Sony takes aim at Apple with new PCs

Sony is aiming squarely at Apple with its new ranges of desktop and notebook computers.

At the launch of three new ranges Sony's Dipesh Sanghrajha described the new Vaio L Series as providing "some healthy competition with our fruity friends", while a new high-end notebook is targeted at professional photographers.

The new all-in-one desktop computers range from the £699 VGH-JS1E/S, which has a smart white design and a compact 20.1in screen, to the £1,999 VGC-RT1SU. This high-end model has a 25.5in screen with a resolution high enough to display 1080P high-definition video.

Several models in the range include an HDMI input, allowing them to be used as a high-definition display for a games console or set-top box.

The company also unveiled a new range of Vaio notebooks, ranging from £499 for the cheapest model in the NS series up to £2,499 for the AW11XU/Q, which is designed for professional photographers. This model has a screen capable of displaying the entire Adobe RGB colour gamut, a Compact Flash memory card reader built in and includes a copy of Adobe's Lightroom software. A hood for the display will be available as an optional extra.

When asked whether he expected it to draw photographers away from Apple's Macbook Pro notebooks, Sony's Nicolas Barendson said Sony has "a clear argument with the screen quality, which is one of the key factors for professional photographers... It's the best screen we've ever launched".