Tag Archives: SonyVaio

Sony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on (video)

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Sony unveils touchenabled Vaio T Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go handson

Here's the thing with Windows 8: staring at those live tiles feels kinda weird if you can't reach out and touch them. That's why Sony has upgraded its Vaio T13 Ultrabook with a touch panel (making it technically the T13-2), allowing you to reach out across the keyboard and swipe away to your heart's content. We've just left some fingerprints on a high-spec model with a Core i7 processor, 1366 x 768 resolution, 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM, which will sell in the UK from October 26th priced somewhere north of £1,000 (or $1,600, though Sony doesn't set exact prices). A more modestly equipped i7, with 4GB and a 500GB hybrid drive should be somewhere around £900 ($1,400), while an entry-level i3 will start at £700 ($1,100), give or take. Bear mind that the dollar prices will be much lower than these currency conversions suggest -- for reference, the original T13 starts at just $770.

Our first impression was that enabling touch on this traditional form factor was slightly awkward, especially if the purpose of touching the screen was to achieve something that would have been more readily accomplished with a tap on the keyboard -- such as adjusting brightness, scrolling or returning to the home screen. On the other hand, the UI was incredibly responsive on the Core i7 processor and over time the touchscreen may well come to feel more natural than the touchpad within Microsoft's new OS. Just bear in mind that enabling touch comes with a couple of sacrifices, aside from any price premium: it adds 100 grams and 1mm in thickness to an Ultrabook that was already on the chunky side, due to the addition of tougher hinges as well as the extra layer in the display. Check out our hands-on video after the break and make up your own mind.

Gallery: Sony Vaio T13 with touchscreen hands-on

Continue reading Sony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on (video)

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Sony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony VAIO T13 review: the company’s first Ultrabook targets the back-to-school set

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Sony VAIO T13 review the company's first Ultrabook targets the backtoschool set

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Until recently, Sony's name has been conspicuously absent on the ever-growing list of Ultrabook makers. Sure, we've known about the VAIO T series since CES, when the company teased an unnamed notebook behind glass, but it didn't get its official reveal until May, when it hit the European market -- with last-generation Sandy Bridge processors. That's no way to make a splash when Ivy Bridge CPUs are now de rigueur for Ultrabooks and mainstream laptops alike.

Luckily, Sony got things right on the US side, releasing the 13-inch VAIO T13 with Ivy Bridge processors in tow. Other than those new chips, the Ultrabook features identical specs to the European model, not to mention the same brushed silver aluminum design. And while the brand is in for a serious game of catchup as it enters an already-crowded market, its VAIO T is priced to compete at $770. Let's welcome Sony to the Ultrabook game by giving the T13 the full review treatment.

Gallery: Sony VAIO T13 review

Continue reading Sony VAIO T13 review: the company's first Ultrabook targets the back-to-school set

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Sony VAIO T13 review: the company's first Ultrabook targets the back-to-school set originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony T Series Ultrabook hands-on (video)

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Sony T Series Ultrabook hands-on (video)

Sony just announced US availability for its T Series Ultrabook, and though we'll only get the T13 and not the T11 stateside, this version will ship with third-gen Intel CPUs rather than the European model's Sandy Bridge processors. Here's the Cliff Notes version if you missed the earlier announcement: the 13-incher weighs 3.5 pounds (admittedly a little hefty for an Ultrabook), but its chassis is just 0.71 inches thin. Moreover, the T13 starts at $800, which is pretty dang low in the larger scheme of Ultrabook pricing. We went hands-on with the T13 at the Sony Center this morning -- head past the break for a closer look at Sony's first Ultrabook.

Gallery: Sony T Series Ultrabook hands-on

Continue reading Sony T Series Ultrabook hands-on (video)

Sony T Series Ultrabook hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s multimedia-centric VAIO F gets folded into new 15-inch VAIO S 15

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Sony's multimedia-centric VAIO F gets folded into new 15-inch VAIO S 15

Sony is using its latest product announcement to trim the fat off of its line-up, and one of the casualties will be its multimedia-centric VAIO F Series. Of course, the company won't be ditching entertainment laptops altogether -- it's just consolidating the VAIO F line into the VAIO S Series, specifically the VAIO S 15. To further confuse the switch-up, the VAIO SE (that's E for entertainment) is also being folded into the new S 15. Identity confusion aside, what you get here is a 15.5-inch, 1080p IPS display, NVIDIA graphics with up to 2GB of VRAM and various Ivy Bridge processor options (up to a quad-core Core i7 CPU). The 15-inch S Series will start at $1,000 and will be available in black and silver. Sony says it's good for light gaming, and especially media streaming and programs like AutoCAD. Like the other new VAIO systems, the S 15 will be available this month. Check out the gallery and press info below.

