New-form factor VAIOs out

MANILA, Philippines - It’s a tablet. It’s a notebook. It’s Sony’s new VAIO Duo 11, a high-performance, hybrid ultrabook with a sliding LCD display that transforms it from a tablet to an ultrabook in an instant.

And it’s one of two new VAIO products that Sony announced in a media launch recently at Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City and which the company is hoping will shake up the personal computing world.

The new P69,999 VAIO Duo 11 comes equipped with the new Windows 8 operating system and allows high-precision writing with a digitizer stylus. It features a sliding LCD display with Sony’s new Surf Slider design.

The sliding mechanism lets users slide it into keyboard mode to enable users to work on documents. The slide then turns the device into slate mode to let users comfortably browse the Internet, SNS (social networking service) or Windows Apps as they would with a tablet.

Slim and light, the powerful VAIO Duo 11 measures just 17.85 mm and weighs 1.3 kg.

Its latest-generation Intel Core processor delivers snappy performance and impressive visuals, further enhanced by a stunningly sharp 1920 x 1080 11.6-inch OptiContrast Panel that produces vivid and accurate colors for graphic-intensive work while affording wide viewing angles.

Great ideas begin with the spark of creativity jotted down on a pad of paper; with its versatile new digitizer stylus, Sony brings that experience to the VAIO Duo 11.

Minimal latency means a more natural writing experience, and the screen intelligently ignores palm presses while writing, preventing distracting scribbles.

Apps such as Note Anytime for VAIO turn the VAIO Duo 11 into a virtual notebook for on-the-fly note-taking, while Active Clip allows users to snip out or select parts of an image and save them to a fully shareable scrapbook.

During presentations, the digital stylus can also be used to write notes and comments directly onto the PowerPoint document when in slideshow mode for unprecedented interactivity.

The VAIO Duo 11 takes the multimedia experience to a new level with a range of intuitive features and apps for the user’s entertainment pleasure.

The Music application lets you enjoy your music collection with superb quality, thanks to xLoud and ClearPhase technologies, while the Album app makes viewing, sorting or sharing pictures and videos exciting and intuitive.

Both applications let you stream personal photos, video and music content to enjoy on DLNA-compatible large-screen TV and audio systems.

VAIO Duo 11 users can also download the Socialife app, a unique application that organizes one’s social and information world.

This feature is perfect for Facebook users to view, sort and manage all social networking services and news feeds through one stylish user interface, alongside friends’ feeds and posts.

Socialife also points users to other popular topics and even suggests content that they might like.

Now while the VAIO Duo 11 marries the form factors and functionalities of a tablet and a notebook, the VAIO Tap 20 combines the aspects of a tablet and a desktop computer.

The VAIO Tap 20 effectively addresses the limitations of a tablet computer, especially for families who love to share activities at home and are faced with the dilemma of choosing between a tablet and a conventional desktop PC.

The Tap 20 transforms home computing into a fun, engaging experience. Featuring a large, fully adjustable 20-inch touch screen and integrated battery, the P59,999 VAIO Tap 20 offers new usage opportunities for individuals as well as the entire family.

The VAIO Tap 20 can be adjusted into any angle depending on usage with its flexible stand that offers seamless movement from multiple viewing angles.

Laying the VAIO flat lets users read digital magazines or have fun with friends and family with its multi-touch panel for board games, sketching pictures and more, while sitting the VAIO Tap 20 at an angle allows users to take full advantage of the new Windows 8 touch-optimised user interface.

When in desktop style, the VAIO Tap 20 becomes a fully capable desktop PC that can be used with the bundled PC and mouse. With its vibrant 20-inch 1600x900 screen, viewers enjoy rich, true-to-life color regardless of screen angle or seating position.

In addition to the wide range of family-friendly touch applications available in the Windows Store, the VAIO Tap 20 comes with two original apps developed with the family in mind.

Family Paint lets users paint, draw and scribble with their fingers, using a range of brushes and textures. Kids will especially enjoy the dual-angle feature, which allows two people to paint from opposite sides, with plenty of canvas thanks to its large 20-inch screen.

The playfully designed Fingertapps Organizer turns a typical monthly planner into an entertaining life organizer for the whole family. Everyone will enjoy managing their schedules and messaging boards with a few swipes of the finger.

The VAIO Tap 20 features Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine 2 which ensures crisp, natural movie viewing with fine details and fluid on-screen movement.

ClearAudio+ mode, developed with Sony’s own signal processing technologies, allows users to effortlessly enjoy audio quality that is distinctly Sony.

ClearAudio+ mode incorporates a variety of Sony’s technologies, but with one simple operation, users can easily enjoy sound in ultimate clarity and presence, across the entire spectrum of sound.

Its Music application lets users enjoy their music collection with excellent quality, thanks to ClearAudio+, while the Album application makes viewing, sorting or sharing pictures and videos fun and intuitive.

Both applications let users stream personal photos, video and music content to enjoy on DLNA-compatible large-screen TV and audio systems.

Users can also download the Socialife app for their VAIO Tap 20, a unique application that organizes one’s social and information world.

This feature is perfect for Facebook users, allowing them to view, sort and manage all social networking services and news feeds through one stylish user interface, alongside one’s friends’ feeds and posts.

Based on what the user’s friends are reading, Socialife also points one to other popular topics and even suggests content that the user might like. Keeping track of one’s friends and family becomes more convenient.

To record precious family moments, users can also use the VAIO Movie Creator to turn video clips and pictures into short movies, all with an intuitive touch-based interface.

In addition to supporting HD and 3D formats, the VAIO Movie Creator lets users upload their work to SNS services like Facebook to share with friends.

The new VAIO Duo 11 and Tap 20 will be available in the Philippines by the end of this month.