The Sony Vaio-P

[ISiddiqui]

So, what do y'all think about Sony's new super small Vaio?

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/sony-pt-001.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/01/sony-p-007.jpg

The specs:


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Intel<SUP>®</SUP> (1.33GHz) processor
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60GB HDD available or up to 128GB SSD available
2GB DDR2 SDRAM
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Estimated Battery Life: Up to 4 hours (standard capacity battery)<SUP>6 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896&SR=ces_2009:products:computers:vaio_p:ss#footNote6)</SUP>
Up to 8 hours (large capacity battery)<SUP>6 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896&SR=ces_2009:products:computers:vaio_p:ss#footNote6)</SUP>
Power Requirements: 68W + 10%
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Memory Stick PRO<SUP>™</SUP>(Standard/Duo) media slot with MagicGate<SUP>®</SUP> functionality
Multi-media Card (MMC) slot
SD<SUP>™</SUP> memory card slot
P Series (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896&SR=ces_2009:products:computers:vaio_p:ss)

For $900. Looks highly impressive. Apple's got some really big competition.

[wade moore]

I think that monitor is WAY too small.

[JediKooter]

Looks like a bloated PSP.

I don't think Apple has anything to worry about. With laptops it's all about screen size and that has none.

[sabotai]

These "netbooks" seem to be the new fad, like tablets were a few years ago. I'm not sure I get the appeal, though. What do they do better than a normal sized laptop? (Or for that matter, a tablet)?

EDIT: Other than, of course, that they are more portable due to their smaller size.

[gstelmack]

I think the Apple Wheel knocks its socks off:

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard | The Onion - America's Finest News Source (http://www.theonion.com/content//node/92328)

[ISiddiqui]

EDIT: Other than, of course, that they are more portable due to their smaller size.

Well that's it. I mean this laptop is super easy to carry around because of its size. You can pull it out to check email or surf the web somewhat from a small briefcase or, for women, their purses. It's not meant to be a complete laptop replacement.

I mean its 11 inches (8 inch screen) and weighs 1.4 lbs, and comes with built in GPS.

[JediKooter]

I think the Apple Wheel knocks its socks off:

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard | The Onion - America's Finest News Source (http://www.theonion.com/content//node/92328)

HAHA!! That was awesome.

[stevew]

I got my wife a netbook for xmas. I think it has a 9 inch screen. We aren't talking about something with a ton of power. But she likes that she can throw it in her purse and use it at panera.

And it was about 400 bucks so I wouldn't expect it to be super powerful.

[ISiddiqui]

Looks like a bloated PSP.

I don't think Apple has anything to worry about. With laptops it's all about screen size and that has none.

I was thinking about the MacBook Air... which, true, isn't selling well, but still.

And with laptops, it isn't really all about screen size. It's about portability.

[wade moore]

I was thinking about the MacBook Air... which, true, isn't selling well, but still.

And with laptops, it isn't really all about screen size. It's about portability.

This isn't even close to the air. The screen is FAR too small. Like others have said, you can get netbooks this size for half as much.

I just don't understand how this is an exciting hardware release.

[Daimyo]

That looks horrible.

[ISiddiqui]

Well, you know what I was saying is it is better than the Air ;). But more portable and far cheaper. If I'm going for uber-portable, I'd rather have the smaller computer than the thin, same width, depth as a regular computer.

And its more powerful than most netbooks.

[Danny]

Its much more powerful than most netbooks. This isn't something I would buy, but doesn't seem bad at all for someone who wants more than a netbook in something really small.

[Daimyo]

IMO, that fills a niche that doesn't really exist. If you want something ultra portable that just has a good web and email experience get an iPhone. If you want something to do Word/Excel/etc the Vaio is going to be too small to be effective and you're better off getting a 13" laptop.

[DanGarion]

I think the specs are way our of line, the specs are just too big.

[ISiddiqui]

IMO, that fills a niche that doesn't really exist. If you want something ultra portable that just has a good web and email experience get an iPhone. If you want something to do Word/Excel/etc the Vaio is going to be too small to be effective and you're better off getting a 13" laptop.

One can, concievably, say that for all netbooks ;).

Though it's probably a little bit better for web and email than an iPhone, and not horrid (thought not ideal) for Word or things like that. It does have a kick ass resolution for its size (1600 x 768), so it makes doing things like Word or Excel a bit easier.

[flounder]

One advantage to netbooks that hasn't been mentioned is the battery life. My Eee PC's battery lasts almost 6 hours, so with power saving features turned on it will last me all day. Before, with my 14 inch laptop, I had to haul it and its AC adapter everywhere with me.

