Yup- Sony was like IBM in a sense back then- every product was new, innovative, and durable.
But the only things I'd buy from them now are their TVs/home theatre systems and other enterprise-class products (I've seen a certain videoconferencing unit that's really quite good). Their PS1/PS2 was also worth owning, but the PS2 was the beginning of the end.
Other than that, only older Sony products (VCRs, Walkmans, and the like) are worth owning. Also the AIBO, which would have been really cool had it cost 1/2 as much.
But nowadays:
VAIO Laptops? Nope, they're flaky at best, they come with a lot of crap, and they suffer mysterious slowdowns.
PS3? Insecure, and the fact that the system is so mismanaged it's funny. OtherOS? Gone.
MP3 players? Nope. Nothing new, and you've got to use proprietary software to use them. So I'll pass.
Camcorders/cameras? Same deal as the MP3 players, and your proprietary format, Memory Stick, was your way of trying to lock consumers in to only using the Sony ecosystem. That didn't work so well.
CDs? Yeah- if I want you to spy on me I'll let you know.
Actually... I think it's going to take a bankruptcy to bring them back into line. The only things that the company cares about now is suing people after spying on them.
It would cost a lot of jobs and employment spaces but it would sure be nice if we'd actually have a viable competition to, say, Apple.
I think they need to change their name. So much negative press. Change it back when you've done a good enough job to deserve the old name.
Then, R&D. Sony used to be the first one to come out with products and new technologies. They aren't anymore.
Look- you're not Panasonic or Toshiba. Sony isn't mostly an equipment manufacturer. The winning formula for them was "come up with a new product", and the Walkman, the Hi8 camcorder, MiniDisc (debatable), were all commercial successes.
But all you care about now is suing people.
What a joke.