By Craig Zammit
SYDNEY: Sony Australia yesterday released a lightweight, Vaio G series G118 notebook computer with an RRP of $3,699 for the business market which is simultaneously robust and small and aims to answer business users’ needs.
“Taking what we know about mobility from our experience in the consumer notebook space, we have listened to what business users want and created a notebook that delivers on every level,” said Sony Australia Vaio senior product manager, Hiro Ishikawa, of the 1.15kg, small black notebook.
“Saying as much about the way you operate in business as the suit or tie you wear, the G series will change the face of mobile working with its unprecedented characteristics.”
The G118 was unveilved at the annual Kickstart Forum at the Hyatt Regency in Coolum yesterday over lunch to a crowd of IT and CE journalists and analysts. Three examples of the notebook were displayed, along with a live telecast interview with Ishigawa.
The recorded component of the presentation focussed on the notebook’s durability, and various drop tests, pressure tests and even a bending test, in which a machine twisted the computer-chassis, filmed at the Vaio manufacturing plant in Japan, were displayed.
The G118 features a unique three-surface carbon structure, which employs carbon material in the lid, palm rest and base, contributing to the G118’s overall light frame, a battery life of up to 11.5 hours and the ability to withstand a fall from up to 90cm.
The computer’s 100GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) protection technology ensures that if the machine is dropped while switched on, the acceleration is sensed and it automatically locks down to prevent damage and data loss.
“This model was built from scratch with the user in mind. We have successfully produced a model that will appeal as much for its performance as for its look and feel,” said Ishikawa.
“By listening to a wide range of business users, we were able to throw away any pre-conceived ideas we had and develop a tool that would work together with its user in all situations, as the perfect business partner.”
Designed mainly for IT needs, features onboard the G118 include a 12.1-inch LCD XGA resolution screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, fingerprint recognition, Intel Core Solo Processor U1500, enhanced connectivity via the provision of GB Ethernet for speedy network connections, an integrated DVD Supermulti DVD±RW/±R DL/RAM drive and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) hardware-level protection for files, passwords and encryption keys.
There is also a suite of business-specific applications, including Vaio battery care function, Vaio status monitor, Vaio peripheral device & storage media restriction setting utility and Windows Vista Business edition pre-installed.