Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Sony Unveils VAIO AX Digital Studio Notebook — Cormac @ 15:24 

Sony unveiled its new VAIO AX Digital Studio PC, positioned as a mobile multimedia center. The new system features a 17" WXGA+ widescreen display with Sony's original XBRITE LCD technology. Users can also watch and record high-quality television with a removable TV tuner and Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. Also in the box is a DVD+R Double Layer/DVD±RW drive with Sony's Click to DVD software.

The VAIO AX notebook includes a multi-function bay for adding other necessary components. One can swap a TV-tuner Bay Unit, a DVD+R Double Layer/DVD±RW Bay Unit, an optional CD-RW/DVD-ROM Bay Unit, an optional 80GB HDD Bay Unit, and an optional HDD Adapter Bay Unit. The optional docking station with an additional multi-function bay provides even more options. The VAIO AX notebook also sports an integrated 0.3 mega-pixel camera for video chatting and a built-in fingerprint sensor. The notebook also comes standard with a multitude of connector interfaces, including an i.LINK® (IEEE 1394) and two USB 2.0 ports as well as Memory Stick and Secure Digital media slots.

Speaking of software, the model comes with a full suite of Sony multimedia applications, including SonicStage Mastering Studio software for managing music in a variety of formats and DVgate Plus software for capturing and editing both standard definition and high-definition (1080i) video.

Sony VAIO AX notebooks will be available next month starting at about $2,000. They can be purchased at national retailers, online at SonyStyle.com or at SonyStyle stores. Pre-orders begin online today at www.sony.com/ax.

Sony