Sony Vaio VPCEC490X

Sony VAIO EC Series (VPCEC490X)

Want a big screen without blowing your budget? Take a good look at Sony's VAIO EC. This 17.3-inch notebook packs a Core i3 processor and ATI graphics, providing plenty of power for everyday tasks--with enough oomph for some gaming on the side.The VAIO EC isn't as flashy as other Sony notebooks such as the F Series, but overall we like the clean look. The laptop sports a matte black lid and a glossy black deck with specks of silver that glitter when they catch the light just right. A green, glowing power button adds a dash of color.Measuring 16.1 x 10.8 x 1.3 inches, the VAIO EC isn't as thin as the 17-inch MacBook Pro, but it's a lot less chunky than an 18-inch monster such as the Toshiba X505. At 6.8 pounds, the EC is also on the lighter side for a desktop replacement; the HP Envy 17 weighs in at 7.5 pounds.In most areas, the VAIO EC stayed cool. Temperatures between the G and H keys and the touchpad were 88 and 83 degrees after watching a Hulu clip for 15 minutes. The middle of the underside only reached 84 degrees. The area by the vent reached a hot 108 degrees, but since it's on the left side you won't notice it when computing at a desk.