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The following information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
November 16, 2001
VAIO is coming
-Sony notebook launched in China-
(Nov. 16, 2001) Sony Corporation, the leading consumer electronic products manufacturer today announced the introduction of its VAIO line of PC's to the Chinese market. This announcement was made by Mr.K.Kimura, President of Mobile Network Company and Corporate Vice President of Sony Corporation, at Sony ExploraScience in Beijing. This is the first time that Sony starts its notebook PC business in China and it indicates Sony's big act in leading broadband network era. Customers can make reservations in VAIO special shops, Sony Style website, Sony Digital Workshop, Sony Customer Contact Center from Nov.17, and it will be formally launched in the market on Dec.1st, 2001 in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The VAIO models to be introduced initially will be VAIO PCG-GR18C and PCG-R505AFC. Please see attached for their detailed specification.
Like other Sony products, VAIO has a streamline and fashionable design. The origin of the VAIO name, "Video Audio Integrated Operation" certainly shows that VAIO is the integration of all AV products, including audio, video, communications and information technology products. The logo of VAIO is a shape a scientific Sine wave. VA is a shape of a sinusoid, representing traditional analog era, where as IO stands for 1 and 0 of the digital era. The logo indicates that Sony is transforming itself from analog to the digital era, with VAIO as the core product in this change.
"Sony's strategy is to develop value-added leading technologies to create new life style and to provide products and services that consumers would love. We really hope that VAIO, the unification of Sony's expertise in IT and AV technologies, will bring more fun to Chinese consumers in entertainment, audio and video world of the broad band network era.", said Mr. Keiji Kimura.
According to the data by CCID, a research firm in China, only 6% of all PCs in China are notebook, but the rate is growing at 40% every year. Sony believes that its VAIO notebook production, sales and post-sales service system are now ready for launching it in China, and Sony has strong confidence in Chinese notebook market.
VAIO has achieved a global success in sales and has earned high product reputation before entering China market. In Japan, VAIO has annual sales of about 1.8 million units.
VAIO has many distinct advantages: For hardware (online connection): With i.LINK cord (digital plug cord IEEE1394), the VAIO can be connected to other digital products. VAIO is also equipped with Memory Stick slots (offline connection), which enables user to connect with other products that are also equipped with Memory Sticks without any complication.
Sony's VAIO line of PC's are preinstalled with the newly introduced Microsoft Windows XP. Windows XP supports AV equipment in operation systems, in other words, VAIO is one of the most suitable notebooks for Windows XP. In order to promote this excellent fit between Windows XP and VAIO PC's, Microsoft and Sony are now deploying a joint product promotion on a global scale.
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| Sony (China)
was established in Oct. 1996 in Beijing by Sony Corporation to manage
and co-ordinate Sony's business operations in China. Being the China
HQ, it operates on the investments in China's electronic information
industry, the overall management and business support for all Sony
companies in China. Sony (China) wishes to contribute more for China's
economic development through their business efforts. |
| Sony Corporation
is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information
technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its
music, pictures and computer entertainment operations make Sony
one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world.
Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of over $58.5 billion and
global employees of 180,000 for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2001. |
|
PCG-GR18C |
PCG-R505AFC |
| Microprocessor |
Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R) III Processor 1.13GHz-M featuring Intel(R) SpeedStepTMTechnology |
Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R) III Processor 850MHz featuring Intel(R) SpeedStepTM Technology |
| Chipset |
Intel(R)
830MP Chipset |
Intel(R)
815EM Chipset |
| Main Memory |
256 MB SDRAM |
128 MB SDRAM |
| Hard Drive |
30 GB |
20 GB |
| Display |
14.1" SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) TFT Compatible |
12.1" XGA (1024 x 768) TFT Compatible |
| Optical Drive |
CD-RW / DVD-ROM Drive |
CD-RW
/ DVD-ROM Combo Drive
(in Docking Station) |
| Center Jog Control |
Yes |
Yes (with Back Button) |
| DV Connection |
i.LINKTM (IEEE 1394) |
i.LINKTM (IEEE 1394) |
| MagicGate Memory StickTM Direct Slot |
Yes |
Yes |
Dimensions
(W x H x D) |
312 x 35.5 x 261.2mm |
279.5 x 23.0(minimum) x 239mm |
| Weight |
Approx.
2.9 kg
(with 1 battery and CD-RW / DVD-ROM drive) |
Approx.
1.7 kg
(with supplied battery) |
| Operating System |
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition (Simplified Chinese Version) |
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition (Simplified Chinese Version) |
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