Sony VAIO Y shrinks to 11.6 inches to combat MacBook Air
updated 09:25 am EST, Wed November 10, 2010
Sony VAIO Y gets 11.6-inch model
Sony on Wednesday launched a new VAIO Y model that has unintentionally but effectively become its answer to the new MacBook Air. The YA1 occupies the same category as its Apple counterpart and uses an ultra-low voltage 1.33GHz Core i3 to keep both the cost down and extend the battery life, albeit at the cost of performance. Sony claims six hours of runtime, although it doesn't mention under what conditions, and is forced to use Intel graphics where the Air is using the currently faster GeForce 320M.
The YA1 is also much thicker at 1.24 inches, although the extra space allows for a larger if slower 320GB hard drive and an extra USB port over the Air. It similarly allows for gigabit Ethernet, an SD card slot and both HDMI as well as VGA for video output. Sony's design is heavier at 3.2 pounds.
Japan's tax-included and frequently more expensive pricing puts the system above its most conspicuous challenger at the equivalent of $1,336 versus Apple's local $1,069. The smaller VAIO Y should reach its home territory on November 27 and hasn't been given an international release, although most Sony notebooks reach other countries within a few weeks or months. [via Impress]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2000
really?
The VAIO Y and the Air are nothing like each other at all, save the screen size. When they build something just slightly over 1/2" thin, with decent graphics and an SSD drive, then the comparisons can begin... Until then, this is just another standard smallish PC laptop.