11/04, 6:05pm
Sony VAIO P gets US upgrade
Sony tonight upgraded its extra-small VAIO P netbook in the US to keep in sync with Windows 7. The new models now all run Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional and with this change alone should run much faster than the older models bogged down by Vista's steep requirements. They likewise have been brought into step with Japanese updates and have the option of up to a 2GHz Atom, a 256GB solid-state drive and a champagne-colored shell.
more
11/02, 10:55am
Subsidized Sony VAIO P at Verizon
Wireless provider Verizon will soon add the Sony VAIO P netbook to its subsidized lineup, according to a Monday Phone Arena leak. Thus far, Verizon offers the Gateway LT2016U, HP Mini 311 and Mini 110 netbooks, but the VAIO P would be the smallest and lightest of the four. The system should be the standard 8-inch netbook but will have a built-in modem with both EVDO and GSM support.
more
10/28, 3:25pm
Sony VAIO LT, JS2 all-in-ones at risk
Sony this afternoon launched a recall of AC power adapters for two of its all-in-one desktops for a potential shock hazard. All VAIO JS2 and LT desktops sold between September 2005 and today that use a particular AC adapter, the AC19V17, are believed at risk of shocking owners following four reports outside of the US of the adapters short circuiting on their own. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recall affects about 69,000 devices that also include Sony's PRBX1 and PRFE1 VAIO Docking Stations for notebooks.
more
10/15, 4:55pm
Cineworld bans notebooks from its movie theaters
UK movie theater chain Cineworld has introduced a new policy that does not allow patrons to bring in notebook PCs to the auditoriums, UK resident Jeremy Nicholas wrote on his blog. The policy was supposedly introduced to help fight piracy, where bootleggers go to see a movie and record it with an electronic device. Nicholas, however, was denied entry despite his Sony VAIO's lack of an integrated webcam, making it impossible to record the main attraction.
more
10/07, 8:20pm
Sony launches VAIO CW
The last of Sony's three notebook updates Wednesday evening was the VAIO CW. It brings a 16:9 aspect ratio 14-inch display (versus 16:10 before) and is the first mid-range Sony notebook to carry Windows 7. In keeping with earlier VAIO C systems, the CW is style-centric and comes in glossy colors both on the outer shell and on the palm rest.
more
10/07, 8:05pm
Sony launches VAIO X netbook
Sony's unveilings tonight were highlighted by the VAIO X. The 11-inch netbook crossover is billed as the lightest ever notebook and uses a carbon fiber shell to reach a weight of just 1.6 pounds. As it's based on a smaller and cooler running Intel Atom chip, the system can also afford to be extremely thin and measures 0.55 inches thick across its whole length.
more
10/07, 7:40pm
Sony VAIO L brings touchscreen, Blu-ray
Sony at an event tonight launched a trio of new systems, starting with its first touchscreen PC. The VAIO L supports Windows 7's own multi-touch elements for scrolling and zooming through content without needing special software. Like Gateway and HP, Sony has its own custom touch portal, here called Media Gallery, that lets users rely on touch to edit photos and videos.
more
10/07, 5:55pm
Sony gives VAIO P netbook new OS, CPUs
Sony provided a glimpse of updates to come to the US on Wednesday with a British update to the VAIO P. The 8-inch netbook has primarily updated to add Windows 7 and should run faster on similar hardware as a result thanks to better performance on low-end hardware. At the same time, Sony has upgraded the processors themselves. Two P31 variants have the 1.86GHz Atom Z540 (versus 1.33GHz or 1.6GHz most older models) while the P39 runs on a 2GHz Atom Z550.
more
10/07, 2:35pm
Ultraportable VAIO X to carry high price
Sony's VAIO X will ultimately be a larger but lighter version of the VAIO P if a pair of leaks (one, two) prove accurate. Although undecided on the choice of processor when it first teased the system, Sony is reported by Engadged as using a 2GHz Atom processor to help achieve its 1.5-pound claimed weight and slim profile in spite of the 11-inch frame. It would also have a solid-state drive of an unknown capacity.
more
10/05, 6:35pm
Sony VAIO X may be ready in November
Sony's VAIO X ultralight could be ready next month and have a second notebook follow along if a rumor tonight proves true. The 1.5-pound notebook would ship in November, according to CrunchGear, and would be a direct replacement for the VAIO TT. A strategy of the sort implies it will use a low-voltage Core 2 Duo, which would support Sony's claims of extra-long battery life.
