Finally, a 13-inch laptop that stunningly blends luxury, portability, and power. Move over Macbook (Air), Levono X300, Dell M1330, and even the new Voodoo Envy, because Sony has just released specs for their new Z-series notebooks.

Aside from the expected design aesthetics that make high-end VAIO’s some of the sexiest laptops we’ve ever seen, the Sony VGN-Z11 comes with a host of options that takes performance in this class to a whole new level.

For starters, you can upgrade the default LED-backlit 1366×768 display to an incredible eye-squinting 1600×900. This resolution is even beyond what most 15-inch laptops are capable of, although it’s probably safe to say that only those with telescopic vision will be able to keep their eyes on the mouse cursor! The unit also supports Core 2 Duo processors of up to 2.4 GHz, and memory configurations of up to 4 GB SDRAM. With the kind of performance that matches many larger-sized high-end laptops, the Sony VAIO VGN-Z11 is a potent mix of power and portability.

The Z-series also feature the new, and hopefully defect-free, nVidia 9300M GS, a HDD up to 320 GB, and both VGA and HDMI outputs. Thanks to Sony’s engineering magic, the package still weighs less than 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). And although it’s not as thin as the some of its competitor’s offerings, the Sony VGNZ11 still slides in a bit under and a bit over an inch thick, depending on where measurements are taken. When you consider all the high-spec components crammed into its carbon fiber chassis, I’m pretty sure the Japanese engineers did their best slimming the unit to its physical limits.

One question that may be asked, is whether the Macbook Air is being challenged by the new VAIO Z-series? The answer is not so clear. With new offerings dropping size and weight without compromising features and performance, Apple can’t hope to keep up with PC makers without refreshing their lines more frequently. Fortunately for Apple, they don’t solely compete on hardware specs, and few Apple owners would consider crossing into PC territory based on performance or value alone. So as it stands, I would say the remarkably thin Macbook Air is still in a class of its own, but its appeal is not what it was considering the device’s many shortcomings and hardware issues.

The narrowing space between performance limiting netbooks and unfashionable full-sized laptops is getting quite crowded, but it’s devices like Sony’s VAIO Z-series that keep the 13-inch notebook market exciting and innovative.