Sony unveils 15.5-inch VAIO NW with BD-ROM and $880 price tag, we go hands-on
by Ross Miller 
posted Jun 18th 2009 at 8:11PM
We got a chance to get some hands-on time with the portable, and we gotta say, it's a pretty impressive little number. It's not the most slender 15-incher, but at six pounds, it's lighter than we expected. The chiclet keys -- dubbed "isolated keyboard" by Sony PR -- are comfortable to use, as is the textured trackpad. Body and hinge felt sturdy, with an intentionally rugged and stylistic feel to it, and as one rep was excited to show, the metallic "Vaio" logo on the back makes a great reflection in the sun. From what we saw, Blu-ray playback was smooth, but we did notice horizontal viewing angles weren't the best. We'll reserve judgment when we get some play time with the unit and see how hard we can push the software, but for now we're pretty happy with what we've seen. Starting price isn't too shabby, at $880 equipped with the BD-ROM and $800 without, and it comes in three colors: white, grey, and dark brown. Striking your fancy? Look for it to ship out pretty quickly, as in some time next month.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
iFargle @ Jun 18th 2009 8:15PM
bag of hurt.
Dafrety @ Jun 18th 2009 8:29PM
I didn't know Steve Jobs started reading Engadget!
Nick Soapes @ Jun 18th 2009 8:16PM
that's a ton of computer for that price tag!
mirakutea @ Jun 18th 2009 9:21PM
$800 without bray.. take off the sony logo and it's about $600 :).
lawyer bird @ Jun 18th 2009 9:28PM
No, you can't get dedicated graphics, that size HDD and a p-series c2d for 600. That's a solid price.
Tony @ Jun 18th 2009 11:40PM
I don't know why people always say that about every Sony product.
SONYEDDIE @ Jun 19th 2009 1:10AM
wow this is crazy price for it being a sony and a good price for what's in this lappy O.O
Amazed
Jon @ Jun 19th 2009 11:30AM
That's better than a base 15" Macbook pro for half the price.
CH3BURASHKA @ Jun 19th 2009 2:20PM
@Jon: It's not that hard to best Apple in the computer components per dollar ratio.
B3astofthe3ast @ Jun 18th 2009 8:16PM
This actually seems reasonable, especially considering its a Vaio.
floydpink7 @ Jun 18th 2009 8:41PM
I agree, especially since most of their Laptops with a dedicated graphics card, let alone a Bluray player can get very expensive.
Boards of Canada @ Jun 18th 2009 9:20PM
And I really like the HD4570... same as the Studio 15 from Dell. It have x2 power of the 9400m.
Cunthor @ Jun 19th 2009 2:45AM
Yeah, what the hell? Sony and affordable in a same sentence? Good laptop actually, does the BR drive only play, not write discs?
Matt @ Jun 21st 2009 9:12PM
Right... Instead buying a 13inch unibody macbook pro, i'm gonna buying this VAIO
artissco @ Jun 18th 2009 8:18PM
Kinda great price for Sony laptop and BD-ROM + HDMI, nice!
ZaxCG2 @ Jun 18th 2009 9:45PM
Yeah... there's got to be a catch.
Amokabbaj @ Jun 18th 2009 8:20PM
isnt a crappy economy great!
Alex @ Jun 18th 2009 9:21PM
isn't it!
mirakutea @ Jun 18th 2009 9:28PM
yea its great that graduates can't find a job.
Amokabbaj @ Jun 18th 2009 9:35PM
i have many friends too who just graduated who are having trouble finding jobs, but beside that its not bad seeing all these stores and companies sell stuff way less than you normally would pay if the " economy was doing swell"! its also a little scary being an engineering major and seeing all these companies begin to close up, scary times for an ME major =/
Leindurstit @ Jun 18th 2009 9:44PM
Yeah, a "Pro" Apple product for $1199. What's the world coming to.
Amokabbaj @ Jun 18th 2009 9:48PM
i recently just purchased a 15 inch macbook pro before these built in battery ones came out, but you know i still use my dell xps here and there its impossible for me or practically any one to escape from windows unless your some die hard apple fanboy who sits in the rain for a iphone 3g x2
something clever @ Jun 19th 2009 3:36PM
"yea its great that graduates can't find a job."
