Sony VAIO W Netbook US Release & Pricing Confirmed [VAIO W Available Stateside from August]

Sony officially launched their new 10″ Sony VAIO W netbook which they bill as being ‘ideal for casual computing and staying connected’ and which offers little in the way of surprises in terms of features and specifications except, perhaps, for being notable for what’s not included even in terms of user options.

The Sony VAIO W netbook, which comes (all too predictably) with a 1.6GHz Atom CPU under the hood and which runs Win XP, sports a 10.1″ 1366 x 768 LED backlit display, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, inbuilt webcam and card reader whilst, in terms of connectivity, there’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, integrated Ethernet, two USB ports and VGA-out but, certainly at this juncture, if you’re looking for optional extras such as swapping out the 160GB HHD for an SSD, for example, you’ll find yourself disappointed. Likewise if you’re looking for 3G and/or GPS functionality.

Still, from an eco-aware standpoint, the Sony VAIO W netbook makes a good show of itself in being Energy Star 5.0 compliant and EPEAT Gold registered thanks to coming with a mercury-free LED display and packaging comprising of 95% recycled cardboard. Additionally, if you opt to purchase the VAIO W as a replacement device Sony will even assist you with disposing of your outgoing PC in an environmentally conscious manner (though, as their press release states, ‘fees may apply’).

“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,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of the VAIO business group at Sony who introduced the Sony VAIO W netbook. “And it’s sturdy enough for the kids to use, making it perfect for every member of the family.”

Available to pre-order as of today, the Sony VAIO W netbook, which comes in three colors – berry pink, sugar white and cocoa brown – comes in at around the $500 price point.

[SonyStyle]