Sony VAIO GS series pops up in the FCC -- a cheap Sony ultraportable?

We don't have a lot to go on, but a machine called the VAIO GS just popped up in the FCC database, along with the usual nasty gub'ment photos. Doing some extremely rough back-of-the-napkin calculations, it looks like it's Sony's answer to the Dell Mini 12 -- 11 inches wide with a 12ish-inch 4:3 screen. We're also seeing an optional built-in optical drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, three USB ports, a PC Card slot (that's what it's marked -- let's hope it's really ExpressCard), a Memory Stick slot, Ethernet and modem ports, and VGA out. We're guessing the optical drive explains the netbook-ish hinge battery placement, but nothing explains how ugly this thing is -- let's hope the downgrade in style from the VAIO P comes with a corresponding downgrade in price. A few more shots after the break.

Update: As a few astute commenters have pointed out, this could be an updated US-bound version of the Japan-only VAIO G from 2006 -- if things haven't changed too much, you're looking at a two-pound machine with a 12.1-inch display. We'll see -- the exterior is definitely a little different, and we don't think the market is right for the VAIO G's original $2,000 pricetag.

[Leindurstit @ Jan 14th 2009 1:08PM]

Cheap Sony? Oxymoron?

[dan @ Jan 14th 2009 1:31PM]

Lots of Sony products are cheap; they just cost a lot.

[superhobo @ Jan 14th 2009 1:10PM]

It's like a Sony thinkpad.

Vaio P and this thing here belong in two different classes.

Would buy this over P, at least I can read two lines without scrolling.

[superhobo @ Jan 14th 2009 1:17PM]

Also, I(and many others, I'm sure) don't think it's ugly.

[Leo @ Jan 14th 2009 1:31PM]

Compared to other Sony stuff, this one is ugly.

[Verythrax @ Jan 14th 2009 1:10PM]

Ultraportable? Maybe.
Cheap? Never.

[ArcticFox @ Jan 14th 2009 1:11PM]

They still make 4:3 screens? :(

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 14th 2009 1:20PM]

and I am still using them :)

[Mark @ Jan 14th 2009 1:54PM]

I'd rather have a 4:3 screen with a little vertical resolution and space for a proper trackpad, thanks. I'm not some idiot who can't stay away from "consuming media" - hulu and youtube wherever she goes.

[ArcticFox @ Jan 14th 2009 2:24PM]

Nice stereotyping people who like widescreen as idiots, i dont do hulu whatever that is and i dont use youtube either, so have a think before you type thanks.

[Mr. Ford @ Jan 14th 2009 7:04PM]

Most people hate horizontal scrolling. This quickly becomes evident if you look at most web pages. You can, therefore, get more usable information on a wide screen 1280x800 monitor than on 4:3 screen at 1024x768. Even if you went to 1280x1024, most people would deal with a little vertical scrolling (generally considered acceptable), in order to have a smaller footprint/lighter laptop.

[Cezar @ Jan 14th 2009 1:40PM]

The G series has been around for a while now. Check it out here: http://www.dynamism.com/#Product=sonyvaio_g

The GS looks like a refresh of the G.

[SimpleSurvival @ Jan 14th 2009 1:58PM]

Most likely that you are correct that the GS is a refresh of the G series.

That would put this in the field of "Ultraportable Laptop" not the "netbook" category

The G series is a 2 pound laptop constructed with a carbon fiber body, Its sold as a light "Fully Functional" laptop.
Look closely on the pictures... Upper left hand corner, there is a fingerprint scanner.

The keyboard layout is identical to the G series as well...

This is a 2000$ laptop

[kjb434 @ Jan 14th 2009 1:17PM]

Memory Stick? Why does Sony keep inflicting us with proprietary memory formats.

Really? Go with SD particularly the higher storage version please.

[SewerShark @ Jan 14th 2009 2:17PM]

Acctualy, you can found memory sticks by SanDisk now.

[kjb434 @ Jan 14th 2009 2:30PM]

I know there are multiple manufacturers, but how many non-sony devices use the technology.

[Johannes @ Jan 14th 2009 2:57PM]

China fixed that problem for less than $4, including shipping!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12177

[Harnish @ Jan 14th 2009 1:26PM]

Why does SONY even try? Does anyone know the pricing on this? Unless it is a sub $400 laptop, this is in for the DOA pool.

[superhobo @ Jan 14th 2009 1:52PM]

If your highness Harnish does not buy it, I suppose Sony should just declare bankruptcy and quit.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 14th 2009 6:30PM]

The model in the photos is not particularly attractive mostly because it's black matte.
Imagine the same PC with a metallic red cover with platinum accents, or metallic yellow, or turquoise.
When I got bored of my white MSI wind I bougt some of those custom made ad-ons with a red bandana pattern and now it's even nicer looking than my Vaio TT (for which custom covers are not being sold as far as I know)

[Anthony @ Jan 14th 2009 1:39PM]

It migh be a whole new computer or a refresh of the old G line, which was their sub 13" laptop offering before the 11" T's started coming out. The G's never came out in the states, or if they did they were never announced. Dynamism still sells the last G model.

[Alex @ Jan 14th 2009 1:43PM]

Cheap and Sony are oxymorons. In Sony's realm, cheap is around $1000.

[MadMike @ Jan 14th 2009 2:42PM]

That's JUST like Apple!

[Dez @ Jan 14th 2009 1:50PM]

Surely looking at the pics is just a refresh of..


http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/01/sony-vaio-g-1-98-pounds-of-12-1-inch-laptop-coming-at-ya/


http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200611/06-1101/


or ?

[Mile @ Jan 14th 2009 1:50PM]

What do the white words in the black squares say? "Place MS and INTEL stickers here."?

[isosunrise @ Jan 14th 2009 2:09PM]

I have been happily using my 2-lb Vaio G2 over a year ago, running Windows 7 now as my default OS (it flies).

[piddlepuddle @ Jan 14th 2009 2:13PM]

This doesn't look as sleek as the other viaos.

[Luis Neng @ Jan 14th 2009 4:39PM]

That's weird because that notebook looks dirty and old-fashioned and Sony is supposed to use an isolated keyboard and tube design on the new VAIOs.

[Lundmark @ Jan 14th 2009 6:51PM]

Why don't they ever get the chargers right?

[Vaio G2 Owner @ Jan 14th 2009 10:21PM]

This is just a refresh of the older Vaio G which in Japan is a competitor to the Panasonic R series for portability. They're more targeted at the business crowd, not the P/TT audience. It's a rugged laptop like the Panasonics.

I've had two Gs - the G1 with a 32GB SSD and a Core Solo 1.33, and the G2 with a 64GB SSD and a C2D 1.2. Both are very light; even with the large battery it's just over 2lbs.

As for the AC adapter, it's TINY. Easily the best of the ultraportables I've owned over the years.

Right now it's my main laptop as my Z with the RAIDed drives is going back to Japan for repairs (drive failure). 4:3 is not evil; I've also owned the SZ and the Z, so I know the difference between wide and 1024x768 only.

I can see where this laptop would confuse some, but it's a good one. Not cheap, but worth the $ if it's what you're looking for. I wonder which proc they're going to put in the USA one and if it'll be available with a 128GB SSD.

[WNTV Studios @ Jan 19th 2009 12:40PM]

Isn't "ugly" open to interpretation?

I'm just saying that some people may find the P series ugly (I personally think its pretty ehh). I know quite a few people who would rather have an older looking laptop (I liked my old Compaq, ugly as sin compared to other computers, but less likely to get stolen :-) )

Ehh well