more
09/02, 12:50pm
Sony 3D TV sets in 2010
Sony has announced an initiative to bring 3D visuals to several of its products, beginning sometime in 2010. Central is a 3D-compatible BRAVIA TV, which should use a frame-sequential display, and require active-shutter glasses. The company is promising a high framerate, as well as a 1080p resolution for each eye. No prices or narrowed release dates have been suggested.
more
09/02, 12:45pm
Sony VAIO X Teaser
Sony at its IFA keynote previewed an entirely new category of ultraportable. The VAIO X series will use a low-voltage Intel processor (either Atom or CULV) but will have a carbon fiber shell instead of aluminum or another bulkier material. Changing to the very light but stiff body gives it a record-setting weight of just 1.5 pounds, or half as much as most netbooks and ultraportables like the MacBook Air. It also slims the system down to just half an inch thick across its entire case.
more
09/01, 2:45pm
Sony VAIOs get Chrome
Sony's PC arm and Google have entered into a partnership that will have the latter's Chrome web browser preloaded onto the former's VAIO netbook PCs. Google is also apparently in talks with other PC makers to make its browser the default in new PCs, in similar fashion to competitor Microsoft and its Internet Explorer browser. Sony PCs with Chrome are already shipping, though Google is saying the deal is thus far experimental. Google is also promoting the browser through TV advertising, a first for the company, and making it available when they download RealPlayer software.
more
08/20, 12:55pm
Sony Axes VAIO TT
Sony has quietly pulled the VAIO TT from its lineup. The move ends Sony's current participation in the ultraportable world and comes without any sign of an immediate replacement. Dropping the system leaves only the Atom-based VAIO P and VAIO W with screens below 10 inches in Sony's lineup.
more
08/10, 10:40am
Sony XP Mode out of Vaios
Sony will not enable Intel's Virtual Technology (VT) on its VAIO series of notebooks in Windows 7, as promised earlier, according to a recent report. Information given to the Register says this includes the $1,719 Z-series along with 10 other VAIO PC model that wont support the XP Mode, which allows users to run older applications that wouldn't otherwise run in Windows 7. The new operating system is due for an October 22nd release and Sony has promised a free upgrade to the OS once it ships.
more
07/23, 9:20am
Sony Touch VAIOs in Fall
Sony plans to launch VAIO portables with touchscreens as early as the fall, company senior VP Mike Abary said in an interview today. The electronics giant fully anticipates shipping "some" computers with touch features in the fall to coincide with the launch of Windows 7, which is due October 22nd and has much better hooks for touch interfaces than Vista. Specifics weren't mentioned to Laptop, but Abary explained these were more likely to draw on Windows 7's existing touch features rather than to have a customized interface.
more
07/10, 9:20am
Mark 2 model of Vaio P due
Sony will update its VAIO P series netbook with the release of a second-generation model sometime this fall, most likely around October or November, the company recently revealed. The new model is expected to address the current version's slow boot times, which could range up to 90 seconds in the entry-level models. The news came from a Sony representative at a launch event for the VAIO NW notebook and VAIO W netbook.
more
07/09, 4:05pm
Sony VAIO P to get WiMAX
Sony Japan has recently announced its VAIO P netbook will get a WiMAX option by month's end. Pre-orders will begin on July 27th, with the netbook shipping just three days later, on July 30th. The option will add the equivalent of $108 to the price of the VAIO P plus a monthly subscription fee for the service itself. The WiMAX module will allow users to access the Internet away from Wi-Fi at broadband speeds of about 12Mbps. The system in the US and Japan normally has built-in 3G.
more
07/07, 7:30am
Sony VAIO W
Sony today surprised the PC business by launch its first voluntarily identified VAIO netbook. Significantly larger than the VAIO P, the VAIO W brings the design of systems like the just-launched NW series to the familiar specs of a 10-inch netbook with a colored, textured outer shell and track pad. It likewise brings Sony's familiar "chiclet" keys and relatively unique support for DLNA media streaming to and from supporting devices, like the PlayStation 3 and other PCs.
more
06/22, 11:45am
Sony VAIO P 1 6GHz Upgrade
Sony in a low-key move has quietly updated the VAIO P with its first performance upgrade in the US since launch. The P698E moves from the original 1.33GHz processor to a 1.6GHz part and also doubles the capacity of the solid-state drive to 128GB. Both are currently available together in a single, red model that costs $1,500.
more
06/18, 9:25pm
Sony VAIO NW
Sony at a Blu-ray focused event tonight launched the VAIO NW, a major overhaul of its entry-level notebook. The system has the distinction of being one of the least expensive systems with Blu-ray and has an unusual 15.5-inch, 1366x768 display that can show most HD movies at their native ratio. A textured lid and a translucent trackpad also lend it a designer look.
