To meet Wikipedia's quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page, or replace this tag with a more specific message. Editing help is available.
This article has been tagged since December 2005.
VAIO, an acronym for Video Audio Intergraited Operation, is a subbrand for many of Sony's computer products. The branding was created to distinguish items that encompassed the use of consumer audio and video, as well as being conventional computing products. One example of this was the Sony VAIO W Series Personal Computer, which functioned as a regular PC and a miniature entertainment center. Although Sony made computers in the 1980s for the Japanese market only, Sony withdrew from the computer business around the turn of the decade. Sony's re-entry to the computer market, this time globally, under the new VAIO brand started in 1996 with the PCV series of desktops.
|
Contents
- 1 Logo
- 2 Products
- 3 Models
- 4 PCG-R505 Series Notebook
- 5 Bundled software
- 6 Related Links
- 7 External links
|
Logo
The VAIO logo uses the letters V and A to represent a cosine wave and the letters I and O to represent the numerals one and zero. The logo symbolizes the analog and digital multimedia capabilities of the product line, as well as Sony's vision of entertainment and technology "convergence".
Products
Sony is expanding the use of the VAIO label. It can now be found on notebooks, subnotebooks, desktop, and a hard-disk-based audio player (called VAIO POCKET player). Network media solutions by Sony will also carry the VAIO brand.
High-end VAIO notebooks are usually shipped with Microsoft Windows XP Professional, while others come with Microsoft XP Home. As of October 2005, VAIO notebooks and desktop are available upon request without pre-installed software at a slightly lower price. Most recently, some models no longer ship with a Recovery CD, but a special partition on the hard drive is used for the recovery information, including operating system and all bundled software. VAIO users are prompted to create a set of recovery CDs or DVDs immediately after purchase.
VAIO computers typically come with high-end components, such as Seagate or Fujitsu hard drives, Infineon RAM, and Sony (usually made by Hitachi) or Matsushita optical drives.
Models
- A/AR Series: 17" Core Duo large format notebook, around 4kg (8.8lbs), available with Blu-Ray/TV tuning capabilities for the new AR variant
- VGN-A17GP
- VGN-A19GP
- VGN-A29GP
- VGN-A39GP
- VGN-A49GP
- VGN-A59GP
- VGN-A60GP (Current)
- VGN-AR18GP (Current)
- FE Series: 15.4" Core Duo, around 2.8kg (6.17lbs).
- VGN-FE15GP
- VGN-FE18GP
- VGN-FE25GP (Current)
- VGN-FE28GP (Current)
- FJ Series: 14.1" Core Solo, around 2.4kg.
- VGN-FJ58GP
- VGN-FJ67GP
- VGN-FJ68GP
- VGN-FJ77GP (Current)
- VGN-FJ78GP (Current)
- FS Series:
- VGN-FS15GP
- VGN-FS18GP
- VGN-FS25GP
- VGN-FS28GP
- VGN-FS35GP
- VGN-FS38GP
- SZ Series: 13.3" Core Duo, around 1.7kg (3.8lbs) (for the carbon fiber model) and 1.85kg (4lbs) (for the magnesium model)
- VGN-SZ15GP/B
- VGN-SZ18GP/C
- VGN-SZ23GP/B (Current)
- VGN-SZ25GP/B (Current)
- VGN-SZ28GP/C (Current)
- TX Series: 11" Miniature notebook models, weighing below 1.3kg (2.76lbs) and with very long battery life (7hrs+). See VAIO VGN-TX2
- VGN-TX17GP/B or /W
- VGN-TX16GP/W
- VGN-TX26GP/W
- VGN-TX27GP/B or /T
- VGN-TX36GP/W (Current)
- VGN-TX37GP/B, /T or /W (Current)
- UX Series: 4.5" Core Solo, around .89kg (1.27 lbs).
All current models feature wide format XBRITE displays.
Sony also offer a range of VAIO business BX models aimed at the corporate world, with enhanced security features and more stable roadmap. This range is generally in its infancy at this stage compared to the main models, and seen as uncompetitive with Dell's Latitude or Lenovo's Thinkpad line, especially when it comes to battery life and accessory choice.
PCG-R505 Series Notebook
From 2000-2005 Sony released the PCG-R505 Series Notebook. Identical notebooks were sold in Europe as the R600 series. All are compatible with the "SlimDock", a docking station which contains a floppy disc, DVD/CD-RW and additional ports which the basic unit is missing.
Bundled software
VAIO computers feature a wide array of specially designed or bundled software, allowing the user to immediately use the laptop for multimedia purposes. Many of these applications have inspired similar software or integration into the Windows OS (e.g. an early application, Movie Shaker, may be considered precursor to Windows XP's Movie Maker). Some of these software products include:
- SonicStage, a digital music manager. Integrated with Sony's Connect downloadable music service, it allows users to transfer music to Sony standalone music players, PDAs, or PSPs.
- PictureGear, an image management software that predated popular programs like Picasa.
- VAIO Zone / Do VAIO[1] (in Europe and Asia), used for music listening, viewing photo slide shows, and watching TV (when a tuner card is present) and DVDs. VAIO Zone is an equivalent to Apple Front Row and Windows XP Media Center Edition.
VAIO notebooks were the first to feature a special screen coating called XBRITE™ or ULTRABLACK, which increases the brightness of the screen and makes the image more "lively." This effect is especially apparent when watching a movie on the computer screen. It is not as effective, however, outdoors, where reflections limit image visibility.
Related Links
External links
- Sony VAIO web site
- Sony Support web site
- Sony TX-650 Subnotebook
Products
Electronics: Walkman | Blu-ray | PSP | Memory Stick | Sony α | Cyber-shot | mylo | PlayStation | BRAVIA | VAIO | Cellular Walkman | Betacam | XDCAM
Historical Products: TR-55 | TV8-301 | Skysensor | Trinitron | Betamax | CD | Mavica | Hi8 | NEWS | MiniDisc | MiniDV | WEGA | Aibo
Operating Segments
Sony Corp. (Sony Electronics in the US) | Sony Pictures | Sony Computer Entertainment | Sony BMG Music | Sony Financial Holdings | others
Other
Acquisitions: Columbia Records | Columbia Pictures | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (20%) | Aiwa
Joint Ventures: Sony Ericsson | Sony BMG Music | Sony/ATV | S-LCD | STLCD | Sony NEC Optiarc | FeliCa Networks
Key Personnel: Ibuka | Morita | Stringer | Chubachi | Doi | Kutaragi | Hirai | Pascal | Ohga | Idei
Annual Revenue: $63.98 billion USD (2006) | Employees: 158,500 (2006)
Stock Symbol: (NYSE: SNE), (TYO: 6758 ) | Website: www.sony.com
Categories: Cleanup from December 2005 | Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange | Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange | Laptops | Sony products
