Sony VAIO FE and SZ Notebooks at CES 2006 (pics, specs)

Sony introduced two new VAIO notebooks at the CES 2006 show- the new VAIO FE Series 15.4" notebook, a high performance mobile media center PC and the new VAIO SZ Series 13.3" widescreen notebook which features advanced security features, powerful performance and a sleek design.

Sony VAIO FE notebooks will be widely available next month for about $1,650 and the Sony VAIO SZ series notebooks will be widely available this spring with standard models starting at $1,999 and SZ Premium models starting at $2,299.

Press release excerpts can be found below. Additional details and hi-res images can be found at: http://news.sel.sony.com/ces06/

Sony VAIO FE Dual Core Notebook

The VAIO FEis Sony's new 15.4-inch screen notebook that can be configured with the new Intel Core Duo (dual core) processor. Below are some pictures of the new VAIO FE that was on display at the CES show in Las Vegas.

Sony VAIO FE notebook (view larger image)

Sony VAIO FE keyboard and touchpad (view larger image)

VAIO FE Notebook at the CES 2006 (view larger image)

VAIO FE left side view (view larger image)

The VAIO FE hasa 15.4-inch widescreen display with XBRITE HiColor LCD technology to ensure that multimedia playback is rich and vibrant. Sony's advanced display technology delivers extraordinary color purity and saturation, even in bright daylight. Sound Reality technology, Sony's advanced audio integration, adds the aural component to a superb movie-viewing experience. Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 offers intelligent and seamless control of entertainment content from a single, easy-to-use interface.

Below is a spec sheet for the VAIO FE notebook:

VAIO FE (VGN-FE550G config) spec sheet (view larger)

The VAIO FE notebook will be available at SonyStyle.com starting on January 17th.

Sony VAIO SZ Dual Core Notebook

In its quest to put more power into a small package, Sony is raising the bar once again with its new VAIO SZ series notebooks. Using the latest mobile technology from Intel , the diminutive SZ notebook and even thinner SZ Premium model deliver feature-rich computing at top speed with remarkably low power consumption, helping savvy travelers work faster and play longer. Below are some pictures of the VAIO SZ as seen on display at the CES 2006 show in Las Vegas.

Sony VAIO SZ Notebook at CES 2006 (view larger image)

VAIO SZ Front view (view larger image)

VAIO SZ left side view (view larger image)

Sony VAIO SZ keyboard and touchpad (view larger image)

Sony will offer anSZ Premium series that will pack the punch of the SZ model into a slimmer carbon fiber-clad casing. At a mere 0.9 inches slim, and under four pounds light, the Premium series is a welcome but barely noticeable addition to any bag. For additional mobility, select SZ Premium notebooks include integrated wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) technology, allowing you to surf the Internet and check e-mail virtually anywhere there's a cellular signal. Sony's exclusive SmartWi technology lets you seamlessly toggle between LAN, Bluetooth and WWAN service provided through Cingular's national EDGE data network.

Both the SZ and SZ Premium models feature a Hybrid Graphics System that extends battery life by letting you toggle between an internal graphics chip to conserve power, or external graphics chip for superb performance. The graphics card will be the nVidia 740 and the processor will be the Intel Core Duo 2400 (1.86GHz dual core). he SZ Premium model's razor-thin LCD panel with white LED LCD backlight can bring battery life up to around seven hours.

The SZ standard models (SZ120, SZ110 and SZ140)and the SZ premium models (SZ150, SZ160, SZ170 and SZ180) will be available January 17th from SonyStyle.com.

 

Sony sure makes purty notebooks, that's for sure! Still no gamer models, though.

 

They do, they're certainly the best looking dual core notebooks that are on display at the CES 2006, aside from the Acer TravelMate 8200 maybe -- which will be a nice gaming machine. And it's good to see that Sony continues to push the discrete graphics in a 13.3" mobile form factor, something other manufacturers continue to refuse to do. For now.

 

i think the 7400 is a very good card for a 13.3 inch model...an x700 equivalent (from what i hear) is not something we've ever seen before...i am personally very excited...also...its so purddy

 

Is it hotswitching between the integrated and the dedicated GPU or do you have to restart the machine?

 

So the SZ model has a GPU hotswitching option whereas the FE model has a more advanced screen? Cool. Too bad the SZ looks like crap though (poor color scheme mainly). Kinda reminds me of the old ASUS P4-M laptops I've seen two years ago. NOT STYLISH.

 

Will the FE come with different color schemes like the FJ?

 

I'd like to see if Sony will come out with dual core versions of its TX notebooks.

 

Screw the ASUS W3, I'm getting a VAIO SZ!

 

FE looks decent.

