Sony Announces New VAIO T-Series Ultra-Portable Notebook (pics, specs)

Sony has unveiled yet another Ultra-Portable notebook seriesline in their VAIO family. To add to the Sony VAIO TR and Sony VAIO X505 family there is now a newly designed Ultra-Portable notebook model called the Sony VAIO T-Series. The new model line blends style and stamina into a trim textured metal alloy casing of midnight blue. Entertainment playback buttons on the unit's hinge are conveniently exposed whether the machine is open or closed and put the power to play, pause or rewind music or movies right at your fingertips.

The new Sony VAIO T-Series

Specs

• OS: Windows XP Home SP2


• Processorentium M1.1ghz (64k L1, 2mb L2 cache) or a CeleronMobile 900mhz (64k L1, 512k L2 cache)


• RAM: 256MB standard or configurable up to 768 DDR SDRAM


• Video: 64MB Shared Video


• Screen: WXGA 10.6" (1280x768) 16:9


• External Resolution Capabilities: (1600x1200, 1280x1024, 1280x768, 1024x768, 1024x600, 800x600)


• Hard Drive: 40GB


• Optical Drive: CDRW/DVD or DVD+-R


• USB: 2.0 x 2 ports


• Firewire: iLink x 1 port


• Ethernet: 100Base-T/10Base-T x 1


• Wireless: 2.4ghz 802.11b/g


• Memory Stick Slot: Duo/Pro


• PCMCIA Slot: Type II x 1 slot


• Modem: 56k


• Keyboard: 17mm 87key international


• Size: 272mm x 25 mm x 205 mm (standard battery)


• Weight: 1.38kg

"The VAIO T-Series notebook builds on Sony's expertise in packing big time capabilities into small, beautiful packages," said Mike Abary, general manager of VAIO PC marketing for Sony Electronics. "The perfect mobile companion, it will keep you productive and entertained while inspiring envy anywhere you go."

The integrated CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive and 10.6-inch, wide-format display with XBRITE(TM) LCD technology make DVD movie or multimedia presentation viewing a joy with crisp, vivid colors and sharp contrast. And advanced battery optimization technology provides enough juice for both work and play with up to seven hours of action on a single charge.

The new Sony VAIO T-Series

The optional DVD+-RW drive expands the notebook's data backup capability, allowing you to store on DVD up to seven times the information you could fit onto a standard CD. Sony's exclusive application for one-click DVD burning, Click to DVD(TM) software, is included with this option.

Built-in Dolby® technology adds yet another dimension to presentations, movies or music whether you're listening alone or presenting to a small group. Dolby Headphone technology creates the illusion of a five-speaker system when you listen over ordinary stereo headphones. And Dolby Virtual Speaker technology simulates a surround sound effect from as few as two speakers.

Powered by Intel® Centrino(TM) Mobile Technology, the notebook comes packed with integrated 802.11b/g wireless connectivity so whether you're on the road, in the office or moving from room to room, you can stay connected to email and the Internet wire-free.

The T-Series is further augmented by a wealth of connectivity options, including two USB 2.0 ports, a Memory Stick PRO(TM) media slot, and an i.LINK® (IEEE 1394) digital interface for speedy, no-hassle transfer of digital content among a universe of compatible products.

Rounding out the package is the complete VAIO Entertainment Software Suite including, applications for video editing, digital photo and music management and VAIO Media(TM) software, Sony's simple interface for sharing digital content among PCs or compatible consumer electronics devices on a home network.

T-Series notebooks will be available next month at select retail outlets for about $2,000 and can also be purchased online at www.sonystyle.com.

 

Does anyone know the detailed specs? like the processer, vid card etc?

 

http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Products/VGN-T70B/spec.html

Although what models will be released outside of Japan, the models in the above site can give you an idea (I know it's Japanese, but we can roughly guess specs from the numbers).[ ]

Good to see the motion eye in TR series disappear, and also good to hear the battery lasts longer than TR series.

 

Interesting, but still not enough to pry me away from Fujitsu for the ultraportable. It's interesting that Sony is devoting so much attention to this seemingly niche market. They've released/announced several models in the ultraport and thinn/light categories this year.

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Brian

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Myung

 

So how does this compare to the Sony TR line it seems about the same to me???

 

I've had a play with the T-Series for about an hour and overall was quite impressed. The lid finish is akin to the VAIO Z1, but even more "rough" to the extent that you could compare it to sandpaper. The S1 on the other hand is much more smooth. The VAIO logo is a bit more embedded as well. has the same no visible ports concept as S1, leaving a very nice overall finish when closed. Open it looks more like a minature S1. I didn't like the little VAIO logos on the side of the LCD hinges - it detracted from the usual Sony simplicity = best design.

Major pros:
Battery up to 5 hrs (not able to confirm)
Certainly visibly thinner than TR chassis
DVD±RW as standard (TR = DVD-RW)
Screen quality appeared to be better than TR - higher contrast perhaps
Handy mute/sound/bass button.
Quick access buttons could be handy, but I'd never use them TBH.
Keyboard seems OK, but vertical size seems a bit squashed

Cons:
Battery sticks out like a sore thumb
Finish on lid will not appeal to all
no camera
No bluetooth apart from euro models (was looking for a Jap one)
no instant DVD boot up from what I could see.



======

Alexei

 

The one thing that seems odd to me is that Sony is saying about this "...new model line blends style and stamina", and then they have it spec'd out with only a 1.1GHz Pentium-M. HHmmmmm, I don't know how much stamina that 1.1 is going to have against a 1.6GHz Dothan?
It is a nice looking unit, though.


Cheers,

Stevo

zv5000z: Ath64_3200+ (2.0GHz) - 1GB DDR - 80GB 5400rpm - 64MB GeForce4 440 - 15.0" XGA (1024x768)