Unboxing the Sony Vaio UX50

The unboxing ritual is an storied art form, passed from one generation of nerd to another. Some think the practice began among the ancient Ap'heelfanboi tribes, but today the practice of carefully documenting the mundane act of opening a box with a gadget inside has spread across all of geekdom. However, rarely have we seen the art taken to such heights as with Micro PC Talk's unboxing of the Sony Vaio UX50. Not only are there 187 pictures in total, but 25 of those are before the UX box is even breached. The soundtrack is also quite the touch, and we almost teared up when the chubby little device was brought from its polyethylene foam. Micro PC talk, you have done our ancestors proud.

[cereal @ Jun 8th 2006 4:48PM]

That thing is tiny, yet I still want it.

[Merkidemis @ Jun 8th 2006 4:48PM]

Personally, I find no point in all these "Look! I can open a box!" articles I see everywhere these days. OMG! THERE IS STUFF INSIDE! Sheesh.

[Adam A @ Jun 8th 2006 4:49PM]

That looks great.

But, I can really think of what I would use it for. I have a laptop, and a PSP.

[BruceLeeRoy @ Jun 8th 2006 4:49PM]

Woa, I can Comment now????

[Shakeeb @ Jun 8th 2006 4:52PM]

Whoa - Look at how thick that thing is. Not sure if its really so portable now - Guess its like a mini laptop.

[Dermot @ Jun 8th 2006 4:53PM]

Little on the thick side, but I want one.

Site isn't loading though :/

[Matt @ Jun 8th 2006 4:54PM]

Simply brilliant. :)

[Matt @ Jun 8th 2006 4:57PM]

I would french kiss that ...

[Stephen @ Jun 8th 2006 4:58PM]

if only it ran osx....sigh

[Sam @ Jun 8th 2006 4:59PM]

I want one, but will hold off based on the fact that it will only be available in the United States as the UX180p (unless you want to pay the premium and order the Japanese models which would cost you $2200 for the comparable model). Sure the US model is spec'ed out, but it's pretty annoying that Sony decided to sacrifice the CF card reader for a GSM unit I will never end up using ($65 for Cingular EDGE, no thanks).

I wish Sony would stop shooting itself in the foot. I once was a loyal buyer, and find myself increasingly jaded with the brand these days.

[Bob Leander @ Jun 8th 2006 5:12PM]

Who will be the first to install Vista Beta 2 on this baby...

I want one :>

[Kevin @ Jun 8th 2006 5:27PM]

Umm, The link to the other site is screwed up.

[jogia @ Jun 8th 2006 5:43PM]

This is essentially a Blackberry for the CIO. The one he can whip out in Business Class and play solitaire on at the Airport.

How long before they bring this down to the size of the HTC wizard. And then you don't need any Windows mobile Software.

[Neo-Fight.tv @ Jun 8th 2006 5:45PM]

When I was a kid, I used to draw pictures of products that I had purchased but hadn't yet received, or that I was 'saving up' for.

Now, I ogle unboxing rituals whilst waiting for the actual product.

I think that's healthy :-)

[morcheeba @ Jun 8th 2006 5:57PM]

I need to do my own unboxing post.

It would start with a picture of me on my computer, reading the first report of whatever new product it is. Then I'll have pictures of me ordering it. Then there will be pictures of my driveway without the UPS truck in it. Then, a picture with the UPS truck. Then a quick video of me signing for the package, and another video of me setting up my camera to take stills. Then I'll flood my house with the perfect blend of dry nitrogen and oxygen so that I won't unnecessarily tarnish the new product when I unwrap it. I'll check the UPS website to make sure that they've marked the package as "delivered". Then, a video of me in the shower, then the hair net and the latex gloves (without the talc - don't want to get my new product dirty). Then there's the segment where I pick the perfect knife to slice open the new box.... I could drag this out for a month!! X-ray pictures before opening the box, weighing the box to the milligram, cutting out and framing the shipping label... I won't even get into my ritual for preparing my power outlet to deliver The First Charge.

[Miranda Kali @ Jun 8th 2006 6:03PM]

Sweet, crispy, wallnuts...
I have'nt lusted after a gadget like this since the gen 2 iPod. Cripes, it fits in my purse. It can run iTunes. It can run mame. I can run windows blinds on it. Da'aaamn.
Still...I'm gonna wait till the price comes down (or they make 'em even smaller and sexier).

[jlee @ Jun 8th 2006 6:11PM]

The geek cure for erectile disfunction.

[ryan @ Jun 8th 2006 6:12PM]

This guy is great he goes from power dork to cool to power dork to cool so many times my head's spinning. (I also watched the whole thing so I don't know what that says about me.)

[Guruboy @ Jun 8th 2006 6:13PM]

doesnt anyone else feel the strange power of unboxing an electronic? I like cables the most. The way they look so neat in the bag until you rip it open and claim it. I love cables! Cant get enough cables!

[Chris @ Jun 8th 2006 6:34PM]

You bought a Sony?

[Brendan @ Jun 8th 2006 6:34PM]

What's with the porn music?

[Mike Abazabba @ Jun 8th 2006 6:48PM]

And I thought my PPC was a thrill to unbox... I can't even begin to imagine where they will go with these things in 10 years.

[Tom @ Jun 8th 2006 7:01PM]

LMAO at morcheeba, that was one of the funniest posts I have ever read!

But on the UX50, is this better than a UMPC then? It doesn't seem to be getting the harsh reviews that they are getting. Are they even comparable? as they seem to be very similar. The sony looks like a 2nd gen umpc. smaller, more ergonomic and a LOT better looking.

