In this technology-drenched atmosphere, if you want to make an impression, some laptops have more impact than others. For a while, the machine of choice was Toshiba. Then you started to see thinner IBM Thinkpads. These days the coolest laptop on the market is the Sony Vaio. The machines are thin, sleek, lightweight-with a crisp color image.
Some models even sport a built-in digital camera.
Why, to impress your co-workers, of course. But if the Sony Vaio is an extension of its owner's personality, it is also emblematic of Sony's, as well. The company that Akio Morita started in the bleak days following World War II has made its name by coming up with products that are new or, as in the case of the Vaio, several steps more impressive than the competition. This has not always been a formula for success. Sony famously struck out with its Beta VCR format.