Which VAIO E Series is Right for You

What's up with all these different model numbers? Typically one looks like this "SVE14A290X". It's actually quite simple. "S" stands for Sony, "V" for VAIO, "E" for E-series, "14" for the display size - there is also an "11", "15" and "17". It's similar to a MacBook Pro 13, 15, or 17.

Size, Weight, and Battery Life

All of the VAIO E series laptops are made-in-Japan and have the usual Sony built quality you'd come to expect. E series stands for "Everyday computing", which doesn't have to mean entry-level models, but not not something high end like the VAIO Z. The E series is an in-the-middle mainstream line-up. In terms of weight the 11-inch is 3.32 lbs, the 14-inch is 5.30 lbs, the 15-inch 5.97 lbs, and the 17-inch 7.05 lbs. That's comparable to say an HP g-series where a 15-inch weighs 5.46 lbs.

Battery life depends on the size. As with many other laptop, you generally have better battery life when you go small. The 11-inch gets about 5 hours and 30 minutes, the 14-inch gets 5 hours and 30 minutes, and the 15 and 17-inchers get about 2 hours and 30 minutes. If you need mobility and battery life, the 14-inch is a clear winner.

Display and Resolution

All of the display are decent Sony LED-LCD display, with the 17.3" giving you a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. The 14 and 15-inchers comes in at 1366 x 768 resolution, pretty typical for laptops in their price range, except for models with a Touchscreen where the resolution is an improved 1600 x 900. Most models come with Intel HD 4000 except for a few 11-inch and 14-inch models with AMD Radeon HD 7340M and AMD Radeon HD 7670M.

Options and other widgets

If you want your laptop in a specific color most e-series models come in Black, White or Pink. You might also be surprised to find most E series laptops sport a back-lit keyboard. The only one without is the 11-inch size.

The Bottom Line

All in all, the E series are fine machines that have been very popular through-out their lifespan. Their models are constantly being refreshed in style through time. While they're not a super computing powerhouse, they are far from being slow machines either. Most models can play light gaming with the integrated graphics - though, to be honest, if you're looking to game you probably shouldn't look at this line-up of VAIOs. It's an "every man" laptop with different color choices, a backlit keyboard, and respectable battery life.