Sony VAIO EC Series VPCEC25FX

The Sony VAIO EC Series VPCEC25FX is a large & bulky multimedia / gaming laptop designed for serious gamers / film enthusiasts. It features an Intel Core i3 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 500GB SATA HDD, and an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 graphics module.

Though there are more affordable models on the market, critics hail the VPCEC25FX for surpassing competitiors in build, design and functionality. Consider for instance its extensive connectivity options (from HDMI to ExpressCard), the multitouch-compatible touchpad, and the ultra-wide 1600x900, 17.3” display (though a full 1080p display would be preferred). Especially notable is the unit’s performance, which critics say outperforms most Core i5-powered machines. Plus the ATI module can output 1080p Blu-ray and YouTube content to a compatible HDTV. One limiting factor though is the speakers, which critics have labeled as “flat.”