About Vaio
VAIO, an acronym for Video Audio Integrated Operation, 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.
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 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.
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 backlit 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.
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.
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 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.
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 backlit 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.
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.
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 (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.
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