Posted on Sunday, February 04 2007 @ 6:21 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
For the business traveller, less to carry means less stress. The G11 weighs just 1.12kg including battery, making it eminently portable and hassle-free. The power supply unit tends to get ignored, but not this time. Since it has to be carried with the notebook, it received the same attention from the engineers who shrank it down to minute proportions: it’s shorter end to end than a pen, and weighs only 170g.
VAIO designers turned to advanced materials technology to shave off the grams without compromising durability. This was achieved by using carbon fibre laminate for both the casing and lid, resulting in an unprecedented combination of strength and portability. Such extensive use of carbon fibre is extremely rare, and sets the G11 apart as a notebook that can take the knocks without letting you down.
Exhaustive drop and pressure testing resulted in a final design capable of withstanding a fall from up to 90cm. The tests performed were simulations of accidental drops and shocks in a business scene such as a drop from a desk or a slip from the hand when carrying. So if it gets dropped there’s no cause for panic. In fact with HDD technology, if the machine is dropped while powered on, the hard disk senses the acceleration and automatically locks down its drive heads in a fraction of a second to prevent damage and data loss.
No matter how lightweight or robust, a notebook with a flat battery is useless – and potentially stressful – to its owner. With this in mind, VAIO engineers selected the latest Intel Ultra-Low Voltage (ULV) processor for its groundbreaking combination of performance and minimal power consumption. Work on the G11 continued at system level until battery life was extended to a remarkable 9 hours. In other words, long enough to keep you going through the typical working day. Although exhaustive attention was paid to the big three of weight, durability and battery
life, the G11 has much more to offer the travelling professional. For example, security features include fingerprint recognition (which can replace user passwords) and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) hardware-level protection for files, passwords and encryption keys. In combination, the two serve to make the G11 a very safe place for sensitive information leaving the office environment.
Standard connectivity – including 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN – is enhanced by the provision of GB Ethernet for super-fast network connections, potentially saving time in the office. Also, unlike many ultra-portables, the G11 features an integrated multi-format Dual Layer DVD±RW/RAM optical drive, sparing users the inconvenience of having to carry an external unit with them.
Even the 12.1-inch XGA resolution screen is designed for business, with a 4:3 aspect ratio rather than the consumer-orientated widescreen format. This means in-house applications such as databases or ordering systems designed for the classic screen format display properly, without distortion.
The attention to detail extends to every level, even down to a special button above the keyboard that blocks pop-ups like those announcing incoming email. If you do business using a G11, demos and presentations won’t be subject to unexpected – and potentially embarrassing – interruptions.
As befits a machine designed for professionals from the bottom up, the VAIO G11-Series is supplied with Windows Vista Business.
Sony VAIO VGN-G11XN/B features:
CPU: Intel Ultra Low Voltage Core Solo U1500 (1.33GHz) RAM: 1GB (2GB for VGN-G11VN/T) HDD: 100GB with Hard Disk Drop Protection technology Graphics: Intel 945GMS chipset featuring Intel internal graphics Optical: multi-format Dual Layer DVD±RW/RAM Screen: 12.1-inch XGA resolution with high-brightness LED technology Security: Fingerprint recognition, hardware Trusted™ Platform Module (TPM) Wireless: Intel wireless LAN 802.11 a b g Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, 2 x USB 2.0, Memory Stick Duo slot, Secure Digital slot Size: 277 x 215 x 23.5 – 25.5mm W x D x H Weight: 1.12kg Operating system: Windows Vista Business (supports Windows Vista Premium Logo)
