Press Release

September 26, 2008

New Sony notebook redefines the high-definition home theatre

TORONTO - Sony of Canada Ltd. today announced the all-new VAIO® AW Series high-definition notebook.

Weighing a little more than 8 pounds, the AW model is ideal for the multimedia enthusiast or photographer who likes to view or edit high-definition content on-the-go.

"This new notebook delivers the power of a high-end desktop in a portable form factor," said Puneet Jain, director of VAIO product marketing at Sony Canada. "Whether you're gaming, watching a Blu-ray Disc™ movie or editing high-def video, it offers all the HD tools you'll need. All VAIO AW Blu-ray models come with three Blu-ray movies, Casino Royale, Surf's Up and Hitch pre-inserted in the box for customers to experience and enjoy high definition entertainment right out of the box."

Equipped with an extra-wide 18.4-inch (measured diagonally) LCD display and Sony's own XBRITE-FullHD™ LCD technology (optional), the notebook delivers vibrant colours in stunning 1080p clarity.

It comes standard with a Blu-ray Disc optical drive for play back of high-definition content, including movies in full HD 1080p resolution. Select units can also record, store and play back personal content on high-capacity BD media.

For those who prefer to watch content on a big screen television like a Bravia® LCD, the unit also has an HDMI™ output so you can connect it to a compatible HDTV set for a larger viewing experience (cable sold separately).

The display is ideal for Blu-ray Disc movies. Since many high-definition films are shot using a 16:9 aspect ratio, the unit's extra-wide LCD is constructed with the same dimensions. This minimizes the black bars that typically appear, letting you view movies in their intended format.

The extended workspace also lets you view two full websites at once or compare two documents side-by-side without tabbing back and forth.

The notebook is perfect for photo enthusiasts. With its optional Adobe® RGB colour compatible LCD screen, it displays all colours in the RGB colour space enabling you to view true on-screen reproductions of your digital photos— so they appear just as they would if they were printed. And since the panel displays in full 1080p, your images will "pop" with razor-sharp detail.

A built-in CompactFlash® slot simplifies the transferring of photos from your digital camera to your PC.

It packs new Intel® Centrino® 2 technology, and comes pre-installed with either Windows Vista® Home Premium or Vista Ultimate operating systems, depending on the model chosen.

Available in titanium gray and a glossy piano black finish, the VAIO AW notebook standard model starts at about $1,700, while the premium version starts at around $3,300. They are available online at www.sonystyle.ca, at Sony Style® retail locations, and at select dealers across Canada.


About Sony of Canada Ltd.
Established in 1955, Sony of Canada Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, of Tokyo, Japan, a world leader in High Definition. Sony provides end-to-end solutions through products that include the market-leading Blu-ray Disc™ players, BRAVIA® televisions, Cyber-shot® digital cameras, Handycam® Camcorders, VAIO® computers, broadcast cameras, IPELA security cameras and video conferencing and many more products that deliver the true entertainment experience.

Sony is one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world with a portfolio that includes electronics, music, movies, games and online businesses.

With headquarters in Toronto, sales offices in Vancouver and Montreal and distribution centres in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and Whitby, Ontario, approximately 1,200 employees support a network of more than 500 authorized dealers and 80 Sony Style® retail locations across Canada.

Sony Canada is proud to support the communities in which it operates through corporate sponsorships of organizations that include the Make-A-Wish® Canada, the United Way of Canada and Earth Day Canada.

For more information contact:
Candice Hayman
Sony of Canada Public Relations
Candice_hayman@sony.ca  
(416) 718-5048

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