more
05/26, 8:05am
Sony VAIO P with Win XP
Sony on Tuesday showed rare conservatism by giving its VAIO P netbook an option for Windows XP. The P50 variant lets the mini notebook skip Vista for the faster, less demanding older OS while trading few features. It loses only Sony's in-Windows media software but still gets access to the instant-on OS for media playback and other basics outside of Microsoft's platform. It also boosts the minimum storage from 60GB to 80GB.
more
03/26, 8:40am
Sony VAIO P Summer Rumor
Sony is likely to be launching a significant update to its VAIO P mini notebook based on a leak of new model numbers. Six system IDs obtained by Sony Insider point to the model numbering jumping from the 500 series of today to the 700 series while keeping the same black, green, red and white colors. While four of the models share the same P710 naming scheme, two P730 models hint at higher-spec versions.
more
03/09, 7:45am
Apple Touch Netbook Rumor
Apple is gearing up suppliers to build a touchscreen netbook that would ship in the summer of this year, according to Taiwan's Commercial Times. Following a confirmation by local display maker Wintek that it's developing touchscreens for new Apple products, the Times said that at least some of these panels are destined for a netbook that would ship sometime during the summer. A regular supplier of Apple, Quanta, would manufacture the netbook itself.
more
02/27, 8:25am
Sony Merging Groups
Sony on Friday continued efforts to improve its business and said (registration required) that it would launch a major reorganization of its electronics groups. Under the new plan, company CEO Sir Howard Stringer will also become president of the electronics business; simultaneously, the company's key PlayStation, VAIO and Walkman divisions will be united. The moves take effect at the start of April and put current electronics president Ryoji Chubachi in a vice chairman position, while consumer products VP Katsumi Ihara leaves his position and will instead have just a board position at Sony's financial group.
more
02/16, 3:50pm
Sony VAIOs get Gobi tech
At Mobile World Congress on Monday, Sony and Qualcomm announced that the former's VAIO notebooks will be the first to feature the latter's Global Mobile Internet Technology (Gobi), letting the PCs access 3G mobile broadband networks regardless of type. Sony will make Gobi standard fare in some of its ultra-portable VAIO notebooks, including the Z, TT and new P series. Apart from built-in mobile broadband capabilities, the Qualcomm chips also feature an integrated GPS sensor.
more
01/27, 4:20pm
Sony updates Vaio G3
After leaving its VAIO G notebook line-up alone for nearly two years, Sony has finally announced it will update it with four new models with the third-generation G3 range. All four share a 12.1-inch, 1024x768 resolution LCD, with the entry-level model sporting a Centrino 2-era, ultra-low voltage 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo CPU; it also comes with 2GB of RAM, 120GB hard drive and Wi-Fi. A mid-range model receives a 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo chip and a 64GB solid state drive.
more
01/14, 2:35pm
Sony VAIO GS at FCC
An FCC filing has surfaced today that suggests Sony has been developing a new ultraportable that would skew towards the budget range. Badged as the VAIO GS, the system would a rare modern example of a 4:3 ratio Sony notebook and would near netbook territory with a roughly 12-inch screen size. While slim, the computer will be thick enough to have an optional built-in optical drive.
more
01/07, 7:45pm
Sony VAIO P
Sony tonight at its CES pre-show conference unveiled its long-expected VAIO P. The frequently leaked device is Sony's approach to netbooks but also explicitly takes on tablets and smartphones through a unique, extra-long design with an 8-inch 1600x768 screen and pointer-only mouse control: the system is small enough to fit in many pockets, Sony claims. The wide design has the side benefit of giving the mini PC a much larger keyboard than most systems its size.
more
01/06, 5:55pm
Sony VAIO P Spotted
Sony's VAIO P has been spotted in its entirety today ahead of its expected debut at Sony's press conference on Wednesday. Displays seen by Engadget at the CES setup confirm an extremely wide, shallow design which drops the traditional trackpad in favor of a pointer. The views confirm few technical details but do reveal a built-in webcam to the side of the display as well as Memory Stick and SD card readers.
more
01/03, 10:05am
More Sony VAIO P Specs
Sony's VAIO P netbook may contain hardware that renders it twice as expensive as many rivals, according to additional hardware leaks from NetbookNews. The system is now believed to have a 1.33GHz Atom after all but may also have extra features that boost the price; the 3G modem and a GPS receiver are now potentially standard rather than strictly optional. Previous reports have also pointed to a unique eight-inch, 1600x900 display.
