Sony's VAIO FZ series: Blu-ray action in your lap

Nah, it shouldn't surprise you one bit that Sony's officially squeezing in yet another option in the VAIO laptop lineup, but this 15.4-incher packs a media-centric attitude into a (debatably) lightweight package, and moreover, sports a pricetag that's very un-VAIO-like. Aside from the typical black / silver motif, you'll notice a widescreen XBRITE display, a bevy of multimedia controls atop the keyboard, Intel's Core 2 Duo processors, NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M graphics card, support for 802.11n, HDMI out, audio in / out, USB 2.0, VGA and S-Video outs, 4-pin FireWire, and the obligatory Blu-ray drive for watching HD flicks on the go. Additionally, the FZ will include an integrated webcam, LocationFree placeshifting niceties, an ExpressCard slot, and a Memory Stick reader. Fortunately for you, this fairly well appointed machine won't break the bank as you may expect, as the non-BD-equipped rendition will start at $1,400, while the "Premium" flavor comes in just $2,000.

[farfisa @ May 9th 2007 1:35PM]

Well, you called it--there's one of them NVIDIA 8400M GPUs already...
http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/Notebooks/FZSeries&dept=Computers#entertainment

[ark_v2 @ May 9th 2007 1:48PM]

That's a surprise. A vaio with BD, a new nvidia gpu, HDMI, and for only 2,000...but the most impressive...a VAIO. wow.

[kingofwale @ May 9th 2007 1:44PM]

Sony laptop with Blu-Ray and HDMI built-in and price tag of 2000 dollars?

that's actually pretty good.

[KC @ May 9th 2007 2:23PM]

I might pick one up this month. I need that BD writer to archive all those avchd files from the camcorder.

[Daryl Herbert @ May 9th 2007 4:14PM]

What's the max resolution offered? WXGA. That's it. They are so embarrassed that they won't even mention the screen resolution. You have to dig to find it.

[Tony Rayo @ May 9th 2007 2:58PM]

I've been wanting to buy a new laptop ever since my off-brand lappy went kaput (it still works, but it overheats with even the slightest bit of intense use so I want to get it repaired but at a later time). I'm borrowing my mom's vaio atm, and the screen is beautiful! I would gladly pay 2000$ for the blu-ray version, esp. since I have a PS3 and will hopefully be able to play backed up material (legally backed up of course, like pics, home-movies, some hdtv content).

I thought Engadget said this line wasn't coming out until Summer, but I'm going to Sony's site right now to try and reserve a copy. Thanks again big E! - Tony R.

[Tony Rayo @ May 9th 2007 3:08PM]

According to Sony's site, the laptops will drop mid-May, w00t, only a week or two to go before I will be in dual-core heaven!

- Tony R.

[L.Rawlins @ May 9th 2007 4:15PM]

I love it. I really do... but could someone please tell me why the MBP is the only notebook in the existence of... ever, to offer a chuffing backlit keyboard?!

I mean seriously, I like to see what I'm typing in lowlight conditions too, and if someone says that Apple patented putting a bloody lamp behind a keyboard... I'll... well, I dunno yet... but it will likely end in bloodshed.

[Dave Zethmayr @ May 9th 2007 5:31PM]

LORE WARNING! "... pricing is un-VAIO-like" means
nothing to me. Remind your writers that there are
always newcomers to areas of technology whose lore
has not yet diffused into common world consciousness.

We don't require the impossible full background for
every remark, but don't give me "un-VAIO-like" when
you could be explicit.

[FJ @ May 10th 2007 3:07AM]

Do you need WUXGA to view 1080i/p HD content in native resolution. If so is a WUXGA screen available?

[Dave @ May 10th 2007 4:14AM]

Perfect.

[Aprime @ May 10th 2007 7:16AM]

FJ: could be 720P

[FJ @ May 10th 2007 2:13PM]

Yes that is what I am trying to get at. It seems to me laptops are capable of 720p but not true 1080i/p unless they have a WUXGA screen and appropriate graphics card. I am not completely certain on this, particularly when it comes to WSXGA which is just shy of 1080 at 1050. I assume anything less than WUXGA is going to have to interpolate 1080i/p content. Most likely my guess is you will be viewing it as 720p quality.