Four new VAIO ranges launched: full details

 

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Posted on 15 Jul 2008 at 17:46

Sony launched four new VAIO ranges today: the Z-Series, SR-Series, BZ-Series and FW-Series. All share common style flourishes, including a cylinder-style battery at the back and a glowing green power button.

All but the BZ-Series feature what Sony describes as an "isolation" keyboard, with Scrabble-style keys.

Referring to the unified design touches across the range, Hideyuki Furumi, Senior GM of the VAIO Business Group, said: "These are the small details, but these are what makes a VAIO so pleasant to use."

He also claims the keyboard is a step forward. "It has keys that are independent of each other so there's enough space between them to reduce mistakes in typing."

The Z-Series sits at the top of the pile, with embedded 3G (in certain models) and a stunning 1,600 x 900 screen squeezed into a sub-1.5kg carbon fibre chassis.

The SR-Series is described as "Your Everyday Partner", which essentially means it's not so expensive but also not so breathtaking. Weighing 1.9kg and measuring 1mm thicker than the Z-Series at 34mm, though, it certainly can't be described as large. Battery life is similar on both laptops at around five hours.

The BZ-Series is aimed at cost-conscious businesses, and will replace the BX-Series. A 15.4in screen marks a 1in improvement on its predecessor, and two out of the three models include a 1,440 x 900 resolution.

It isn't designed for mobile professionals, though, weighing 2.6kg and having approximately 3hrs of battery life.

The final range, the FW-Series, is here to entertain. The top models in the range can both play and burn Blu-ray discs, and the superb 16.4in screen ensures they look fantastic. Note the resolution of 1,600 x 900, too.

We'll bring you our first impressions of all four series of laptops, including full pricing details, on the PC Pro blog over the next couple of days.

Author: Tim Danton in Berlin