Montevina-Based Sony Vaio FW, Z, SR, BZ Announced

Sony has announced the newly designed Sony VAIO FW, Z, SR, and BZ laptop PC series, based on Intel’s new Centrino 2 “Montevina” mobile platform.

These VAIO laptops include the latest Intel Centino 2 Core 2 Duo 45-nanometer processors. The notebooks feature Intel’s X4500 integrated graphics, dedicated GPUs by ATI and NVIDIA, and new 802.11n wireless modules. Some of the notebooks, particularly the FW and Z series, have new screen sizes of 16.4 and 13.1 inches.

The 16.4″ Sony VAIO FW multimedia-oriented laptop, replaces the FZ series. Its display has a 16:9 aspect ratio, suitable for playback of high-definition movies. The FW standard model starts at about $1,000, while the FW Premium with Blu-ray Disc will go for around $1,750. Both will go on sale later this month.

The VAIO Z is a 13.1-inch ultraportable with a display resolution of 1600-by-900 pixels and an optional solid state drive. The notebook is aimed at mobile professionals and weighs “just over 3 pounds”. The VAIO Z notebook with a hard drive will start at about $1,800, while the SSD model will go for around $2,300. Both laptops will be available in August.

Weighing just over four pounds, the Sony VAIO SR notebook boasts a 13.3-inch display. The laptop is aimed at consumers and will start shipping at the end of the month. Its base price will be about $1,400.

The “Montevina”-based VAIO BZ series systems are standard 15.4-inchers for business users. Select models include Intel vPro technology for remote management and enhanced security. The VAIO Professional BZ Series notebook line will be available later this month, starting at about $1,000.

This article was published on 06/23/2008 and updated with the new info on 07/15/2008.

[...] Sony has unveiled recently a new line of ultraportable PCs – the VAIO Z Series 13.1-inch notebooks for “busy executives”. [...]