Sony intros two new designer VAIO laptops

Feeling a little like a sheep in those business meetings? Looking to break out of the mold and express yourself... via your laptop? Well Sony's got your back, folks, because the typically staid company has decided to get totally funky-fresh on a new line of VAIO laptops, featuring colorful, customized lids by "emerging New York artist" Maya Hayuk. Feast your eyes on "Grow" (pictured) and "Never Stop," two psychedelic trips into a phantasmagorical PC wonderland. The systems aren't just for show, either, as both sport a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300, the killer Santa Rosa chipset, a maximum 4GB of RAM, a 200GB hard drive, the Nvidia GeForce 8400m GT GPU, a Blu-ray writeable optical drive, 802.11a/b/g/n, and a slew of jacks (including HDMI, S-Video, and Express Card 34). Sure, the laptops will run you around $2,500 apiece, but can you really put a price on personal expression? (Answer: yes. $2,500, just in case you're keeping score).

[DickHardknocks @ Sep 19th 2007 10:16AM]

Looks great.

I wanna see an integrated Webcam and a NAND drive option.

[engadget.mlc @ Sep 19th 2007 11:23AM]

It has some of what you want.

The FZ has an integrated web-cam. No NAND drive, though.

[Chris @ Sep 19th 2007 10:32AM]

Well, I am in the market for a new laptop, now that I just barfed on my laptop.

[Ebzy @ Sep 19th 2007 11:28AM]

I stand in Sony's defense here...






(Sony, please post my free laptop to...)

[dj-kenpo @ Sep 19th 2007 10:37AM]

I can imagine someone bringing that to a corporate meeting.
*meeting ends "oh.. and jones.." *boss looks at laptop and squints one eye* "do something about that..."

----
the hp one looked ok, this is just sorta goofy looking in my oppinion.

[AlexP @ Sep 19th 2007 11:44AM]

Great for emos.

It's all about being green and slitting your wrists because "my life is so miserable" these days.

[Ken @ Sep 19th 2007 10:45AM]

1999 called, they want thier MSRP back.




$2500, yeah...

[trumpton @ Sep 19th 2007 10:49AM]

Taking that out at a meeting is the equivalent of someone in a suit wearing a kerayzee "look at me I'm really a wacky guy" tie.

[joe23521 @ Sep 19th 2007 10:49AM]

I fail to see the appeal...

[pr @ Sep 19th 2007 11:02AM]

In a word: emberassing.

Seriously, who is working for these companies?

[Eric @ Sep 19th 2007 11:24AM]

The Artist

Known for her elaborate, colorful and often humorous imagery, Maya Hayuk utilizes an unpredictable matrix of sources, mediums, and styles to deliver works ranging from massive, multi-story wall murals to intricate drawings on paper. In keeping with her pioneering spirit, Hayuk has crafted a beautiful print for this line of limited edition VAIO notebooks.

Conceptualized and designed exclusively for Sony Electronics with only 600 produced, this VAIO notebook is literally a functioning work of art—unavailable anywhere else in the world.
Limited Edition features:

* Certificate of authenticity with artist's signature
* Desktop wallpaper to match cover art
* Individually crafted for a permanent cover design
* $25 from each sale will be donated to Hayuk's charity of choice, "Creativity Explored," which is a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art


I would not bring that into a business setting... I wouldn't mind using it for my personal use though. I too wish there was an integrated webcam in it too, otherwise the specs look pretty good. This is a sony FZ series laptop, so it's more of a multimedia one and less of a 'businessy' one

[HexBox @ Sep 19th 2007 11:07AM]

"Emerging New York artist" describes every restaurant and bar employee in NYC. This looks like they chose one at random.

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 19th 2007 11:12AM]

My eyes!

The branding, it does nothing!

[John N. @ Sep 19th 2007 11:58AM]

I dunno, I rather like that 'Grow' design. 'Never Stop' is way too psychedelic for a business machine, though. Of course, as a means of expressing your individuality, it falls a little flat with only two designs... and certainly not worth shelling out $2500 for.

[nikster @ Sep 19th 2007 1:12PM]

I think the grow design is nice EXCEPT for that huge fraggin' ugly VAIO logo in the middle, which, rest assured, is not part of the artist's vision. In fact, it represents a huge sellout for this artist. Emerging, and already sold out. Wow.

PS: Engadget, what's with the business comment? Any random person on the street can tell you that while these look nice for attracting attention in the campus cafe, they are not going to be used by any business user. Nor does the Sony site claim that these are business machines.

[js @ Sep 19th 2007 12:40PM]

You know, the best part of this $2500 laptop is the label on the back where it reads:

"MADE IN CHINA"

[xiln @ Sep 19th 2007 8:40PM]

You mean, like most of them (HP, Apple, etc.)?

[dataminer49er @ Sep 19th 2007 2:03PM]

Well it is this or the "Hello Kitty" laptop.

[Kozzi @ Sep 19th 2007 2:29PM]

"Never Stop" looks cool, come on Sony show europeans some love.

[Scott @ Sep 19th 2007 4:16PM]

Buy graphical throwup free laptop. Buy $30 skin with a decent design. Feel like a winner.

[Jbojangle @ Sep 19th 2007 7:32PM]

The real issue is companies putting out laptops with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD drives yet the only have 1280x800 screens.

[Maff @ Sep 19th 2007 8:51PM]

can a notebook with these specs be had for less money? i've gotta say u might have to do a bit of searching!

[Phil @ Sep 20th 2007 7:08PM]

Looks absolutely fantastic to me!