Sony VAIO VPCEC3BFX/BJ

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Reviews for the Sony VAIO VPCEC3BFX/BJ

70% Sony VAIO EC Review
Source: Notebookreview.com Archive.org version
After spending several weeks with the VAIO EC my overall opinion is that this is a good notebook for a reasonable price. Our review unit is one of the older configurations that is still available in retail outlets (including many SonyStyle brick-and-mortar stores found in shopping malls), but newer configurations offer better processors for a starting price of $750. It's a shame we couldn't test one of those newer configurations, because the slower Pentium-class processor and slower hard drive in our test system proved to be less than impressive. On the bright side, the AMD ATI dedicated graphics give this desktop replacement notebook all the power it needs to handle multimedia applications and some modern games. The build quality feels a little weak in spots, but the Sony VAIO EC makes a fine multimedia notebook if you're on a budget ... and it's even more impressive if you buy the newer configurations.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/27/2011
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 70% performance: 60% features: 70% mobility: 80% ergonomy: 80%

Sony VAIO EC Series Review (VPCEC3BFX/BJ): Large and in Charge
Source: Notebooks.com Archive.org version
While the crazy thin MacBook Air and Lenovo U260 have been getting a lot of attention, there are many users who are looking for a much larger computing experience; one that replaces their desktop instead of something that can go everywhere they go. The Sony VAIO EC series is one of these notebooks. With a 17.3″ display and a weight of close to 8 pounds you won’t be putting this in your backpack every day, but if you want a computer to keep by the couch or on a desk the VAIO EC is worth a look.
mobility 55, ergonomy 60
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/17/2010
Rating: mobility: 55% ergonomy: 60%

Comment

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470: Entry level DirectX 11 chip with GDDR5 support but only 80 shader cores. Supports Eyefinity (up to 4 monitors) and 8-ch HD audio over HDMI. Performance on par with the old GeForce 8600M GT.

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

P6100: The Pentium P6100 is an entry level CPU based on the Arrandale core. Compared to the Celeron P4600, the P6100 offers a bit better performance due to the faster System Bus and an increased Level 3 cache. However, VT-x is not available for the P6100.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

17.30": This display size is a standard format for desktop replacements (DTR). The DTR laptops are heavier to carry, need more power, but texts are easy to read and high resolutions are no problem. DTR are mainly intended for stationary desk use, where weight and energy hunger don't matter. In return, you enjoy the advantages of high resolutions (more details, better legibility).» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

3.3 kg:

A laptop with this weight is comparatively heavy and less designed for mobility than for use at the desk. Therefore, the devices tend to shine less with battery life than with a large screen and higher performance.

Sony: Sony Corporation is one of the largest Japanese electronics companies. The company was founded in 1946 under a different name and initially produced rice stoves. The company launched the first transistor radio. In 1958, the company was renamed Sony. Sony is a combination of the Latin word sonus (sound) and the English word sonny (little boy). Today, its core business is consumer electronics. The company is engaged in the development, design, manufacture and sale of electronic equipment, instruments, devices, game consoles and software. Sony operates in the following segments: Gaming and Network Services, Music, Images, Home Entertainment and Sound, Imaging Products and Solutions, Mobile Communications, Semiconductors, Financial Services and Others.

70%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

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