The advantage for me over something like an iPhone is the keyboard. Anything where I had to type on a touch screen with my thumbs was a no go.

[Danny]

I just bought a 14 inch laptop, it can last 6-8 hours if being used for the internet and power light tasks.

[mrsimperless]

Is it a tablet pc?

[Danny]

No, Dell E6400 business laptop from dell outlet. The laptop in general has great battery life and I got the 9 cell battery, so it lasts a long time.

[stevew]

I will say that the resolution on the MSI wind I got is not that great. Basically EDTV level.

[Marc Vaughan]

I think it looks pretty funky - I'm about to get an laptop/mini-PC for my daughter because its cheap and it'll allow her to surf the web without attempting to infect my PC with virus's .. I'll probably get her a MacBook or Linux based Netbook PC simply because she has a knack for infecting machines by browsing Newgrounds and other 'teen' sites.

However I have to say I like the looks of that Vaio and if I was buying a machine for myself to use 'on the road' I'd consider it - especially because it has ample RAM for most things (would even handle light dev work - ie. not FM PC, but FMH) and fantastic battery life.

[Fidatelo]

I got an Aspire One for Christmas from the company I work for (along with all my coworkers). It's a cool little laptop, and surprisingly powerful, but the keyboard/mouse is awkward, and I'm still not entirely sure what I'll use it for aside from posting here while I'm in the can.

[wade moore]

Sorry, Air is >>>>> this. There's a certain point where if it gets so small you might as well have a pda, phone, whatever. $900 for this POS is just ridiculous. If you want something this small, you just don't need this power and can get a netbook that is at LEAST 50% cheaper.

[Marc Vaughan]

PS - Sod getting either an Air or Vaio - I want a new keyboard ...

Check this out:
Asus Eee keyboard opens CES • Register Hardware (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/01/07/asus_eee_keyboard/)

[ISiddiqui]

Sorry, Air is >>>>> this. There's a certain point where if it gets so small you might as well have a pda, phone, whatever. $900 for this POS is just ridiculous. If you want something this small, you just don't need this power and can get a netbook that is at LEAST 50% cheaper.

Personally I think the Air is just crap. $1800 for something that's just super-thin? Bah!

You want portable, get something portable, like this.

[Daimyo]

Eh... for me I don't really care about the width and height of the laptop. Keyboards and monitors can only get so small before they become less usable and really I just need it to fit in a book bag or carry-on. IMO, Apple is spot on in how they're approaching the problem... the dimensions to attack are depth and weight.

I'm not a big fan of the Air though at its price. For my money I'd probably just get one of the new 13" unibody Macbooks.

FWIW, I feel the same way about cell-phones. Once its small enough to fit in my front jeans pocket it doesn't need any less heighth or width... but continuing to reduce depth is absolutely critical.

[Raiders Army]

FWIW, I feel the same way about cell-phones. Once its small enough to fit in my front jeans pocket it doesn't need any less heighth or width... but continuing to reduce depth is absolutely critical.
I dunno. Sometimes I gotta shift to the left if my phone is in my right pocket. It'd be nice to have a small enough phone so you don't have any shiftage.

[JediKooter]

To be honest...I don't like the Air either. Please don't tell my boss though.

[Klinglerware]

IMO, that fills a niche that doesn't really exist. If you want something ultra portable that just has a good web and email experience get an iPhone. If you want something to do Word/Excel/etc the Vaio is going to be too small to be effective and you're better off getting a 13" laptop.

I finally got a chance to see the Vaio P up close. It's a stylish little device, but I generally agree with the quoted assessment.

It's kind of a weird size where it's smaller than a netbook, but bigger than a pocketable device (PDA, iPhone, N800/N810). Since you will have to carry a Vaio P in a separate bag anyway, you might as well get a net book or an ultraportable laptop. If you want to go smaller than the Vaio P: you can get smartphones, PDAs, etc with much of the same basic functionality (web-browser, e-mail, simple office doc editing, etc) but with the added advantage of being able to put it in your pocket.

[DaddyTorgo]

Well that's it. I mean this laptop is super easy to carry around because of its size. You can pull it out to check email or surf the web somewhat from a small briefcase or, for women, their purses. It's not meant to be a complete laptop replacement.

I mean its 11 inches (8 inch screen) and weighs 1.4 lbs, and comes with built in GPS.

is that really worth $900 to people though?? :confused:

seriously?

[DaddyTorgo]

my best friend has a netbook and it's kinda fun, but it was also like sub-$400, not $900. For the tasks I'd use it for, that'd be about what I'd want to pay.

[ISiddiqui]

is that really worth $900 to people though?? :confused:

seriously?

When you see how many MacBooks are sold, is that really that surprising?