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Sony announces super-slim VAIO-X notebook

by Parm Mann on 8 October 2009, 11:48

Tags: VAIO-X, Sony (NYSE:SNE)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qaueo

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Sony has today taken the wraps off a number of computer systems scheduled to launch in unison with Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system on October 22nd.

One of the highlights is the VAIO-X notebook, an 11.1in system that claims to be the lightest notebook of its size.

The system measures just 13.9mm thick, and can be configured to weigh as little as 655g.

Designed for "style-aware business travellers", it features a chassis sculpted in carbon fibre and comes in a choice of three colours; gold, black and premium carbon.

Inside, the VAIO-X sports a 2.0GHz Intel Atom Z550 processor, integrated Intel GMA500 graphics, 2GB of DDR2 memory and a choice of storage solutions - including the option for a 128GB solid state drive.

On top of all that, you'll find an aluminium palm rest, a multi-touch trackpad with gesture support, a built-in webcam, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G connectivity, Gigabit Ethernet, a pair of USB ports and VGA out. Battery life is quoted at eight hours for the default configuration, but an optional X Battery will double that number.

U.S. Pricing starts at $1,299, and the VAIO-X should appear on SonyStyle's UK portal in the days leading up to October 22nd.

HEXUS Forums :: 12 Comments

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Posted by scaryjim - Thu 08 Oct 2009 12:04
That's kind of pricey for an Atom Z netbook - there's already several products available with very similar spec at a much more reasonable £350ish. Now, if this sported a CULV processor (maybe even one of the new dual cores) it may be worth thinking about, but > $1200 for an Atom?
Posted by TheAnimus - Thu 08 Oct 2009 12:24
Sony seam to be taking the piss with their launch day prices on their laptops.

My P series was originally been sold for double what I paid, but they saw sense about 4 months after launch.

With this that might well happen, an 8 and 16 hour battery, for a laptop like that for £600 would be about right for the high end market. I've not seen any similar other netbooks at 600grams!
Posted by scaryjim - Thu 08 Oct 2009 12:44
I guess if it does come down to £500 - £600 it would be pretty good value, given that it's about half the thickenss and weight of similar netbooks, has the higher spec Atom Z (2GHz vs 1.33GHz), has 2GB RAM vs. 1GB and an 8hour battery as standard vs ~ 4hours. If it debut's at ~ £1000 though, as suggested by the $ retail price, it looks pretty ridiculous against e.g. Acer's Aspire One 751.

Here's hoping for a common sense price reduction shortly after launch, then :D
Posted by mikerr - Thu 08 Oct 2009 12:49
What happened to netbooks being small, low cost and low power?

They now have changed from sub £250 8.9“ portables
to bigger 10/12” netbooks with laptop prices… (£400 and up)
Posted by scaryjim - Thu 08 Oct 2009 13:23
mikerr
What happened to netbooks being small, low cost and low power?
I think the issue with that concept is that it was born from a top-down perspective: Asus said “Hey, maybe people want these low power, low cost, tiny little laptops” and because there was nothing like them available at that price point people went nuts for them. It wasn't necessarily what they wanted, but it filled a niche that wasn't otherwise covered (traditional slim and light laptops cost upwards of £600 at the time). Since the original 7“ EEE, netbooks have progressively got larger and more expensive, and people have continued to buy them.

So, apparently, what people really want are slim / light 11” - 12“ laptops at a standard laptop price. Sony are releasing one with the Vaio badge on, so it will have the associated cool tax added on top (just like Apple tax), but Acer's interpretation pretty much slots into the same price point as 15” Celeron-based laptops. I suspect we'll see a lot more of these, with Yukon / Congo and CULV based equivalents slotting in at £400+ - giving people choice at every point in the market.

I think the old netbook market, 8“ - 10”, needs to migrate to something more like mini-tablets, and make much better use of touch input (which will become a lot easier with Windows 7, or course). Of course, I'm rather biased on that point because a 7" full Windows touch-only tablet is my idea of perfection in a mobile device… ;)

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