With just hours ahead of the official debut of this year's IFA 2009 consumer electronics show, held in Berlin, Germany between September 4 to 9, Sony has had a press event where the company has introduced a couple of new products, while also detailing some of its upcoming goodies.

Such is the case with a new series of Vaio laptops, which the company is expected to officially launch before the end of this year. Dubbed the Vaio X-series, the new, ultraportable laptops appear to boast one of the thinnest designs for such devices in their category and are expected to become available sometime after the introduction of Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows 7 operating system.

There aren't too many details available yet, but based on reports from outfits attending the gathering, it's a premium ultra-portable with a non-glossy 11.1" display, a carbon fiber .55" chassis, and weighs a mere 1.5lbs.

According to Engadget (who is on site), the system will tout an "all-day" battery life, and will set a new standard for stamina. There is nothing official about what will power the VAIO X at launch, but Engadget is reporting that they hear it packs an Intel Atom. That said, nothing is locked in and there's no telling if CULV-based models will be available.



Unfortunately, the consumer electronics maker hasn't been very generous with the technical specifications of the new system, but has showcased an engineering model to provide customers with a perspective on things to come. According to early reports from the company's press event, the new Vaio X-series of laptops has been featured with a sleek and ultrathin design, making it a choice for on-the-go users looking for a high-quality ultraportable. At the exterior, the X-series boasts a carbon-fibre chassis, coupled with an aluminum keyboard and a choice for both a glossy- and matte-plastic finishes.

As for the internal configuration, the fellows over at Engadget, who have been lucky enough to get their hands on the showcased model, report that the ultraportable sports an Atom processor, 2GB of memory and a 31Wh removable battery. Connectivity is pretty much standard with a couple of USB ports, an SD/Memory Stick slot, a WWAN SIM slot, VGA (no HDMI, at this time), RJ45 for wired Ethernet LAN and a Kensington lock, all inside a system that boasts an 11-inch display.

The specifications aren't yet final, according to Sony, which means that the ultraportable could be featured with a more potent CULV platform. The company is also stating that the sleek-looking Vaio will be available with Windows 7 on-board and will be priced at less than US$2,000. Official specifications and the formal introduction of the Vaio X-series are due in October, this year, around the same time with Microsoft's Windows 7 launch.