Gallery: Sony VAIO S 15

Continue reading Sony's multimedia-centric VAIO F gets folded into new 15-inch VAIO S 15

Sony's multimedia-centric VAIO F gets folded into new 15-inch VAIO S 15 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony updates VAIO E Series, intros E 14P bundle with LL Cool J branding and music editing software

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Sony updates VAIO E Series, offers E 14P bundle with Boomdizzle software

We already got a taste of Sony's new E series laptops when they were announced for the European market last month, but today brings confirmation that these models are arriving stateside as well The VAIO E 11, 14 and 15 all feature a new "wrap" design and a 1366 x 768 screen resolution, and the two larger models include backlit keyboards. Starting from the bottom, the 11-inch VAIO E goes for $449 and is the only laptop of the three with an AMD processor. The 14-incher runs a second-gen Intel Core CPU (read: Sandy Bridge) and is available in white, black and pink, while the 15-inch model can be configured with second- or third-generation Intel processors and sports a brushed-aluminum finish.

Sony is also offering a special E 14P model as part of its so-called LL Cool J Boomdizzle bundle. The 14-incher sports a black and red wrap design, runs an Ivy Bridge CPU and comes with LL's Boomdizzle MyConnect Studio app for recording and editing music. For the money -- $899, to be precise -- you also get Sony headphones and Dolby Home Theatre v4 Audio Technology.

Gallery: Sony VAIO E 14P Boomdizzle edition hands-on

Gallery: Sony VAIO E 11

Gallery: Sony VAIO E 14

Gallery: Sony VAIO E 15

Gallery: Sony VAIO E 14P Boomdizzle edition

Continue reading Sony updates VAIO E Series, intros E 14P bundle with LL Cool J branding and music editing software

Sony updates VAIO E Series, intros E 14P bundle with LL Cool J branding and music editing software originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony refreshes VAIO Z series with Ivy Bridge, price now starts at $1,600 without the docking station

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DNP EMBARGO Sony refreshes VAIO Z series with Ivy Bridge, price now starts at $1,600 without the external docking station

In case you didn't notice, Sony completely revamped its laptop lineup this morning. Unlike some of the other models on offer, the high-end Z series didn't get a redesign, but Sony at least took the opportunity to refresh it with new Ivy Bridge processors. Oh, and lower the starting price. The Z will no longer be bundled with the Power Media Dock, that external hub housing both a discrete GPU and optical drive. As such, the laptop will now start at $1,600, down from $2,000, while the dock will retail for an additional $400. Spec-wise, the Z still weighs a scant 2.6 pounds, but it's now constructed from carbon fiber and will be offered with a glossy finish. It will also be available with quad-core Ivy Bridge CPUs, though the starting model's processor is dual-core. Otherwise, it offers nearly the same specs as the model we reviewed last year, including a 1080p display and solid-state RAID drives. Look for the refresh sometime this month, and in the meantime we've included pics below to jog your memory on what this guy looks like.

Gallery: Sony VAIO Z hands-on

Gallery: Sony VAIO Z series (spring 2012)

Continue reading Sony refreshes VAIO Z series with Ivy Bridge, price now starts at $1,600 without the docking station

Sony refreshes VAIO Z series with Ivy Bridge, price now starts at $1,600 without the docking station originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony unveils VAIO S13 and S13p laptops with Ivy Bridge, prices start at $900

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DNP EMBARGO Sony unveils VAIO S13 laptop with Ivy Bridge, prices start at $899

In addition to all the other new laptops it announced today, Sony refreshed its mid-range S Series with a new look, and consolidated its two 13-inch models, the SA and SB lines, into one model, now called the VAIO S13. (There's also a more business-oriented version called the S13p, which we'll tell you about in just a moment). Thanks to a magnesium, aluminum and carbon fiber construction, it's fairly lightweight, at 3.8 pounds. Spec-wise, Sony went with Core i5 and i7 Ivy Bridge processors, though this time around, it's missing switchable graphics -- at least on the S13. That machine now has integrated graphics only, though the business-centric S13p will be offered with an NVIDIA GPU with up to 2GB of VRAM. The S13p also sets itself apart with features the IT guy might appreciate, including TPM, a fingerprint reader and a hard drive accelerometer.

Across the board, the S13 should last up to about seven hours on a charge, or 14 if you add an optional sheet battery. Also, the company will sell an external docking station with a built-in 500GB hard drive and built-in battery -- a first for Sony. We're told the dock will cost $189, and that you can use it even with the sheet battery attached to the laptop. The S13 and S13p will go on sale this month, starting at $900 and $1,200, respectively. Though the more consumer-friendly S13 will be available in black, silver white and pink, the buttoned-up S13p comes in a more staid palette: black, gold and "Gun Metal."

