Sony and New Jersey's Pascack Valley School District Join in State's First Program to Provide Computers to Every Student

Sony Electronics Inc. and the Pascack Valley Regional Board of Education have joined forces in a statewide first to provide all of the district's public high school students and teachers with state-of-the-art notebook computers to enhance the learning experience.

Students and teachers from Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills High Schools have received Sony VAIO S-Series notebook computers in a lease arrangement that extends through 2008.

"We are thrilled to be at the forefront of the information age by providing all of our high school students with the latest technology to maximize their education," said Ben Tantillo, superintendent for the district.

The district is leasing 1,915 computers, with 165 of them going to faculty and the remainder to students. Sony will also provide "gold level support," which includes on-site service, repair and next day parts delivery as necessary.

Tantillo also said that Classroom Connect, an award-winning provider of professional development programs and online instructional materials for kindergarten through 12th grade, is being tapped to help teachers and school administrators develop skills to better use notebook computers in the classroom, understand Internet tools, access teacher resources, and integrate student activities and projects.

Sony Electronics has seen an increased demand for computers from educational institutions, ranging from high schools to universities like the University of San Diego and Seattle University.

"Because of the diversity of our products and services, Sony is able to offer a unique variety of solutions to institutions ranging from schools and universities to small businesses to Fortune 500 companies," said Patrick Vogt, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' e-Solutions company. "Often this approach leads to a relationship that truly touches people, such as in the case of the Pascack Valley School District where we were able to provide solutions that integrate our technology with their curriculum and enrich the educational experience."

Weighing just four pounds, the VAIO S-Series notebooks are ideal for classroom use. It breaks with convention with a 13.3-inch wide format display that allows for a large viewing area in a small package, while a full-sized keyboard offers room to work even in cramped quarters. The notebook's battery delivers up to 9.5 hours of work time on a single charge.

For further information please contact: Marcy Cohen of Sony Electronics Inc., +1-201-930-6884, Marcy.cohen@am.sony.com; or Jessica Northrup of Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, +1-619-296-0605, jn@nstpr.com, for Sony Electronics Inc.

SOURCE: Sony Electronics Inc.

CONTACT: Marcy Cohen of Sony Electronics Inc., +1-201-930-6884,
Marcy.cohen@am.sony.com; or Jessica Northrup of Nuffer, Smith, Tucker,
+1-619-296-0605, jn@nstpr.com, for Sony Electronics Inc.

Web site: http://www.sony.com/news