Vaio
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VAIO, an acronym for Video Audio Integrated Operations, is a sub-brand 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.
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".
The small melody played when a VAIO boots is actually the sound of punching V-A-I-O (8-2-4-6) into a dial-tone telephone. Sony describes this tune as unique and playful, which defines their VAIO product.[1]
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 that comes in both 20GB and 40GB variations (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 Vista Home Premium or Business, while low end laptops such as N series come with Microsoft Vista Home basic. 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 are produced mainly in the Former republic of PB.
VAIO computers come with components from companies such as Intel processors, Seagate Technology or Fujitsu hard drives, Infineon RAM, Sony (usually made by Hitachi) or Matsushita optical drives, Intel or nVidia graphics processors and Sony speakers.
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
- VGN-AR15GP
- VGN-AR18GP
- VGN-AR25GP (Current)
- VGN-AR28GP (Current)
- FE Series: 15.4" Core Duo, around 2.8kg (6.17lbs).In Asia the FE series is called F series.
- VGN-FE15GP
- VGN-FE18GP
- VGN-FE25GP
- VGN-FE28GP
- VGN-FE35GP (Current)
- VGN-FE38GP (Current)
- FJ Series: 14.1" Core Solo, around 2.4kg. This Series has been replaced in Europe and America by the C-Series. In Asia it is called the F-light series.
- VGN-FJ58GP
- VGN-FJ67GP
- VGN-FJ68GP
- VGN-FJ77GP (Current)
- VGN-FJ78GP (Current)
- 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
- VGN-SZ25GP/B
- VGN-SZ28GP/C
- VGN-SZ34GP/B (Current)
- VGN-SZ38GP/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-TX16GP/W
- VGN-TX26GP/W
- VGN-TX27GP/B
- VGN-TX27GP/T
- VGN-TX36GP/W
- VGN-TX37GP/B
- VGN-TX37GP/T
- VGN-TX37GP/W
- VGN-TX46GP/W (Current)
- VGN-TX47GP/B (Current)
- VGN-TX37GP/T (Current)
- VGN-TX37GP/W (Current)
- UX Series: 4.5" Core Solo, around .89kg (1.27 lbs).
- VGN-UX17GP (Current)
- C series: 13.3" Core Duo, around 5.0lbs. Comes in grey, white, pink, black or green.
- VGN-C190P/H
- VGN-C150P/B
- VGN-C140G/B
- VGN-C12GP/W (Current)
- VGN-C13GG (Current)
- VGN-C13GH (Current)
- VGN-C13GP (Current)
- VGN-C15GP/B (Current)
- VGN-C15GP/W (Current)
- G series: 12.1" Intel Core Solo, 512 MB RAM, from .898 kg to 1.130 kg
- VGN-G1AAPSA : 1.2 GHz, 60 GB HD, DVD burner.
- VGN-G1AAPSB : 1.2 GHz, 60 GB HD, DVD combo.
- VGN-G1AAPSC : 1.2 GHz, 60 GB HD, No DVD.
- VGN-G1KAP : 1.06 GHz, 80 GB HD, DVD burner, 12.5 h battery included.
- VGN-G1LAP : 1.06 GHz, 80 GB HD, No DVD, 6 h battery included.
- N series
- VGN-N220E
- VGN-N270E/T
- VGN-N270E/W
- VGN-N230E/W
- VGN-N230N/B
- VGN-N250N/B
- L series: 15.4" Intel Core 2 Duo Sony's Fusion/Panel PC, around 4.5kg.
- VGC-LA38G
- PCG series
- PCG-GRT995MP
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.
Technology
The VAIO brand holds many unique technologies to its name. Some of these are:
Some Sony VAIO models come with Sony's proprietary XBRITE (also named as ClearBright in Japan and Asia-Pacific region) displays. The first model that introduce this feature is the VAIO TR series. It is also the first consumer product to utilize such technology. It is a combination of smooth screen, anti-reflection(AR) coating and high-efficiency lens sheet. Claimed by Sony, the smooth finish provide sharper screen display, the AR coating prevents external light from scattering when it hits the screen, and the high-efficiency lens sheet provide 1.5 times the brightness improvement over traditional LCD designs, and meanwhile provide extended battery life witfhout increasing the use of extra LCD backlight. The technology was pioneered by Sony engineer Masaaki Nakagawa, who is in charge of the VAIO TR development. More information can be found on http://vaio-online.sony.com/prod_info/pcg-tr5gp/interview/index_04.html .
Recent model, e.g. Sony TX and SZ, had implemented the LED backlighted ClearBright LCD, which further enchance power saving and color reproduction capability of the LCD unit.
The SZ series feature both an Intel graphics chip and an nVidia graphics chip. These laptops can cold-switch between the Intel chip, to preserve battery life, or the nVidia chip, to enhance graphics performance. Currently, these laptops are the only products on the market to do so.http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mobile/display/sony-vaio-vgnsz.html
The high-end AR Series VAIOs were the first to incorporate a Blu-Ray disc burner. These laptops were designed to be the epitome of high-definition products including a full-on high definition (1920 × 1200) screen, HDMI output and the aforementioned Blu-Ray burner. The AR series also include an illuminated logo below the screen that give the laptop a very prestigious feel.[citation needed]
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:
- Adobe Photoshop and Premier Elements. These products are bundled as part of the video and audio integration that Sony prides its VAIO series on.
- 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[2] (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 outdoors, however, where reflections limit image visibility.
Trivia
- In the 2006 movie The Holiday Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) had a Sony VAIO FJ series laptop in Pearl White Color and also Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) uses a VAIO R series desktop computer with the 17 inch Sony monitor.
- In the film Casino Royale (2006 film) Le Chiffre has a Sony VAIO FJ series, in the color Onyx Black, as does M (Judi Dench), who has an FJ series in Pearl White.
- In the film Casino Royale (2006 film) Daniel Craig as James Bond uses a Sony VAIO TX series.
A video has also circulated around youtube of a VAIO commercial, in which a women strips to her underwear and suspenders and has sex with a VAIO user in during a webcam conference. Presumably this is the cause of its censoring.