RSSSony's Vaio P: Slim and sexy, but don't call it a 'netbook'
By Tim Conneally | Published January 10, 2009, 5:39 AM
Never mind the tiny physical footprint of the Vaio P, if you ask Sony, they will tell you they have never made a netbook. If you ask me, however, I'll tell you they just did.
Why does Sony regard its smallest Vaio as a notebook and not a netbook? They have endowed the tiny (9.65" x .78" x 4.72") machine with a 1.33 GHz Intel processor, has 2GB of DDR2 SDRAM, Windows Vista Home Premium or 32-bit Home Basic and up to 128GB of flash memory or 60GB HDD. Representatives I spoke to this evening classified a netbook as a device that's encumbered by a processor too slow to handle a full desktop or notebook OS (and therefore derives much of its value from its connectivity).
After handling the Vaio P, I would beg to differ. I would say a netbook is any computer that demands a substantial adjustment of the user's computing technique to accomplish a task. This could happen because of a slower processor, but it could just as easily happen because of limited screen real estate or an awkward physical interface like a cramped keyboard or oddly-placed mouse buttons. Whether Sony likes it or not, the tiny form factor of the Vaio P forces the user to adjust.
Firstly, the size of the screen: though it's 8 inches across and extremely dense in pixels, the odd dimensions change the workspace substantially. Second, the keyboard is problematic. It is absolutely rock solid and responsive, but the placement of the pointing stick cuts into the size of the G, B, and H keys and necessitates some alertness when typing quickly.
To shrink down the unit to about the thickness of an issue of The Economist (or Guns and Ammo, if you're so inclined), the ethernet port and VGA out have been removed from the chassis and placed on the unit's charging dock. This means if you use a wired connection or external monitor, you have to carry around an extra block of plastic that is independent from the power cord/charger components. The Vaio P also has two USB ports, one less than most netbooks.
Netbook or not, the Vaio P is undeniably elegant, with an instant on feature that utilizes Sony's trademark XMB interface, integrated A2DP bluetooth, integrated mobile broadband connectivity, and GPS. For $899, there is a lot of computer rolled in that miniscule frame.
I too am confused;
the uses of this are far below what Sony expects people to use this for. Perhaps they saw a market flowing to Apple's Airbook and figured that they would upstage Apple by making this smaller? Sacrificing the size of screen was the wrong way to go about it.
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|I'm not sure I understand Sony's design decisions here: Just an inch more depth would have allowed a taller (and more useful) screen, a better pointer device (move the pointer device to below the keyboard), a 3rd USB port, and wouldn't impact its overall size significantly.
As it is, it reminds me of my old Psion 5mx...
And Vista on a 1.3GHz machine with a tiny screen - is it usable? Most of that extra memory will be taken by Windows...
Finally, what is Sony's market for this? Seems like the ASUS Eee (the smaller models) would have this beat in almost any category: Price, performance, usability, etc.
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|I got hold of a test machine, and my honest first impression is that I wished that they made it just a bit smaller. The keyboard is surprisingly easy to type. I don't know how thick finger the author got if that middle dot interferes with typing. AERO is disabled so it's pretty fast even with VISTA, it definitely beats my ASUS Eee by speed. I mean, seriously I cannot watch crap on that ASUS thing. I can surf the net fine, but watch DVDs, it'll start skipping. Watch Blu-rays? I haven't even dreamed about that lol
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|Ick... It's obviously a fingerprint magnet.
Also I think sjc001 nailed Sony's motives.
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|Maybe it will come with lovely Windows CE, that screen was always slapped on devices with that god awful O/S.
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|They can charge more for a "note"book.......
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|So it's a netbook because it doesn't make you feel like a notebook? Let's look at the word "netbook" first. I don't think they make it just so you can surf internet and do most simple tasks.
It's like you buy a van that makes you feel like a sport car so you call it sport car.
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|I agree with this, i have no idea why they would call it a notebook, it is obviously more of a netbook.
The screen resolution is capped as well, if i remember correctly.
I have to say though, i love how they took VGA and eth out onto the charger, thats an interesting idea.
As long as wireless is built in, you wouldn't really need the ethernet. Nice move Sony.
And being able to access things directly using XMB instead of loading up a full OS is nice, just nice.
Sadly, they crippled it for me by using those little mouse "nubs", i dislike them... i'd have rather had touchscreen, or even full keyboard control (like the one for the PS3s keyboard attachment)
While it isn't as precise, they could still have the nub if you do require some sort of precision, which in most cases, isn't. (especially considering this is a portable)
edit: and even then, the buttons are so close together it is unlikely you'd touch the actual keyboard frame, so no need for touch-sensors on there, so no uneven movement either.
Also, Vista as well, Vista on something like this is just crazy. (Vista on anything is crazy IMO)
Score: -1
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