Sony debuts refreshed 13.3in VAIO S Series notebook

In addition to launching its new VAIO L all-in-one PC, Sony is today taking the wraps off a refreshed VAIO S notebook.

The system, available in black, white, silver, pink and blue finishes, attempts to marry "power, design and mobility" in a 13.3in package. And if looks are anything to go by, the VAIO S succeeds.

Making use of a "full-flat" magnesium body and a wide aluminium palmrest, the VAIO S measures less than 24mm thick and weighs just 1.75kg. That's both thicker and heavier than Apple's trend-setting MacBook Air, but what Sony's VAIO loses in portability, it more than than makes up in performance.

Inside the sleek-looking machine, users will be given a choice of Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processors, hybrid graphics with seamless switching between Intel's integrated HD solution and a high-performance Radeon HD 6000-series GPU, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and optional solid-state storage.

The 13.3in low-reflection VAIO S display provides a 1,366x768 resolution, and the built-in lithium polymer battery is said to be good for up to seven hours of use from a single charge. Should you need to keep going longer, Sony will also sell an optional battery slice that when attached to the base of the notebook should double the system's overall longevity.

In keeping with the premium nature of VAIO notebooks, the new S Series touts a backlit isolation keyboard, an ambient light sensor, VAIO "everywair" 3G WWAN and a "Fast Boot" install of Windows 7 that Sony reckons will have you up and running "50 per cent quicker than conventional notebooks".

The cost? Nobody's saying, but we'll find out soon enough as the VAIO S is on course to reach retail by the end of March. In the meantime, a couple of additional images and an example specification can be found below.