Vaio G2?

Is there any evidence that Sony is going to release the new G2 in North America? It just released in Japan this month and the G2 has just been released in Europe as well.

This would be a great thin and light business-oriented notebook for the North American market and the current BX series is looking very dated.

Thoughts?

 

I don't know why they even bothered updating the BX series. It's heavy, has poor battery life, and it's expensive for what you get.

You should call Sony and ask them. If enough people request it, they'll bring it over here. The TZ, and ultraportables in general, seems to be growing in popularity in the North American market, so hopefully they will release it here.

 

I would say no. The US outside of odd things like the TZ or the one IBM 12.1" model, isn't much of a lightweight computer culture. As I've said elsewhere, the G, the Panasonic R, the Fujitsu, etc., are designed with the Japanese commuter culture in mind.

I asked when the G initially came out in the SonyStyle stores if they were going to introduce it here and they said no.

Plus, given the spec is so close to the TZ which sells by the boatload, there's no real reason to bring it here.

Are you sure it's coming out in Europe? I didn't see but then again, I don't check the Sony Europe site.

The market here just wouldn't support it I think. I'm surprised we get a version of the U.

 

The G21 has been listed at notebook.de for a couple of weeks and is showing availability within a week.

Also, there's a G21VN/B listed on the Sony UK support site.

I believe the G21 is imminent. Sony in Europe are clearly marketing the G series as a business machine. While the younger generation may be able to read the display of the T series, the G series is ideal for people whose reading vision is past its best. Perhaps such people don't exist in North America?

John

 

I don't think it's resolution. My eyes are fine and I once owned a U. I just prefer in a widescreen the 1280x800 of the SZ to the 1366x768 of the TZ. IMHO it looks better.

But as I said, the US market is totally different. The G is more like the Toughbook line in construction - hence it being a tad more in some cases than the TZ series despite similar or even "lesser" specs by some people's standards (like no built-in cam).

 

It was desinated for commuter as FenderP said.
When G revieled, Sony Japan said there's no plan to launch "G" out of Japan.
But 1month later, G was launched in almost Asia.
I'm not sure G2 will be sold in U.S, but I heard Sony upgraded the poor CPU to the U7600 and changed some stuff fomer G1 had.
I'd like to see the "perfect machine" in U.S

 

Unfortunately, it appears that the G2 will not be released in North America. Ivan at Portable One contacted Sony directly and was told that there are no plans to release the G series here.

 

Probably the only thing I'd change to make the G2 the "perfect machine" is spec a 1280x800 widescreen 12" display... plus optional built-in WWAN.

Oh, and it'd be great to have both a touchpad and an IBM style trackpointer eraser head whatever it's called! Like the HP2510P.

 

if it had a widescreen it would be too much like the tz. its 4:3 for a reason. business users like that more

 

12.1" 4:3 give more area and bigger pixels. I had a 12.1" widescreen and the pixels were a little small for my eyes. Widescreen already has less height than 4:3 and if you start increasing the dpi to improve readability then the height is effectively reduced further.

It's actually revealing to compare the notebook dimension of the G series with the TZ. Same width, much the same thickness and the TZ is about 2cm (3/4") less in front-to-back.

To me, a widescreen version of the G series would be to increase the width and pack in a 14.1" widescreen LED backlit panel while maintaining the rest of the G's build and good attributes and adding no more than 25% to the weight.

John

 

Guess everyone's preferences are different .... I *am* a business user and I prefer widescreen. My company laptop is an NC2400, which is a 12" widescreen. My personal laptop is also a 12" widescreen. I used to have a 12" 4:3 screen for my work machine, and came to find that I preferred the 12" widescreen -- for the increased screen real estate, usability, and portable form factor. I rarely watch movies on my laptop. Yes, the dot pitch is smaller than a 12" 1024x768 screen but it's just enough for me. I can see how if my eyes deteriorated even more than they already are it would start getting hard to read. Suppose 13" widescreen in 1280x800 is a good compromise for older eyes! If Sony could make one under 3 lbs, that's be pretty cool!

I also have a secondary work laptop which is an IBM T-series with a screen that's seems to be even harder to read because of its high resolution!

 

The SZ is a good laptop - and I own one - but I haven't used it really since I got the G. I would agree that if they could shave a pound off the SZ, it'd be even better, but then it's competing with the TZ.

When Sony decides to implement 1280x800 on the T series, I'll consider it. Until then ... my G is great.