[jlee @ Jun 8th 2006 7:10PM]

[to Mike] Probably unholy fetish sites with hi res pictures of bubble wrap and packing tape.

Everyone has their own dirty little secrets. Did I sit through all 100+ slides? I'm not saying, but I will say this; one slide had me LMFAO.

**Spoilers**
It's an empty freakin box with peanuts! Oh, he's got it bad; in fact you can almost make out the blur from his hands trembling as he unpacks the object of his twisted obsession.

[bliss @ Jun 8th 2006 8:52PM]

just saw the slideshow... a bit long but I guess worth it for the clarity. and is the music from Sony's site?

[juan @ Jun 8th 2006 9:09PM]

I just got an OQO and next week I get this same Sony from Japan. I am going to be writing a comparison review side by side of both of them (Sony/OQO. Some people dont seem to decide whether the Sony will be worth the extra cash when now you can find some fisrt generation OQO's on ebay for just 1,000. After I write my review it will be easier for the undecided to make an informed decision.
http://www.devicetodevice.com

[Loonie @ Jun 8th 2006 9:35PM]

Gah, suddenly so many portable devices that could run Propellerhead Reason... but which one... which one... which one... brain... cannot... cope...

Then again, neither can credit card, so for now the question is moot.

[Galley @ Jun 8th 2006 10:49PM]

Morcheeba is my new hero! :-)

[Joe Hatfield @ Jun 8th 2006 11:06PM]

Wonderful post, Morcheeba. I would love to see your unboxing video.

[Perrey Z. @ Jun 9th 2006 2:45AM]

To be honest the famous unboxing ritual Engadget is known for is as boring as the "First comment" crap we had here before the comments were turn off. And i do believe i know which tribe Mr. Miller is refering to.

[Dave @ Jun 9th 2006 5:41AM]

Whatever happened to usability? The physical interface is practically useless - then again geeks will force their hands and eyes to do pretty much anything. XP with 2 thumbs, what a disaster.

[GavinK @ Jun 9th 2006 6:03AM]

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=SONY_VAIO_UX

£2,699.95 = $4,977.87!

I'm assuming that's the price for a US import as the tech spec refers to Cingular's EDGE network. Anyone know if this thing is going to be properly released in the UK any time soon?

[Pip @ Jun 9th 2006 9:05AM]

This is dumb.

The reason people did this for every Apple device was because they were packaged differently then any other device on the market. It was always interesting to see what new way they stuffed their products into their boxes with specially colored inserts and packing.

This thing has nothing special about the packing at all. Why was this even posted?

[Simon @ Jun 9th 2006 10:27AM]

I saw I guy on the train home on wednesday night using one of these, It's frigging tiny and looks great to use. On a crowded subway train, one handed PC operation is what is wanted, I just wish it didn't cost so much!!! Oh and Sony make great computers, I have a A197XP, and it is awesome, 17 inchs, with 1920x1600 res!! Ohhhh it makes me laugh to see the bigg daddy dell lust-filled-monitors having the same res! Just not so handy on the subway ne!!

[aws910 @ Jun 9th 2006 2:54PM]

Morcheeba rocks. The band is awesome too.

But the UMPC... not for me. If you carried a purse it'd be cool. But I do not. I like my HTC universal bc it fits in a pocket(barely). It does everything I need it to (music/movies/opera) but if I was cool enough to have the need to use reason/photoshop/? on the road, I guess I'd shell out for this.

Anyway, it's nice to see that the gap between laptops and the PDA is being filled.

[Chris @ Jun 9th 2006 3:04PM]

Got to play with one of these in Tokyo, at Sony's showroom. Pretty rad, but not something I need to own.

[Shmee150 @ Jun 9th 2006 3:57PM]

OMG I'm ordering now :) :) :) :) (I wish!)

ShMeE

[Lorin Thwaits @ Jun 11th 2006 11:21AM]

I bought one in Japan a week and a half ago for $1450, and posted an unboxing video (done at a Japanese temple of all settings) and some technical detail:

http://geekswithblogs.net/lorint/archive/2006/06/10/81423.aspx

Performance is about 20% faster than my Dell 1.8 GHz Centrino. And it can play back high def video filling the 1024x600 screen at 60fps. An incredible unit. Read the post for more details. Also tells about getting around a sound card issue you may have if you install English Windows XP on the Japanese unit.

[ImPerfectCell @ Aug 29th 2006 8:26AM]

I need to do my own unboxing post.

It would start with a picture of me on my computer, reading the first report of whatever new product it is. Then I'll have pictures of me ordering it. Then there will be pictures of my driveway without the UPS truck in it. Then, a picture with the UPS truck. Then a quick video of me signing for the package, and another video of me setting up my camera to take stills. Then I'll flood my house with the perfect blend of dry nitrogen and oxygen so that I won't unnecessarily tarnish the new product when I unwrap it. I'll check the UPS website to make sure that they've marked the package as "delivered". Then, a video of me in the shower, then the hair net and the latex gloves (without the talc - don't want to get my new product dirty). Then there's the segment where I pick the perfect knife to slice open the new box.... I could drag this out for a month!! X-ray pictures before opening the box, weighing the box to the milligram, cutting out and framing the shipping label... I won't even get into my ritual for preparing my power outlet to deliver The First Charge.

Posted at 5:57PM on Jun 8th 2006 by morcheeba [
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That was the funniest shit i've read in a long time lmao

[Mag @ Aug 31st 2006 5:37AM]

I think the price is suitable for its real value.