more
12/30, 11:45am
Sony Japan VAIO P teaser
Sony Japan has posted a teaser page for what is believed to be the VAIO P, an upcoming netbook. Shown briefly in the page's Flash montage is a new keyboard, with raised keys similar to those on the VAIO TZ and TT. The updated keyboard has a trackball in the middle however, which may indicate that that the P is too small to fit a conventional trackpad.
more
12/25, 11:25am
Sony VAIO P Leak
Sony on Christmas has unintentionally confirmed its netbook model through a placeholder on its VAIO homepage. Now officially labeled the VAIO P, the "revolutionary" system is described as small enough to fit in a pocket yet having a full notebook-level resolution: the 8-inch, LED-backlit display has an extremely wide 1600x768 resolution that covers much more area than the 1024x600 displays of typical netbooks. It also carries full notebook storage with at least a 60GB rotating hard drive and up to a 128GB solid-state drive.
more
12/24, 7:50am
Sony Netbook Japan Teaser
Sony on Christmas Eve stoked anticipation for CES with a new teaser for a new system on its Japanese website. Calling it only the "VAIO New Mobile," the site shows a wrapped computer that has the width of a netbook but a considerably shallower design, resembling almost identically the dimensions of the PCG-1P that has surfaced at the FCC in the US but without revealing additional details. The system is known to carry Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the option of 3G Internet access and is believed to be Sony's promised netbook equivalent.
more
12/22, 9:45am
Sony VAIO 2009 Teaser
Sony late this weekend ratcheted up claims for its CES plans by introducing a teaser page for new VAIO notebook line. The page contains little information but vows to supply a "revolutionary" new model and promises to "change the way you look at laptops," suggesting a radical rethinking of Sony's existing lineup and of notebooks in general. The countdown is set to expire on January 9th local time and points to an unveiling on the 8th in the US.
more
12/09, 8:20am
Sony Cutting 16K Jobs
Sony on Tuesday revealed that it would cut a total of about 16,000 employees from its workforce to guard itself against the "acute downturn" in the world economy. The company is officially eliminating about 8,000 positions worldwide in its core electronics business but is also known to be dropping a similar amount from its part-time and temporary ranks. The cuts to permanent employees represent about 5 percent of Sony's total regular workforce of about 160,000.
more
12/01, 1:20pm
Sony VAIO netbook exposed
Sony's long-anticipated netbook has been revealed through filings with the FCC, a report from Engadget suggests. Two versions, known as the PCG-1P1L and PCG-1P2L, have been through wireless testing with the government body; the PCG prefix is known to represent Sony's VAIO portable line. More crucially, the computers match typical netbook dimensions, at approximately 9.5 inches long by 4.5 inches wide. This should make them smaller than many rival systems.
more
11/11, 3:45pm
MacBook Air Carbon Fiber
Not satisfied with the three-pound weight of the almost exclusively aluminum MacBook Air, Apple is investigating the possibility of building some of the ultraportable out of carbon fiber, a reported source of AppleInsider claims. The contact, which has allegedly proven reliable on MacBook updates in the past, notes that Apple would use the ultra lightweight but very strong material to replace the underside of the notebook, which is the second-heaviest component of the system. No changes would be made to the unibody aluminum top shell or the lid.
more
10/31, 8:05am
New Sony Battery Recall
Sony on Friday said it would back a voluntary recall begun by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission that asks customers to replace over 35,000 lithium-ion notebook batteries included in US systems from Dell, HP and Toshiba, as well as 65,000 worldwide. The Japanese PC builder believes that batteries using 2.15Ah cells made during a production transition between October 2004 and June 2005, as well as some with a change in raw material, carry the risk of overheating and catching fire. At least 40 incidents involving the batteries have surfaced, a small portion of which have resulted in burns and property damage.
more
10/16, 5:35pm
MacBook Comparison
Apple's new MacBook may be the first to take the system upscale, but the system is ultimately entering an increasingly crowded marketplace of high-end, 13.3-inch notebooks that all carry features normally left out of small systems for the sake of a low price. With that in mind, Electronista looks at the MacBook and three of its most obvious rivals in the marketplace -- Dell's XPS M1330, HP's dv3500t and Sony's VAIO SR -- to see whether any one notebook has a clear advantage and whether stereotypes of Macs as more expensive hold true.
more
09/23, 8:00am
Sony VAIO TT
Sony this morning made official the VAIO TT, a major update to the TZ that marks a number of firsts. The ultraportable notebook is the first to carry a Blu-ray drive and burns at 2X in addition to reading the HD movie format. It's also one of the lightest at just under 2.9 pounds, Sony adds. A carbon fiber case helps reach this target, as does an LED-backlit, 11.1-inch display that the company now says produces a 100 percent color gamut while reducing the display thickness.
