Netbook Reviews

Sony have just announced the new Sony Vaio W netbook in an official press release.

Unlike the Sony Vaio P netbook, Sony are happy to call the Vaio W a netbook.

The Sony Vaio Mini W series consist of three netbooks, but all are identical with the exception of their color.

The specifications are fairly standard as you might expect, with an Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor, a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, Bluetooth, and 802.11b/g/n WiFi. There are 2x USB 2.0 ports, along with Ethernet, VGA, MemoryStick / SD card reader and a webcam.

What is a little more unusual about the Sony Vaio W is it,s 10.1-inch LED backlit LCD panel, which has a higher than normal resolution of 1366 x 768 pixel, which gives you more room to play with.

The Sony Vaio W features an isolated (chiclet) keyboard which is 86% of full size. A standard 3-cell battery is rated for three hours of life, and there is an optional 6-cell battery option.

The full model name is the Sony VPCW11S1. It is available in white (VPCW11S1E/W), brown (VPCW11S1E/T), and pink (VPCW11S1E/P).

Sony also liked to stress that the Sony Vaio W has a very high build quality, much higher than that normally found in most netbooks.

The Sony Vaio W will come with Windows XP, and be available for about $499 in mid-August. Official Sony Vaio W page

Update: The Sony Vaio W is available for pre-order for $499!