Sony’s ultraslim 13-inch VAIO Z laptop revealed in Europe, packs external GPU for power on demand

Mark — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:05:38 +0000

Turns out those leaked shots we saw of Sony’s new VAIO Z laptop were right on the money as the company showed it off officially today for the European press. The specs reveal a 13.1-inch “ultramobile” notebook that comes in at under 1.2kg with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, 1600×900 screen and sheet battery borrowed from the earlier VAIO S for up to 7 hours of computing. Onboard it features only Intel’s HD Graphics 3000 solution but the VAIO Z beats other ultralights with its Power Media Dock, which contributes the power of an AMD Radeon 6650M GPU with 1GB of dedicated memory connected via “the architecture codenamed Light Peak” — Sony can’t call it Thunderbolt — when more polygons have to be pushed. The dock sports one USB 3.0 hookup plus additional USB, VGA and HDMI ports, and a slot for either a DVD or Blu-ray drive. There’s no word on a price yet, but it is promised to ship by the end of July in Europe so if the full specs (included after the break) are appealing then you don’t have much time to save up.

Update: Head over to the Sony UK site to configure one yourself — pricing starts at Â£1,434 ($2,294) with a Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM and no PMD. The dock is a Â£400 ($640) option with no optical drive included, while upgrading to a 1080p 13.1-inch LCD is a mere Â£40 extra.

PRESS RELEASE

Ultimate performance and design: ultra-mobile new VAIO Z Series from Sony weighs under 1.2kg
28 June 2011

Thin, ultra-light 13.1″ notebook PC with innovative new Power Media Dock

Â· 33.2cm (13.1″) VAIO Z Series: less than 1.2 kg and 16.65mm slim with stunning design and smart battery concept

Â· Business-class power with latest standard voltage IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ i7 processors and fast SSD storage

Â· High-resolution (1600×900) anti-reflective VAIO Display Premium

Â· Optional sheet battery gives up to 14hr stamina1 with quick charge

Â· Power Media Dockâ„¢ 2 with quad video monitor support, AMD Radeonâ„¢ HD graphics, optical drive and extra ports including HDMIâ„¢ out

Â· Quick Boot gets you working in seconds

Weighing little over a kilogram, the new VAIO Z Series notebook PC from Sony is created for mobile professionals who demand absolute performance and portability.

VAIO Z blends ultra-desirable styling and premium carbon fibre with no-compromise specifications and innovative productivity features. In the office or on the road, this class-leading business notebook helps demanding users work more efficiently with the ultimate in on-the-move computing power.

All-new VAIO Z takes cutting-edge styling by Sony to new extremes, with a ‘full flat’ body and display lid that are crafted in tough, ultra-light carbon fibre. At just below 1.2kg and 16.65mm slim, the new VAIO Z is the perfect partner for business travellers who demand ultimate power with less to carry.

On-the-go usability is enhanced further by the backlit keyboard with extra-wide palm rest and ergonomic new ‘button-less’ touchpad. With a resolution of 1600×900, the 33.2cm (13.1″) VAIO Display Premium features an anti-reflective coating that cuts glare from direct light sources and ensures crisp colour reproduction.

Performance is everything you’d expect from the most sophisticated VAIO notebook yet. Latest-generation standard voltage IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ i7 processors are teamed with speedy DDR3 SDRAM and up to 256GB SSD RAID storage to blaze through the toughest workload with ease.

As an extra refinement, Quick Boot saves precious time when you’re in a hurry, loading Genuine WindowsÂ® 7 Professional up to 50% quicker than conventional notebooks. Embedded VAIO ‘everywair’ 3G WWAN on selected models connects via your mobile broadband operator.

Power Media Dockâ„¢

The performance of VAIO Z Series is taken to new extremes by the unique Power Media Dock2, a monolithic expansion module that links with VAIO via an optical cable. The proprietary port can also be used to attach regular USB devices to VAIO when it’s not docked.

Featuring high-speed I/O data transfer based on the architecture codenamed ‘Light Peak’, Power Media Dock boosts graphics performance while adding numerous extra connectivity options. It includes an optical drive for even greater business productivity and satisfying HD entertainment. The module comes supplied with a stylish design-matched stand.

With Power Media Dock added, VAIO Z can manage up to four displays (including the notebook screen) via HDMIâ„¢ and/or VGA output ports. In this configuration, VAIO Z makes a compelling choice for design, finance and science professionals who need to work across several screens simultaneously. New-generation AMD Radeon HD graphics with 1GB VRAM effortlessly handle demanding graphics tasks, from 3D CAD to gaming.

When docked, connectivity options are boosted by additional USB ports plus VGA and HDMI outputs. Power Media Dock also sports an optical drive bay that can be specified with a Blu-ray Discâ„¢ or SuperMulti combo drive. Games and movies on DVD or Blu-ray Disc sound as good as they look with latest DolbyÂ® Home TheaterÂ® v4.

Sheet battery

VAIO Z features the innovative ‘sheet battery’ already showcased on this year’s VAIO S Series. The notebook’s internal lithium polymer battery provides power for up to 7 hours1 on-the-go computing. It’s partnered by a second thin, flat optional lithium polymer sheet battery that can be charged separately from the PC and added without removing the internal battery. The sheet battery attaches without having to switch off the PC, boosting stamina to up to 14 hours1 for day-and-night working, even if you’re far from mains power.

