Sony Fuels Popularity of Ultra-light VAIO R505 Series With Added Value

Business Wire, Sept 24, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2001

Fall Lineup Includes Bundled DVD/CD-RW Docking Stations and

Wireless LAN Cards for Consumers Seeking More Versatility From Their

Portable Computer

Providing highly mobile power users with more for their buck, Sony today announced enhancements and valuable bundled extras to its popular SuperSlim Pro(TM) VAIO(R) notebook PCs with new models available in October. The R505 series features upgraded hard drives, the fastest mobile processors, docking stations and wireless networking without a hike in price.

Weighing just 3.75 pounds with a super-thin profile, the R505JS, R505JE and R505JL all come equipped with Mobile Intel(R) Pentium III(TM) processors and a choice of operating system; Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000, XP Home or XP Professional edition. For even greater mobility, the R505JS and R505JE both come packaged with a mail-in rebate for a free Sony VAIO wireless LAN PC card, valued at $149.

Combo SlimDock(TM) Steps Up Entertainment Possibilities

New for fall, the R505JS comes bundled with a free SlimDock CD-RW/DVD docking station (a $600 value). The R505JL comes bundled with a SlimDock DVD docking station. Also available as an optional accessory for the R505JE, the docking station allows users to access and download information instantaneously and to take advantage of more entertainment features such as watching DVDs or recording personalized music CDs.

Mirroring the ports built into each R505 unit, the SlimDock also features two USB ports, a serial port, printer port, a convenient 10Base-T/100Base-TX integrated Ethernet port and VGA-out for easy, direct hook-up to projectors or monitors. Additionally, the docking station is capable of playing DVDs or recording music, images and data to a CD-RW disc -- providing the ultimate mobile computing tool.

More VAIO Value, Not More Money

The R505JS and R505JL with docking station are expected to sell for about $2,500 and $1,600, respectively. The R505JL has an expected selling price of right around $1,800.

Longer Life and Cool Software Add More Options for Work or Play

All three of these new notebook PCs feature an extended-life lithium-ion battery, offering between up to 2.5 to 4 hours of standard battery life or up to 5 to 8 hours of battery life with an optional double capacity battery; Sony's JogDial(TM) control for easy application selection; an integrated v.90 modem; and an i.LINK(R) (IEEE 1394) interface to support high-speed digital video, audio and data transfer among compatible digital video i.LINK products, such as Sony's digital camcorders and still cameras.

Each VAIO R505 PC also comes with a full suite of business and entertainment applications, including Sony's MovieShaker(TM) movie making software, so users can easily produce digital home movies and music videos. Also included is Sony's PictureGear(TM) software to help manage digital content such as panoramic photographs, and DVgate(TM) software to help capture full motion digital video and still photography for multimedia presentations or video e-mail.