VAIO TX3-Series laptops - Security meets style in the latest Sony ultraportable laptops

The new Sony VAIO TX3-Series ultra-portable laptop offers a perfectly balanced mix of leading edge technology, outstanding design and serious, hardware-based security.

One of the most technically advanced and adventurously styled notebooks Sony has ever created now features strong, multi-layer security. Executives drawn to the Sony VAIO TX3-Series laptop by its huge visual appeal, can rest easy in the knowledge that it will protect their data from snooping and even accidents.

What’s more, the latest Intel® Core™ Solo Ultra-Low Voltage (ULV) processor offers plenty of power for work and exceptional battery life on the go. The VAIO TX3 laptop really is the traveller’s friend, combining very low carrying weight with up to 7 hours running time on battery power.

Unlike many ultra-portables laptops, the VAIO TX3 even features a super-slim, fully integrated DVD±RW optical drive, complete with double layer (DL) technology for massive extra capacity.

The Sony VAIO TX3-Series uses a rock-solid combination of fingerprint recognition(1) and hardwired, chip-level Trusted™ Platform Module (TPM) security(2) to prevent anyone but the owner ever getting in. TPM even prevents malicious software from harvesting vital information like passwords and encryption keys by storing sensitive data on the chip itself. The VAIO TX3’s hard disk is also physically guarded by G-Sensor Shock Protection, which automatically parks the drive heads safely if the notebook is dropped. All this makes the Sony TX3 a very tough nut to crack indeed.

This is equally true of the notebook itself. Despite being pleasingly compact and portable at a mere 1.25kg, the VAIO TX3 is exceptionally robust. This is derived from a choice of construction material more familiar in the aerospace industry and the world of Formula One. The carbon fibre laminate engineered to form the case surpasses the strength of magnesium alloy, yet actually weighs less.

The same high-tech laminate gives the 11.1-inch widescreen display its great strength while allowing the designers to reduce it to an unprecedented – and eye-catching – 4.5mm wafer. X-black LCD™ enhancement boosts brightness and contrast, bringing the picture vividly to life, so however you look at it, this slice of a screen is another stand-out TX3 highlight.

"The VAIO TX3-Series is exceptional," comments Colin Woodward, group product manager for IT products at Sony UK. "The level of engineering behind it puts it in a class of its own, which is instantly obvious when you first see, let alone use one. Heavyweight security makes this versatile and utterly distinctive machine perfect for the business user who is uninterested in the ordinary."

(1) Excluding model VGN-TX3HP/W.
(2) Excluding models VGN-TX3HP/W and VGN-TX3XRP/B.

TECHNICAL NOTES:

Super-secure with TPM
The TX3-Series offers business users next-generation data security with the Trusted™ Platform Module chip. Standard on every model, the TPM chip provides a range of vital security services that help prevent unauthorised access to data.

TPM hardware performs four main functions:

1. Monitoring platform trustworthiness. The TPM monitors the boot process and checks that no changes to the BIOS, operating system or device drivers have occurred by comparing each fresh boot with a set of reference values stored on the chip itelf. Any suspect changes are immediately reported to the user.

2. Strong platform authentication. When a TX3-Series notebook is connected to the company network, the TPM acts like a built-in smart card, providing a unique (and tamper-proof) ID  for that notebook. With a TPM-based security policy in place, unauthorised hardware cannot connect to the network without being detected.

3. Secure storage. Passwords, encryption keys and even biometric data from the TX3-Series’ fingerprint recognition system have to be protected from harvesting by malicious software. To do this, they are stored in the TPM rather than on the hard disk, and protected there by highly efficient hardware cryptography. This is far more secure than having such vital data ‘loose’ on the system.

4. Additional cryptographic services. Security software running on the TX3-Series can use the TPM to carry out vital tasks like the creation of encryption keys. Because the TPM is inherently secure hardware, any activity it carries out at the request of security software is completely hidden from human hackers or malicious software. The resulting combined level of security is vastly stronger than that of software alone.

Improved screen technology
The TX3-Series features an 11.1-inch widescreen display perfect for watching DVDs. It has a true 16:9 aspect ratio derived from a custom screen resolution of 1366 x 768 as opposed to conventional 1280 x 800 WXGA. This means widescreen movies play with the absolute minimum ‘dead’ space around the picture.

The screen itself has been painstakingly engineered for both strength and superlative colour reproduction. The outer casing is made from multilayered carbon fibre 230 per cent stronger and 30 per cent lighter than materials used in standard notebook construction. Unlike conventional notebook screens, there are no irregularities like cabling or control circuitry behind the tough, bend-tolerant LCD panel. Pressure on the screen surface is radiated away evenly, preventing the panel from cracking. All that lies behind the LCD itself is a super-thin light guide, illuminated from below by a pure white light LED. The use of highly power-efficient LED technology rather than the standard cold cathode fluorescent lamp for the backlight helps increase overall battery life.

Advanced materials technology for strength and enhanced heat dissipation
Sony’s engineers have used a special  combination of materials to give the TX3-Series an extremely thin but very robust outer casing. Rather than alloy or plastic, each machine is sheathed in nickel plated carbon fibre mouldings which match advanced alloys for rigidity and weight yet measure just 0.8mm thick. The moulded carbon fibre core of each panel confers rigidity while remaining extremely light compared to alloy or even plastic, and the exterior nickel plating adds extra strength. The use of plated carbon for the outer panels confers a further technical advantage over an all-metal build. The casing is an excellent heat conductor, and effectively acts as an extended heat sink. Fan activity and its associated noise are reduced to a minimum, making for whisper-quiet operation and longer battery life.

Adobe Software Inside
The software supplied with every VAIO system has always been carefully selected to help everyone get the most out of the potential of AV-IT. In 2006, VAIO notebooks and PCs offer the best added value yet thanks to our partnership with industry leader Adobe®.

Adobe Software Inside gives you powerful tools like  Photoshop® Elements 4 and Premiere® Elements 2 for mastering the arts of photo and video editing.  Acrobat® 7.0 Elements gives you the keys to creating your own reliable Adobe PDF documents for easy distribution across a business and beyond.