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June 3, 1997
Leading-edge multimedia desktop and notebook PCs for the home
Sony Corporation today announced the introduction of its VAIO* series of personal computers for the Japanese market. In July 1997, Sony will begin sales of a mini-tower personal computer, [PCV-T700MR], and two notebook computers, [PCG-707] and [PCG-705].
| Model number | Introduction date | Price (w/out tax) | Monthly production capacity |
| VAIO PCV-T700MR Mini-tower PC (266 MHz Pentium®II processor) |
July 15 | Open | 1,000 units |
| VAIO PCG-707 Notebook PC (166 MHz Pentium® processor with MMX™ technology) |
July 1 | Open | 3,000 units (combined) |
| VAIO PCG-705 Notebook PC (150 MHz Pentium® processor with MMX™ technology) |
|||
| PCGA-DB7 Network Docking Station |
July 1 | 85,000 yen | n/a |
| PCGA-DH7 Personal Docking Station |
55,000 yen |
The Sony VAIO mini-tower PC, with a built-in CD-R drive and television-tuner-equipped MPEG1 real time encoder board, makes video editing and television recording easy for maximum visual creativity. For example, VAIO mini-tower PC users can edit footage from an 8mm video camera, record a television program or create their own original Video CDs. The VAIO mini-tower PC boasts Intel's Pentium® II 266 MHz processor, Microsoft's Windows® 95 and a 4.3 GB large-capacity hard disc drive. It also comes with a 17-inch Trinitron monitor [CPD-220VS] to provide high-resolution visual and dynamic audio quality.
The VAIO notebook PCs feature Intel's Pentium® processor with MMX™ technology (PCG-707 comes with a 166 MHz processor and PCG-705 comes with a 150 MHz processor) and Microsoft's Windows® 95. These lightweight, compact notebook PCs are only 37.6 mm thick and weigh 2.4 kg (with one battery and no floppy disc or CD-ROM drive) for great portability. Both come with a lithium-ion battery that lasts up to three hours. When combined with a separately sold lithium-ion battery pack [PCGA-BP7] (30,000 yen, not including tax), the notebook PC can be used for up to six continuous hours. The notebook PCs also come with an IrDA port (Version 1.1) for wireless, high-speed infrared transmission with various digital products, such as Sony's Cyber-shot digital still camera and IrDA-equipped personal computers.
Each of the notebook PCs can be connected to separately sold docking stations, [PCGA-DB7] and [PCGA-DH7], to enhance versatility. Because the stations have IEEE 1394 DV jacks, users need only a single cable to connect their PCs with DV jack-equipped Digital Handycam video cameras. Footage is captured as still images and is directly transmitted as data to the PC. The PCGA-DB7 has a network board (10BASE-T) and SCSI2 connector for easy construction of networks.
Sony's VAIO series of PCs come with a variety of software to enhance user enjoyment, many developed by Sony exclusively for the VAIO series, including:
More than 30 other software titles, including Internet-related software and visual and audio related software, are also bundled with Sony's PCs.
| PCV-T700MR | PCG-707/PCG-705 | |
| Processor | Pentium® II processor (266 MHz) with 512 KB L2 cache |
Pentium® processor with MMX™ technology (PCG-707: 166 MHz) (PCG-705: 150 MHz) Internal cache: 32 KB |
| L2 cache | Included in processor | 256 KB (pipeline burst SRAM) |
| Main memory (standard / maximum) |
32 MB / 128 MB (EDO) | PCG-707: 32 MB / 128 MB (SDRAM) PCG-705: 16 MB / 128 MB (SDRAM) |
| Expanded memory slot (number of slots) |
72 pin SIMM x 4 (2) | SODIMM slot x 2 (1) |
| Video memory | 4 MB (SGRAM) | 2 MB |
| Floppy disk drive | 3.5 inch (1.44 MB/1.2 MB/720 KB) FDD x 1 |
3.5 inch (1.44 MB / 1.2 MB /720 KB) FDD x 1, removable |
| Hard disk | 4.3 GB | 2.1 GB |
| CD-R drive | 8x speed read 2x speed write CD-RFS (ATAPI) |
|
| CD-ROM drive | Max. 14.5x speed (average 12x speed) multi-session, 12/8 cm tray, removable |
|
| Expansion slot (number of slots) |
PCI x 3(1) PCI/ISA x 1(1) ISA x 2(1) |
|
| Display | 17-inch Trinitron monitor (0.25 AG pitch, multiscan CRT) with stereo speaker, woofer, USB pass-through connector |
PCG-707: 12.1 inch XGA TFT color LCD PCG-705: 12.1 inch SVGA TFT color LCD |
| Dimensions (WxLxH) | 225 x 451.5 x 367.9 mm | 297 x 236.5 x 37.6 mm (38.8 mm at thickest point) |
