. F and Z are currently their recently updated high end models. Maybe with the rate they're going, we'll be seeing the return of their flagship AW with some other name and the Ati 5650 card.

But with the Ati 5650 on the budget E and the 330m on the premium F is crazy.
The F already throttles down in battery and there is no fix to that so what's the point? Major task performance takes a hit while on battery vs plain web surfing and battery life is already embarrasing. So far there is minimal heat. I say pack that card in and have it perform exceedingly well plugged in.

What Sony will see is me returning the F (again) and just getting the E but most likely get another brand. Sony should have put that card in the F in the first place rather than wait for a refresh.

 

Your mind reading abilities are amazing.



Wow sony you did it again! You have produced another pointless notebook nobody asked for, a NW with different PAINT, keypad and a new processor. At least it isn't another $1500+ 13.3 inch model!

 

It does have support for the i3/i5 IGP tho, right ?(HM55 Express Chipset)

Btw anyone knows who is the barebone maker?

 

What do you mean? Where it is manufactured?

 

It seems it's Quanta http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quanta_Computer.

Don't tell me u didnt know that Sony its just a stamp to make us fell special
they do not manufacture the notebook, just add in the RAM, HDD, ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barebone_computer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_design_manufacturer

 

The low resolution which is offered atm really annoys me, whats the point in buying a sony if it doesn't have a good screen. If they upgrade the resolution I might consider it, the gpu options seem decent enough for my needs.

 

Resolution seems fine

Maybe you meant upgrade from LCD to OLED ?

 

They don't have the full hd option in the us if i'm right only in europe

 

No, he was talking about the fact that Sony Style USA currently is only offering the 1366 x 768 resoulution and not the 1920 x 1080.

 

Well I saw @Antwerp which is in Belgium EU that's why..
Anyway for me the LED vs OLED holds me from buying

 

New E series added to Sonystyle Hong Kong today.

http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/ss/product/vaio/index_5_e.jsp

 

Welcome to the 21st century, I am fully aware that sony cost cut and outsource most of their manufacturing to Taiwan/mainland.

some high end notebooks still built in Japan e.g Vaio X, but who wants to spend $1799 on a atom netbook with a vga port.....

Taiwan manufacturing FTW.



Also the VPC E is a replacement for the mainstream 15 inch VPN NW which was only released last year. Confusing business practices by sony