Sony better stop putting the headphone jack on the front, not nice, and the sound quality suffers when unevitably someone tries to snap it.

Does anyone know whether the FE is made of the same material as the previous FS? 99% probably.

 

The SZ is pretty hot, but I'm concerned about the LCD panel. The lid is so thin and bends to torque, I just worry about it's protection.

The TX will get dual core, but it will probably be several months.

 

Does the SZ lid flex that much? Better get the carbon fibre aka premium version

 

you are correct, it's essentially the same build material wise, but I believe it's slightly thinner and lighter than the FE.

 

I didn't ask, but Sony hasn't indicated it will and I would assume not.

 

Do you also have a spec sheet for the sz?

 

abaxter,

Any indication whether the FE will be available with a WSXGA, or will it just be WXGA like with the FS?

 

Have you seen the TX series in person? You'll be plenty surprised of how rigid it is. It's more rigid than the P7010.

 

WOw!!! The FE IS A BEAUT!

I was just wondering, is Asus making Sony Notebooks now? I recalled a thread mentioning something similar...

I'm definitely getting a sony over ASUS.

 

jsis - I don't understand what you're saying, I was commenting on the lid of the SZ. It's very easy to torque and a little pressure gets a lot of screen ripple.

 

jsis.. youre right. brian is very anti-sony. the led screen is very strong. fujitsu is suck. btw brian.. tx will never have dual core further demonstrating that you post uninformed msgs. what are you up to.. 8000 posts?

 

The TX uses the same LED backlighting technology as the SZ but with even thinner screen. The screen doesn't ripple at all when you push the back. Also, it doesn't flex as easily as screens that have a magnesium composite cover.

Make no mistake, Fujitsu's screen is solid, but the TX is even more rigid (the carbon fiber composite lid helps alot).

 

That was my concern also when I heard about how thin the lid is of the SZ series. Always some compromise isn't there...

 

The SZ will make Sony the king of portable powerhouse machine - just mark my words in months to come
They have pulled together all the features and pack into all beautiful and sleek,light package at a decent price. Well done Sony!

 

After looking at the pics of the SZ it looks the display model is the thin version.

As for the screen, they claim it's widescreen, however it looks more square than wide.

I'm not sure if that is true widescreen or if it will have black bars on the top and bottom when playing DVD's.

Because I know for sure the TX boasts a true widescreen display and it just looks wider than the SZ to me.

 

This notebook looks like an almost perfect blend of portability and performance, with heaps of extras like the biometric fingerprint reader. I'm so glad I waited for dual-core, now I just have to choose between the SZ and the travelmate 8200...

Webster, the standard SZ will most likely be using the exact same screen as the one currently in the S580 series; it is definately still the 13.3inch widescreen. The SZ premium is possibly using a slightly different backlighting setup, but I would assume the screen is still the same glossy 13.3inch 1280x800 widescreen.

I can't wait for January 17th!

 

jsis - again, I'm not talking about the TX, so while you're saying they're the same thing, they're not. The lid on the SZ is larger, maybe that gave it less stability.

web - you'll get some black bars on the top anyway, since notebook displays are a different aspect ratio than the movies.

 

Can anyone guess-timate the size comparison between the SZ Premium and the TX?

I was very close to buying a TX before Christmas and chose to wait for a Dual core Sony. Is there enough size difference to wait for a Dual core TX?

I'm lugging around a Latitude D800 and want to move to an ultra-portable - and especially a Sony since they integrate the CD/DVD drive still (everyone else in this size range has an optional external - blah).

And i'm assuming the Sony press release incorrectly called the nVidia chip a 740, as all I see is a 7400 chip on the nVidia website. Which is excellent - because the 7400 will support the new Windows Vista video driver standard.

Also - I'm assuming the usage of the words "external" and "internal" for the video card means a MOBO integrated card and the nVidia being an internal PCI type card? I would hope that doesn't mean using some sort of external dock.

Thanks;
-Joseph-

PS: I just noticed this addition to SonyStyle. All of the same info posted above - just Sony's take. But I do notice the SZ uses a 5400 RPM drive versus the 4200 RPM drive of the TX.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...rt?CategoryName=cpu_SZ_ Series&Dept=computers

 

SZ series looks good, Also they seem to be availble in 10 days which is earlier than Dell or Gateway. I hope BB or CC have atleast one core duo model on display.

 

youre absolutely right. the s/sz and pretty much all other sony widescreens are not true widescreen. the tx is the only sony with true widescreen (16:9 ratio). when viewing movies that are 16:9, there are no black bars. its a pleasure to view dvd's on the tx.. especially with the 'instant-on' feature. another thing i love about the tx is that it actually displays more on the screen than my s-series. tx-series 1366x768 vs s-series 1280x800. i love the tx and cant wait for the fanless tx2.

