Sony is expanding the use of the VAIO label. It can now be found on notebooks, subnotebooks, desktop and media centres. Network media solutions by Sony will also carry the VAIO brand.
VAIO notebooks are currently shipped with Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (Business line) or Windows 7 Home Premium, while high-end models sometimes come with Windows 7 Ultimate.
In mid-2005, all models stopped shipping with a Recovery CD, which was replaced by a hidden partition on the hard drive, accessible at boot via the BIOS or also within Windows via a utility. Pressing [F10] (at the VAIO logo) during boot-up will cause the notebook to boot from the recovery partition; where the user has the choice of either running hardware diagnostics (without affecting the installed system), or restoring (re-imaging) the hard drive to factory condition (of course, this option will destroy all user installed applications and all data). On first running the system out of the box, VAIO users are prompted to create a set of recovery DVDs, which will be required in case of hard disk failure and replacement with a new drive (normally these would not be required if the system is restored from the hidden partition).
Also included as part of the out-of-box experience, are prompts to register at Club VAIO, an online community for VAIO owners and enthusiasts, which also provides automatic driver updates and technical support via email, along with exclusive desktop wallpapers and promotional offers. On recent models, you are also prompted to register your trial versions of Microsoft Office and the installed antivirus software (Norton Anti-Virus on older models, and McAfee Antivirus on newer ones) upon initial boot.
VAIO computers come with components from companies such as Intel processors, Seagate Technology, Hitachi, Fujitsu or Toshiba hard drives, Infineon RAM, Atheros and Intel wireless chipsets, Sony (usually made by Hitachi) or Matsushita optical drives, Intel, NVIDIA or ATI graphics processors and Sony speakers. Recent laptops are being shipped with Qimonda RAM, HP speakers with Realtek High Definition Audio Systems, and optional Dolby Sound Room technology. It has been confirmed that a touch-screen VAIO is planned to be launched as well as support for PlayStation Network.