Sony VAIO G to be world's lightest laptop
updated 09:10 am EST, Wed November 1, 2006
Sony VAIO G Laptop
Sony claims it has produced the world's lightest laptop computer, according to an announcement made in Japan today. The new VAIO G-series weighs 898 grams (1.98 pounds) without an optical drive, or 984 grams (2.17 pounds) with the drive included, giving it an exceptionally low weight despite the 12.1-inch screen that defines its frame. The G-series achieves this figure by using a shell entirely made of carbon fiber, Sony says, reducing the weight without compromising its strength. The company has also employed an LED-backlit LCD and a lack of extensive cooling to reduce the overall thickness of the case to less than one inch.
Click through for details of battery life, performance, and a photo gallery.
Despite its small dimensions, the VAIO G also excels in battery life, according to the company. This is in part due to the use of ultra-low voltage processors: systems can be configured using either a 1.06GHz Celeron M or Core Solos running at 1.06 or 1.2GHz. As a result, the stock G-series battery can run the system for up to 6 hours in an energy-efficient "Stamina" mode, or up to an unprecedented 12.5 hours using a heavier but higher-capacity battery model.
Sony anticipates shipping the VAIO G in Japan by the end of November for the equivalent of $1,881 US in its base configuration with a Celeron M, 512MB of RAM, and no optical drive. The company says it currently has no plans to release the G in North America, though it notes that the highest-end configuration -- with a 1.2GHz Core Solo, 1.5GB of RAM, and dual-layer DVD rewriter -- will ship with an English keyboard layout, creating an opportunity for future exports.
