Sony has today introduced its VAIO W netbook, a 10.1in system that, like so many before it, is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor, 1GB of RAM, integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics and a 160GB hard disk drive.
Sony, generally reknowned for high-quality VAIO-branded systems, had previously opted not to join the low-cost netbook market and instead launched a high-end ultra-portable in the form of the VAIO P. With an asking price of around £700, however, the VAIO P has failed to attract the attention devoted to netbooks such as ASUS' Eee PC.
Hoping to take a slice of the lucrative netbook pie, the VAIO W - available in berry pink, cocoa brown or sugar white - measures 32.4mm at its thickest point and sports a useful 10.1in LCD display that offers a better-than-usual resolution of 1,366x768. Elsewhere, there's Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, Microsoft's Windows XP operating system and a three-cell battery that should provide roughly three hours of operation for a single charge.
The system should, in theory, arrive with the solid build quality synonymous with Sony and it'll launch in Japan this August with an estimated retail price of ¥60,000 - that's about £390. Interested? Check out Sony's video preview below.
