Sony did take a stand against manufacturing netbooks simply because the profit margin was so low, and with the company’s notorious reputation of pricing their goods beyond the average figure, consumers who are looking for a cheap and yet decently equipped netbook will most probably pick one from Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, Gateway and numerous other players in the game. In fact, when Sony unveiled the VAIO P at CES earlier this year, they went so far as to inform everyone not to call it a netbook. Well, guess the Japanese company will have to eat their own words this time round as they attempt to make some headway into the netbook crowd with its newest VAIO W Series.

In typical Sony fashion, the VAIO W will feature an ultra-portable design, making it perfect for use as a secondary computing device that is lightweight enough to be carried with you halfway around the globe without having to break your back while you’re at it. There are three colors to choose from – berry pink, sugar white and cocoa brown, where the exterior hue is subtle while the touchpad is lined with a splash of brightness. According to Mike Abary, senior vice president of the VAIO business group at Sony, “The W Series lets you quickly look something up online whether searching for a recipe in the kitchen or relaxing on your recliner – there’s no need to trudge upstairs to your office. And it’s sturdy enough for the kids to use, making it perfect for every member of the family.”

Features of the W Series include a high-resolution, 1366 x 768, LED backlit 10.1″ ultra-wide display, an isolated keyboard with springy and responsive keys, integrated webcam and microphone, a 160GB hard drive, Bluetooth connectivity, a touchpad and mouse keys to make you feel more at home, and is ENERGY STAR 5.0 compliant as well as EPEAT Gold registered to denote Sony’s effort in helping keep its products green and clean. Prices of this Windows XP Home-powered netbook start from $500 upwards.

Press Release