Sony Rolls Out Budget Ultraportables

Sony isn't done showing off new ultraportable laptops yet, after giving the press a glimpse of the SA series. AT CES 2011, it launched two more that will target budget-conscious shoppers. The first is the YB series, a netbook alternative that will use AMD's latest Fusion APU, which joins the CPU and discrete graphics on a single die. Further up the chain is the Sony VAIO S130, an ultraportable that, similar to the SA series, has a backlit, island-style keyboard and a 13.3-inch widescreen.

Until now, the W-Series and P-series were Sony's answer to the then surging netbook market. Both of these laptops, however, were considered underpowered and too small to get any real work done. The YB series is bigger than your average netbook, bundling an 11.6-inch widescreen and near-full size keyboard. It'll come in silver or pink, fortified by magnesium alloy—a metal found often in ruggedized business laptops. It'll come with three USB, HDMI, and a 320GB hard drive.

Speeds will be faster than what you'll get with the P and W-series, as the YB will be using AMD's first Fusion APU. The 1.6GHz E-350 APU can take on larger workloads, which includes 3D games, than the current Intel Atom processor, without taking a serious hit in battery life. Sony is projecting battery life to be in the 6- to 7-hour range.

For those who don't have the budget for the SA series, there's the S130. Though there's not a single trace of carbon fiber on this unit, the S130 is made from the same magnesium alloy metal found in the YB series. The 13.3-inch widescreen is two sizes bigger that of the YB and matches that of the SA series, though its resolution tops out at 1,366-by-768 (the SA can scale to 1,600-by-900). You'll love the full size keyboard and its backlit function and pick from a handful of design options, including Wavy Black or White.

For SMB customers, there's Windows 7 Professional and a dock option for the S130. And since saving money is essential, Sony will be using Intel Core i3 and i5 processors from the previous year, rather than the new ones that just launched (codenamed Sandy Bridge).

The YB series will start at $549, while the S130 will go for $899. Both will ship in February 2011.