Ok, so it's not exactly a brand new Micro PC, but an upcoming issue of the UK edition of Stuff reveals that Sony is rolling out a new version of the Vaio UX for the European market. Dubbed the VGN-UX1XN, this new model runs Vista and has a 1.3GHz Intel Core Solo U1500 processor, a 4.5-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 1GB of RAM, a 32GB solid state disk, a Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11g, USB 2.0, Firewire, and CompactFlash and Memory Stick Duo memory card slots. No word on wide-area-networking capabilities, but price is listed as an intimidating £2,000.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nivz @ Jan 7th 2007 5:58AM
lol £2000?? does sony think we are idiots or what? I mean it's bad as it is shitting on europe not releasing the PS3, now they wanna rip us off charging £1000 more for the same damn thing they sell in the US. I'd rather buy an air ticket to USA, buy the UX280 there, stay in a hotel for like a week or two and would still have some money left over to buy another xbox 360 when they release the ps3. No doubt I love sony products, but as a company, I hate them..
Salem @ Jan 7th 2007 7:34AM
@nivz
This isn't the same model as the one being sold in the US right now. It has a slightly faster processor, runs windows vista (the other one runs XP), and has 32GB -Solid State- memory. That is probably what accounts for the majority of the price (along with vista). Solid state outperforms hard drives in read/write speed, reliability, heat output, noise, and weight. It is, however, still very expensive at those capacities. I think the price fits well for the new specifications, considering this is a micro pc as well.
Salem @ Jan 7th 2007 9:22PM
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention one important detail about the solid state drives.. They're highly shock resistant, since they don't have any moving parts; which is especially important in a device that could be dropped easily, like this one...
nivz @ Jan 8th 2007 4:36AM
salem, I did notice that it wasnt the same, it has a 100mhz faster processor and a Solid state drive, but... £1000 extra for just that? I still say it's a rip off..
xVariable @ Jan 7th 2007 11:52AM
How strange. Usually back asswards North America get the innovative tech *last* (especially the cool new cell phones. I had to order a decent one from Hong Kong coz the those available from NA carriers are cheap garbage and at least 2 generations old).
What was SONY thinking? Nothing, probably, as usual. Asshats...
XSportSeeker @ Jan 7th 2007 3:52PM
Seconded that. WOW, they are already releasing stuff with the new 32Gb Solid State drive. I'd like to see that working.
As for buying it... yeah, not f*ing way, yet. Solid State drives may be great, but still ain't worth what it costs...
ninjapig1989 @ Jan 26th 2007 8:14PM
well yea, and an extra 512 ram (total 1gb), tech costs, unfortunatly either you are willing to spend the money or you are not, obviously for you its not
Alex Yee @ Jan 8th 2007 5:08AM
I got this issue of stuff. For once Europe will get something good exclusively.
capseli89 @ Feb 24th 2007 2:41PM
Go here!!! You will see the whole picture!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Vaio_UX_Micro_PC
RedDwarf @ Mar 7th 2007 6:42PM
Like others, I am thoroughly dis-enchanted with the rip-off Britain mentality that seems to surround purchasing anything in this country: Cars, PC's, etc.
I would like to understand why a VGN-UX390N in the USA retails for around $2,500 (about £1,250 at current exchange rates) whereas a UX1XN retails for around £1,700 ex VAT. As far as I can tell the only difference between these two variants is a CompactFlash socket in the UK version or EDGE connectivity in the US version - surely the more expensive of the two components.
For this reason I am seriously considering buying a VGN-UX390N from the US, however I've a few questions about this and was wondering if anyone could offer any info on the following?
Aside from the obvious issue with the power adapter and I suppose keyboard layout does anyone know:
1) If I purchase a replacement UK power supply is it going to work with it? Will I have any voltage issues in the machine itself?
2) Do these machines come with international warranties or I'm I going to be without a warranty if I go this route?
3) Does anyone know if the EDGE connectivity is purely EDGE ir whether it supports GSM/GPRS meaning I could get some use out of it?
4) Can anyone recommend a good US retailer selling VGN-UX390N's that ships to the UK?
Thanks for your help, and Sony, stop being such a set of gits! I don't mind paying a reasonable price for your efforts, but a £500 price difference for no other reason than which side of the Atlantic you buy one from seems unnecessarily grasping.
Graham @ Mar 17th 2007 1:04PM
Hi,
Be careful that you may have to pay import duty if you get it posted - which will push the price up a lot.
The VGN-UX390N seems to be equivalent to the European version - The only point is that I'm not sure if the Cingular WAN differs from the European WAN.