vaio

Our top high-end retail laptop pick for Holiday 2009: the Sony Vaio FW560

In our current roundup of retail-specific laptops, we've divided our 25-plus systems into four price categories, from sub-$700 budget models to high-end ones that cost more than $1,000.

In the "high-end" category, we looked at four off-the-shelf models that all retail for $999 and above. While there's certainly a lot to like about the $2,000 HP Envy 15 (it sported the highest screen resolution and a new Core i7 processor), we thought the best bang for your buck was to be found in the Sony Vaio FW560, which has a big 500GB hard drive and Blu-ray, all for $999.

If you're looking for something even less expensive, the Sony Vaio NW270offers no-frills Blu-ray for $699.

Note: For a roundup of retail laptops in all price ranges, check here.

Check out details of each system below:… Read more

Our top budget retail laptop for Holiday 2009: the Toshiba Satellite A505-S6980

In our current roundup of retail-specific laptops, we've divided our 25-plus systems into four different price categories, from sub-$700 budget models to high-end ones that cost more than $1,000.

In the "Budget" category, covering laptops up to $699, we found a collection of largely indistinguishable systems, along with a few that stood out as particularly good or bad. Most of these will provide a decent low-end experience, as long as you stick to one of the models with a dual-core CPU.

Our favorite, by a hair, was the Toshiba Satellite A505-S6980, with an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 CPU and a big 500GB hard drive.

Note: For a roundup of retail laptops in all price ranges, check here.

Check out details of each system below:… Read more

$999 Blu-ray laptop with game:
Sony Vaio FW560F/T reviewed

Several months ago, one of our favorite retail laptops was the Sony Vaio FW480J/T. Besides offering no-hassle Blu-ray playback and a large if not full-HD 1,600x900-pixel resolution, 16.4-inch screen, it had decent discrete graphics that could handle many mainstream games. At the time, its $1,199 price was a little high, but very good when compared with traditional "gaming" laptops.

Just a few months later, the Sony Vaio FW560F/T has found itself at the top of our Holiday 2009 retail laptop roundup, a high-end system by definition of its price and features. At $999, … Read more

Windows 7 Vaio P reborn at Netbook prices?

One of the smallest, most pocketable ultraportables still remains the Sony Vaio P. We always liked its slim design and high-resolution screen...the problem was that it was far too expensive. That problem may be in the process of being rectified, according to reports that Verizon could be adding the Vaio P to its subsidized Netbook offerings this week. The cost? A mere $299, according to Gadgetmix and Phonearena. While that would require a 2-year contract, the original Vaio P cost around $1,000 at the beginning of 2009, making the subsidized price very appealing.

Even better, the P seems … Read more

Limited-edition Nebula Vaio has 'star' quality

Feeling a little spaced out? Sony has a limited-edition Vaio that may suit your mood. The Nebula FW, part of Sony's Signature Collection, features an intergalactic theme that really makes us want to curl up in a space quilt and play some Spore. For a starting price of $810, you get a 6.9-pound Windows 7 machine with a 16.4-inch display featuring a 16:9 aspect ratio. You have a choice of Intel Core 2 Duo processors, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 500GB of storage. Plus a Blu-ray drive. Battery life runs up to 3.… Read more

Sony continues quarterly losing streak

Continuing its string of quarterly losses, Sony suffered a net loss of 26.3 billion yen ($292 million) for its second quarter, reported the company on Friday.

Compared with a profit of 20.8 billion yen a year ago, this marked Sony's fourth straight quarterly downturn.

Sales for the quarter that ended September 30 also took a spill, dropping 19.8 percent to 1.66 trillion yen ($18.26 billion) from 2.07 trillion yen in the year-ago quarter.

Recent cost cuts and hot sales of the PlayStation 3 game console both provided a shot in the arm.

But … Read more

Sony recalls Vaio AC adapters due to shock hazard

Sony is recalling 69,000 Vaio AC adapters, the company announced Wednesday. Insulation inside some VGP-AC19V17 adapters can fail over time, Sony said, posing an electrical shock hazard.

The Sony VGP-AC19V17 AC adapter shows up in computers from the company's VGC-LT, VGC-JS240, VGC-JS250, VGC-JS270, and VGC-JS290 series sold after September 2007. The adapter also appears in VGP-PRBX1 and VGP-PRFE1 notebook docking stations sold after September 2005.

Sony said it has received four reports of adapters short-circuiting, with none of those incidents occurring in the U.S. No injuries have been reported, Sony said. The recall only relates to adapters … Read more

Digital City Podcast 55: PS3's Netflix play; Sony's Vaio X; and Halloween horrors

This week on the Digital City, we consider the PlayStation 3's awkward Netflix implementation; marvel over the super-thin Sony Vaio X laptop; debate the fate of FireWire in new MacBooks; and review some gamer-friendly Halloween costume ideas.

We also plug the first round of Windows 7 laptop and desktop reviews; mourn the death of Geocities; and find out why Julie and Dan have swapped seats for a week.

Plus -- take an early sneak peek at Dan's Halloween costume -- but it only makes sense if you're over, say, 30 and kind of a geek.

Gadgettes Podcast 157: The Recessionista Episode

We've heard that the recession is waning. But our gut tells us something different. Today we examine gadgets that appeal to our recession-warped minds.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 157

Downturn doll sleeps in a car - but costs $95

Dell banks its brand on artists, baseball and nail polish

Netbooks rise, notebooks fall

Sony’s new Vaio X: thinnest laptop ever, $1,300 and up

SanDisk on Sansa: Value is our top priority

Gilt on the Go iPhone app… Read more

Sony's new Windows 7 laptops: CW and X

One is an affordable HD laptop with an optional Blu-ray drive, the other is a carbon-fiber lightweight feather of a notebook with a price that's far from budget. Together, they comprise Sony's Vaio newcomers that are ready to launch along with Windows 7.

Let's start with the sexiest. The Vaio X has been shown off in photo galleries here before, but the details are now confirmed. At half an inch thin, it isn't quite as slim as a Dell Adamo XPS, but its 1.6-pound carbon fiber body makes it the "lightest notebook ever," … Read more