Sony unveils pocket-size VAIO laptop

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Sony Corp on Thursday unveiled a pocket-size laptop computer in Tokyo. The VAIO type P is a 634-gram (width:245mm, depth:120mm, thickness:19.8mm) computer for the Japanese market. The corporate model was released today, while the consumer model will be released on Jan 16. The expected price for the consumer model is 100,000 yen.

“VAIO type P is not a netbook,” said Ryosuke Akahane, director of the VAIO series. “We plan to create a new niche and achieve 100% market share.”

Netbooks, or mini laptop computers, whose average price is 50,000 yen, currently account for about 20% of the personal computer market in Japan where Taiwanese makers have successfully made inroads. Japanese makers, such as Toshiba and NEC, have already released netbook products in the competitive market.

“We will release type P in 33 countries in North America and Europe as well as Russia and China, in collaboration with regional telecommunication services,” added Akahane.

Type P for the Japanese market is equipped with NTT DoCoMo’s high speed Internet connection service module with which users can access the Internet at 7.2Mbps download speed. Akahane expects type P to be carried by users just like a mobile phone with broadband connection in multiple formats.

The consumer model of type P (VGN-P80H/W, VGN-P70H/R, G, W) features 8-inch ultra-wide monitor (1600×768 resolution), Intel Atom Z520 CPU as well as 60G byte hard disk and on-board 2G RAM. The operation system is Windows Vista Home Basic. It is also equipped with IEEE802.11b/g/n, NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA High Speed WAN connection,and Bluetooth. GPS function is available on VGN-P80H/W and corporate models. The normal battery lasts 4.5 hours.