Sony Launches Eco-friendly VAIO Notebooks

Some months after Greenpeace put Sony at the bottom of its list in the eco-friendliness stakes, the company is trying to make amends with its line of VAIO Graphic Splash Eco Edition notebooks.

In designing these smaller and lighter limited-edition machines, Sony says that the consumption of raw materials for building and packaging is reduced significantly.

Available in four 'organically themed' lid designs – Caribbean, Bloom, Spotted Life, and Clay Earth – the Graphic Splash notebooks are claimed to be "super-powerful and incredibly thin".

According to Sony, the eco-conscious features include:
Slim design for minimum use of natural resources
Easy-to-recycle materials for resource conservation
Packaging comprised primarily of recyclable materials
RoHS compliant components free from hazardous materials

The machines feature a 2 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, a 15.4-inch display, Vista Home Premium, and the rest of the usual FZ specs. Prices start at about $1200 and vary according to the choice of specs.

In keeping with the 'green' theme, Sony will contribute 1% of net VAIO Eco Edition notebook sales to 'One Percent for the Planet', an alliance of businesses concerned about the protection of the natural environment.