 

Of course they're not the same thing. I'm just implying that the strength of the lid on the SZ series is stronger and more stable than the TX because the lid is larger and a bit thicker.

The lid of the SZ is strong because like the TX series, it is made out of the same carbon fiber composite.

The lid of the TX is more rigid than the magnesium lid of the P7010, so it is safe to assume that since the lid of the SZ is thicker, it is way stronger than the P7010 and TX.

 

You must be missing the point. I understand what they're made of. The SZ feels flimsy to me where the TX does not.

 

The FS came in 2 colours in the UK. (whiteish and dark grey).
I hope the FE will also come in the darker variant, it is always nicer to have a black keyboard so dirt does not show as much.

 

Man, I got all excited about the FE, but the spec sheet totally messed it up....first of all 4200 HD? The Sony Europe site already has the pre-order up and it's 160Gb with a dual 1.86 GHz, but still 4200. At least they also have a model with a 100GB 5400 drive, but that's with a dual 1.66 GHz CPU. What is the point of putting a faster HD with a slower processor?

And WORST of all, only WXGA? What the hell Sony? It's 15.4"! Give us at least the WSXGA option.... *sigh*

I will never be able to find a perfect notebook!!! It just doesn't exist.

Either Asus should make their V6j a 15.4 widescreen - there u go...all I want. Good design with good stuff. Or Sony should make the FE with a dual 2.0 GHz CPU and a 120GB 5400 HD...there you go, Good design with good stuff. It't like they all conspired to always just make "almost" perfect...so that I will never be happy....grrrr **** you Notebook manufacturers, **** YOU!!!!

 

Sony offers 5400 rpm hard drives, just not in the pre-configured models. Custom order from Sony Style.

 

So for the U.S. the FE is going to be a customizable unit?

 

Abaxter, how's the power brick? Did sony fcuk up again by making it ENORMOUSLY BIG?

 

Check out the spec sheet for the entry level VGN-SZ110/B
Sorry for the RS link. Am having sum trouble uploading to the forum
Abaxter, can you add this spec to your post. thx

http://rapidshare.de/files/10771643/VGNSZ110B_mksp.pdf.html

[RANT]
Hold on guys...
Windows XP HOME??? WTF
Is it not the XP PRO which takes advantage of the dual core?
I knew sony would screw up
[/RANT]

 

wow, i'd like that one This would cost about $2000?

 

We could not see the power bricks.

 

From the specs sheet, i gather it's the same power brick as the FS series...

Pretty impressive specs for the 'entry-level' VGN-SZ110/B...

 

I thought I heard the PREMIUM version would be around $2,300.

The spec sheet-SZ is excellent though, that "baseline model" has pretty much everything I would already want. And the 100 GB SATA drive @ 5400 RPM is fantastic in my mind.

I can't wait to see the specs on the premium edition.

 

This is just my opinion but I believe the ad text suggests select premiums models will be available from January 17th.

The way I read it is that the WAN models will be released later in April.

I don't know why they would delay the premium models when they had them on display already at CES.

I don't know about you guys but if I get one of these I want the light weight carbon fiber version.

 

I posted this in another thread too, but was wondering what vid card the 7400 is comparable to (x700?) and how you think its gaming ability is, especialy with WOW. Mobile WOW goodness mmmmmmmm!

 

the SZ is awesome. Im pre-ordering it on the 17th, as a university replacement for my HP zv5000.

Model # VGN-SZ110/B is the one im getting as its better then the VGN-SZ120P/B.

The premium editions are just way to expensive.

 

how do you know how much they are for? prices arent released yet, are they? how much would a 2GB RAM sz-170 or 180 cost me?

 

Well according to the post they are starting at 1999$. I doubt they will be more expensive then that. My budget being around that its fine.

Btw I am not talking about premium editions.

So I really have no clue about the 2GB RAM.

Price: starting at $1,999 (standard model) and starting at $2,299 (premium model)

 

aer0sense - Do you have a spec sheet on the different models?

 

spec sheet for other models available on www.sony.com/sz

 

If you substitute the FE model numbers in the pdf link you can also get the spec sheets for the 2 FE models they are releasing....

Man, seriously what is Sony doing with FE? Looks great, but the components are below par. Both will have a dual 1.66GHz and both will have a WXGA, the 570 will have a 160GB instead of 100GB but both will be 4200RPM....wow I that is about the worst setups I have seen in a long time!!

Listen Sony, put in a dual 2.0 GHz with a WSXGA and a 120 5400 RPM drive and I would have bought it in an instant....now Im stuck with Acer TM 8200

 

the graphic ought to be much better for the FE.. and yea I quite agree it's somewhat subpar in terms of hardware config.