Though they will be free from Sony's branding, VAIO computers are going to return to the United States market. Sony sold its VAIO division to Japan Industrial Partners last year. VAIO laptops will soon be available in the US and Brazil in Microsoft's retail stores, according to The Wall Street Journal.

All of the new VAIO computers that will be coming out in the United States are going to be "sold as Mac alternatives." That means they will be higher-end laptops which aren't necessarily targeted at the broadest possible market.

The first new VAIO to reach the US will be the VAIO Z Canvas, a 12.3-inch tablet running an Intel Core i7 processor. It comes with a keyboard and stylus, and it will start at $2,199.