Gallery: Sony VAIO S 13

Continue reading Sony unveils VAIO S13 and S13p laptops with Ivy Bridge, prices start at $900

Sony unveils VAIO S13 and S13p laptops with Ivy Bridge, prices start at $900 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony gives VAIO S and VAIO Z lines Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models

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Sony gives VAIO S and Z Series Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models

Sony began introducing its new Ivy Bridge lineup last month with the VAIO E Series 14P, a multimedia laptop complete with gesture controls. Today, the company announced two larger models to round out that family, the VAIO E Series 15 and 17. Unlike the 14P, these notebooks don't come with Ivy Bridge power, but then their larger displays (15.5 inches and 17.3 inches, respectively) and an optional Blu-ray player on the larger model should be enough to tell you that these are entertainment-focused machines rather than next-gen powerhouses. Both the VAIO 15 and 17 run Intel Core i5-2450M CPUS and handle graphics with a AMD Radeon 7650M GPU and either 1GB or 2GB of VRAM depending on the model. Each also has a 750GB hard drive spinning at 5,400 RPM, plus a built-in webcam, USB 3.0 with a sleep-charge feature, HDMI, Bluetooth and WiFi. The main difference between the two is screen resolution: while the 15.5-incher sports a 1366 x 768 display, the 17.3-inch version has a more brilliant 1600 x 900 pixels. Pricing info is still MIA.

While the VAIO E 15 and 17 didn't make the Ivy Bridge cut, Sony's business-focused VAIO S and VAIO Z lines will get the processor update. The VAIO S will be available in 13.5- and 15.5-inch flavors, each sporting backlit keyboards and a thin design featuring aluminium, magnesium or carbon fiber (depending on the model). While the 13.3-incher's display resolution is yet to be determined, the 15.5-inch model will ship with a 1080p IPS screen. And while we simply know that the VAIO S 13 will come with a choice of Core i5 or Core i7 processors, the VAIO S 15 runs a Intel Core i7-3612QM with 8GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GT640M LE GPU (along with an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip). On the storage side, the 15 has a 1TB hard drive. Both the VAIO S 13 and 15 will have SSD options, and Sony will offer a separate sheet battery for up to 14 hours of longevity. Weight-wise, the outlet is short on specifics, though both models will tip in at less than 4.4 pounds.

Continue reading Sony gives VAIO S and VAIO Z lines Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models

Sony gives VAIO S and VAIO Z lines Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VAIO T13 Ultrabook could be coming with Ivy Bridge, according to Sony’s German site

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VAIO T13 Ultrabook could be coming with Ivy Bridge, according to Sony's German site

If Sony's German site is to be believed, then it's safe to say the outfit's had a change of heart recently. According to a revealing spec sheet on the website, there's now a T13 Ultrabook model with one of Intel's latest chips on board. Just last week, Sony announced the Euro-bound T13 would be sporting a last-gen Core i3-2367M CPU, but the recent finding shows an i5-3317U variant (you know, the one on Sammy's Series 9) could be in the works. Still, it's unknown whether this Ivy Bridge-packing VAIO would replace its Sandy Bridge sibling or if it's just going to be a complete different offering. We'll have to wait and see.

VAIO T13 Ultrabook could be coming with Ivy Bridge, according to Sony's German site originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony VAIO E Series 14P gets Ivy Bridge processor nudge, improved display

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Sony VAIO E Series 14P gets an Ivy Bridge nudge

While they may not be the Sony ultrabooks we're still all itching to see, the company's E Series 14P laptops have reappeared with some Ivy Bridge bones. According to Sony Australia, the previously Intel Core i3 processor has been bulked up to a third-generation 2.1GHz Core i7-3612QM, capable of 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost. That's not the only difference, with the 14-inch display boosted to 1600 x 900 and a new choice between AMD'S Radeon HD 7670M or Intel's HD Graphics 4000 to provide the graphical horse power in the updated hardware. The aluminum-splashed laptops, priced at $1,500 AUD (around $1,608 USD), will still house Sony's Gesture Control functions. This should allow you to navigate around websites and media playback with some arm flailing -- provided you're using Microsoft perennials like Internet Explorer 9 and Windows Media Player. These updated specs are tinged with some (minor) bad news; it looks like the pink iteration won't be getting the same improvements seen on the black and white models. Regardless, monochrome fans can hit up the source for all the new details.

Sony VAIO E Series 14P gets Ivy Bridge processor nudge, improved display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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