more
09/22, 2:50pm
Sony VAIO TT Early Specs
Sony's upcoming VAIO TT should be one of the first ultraportable notebooks to sport Blu-ray as a feature, the company has unintentionally revealed in advance. The company's advisor system shows a top-range version of the 11.1-inch notebook with a built-in Blu-ray burner, making it one of the smallest notebooks to handle the 50GB disc format. Sony's slip also reveals dual 128GB solid-state drives in a fast RAID stripe as well as 4GB of memory and a new 1.4GHz ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo.
more
09/20, 11:45am
Sony VAIO TT Leak
Sony is gearing up to launch a likely Centrino 2-based update to its VAIO TZ ultraportable notebooks, according to evidence from an FCC filing and a string of forum posts. Called the VAIO TT, the computer would be one of the last remaining systems to launch with Sony's design update and is known to be too powerful to represent Sony's upcoming netbook; most specifications are unavailable, but the notebook will have 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and optional 3G access over EVDO.
more
09/12, 9:10am
Sony VAIO CS and NS
Sony today continued a spate of notebook introductions by introducing a pair of the least expensive Blu-ray capable notebooks available. The 15.4-inch VAIO NS replaces the NR and upgrades the budget notebook with options that Sony has normally reserved for its mid-range or higher systems; helped in part by newer Intel 4500 integrated graphics that help offload video decoding, the NS can be equipped with a Blu-ray combo drive while still sitting at the $1,000 mark. It also introduces a new AV menu that not only supports media playback but also shortcuts to favorite apps and websites.
more
09/10, 9:25am
Sony VAIO AW in US
Quickly following up on a Japanese launch, Sony today brought the VAIO AW to the US. The notebook is Sony's largest yet and is targeted at photo and video editors, both amateur and professional, through its special display: the 18.4-inch LCD outputs at a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1920x1080 resolution that both fits HD video natively and generates color accuracy not normally found on notebook displays. Like the Japanese version, the stock LCD is already video-friendly at 104 percent of the NTSC color range, while an optional panel covers 137 percent and accurately portrays the Adobe RGB color space used by some photographers.
more
09/09, 4:05pm
Sony new battery testing
In an effort to more accurately and realistically advertise the battery life of its notebook comptuers, Sony will soon be switching to a different standard of measuring said battery life, a recent report reveals. Under the new standard, called Jeita A, Sony will only publish how long the notebook lasts while playing back a movie file, and not, as previously, the average of idle time and the movie playback test that made up the Jeita test.
more
09/09, 9:45am
Sony VAIO AW More in Japan
Sony this morning gave a glimpse to Americans of future VAIO updates with the launch of a pair of new notebooks in Japan. The VAIO AW replaces the AR and has some of the same barrel-hinged design cues as the FW. Also like its smaller cousin, the AW switches from a smaller 16:10 ratio display to a larger 16:9 display, in this case moving to a new 18.4-inch, 1920x1080 panel suited to playing movies from the notebook's stock Blu-ray drive. Sony claims extreme color accuracy at 104 percent of the NTSC color gamut for the base LCD; an LED-backlit screen is even richer at 137 percent of the spectrum.
more
09/08, 2:20pm
Sony VAIO USB Dock Station
Sony uncharacteristically chose Monday to slip word that it has started shipping the VAIO USB Docking Station, the company's first notebook dock with USB video support. The brick-shaped adapter borrows DisplayLink's technology to give certain VAIO notebooks support for an external DVI or VGA display up to 1600x1200 without using a second cable just for video or for those who already have a second display.
more
09/04, 9:10am
Sony VAIO TZ Recall
Sony on Thursday joined up with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a product recall for its VAIO TZ series notebooks. The PC builder explains that some of the 11.1-inch ultraportable systems have unusually positioned wires or loose screws in and near the display hinge that can trigger overheating or a short circuit, either of which is potentially dangerous. As many as 15 known incidents have been reported, including one with minor burns, the Commission says.
more
09/03, 10:05pm
VAIO all-in-ones, Blu-ray
Sony on Wednesday unveiled three new all-in-one VAIO PCs – the JS, LV, and RT – offering users a space-saving, albeit full-featured design, featuring options for an integrated Blu-ray reader. The entry-level JS does not come with Blu-ray by default, but can be added in as a configurable option. It offers a 20.1-inch LCD, an integrated mic and web cam with face tracking, and comes preloaded with Windows Vista. The VAIO JS is available in black, silver, or pink from $1,000.
more
