Sony is readying a new notebook for the mainstream that might replace its current C series, according to a leak from a Dutch online store. The 14-inch VAIO CR will be more subdued than today's models but is still clearly aimed at everyday users with black, blue, pink, and white shades. The casing will also carry over the trayless keyboard first seen in the VAIO TZ that reduces the likelihood of spills and should be thinner than today's model, though dimensions haven't yet surfaced beyond those visible in product pages.

Appropriately, the CR will also be one of Sony's few currently known Santa Rosa PCs, shipping with a minimum 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo and GMA X3100 video; 802.11n Wi-Fi, however, will be absent.

A short turnaround is expected between the leak and the official announcement, with systems shipping to Europe later in June. The entry-level CR11 will be priced at 1,350 Euros ($1,820) after tax while equipped with the 1.8GHz processor, 2GB of memory, a 120GB hard drive, and an integrated webcam; costlier versions will include a 160GB drive and a Mobility Radeon HD 2300 with prices leveling at 1550 Euros ($2,090). A North American equivalent is very likely but may ship sometime later than European models. [via Notebook Italia]