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. The VAIO logo also represents the integration of analog and digital technology. The 'VA' represents an analog wave and the 'IO' represents digital binary code.

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. Sony claims that the smooth finish provides a sharper screen display, the AR coating prevents external light from scattering when it hits the screen, and the high-efficiency lens sheet provides 1.5 times the brightness improvement over traditional LCD designs, while also extending battery life due to less usage of the 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 here: [1].

Recent models, such as the TX or SZ, have implemented the LED backlit XBRITE LCD, which further enchance power saving and accurate color reproduction capability of the LCD unit.

The SZ series features both an Intel GMA 950 graphics chip and an NVIDIA graphics chip. These laptops can cold-switch between the GMA 950, to preserve battery life, or the NVIDIA chip, to enhance graphics performance. Currently, these laptops are the only products on the market with this function. [2]

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 1080p capable WUXGA (1920 × 1200 pixels) screen, HDMI output and the aforementioned Blu-ray burner. The AR series also include an illuminated logo below the screen.

Bundled software

Sony has been criticized for loading its VAIO laptops with bloatware, or software that supposedly allows the user to immediately use the laptop for multimedia purposes. Sony forces users to install software such as AOL, Norton, SonicStage, Napster and Roxio, among countless "free trials" and intrusive advertisements. Dell had been accused of the same practice, but after strong customer feedback agreed to offer "limited" pre-installed software on its machines.^[1]

Users can get around this by simply downloading the drivers from the sony website and formating the pc using a standard windows disc. The windows code on the laptop can then be used to activate it.

Current Models

• AR - Flagship 17" High-end multimedia machine
• FZ - The first 15" notebook with BluRay burner
• CR - New 14" derivatives of the Fj series.
• BX - Professional 4:3 notebook
• G - Ultralight 1.05kg 12.1" notebook
• N - Entry level Vista laptop for home users
• UX - Handheld - 4.5" screen, a handheld UMPC computer
• TZ- 11.1" professional notebook
• SZ- 13.3" professional notebook

Pop Culture References

• In the anime Boys Be, Makoto Kurumizawa owned two VAIO laptops. One of them, the first one, was wrecked by Yumi Kazama (by dropping it from a third floor school building window), and he exploited this as an excuse for her to arrange a date with Erika Kawai.
• In the James Bond film Casino Royale, James is seen using a VAIO laptop.

See also

• Sony NEWS
• Sony CISC
• Sony Vaio FJ
• SZ2
• Sony Vaio UX Micro PC

External links

• Sony VAIO web site
• Sony VAIO Japan

•  • [ e] Sony Corporation
Technologies and brands	α Betacam Blu-ray BRAVIA CD Cyber-shot DAT DVD LocationFree Memory Stick MiniDisc MiniDV mylo PlayStation PSP VAIO Video8/Hi8/Digital8 Walkman• Walkman Phones XDCAM
Historical products	AIBO Betamax Sony CLI Lissa Mavica NEWS Qualia TR-55 Trinitron U-matic WEGA
Operating segments	Sony Corp. (Sony Electronics in the US) Sony Pictures Sony Computer Entertainment Sony BMG Music Sony Financial Holdings
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Joint Ventures	Sony Ericsson Sony BMG Music Sony/ATV S-LCD STLCD Sony NEC Optiarc FeliCa Networks
Key personnel	Harrison Hirai Ibuka Idei Kuroki Kutaragi Lynton Morita Ohga Pascal Stringer

References