Sony to sell VAIO brand and concentrate on smartphones and tablets

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freitasm

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#139379 6-Feb-2014 20:39

As per article posted here, Sony is planning to sell VAIO brand and concentrate on smartphones and tablets. It will also create a subsidiary to create/sell their TV line up...

End of an era of overpriced laptops, I say.

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#981508 6-Feb-2014 20:40

Is this a signal that consumers are losing interest in laptops, and would rather just stick to the simplicity and convenience of a handheld devices?

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#981509 6-Feb-2014 20:41

I don't think the Vaio brand is worth much without the Sony name and design behind it.

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#981516 6-Feb-2014 20:50

Totally agree with Matt.

It also may mean Vaios are only sold in Japan.

I wonder if there is going to be a fire sale!

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#981528 6-Feb-2014 21:11

the buyer of VAIO will be concentrating on the JP market

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#981532 6-Feb-2014 21:20

alasta: Is this a signal that consumers are losing interest in laptops, and would rather just stick to the simplicity and convenience of a handheld devices?

Imho more a case of Sony being unable to bring enough focus to the brand to achieve profitability.

mattwnz: I don't think the Vaio brand is worth much without the Sony name and design behind it.

Lenovo did very well taking over from IBM and keeping the same design and reliability focus.

I have never owned a Vaio but the ones I have used worked exceptionally well.

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#981552 6-Feb-2014 22:11

freitasm: ... End of an era of overpriced laptops, I say.

Vaios may be overpriced, but they are very, very good - I hope that they stay in the NZ market.
And if they have a fire sale, I'll be first in the queue :)

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#981569 6-Feb-2014 23:13

Good, I think Sony will be more than fine without the VAIO brand, they make a damn fine cellphone and their TVs have always been quite good.

freitasm

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#981615 7-Feb-2014 08:12

Sideface:
freitasm: ... End of an era of overpriced laptops, I say.

Vaios may be overpriced, but they are very, very good - I hope that they stay in the NZ market.
And if they have a fire sale, I'll be first in the queue :)

Buying a laptop brand going out of the market (as they are focusing on Japan after this change happens) will mean no more BIOS and drivers update. It is bad as it is now, imagine when you get no more updated drivers.

In any case, these days most laptops don't have driver updates after six months in the market, regardless of brand.

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#981621 7-Feb-2014 08:25

They are probably haemorrhaging cash like a bucket with no bottom ... The beginning of the end for all PC?

tdgeek

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#981683 7-Feb-2014 10:06

joker97: They are probably haemorrhaging cash like a bucket with no bottom ... The beginning of the end for all PC?

I dont think so, the PC market is declining, some say as being replaced by tablets, but I don't buy that. I feel that the IT spend by customers is not changing, but when they buy tablets they defer the PC as its being used less, but tablets cant replace a PC. They are replacing/deferring the spend though. High end smartphones are probably also impacting PC sales as thats a new IT cost for those that buy mid to high end, so some may be deferring the PC replacement/upgrade in favour of the new devices.

This is an example of the market rationalising, the PC sales are in decline, so the manufactuers need to decline, so that the ones left can survive, and/or can downsize to fit the lower market

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#981712 7-Feb-2014 10:53

tdgeek:
joker97: They are probably haemorrhaging cash like a bucket with no bottom ... The beginning of the end for all PC?

I dont think so, the PC market is declining, some say as being replaced by tablets, but I don't buy that. I feel that the IT spend by customers is not changing, but when they buy tablets they defer the PC as its being used less, but tablets cant replace a PC. They are replacing/deferring the spend though. High end smartphones are probably also impacting PC sales as thats a new IT cost for those that buy mid to high end, so some may be deferring the PC replacement/upgrade in favour of the new devices.

This is an example of the market rationalising, the PC sales are in decline, so the manufactuers need to decline, so that the ones left can survive, and/or can downsize to fit the lower market

is it minutely possible that IT infrastructures large or small, could go the way of Mac, Android, ?Chrome or whatever pops out in the future? or is microsoft pretty much "it" (no pun intended)?

(i have not a clue hence i'm asking)

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freitasm

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#981723 7-Feb-2014 11:13

joker97: is it minutely possible that IT infrastructures large or small, could go the way of Mac, Android, ?Chrome or whatever pops out in the future? or is microsoft pretty much "it" (no pun intended)?

You mean, for example, IT departments moving to a thin client such as the Google Chromebox, which HP is the latest supplier?

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#981818 7-Feb-2014 13:43

There have been rumors about Sony in Near bankruptcy & Sony hoping the PS4 will put them back into profit
I guess they need to do something to get get rid of products that are making any money.

But anyway, who would buy the Vaio brand ?? Its worthless with the Sony brand attached to it.
HP tried to do this a year or 2 ago : HP announced it would quit the PC market completely & sell of that part of their business: no one wanted it..

freitasm

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#981822 7-Feb-2014 13:48

It is in the release. They already have a buyer.

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#981828 7-Feb-2014 13:59

Apparently they are also getting out of the eBook business and Kobo will be the replacement store on Sony eBook devices. I Wold have thought eBook readers were still pretty popular, but maybe they see tablets replacing them.

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