VAIO Z delivers a richer communication experience if you’re staying in touch with colleagues via video conference or web chat. The HD web camera powered by Exmorâ„¢ technology ensures detailed-packed video even in low light.

There’s a full range of official accessories from Sony, style-matched to complement the looks and performance of your VAIO. Many more configuration options â€“ including a Full HD (1920 x 1080) LCD â€“ are available exclusively to online shoppers at Sony Store.

The new 2011 VAIO Z Series of ultra-portable performance notebook PCs is available from the end of July 2011 (actual date of availability varies by country).

1 As measured by MobileMarkÂ® battery test

2 Power Media Dock available with selected models or as an optional accessory

-ends-
Notes to editors

Model

VAIO VPCZ21V9E

Processor

IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ i7-2620M 2.70GHz (with Turbo Boost up to 3.40GHz)

OS

Genuine WindowsÂ® 7 Professional (64bit) with Service Pack 1

Memory

8GB DDR3 1333Mhz SDRAM

Drive

256GB SSD Flash memory (RAID 0)

Screen

33.2cm (13.1″) VAIO Display Premium (1600×900) with wide (16:9) aspect ratio

On-board graphics

IntelÂ® HD Graphics 3000

Optical drive

DVD SuperMulti Drive (included with VGP-PRZ20C Power Media Dockâ„¢ â€“ see below)

Others

WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n; 3G WWAN; BluetoothÂ® 2.1 + EDR; USB 2.0 x1, docking station/USB port x1 (supports USB 2.0/3.0 compatible devices); HDMIâ„¢ out (3D supported); stereo speakers with DolbyÂ® Home TheaterÂ® v4; HD web camera powered by ‘Exmor’ (1.3 effective megapixels); Web, VAIO and Assist buttons; touchpad with gesture support; fingerprint sensor; Quick Boot

Dimensions DxHxW

Approx. 210 x 16.65 x 330mm

Weight

Approx. 1.18kg (with standard internal battery)

Model

Power Media Dockâ„¢ VGP-PRZ20C/VGP-PRZ20A

Graphics Accelerator

AMD Radeonâ„¢ HD 6650M

Video RAM

1GB DDR3

Max. resolution

Analogue RGB: 1920 x 1200

HDMIâ„¢: 1920 x 1080

Optical drive

VGP-PRZ20C: DVD SuperMulti Drive

VGP-PRZ20A: Blu-ray Discâ„¢ Drive with DVD SuperMulti

LAN port

1000BASE-T/100BASE-T/10BASE-T x1

USB port

Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) Type A Connector x2, SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) x1

Monitor port

Mini D-Sub 15 pin x1

HDMI output port

x1 (3D Supported)

Dimensions DxHxW

Approx. 148 x 16.65 x 220mm

Weight

Approx. 0.685kg

Specifications and features vary by model. Please check VAIO laptops for more information.
For more information please contact
Sony Europe Press Centre

PR: Samsung Electronics Unveils 1TB Hard Drive for Notebooks

pcnz_admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:19:06 +0000

Samsung Electronics Unveils Terabyte Hard Drive for Notebooks :: SEOUL, Korea, June 9, 2011: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in digital consumer electronics and information technology, today announced its 500 gigabyte per platter, one terabyte internal hard disk drive, Spinpoint M8 for use in mobile computing applications such as notebooks.

Samsung’s Spinpoint M8, which consists of two 500 gigabyte platters, provides users with one terabyte storage space. The form factor support the 9.5mm height to comfortably fit in mobile computing applications.

The high density was achieved by utilizing advanced format technology (AFT), which raises the data storage density per unit area, enabling efficient and convenient data storage. A reduced number of components such as disks and heads also contribute to approximately seven percent increase in operation speeds and eight percent decline in power demand.

The dual-platter Spinpoint M8 operates on a high-performance 3 gigabits per second SATA interface, provides an eight megabyte buffer memory and incorporates EcoSeekâ„¢ and NoiseGuardâ„¢ features for minimal noise levels. A redesign of the overall structure ensures enhanced shock resistance to protect the disk from physical fracture and data loss.

Samsung’s C.H. Lee, vice president of storage strategic marketing said, “The new Spinpoint M8 line-up supports the ongoing growth curve for high density data storage densities, especially as it raises the bar to exceed terabyte density levels in the mobile computing space.”

Spinpoint M8 is currently in mass production and available worldwide with the 1TB drive at an MSRP of $129.00.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductors, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsungelectronics.com.

Lenovo’s IdeaPad U300S flaunts its trim frame at Computex

pcnz_admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 06:55:55 +0000

Intel has launched its new Ultra Book category is not fully implemented without first example and the Lenovo IdeaPad U300S one of the better devices will start to give it. The 13.3-inch notebook will be manufactured in a unibody design and has an interesting orange color. The keyboard has convinced at first use and the touchpad is so large as for current Apple notebooks. The reflective display could be a little better quality for a mid-range device, but it is also so far only a sample product. For less than 1000 â‚¬ you will surely not at the U3S away, but after watching our video right after it to you but perhaps you will consider saving ever to catch.

PC News Zone » thin

Sony’s ultraslim 13-inch VAIO Z laptop revealed in Europe, packs external GPU for power on demand

PR: Samsung Electronics Unveils 1TB Hard Drive for Notebooks

Lenovo’s IdeaPad U300S flaunts its trim frame at Computex