More Additions to VAIO Professional Range for Summer 2008

VAIO BZ-Series: Secure and Stylish for Business

Berlin, 15 July 2008 - The VAIO BZ is an A4-format portable offering the robust design, large 15.4-inch screen and multiple security features that so many business users need. A highly practical tool for business, the VAIO BZ’s beautifully designed magnesium alloy case and trademark VAIO cylindrical hinge ensure that it is as stylish as it is durable.

VAIO SR-Series: Your Versatile Mobile Partner

The VAIO SR takes a fresh and dynamic approach that will resonate with young, style-aware professionals. Exceptionally portable at just 1.9kg and crafted with the essential VAIO focus on advanced design values, the VAIO SR is designed for life as well as work. Its unique Switch Function lets you change the whole personality of the notebook at the touch of a button, so at work or play, the VAIO SR is always on the pace.

VAIO Z-Series: Supreme Performance on the Move

Weighing less than 1.5kg, the ultra-portable VAIO Z-Series offers executives the ultimate in uncompromised mobility. Designed for those who are accustomed to the best, the VAIO Z delivers superlative functionality and matchless visual appeal. The provision of VAIO “everywair” WWAN technology on selected models means that super-fast mobile broadband speeds of up to 7.2Mbps are possible using 3G phone networks. So on the move, there really is no compromise. A full press release detailing the VAIO Z is available separately.

“The range of VAIO Professional notebooks is constantly evolving and becoming more comprehensive,” said Hidetoshi Takigawa, Marketing Director for VAIO of Europe. “We are continually responding to what the market is telling us, which is why our concept of a business notebook is a long way away from the old default ‘A4 grey slab’. Security, reliability and manageability are primary requirements for business customers, so these form the bedrock of all VAIO Professional portables. We go further, and ensure that our products are united by superior design values that make them a pleasure to use and a delight to own. Clearly there is huge potential here, and we are determined to give our customers what they want – in all the forms that may take.”

VAIO BZ: Focus

A defining feature of the VAIO BZ-Series is its large 15.4-inch, WXGA+ (1440 x 900) resolution screen. The generous workspace on offer is highly effective when using multiple documents, sharing information at meetings or delivering presentations. Low power consumption LED screen illumination helps reduce the drain on the battery, and exclusive X-black LCD screen enhancement technology boosts contrast and delivers bright, vibrant colours.

The case design features the signature VAIO cylindrical hinge, complete with its distinctive glowing power stud set into the end cap. Magnesium alloy is used for its ideal combination of low weight and great strength, and intensive stress testing was carried out during development to ensure that the finished product was exceptionally tough. A splash-resistant keyboard completes the checklist of key durabitlity-enhancing features. The result is a notebook with impressive looks and the engineered-in reliability that business users need. Carrying weight is a comfortable and practical 2.7kg.

Security is a must, so the VAIO BZ is protected by a combination of fingerprint recognition and Trusted™ Platform Module (TPM) hardware which work together to bar any unauthorised access to sensitive data. The hard disk uses inertial sensing to detect if the notebook is dropped, safely parking the read/write heads in a fraction of a second so they cannot impact the data surface and cause damage.

Model VGN-BZ11VN is the first VAIO notebook based on the Intel® Centrino® 2 platform with vPro™ technology for built-in manageability and enhanced security. Using a Managed Service Provider running over the network, vPro™-equipped systems can be remotely diagnosed, rebooted and configured even when turned off.

The specification is rounded off with a 1.3 megapixel MOTION EYE® camera, enabling high-resolution video conferencing with colleagues around the world.

VAIO SR: Focus

Professionals who value portability will have no trouble understanding what makes the VAIO SR-Series special. Supremely mobile and graced with an exceptionally slim, pleasing design, the VAIO SR weighs below 2kg and offers up to five hours battery life. Yet for all that, it sports an ergonomic 13.3-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) screen featuring both low power consumption LED illumination and Sony X-black LCD display enhancement. The result is a quality image with boosted contrast and richly saturated colour, which is brightly lit without imposing an undue drain on the battery.

Efficient multimedia performance is a given thanks to the use of powerful Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors backed by up to 4GB of high-speed system memory, depending on the model. Once again the design features the characteristic VAIO cylindrical hinge, and the VAIO SR has a specially designed new ‘Isolated’ keyboard. This uses clear spacing between the keys and concave key tops to foster fast, accurate typing – even for longer female nails.

An integrated 1.3 megapixel MOTION EYE® camera facilitates high-resolution video conferencing, and selected models1 offer fingerprint recognition, Trusted™ Platform Module (TPM) hardware-level security and dynamic drop sensors for hard disk-based data protection.

The unique Switch function helps you hit the right work/life balance by changing the whole personality of the VAIO SR at will. A set of programmable buttons set into the cylindrical hinge below the screen can be assigned shortcuts by a simple drag-and-drop on-screen setup. Instead of stopping there, Switch lets you create more than one group of shortcuts and an associated wallpaper, then simply switch between them. So you can go from a pure business mode with company wallpaper and shortcuts to business applications, to a colourful music/movie mode with the buttons providing hardware play control. Another press could take you to me-mode, with shortcuts to favourite social networking sites and online entertainment and pictures of your family on the screensaver.

With this sort of flexibility available at a touch, the VAIO SR is uniquely able to keep up with you day and night, work and play.

1 Models VGN-SR19VN; VGN-SR19XN

Environmental Info

PRODUCT:

• VAIO BZ11MN, BZ11EN, SR11-Series and SR19-Series are ENERGY STAR® qualified.
• VAIO BZ11XN and BZ11VN have an LCD with white LED backlight.
• All cover/housing plastic parts >25g are halogen-free.
• The main printed circuit boards (without components) >25g are halogen-free.

PROCESS:

• Plastic parts >100g are made of one single material or of easily separable materials.
• Recycled paper or certified paper (eg FSC) is used for product packaging.
• Extended user documentation is provided electronically on the hard disk drive to reduce paper use.

PLANET:

Sony is determined to lead the way as a responsible manufacturer, and as a result we are focussing on three key areas of investment:

1. Reducing CO2 gas emissions
2. Increasing the percentage of renewable energy used in manufacturing facilities
3. Minimising the resources used by our factories in manufacturing