My guess is most of those graduates voted for hope and change. There's probably a government job for them somewhere.
pofc @ Jun 18th 2009 8:19PM
Sounds like a great bang for the buck, but I'm not digging the style at all. Looks quite girly to be frank. White, grey, and dark brown? Why?
Uncontrol @ Jun 18th 2009 8:49PM
Wasn't aware that anything other than matte black was considered "girly".
pofc @ Jun 18th 2009 9:01PM
Who said anything about matte black? If you want a "Dark Brown" laptop that looks like a woman's handbag be my guest. Why can't laptop makers stop reinventing what they think looks cool nowadays?
Who else hates these "stylish" laptops nowadays?
Gad Get @ Jun 18th 2009 9:26PM
@ pofc
Oh I know, I can't stand style! Every time I see something stylish it just makes me wanna barf! Ugh! Aesthetically pleasing, yuck!
pofc @ Jun 18th 2009 9:43PM
Come on now, take a look at basically anything HP has released in the past couple of years, it looks like their designers barfed up graphic art on it. You honestly think this thing looks good? I'm all for looking good, but people take it to far nowadays.
iPriest @ Jun 18th 2009 9:59PM
it's $800 for god sake. I don't want to look girlie after paying $800 but there are a lot of people who don't mind what it looks like when it's only $800
SoulinEther @ Jun 18th 2009 11:30PM
Why are you all so afraid of looking "girly"? Looking to display rampant masculinity with your gadgets and technology probably isn't your best approach... unless you have nothing else to demonstrate it.
Uncontrol @ Jun 19th 2009 12:36AM
The dark brown one is sexy as hell, actually. An item can be stylish and functional.
pofc @ Jun 18th 2009 8:22PM
Does anyone else think the texture looks like what someone would make a knockoff designer handbag from?
Michael Scrip @ Jun 18th 2009 8:35PM
Less fingerprints...
Bakkoda @ Jun 18th 2009 8:45PM
reminds me of a toilet seat for some reason.
Me4u2 @ Jun 18th 2009 8:24PM
Very very impressive, considering the price.... Anyways, does it spot a back-lit keyboard???
reddyroc @ Jun 18th 2009 8:24PM
i agree with all the previous comments on the price? sounds to good to be true, whats the catch?
Gad Get @ Jun 18th 2009 9:27PM
"i agree with all the previous comments on the price?"
Um... yes?
Stephen Lang @ Jun 18th 2009 8:25PM
So is 1.5 hours the artifically pumped up, almost no backlights and no internet activity battery life?
Price seems pretty good though. I wonder if upgrading the battery will still keep the BD version under a grand.
Will @ Jun 18th 2009 8:26PM
Meh. i was never really impressed with Sony's style.
Seven @ Jun 18th 2009 8:30PM
u? mean their website? y not ;P
Seven @ Jun 18th 2009 8:30PM
you*
Boards of Canada @ Jun 18th 2009 9:23PM
And what about that Sony price?
Poo_and_Wee @ Jun 18th 2009 8:40PM
Why do they keep including a PRO memory card slot?
NO ONE USES YOUR STRANGE LONG FORM FACTOR STORAGE FORMAT. WE ALL HAVE PRO DUOS, IF THAT, AND THOSE ADAPTERS ARE EASY TO LOSE.
I hope they listen this time.
ash chapman @ Jun 18th 2009 8:44PM
Because they're assholes.
AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 18th 2009 8:58PM
Who uses Memory Sticks at all?
mirakutea @ Jun 18th 2009 9:30PM
they look after the ones who bought into it I guess, in hopes that these same people will buy into the next gimmick that they come up with.
simon @ Jun 19th 2009 5:59PM
just keep the MS to Duo adapter inthe MSPro slot all the time.
Nitesh @ Jun 18th 2009 8:46PM
Wow, that is pretty aggresively priced for a blu-ray notebook, especialy a VAIO. I wanted the FW but this looks like a much much better deal, unless the summer refresh of the FW is good.
Chris @ Jun 19th 2009 5:28PM
Express card to firewire adapter
kenneth moestrup @ Jun 18th 2009 8:46PM
Non glossy surface, great. If the screen come in matte I'm considering this as my next PC. 880$? Formidablo!