Sony unveils Blu-ray notebook in Australia

Stan Beer
Sunday, 02 July 2006 18:17

Your IT - Home IT

Sony Australia today unveiled the VGN-AR18GP (AR18), in the Australian launch of the world’s first Blu-ray Disc notebook computer. The AR18 enables users to edit and burn HD footage on a personal computer in native 1080 resolution. However, users will have to pay big money for the privilege.

Playback of HD content through a larger display is also possible with the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) output on board the AR18, Sony’s first notebook to offer this connectivity option. The product includes optical links for sound that complements the vision.
As a ‘Full HD’ product from Sony, the AR18 can input, output and display content in 1080 resolution. The notebook has a 17” WUXGA (1920 x 1200) widescreen display and uses Sony’s Clear Bright, High Colour LCD Technology.

“A true innovation, the VAIO AR18 enables its user to create, edit and record HD content on a notebook PC – straight out of its box,” said Hiro Ishikawa, Product Manager for VAIO, Sony Australia. “Offering consumers limitless creative possibilities, we’ve presented a notebook that truly reflects the potential of a high definition world.”

Available in Australia this month, users will have to come up with A$5,499 for the AR18, which comes with a 17” Wide WUXGA Clear Bright High Colour LCD, 160GB hard disk (80GB x 2 in RAID 0), Intel Core Duo T2600 2.16GHz and Blu-ray Disc read/write drive.