Sony's VAIO UX490N now on sale: yours for $2500

Merely weeks after Sony let slip a user's manual for its UX490N handheld, the unit is now (apparently) official. Granted, it's not like the specs are a surprise at this point, but the UMPC will indeed pack a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Solo U2200 ULV processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a pair of integrated cameras (0.3-megapixels in the front, 1.3-megapixels in the rear), a fingerprint scanner, 48GB SSD, 4.5-inch 1,024 x 600 resolution touchscreen and a GMA 950 graphics set to boot. Furthermore, you'll also find built-in Bluetooth / WiFi, an Ethernet port, audio in / out jacks, an MS Duo expansion slot, WWAN support (AT&T), Vista Business and a Li-ion good for 1.5 to 3.5-hours. Enticed? Claim yours now for $2,499.99.

[Via MicroPCTalk]

[Vincent @ Nov 4th 2007 5:56AM]

Love it!! Can't afford it!!I need to pay for my food and cloth.

[mijj @ Nov 4th 2007 11:46AM]

The battery isnt that much of a problem if you had the option of a bigger battery connected by an umbilical. I dont see why it's so important that the weight of the batteries needs to be carried by your hands.

I think in design of these things there's very little focus in the way of user requirements and too much in the way of design for the display stand.

[Frankenstein Black @ Nov 5th 2007 1:55PM]

Yea, but can it play City of Heroes?
http://www.cityofheroes.com/

[stitifier @ Nov 4th 2007 6:24AM]

I don't understand how a handheld device with an SSD and a purportedly mobile-centric processor gets around with a $2500 price tag and still only yields 1.5-3.5 hours of battery life. My $300 discount Toshiba laptop does that.

Yes, I know that they're distinct products, but the fact remains that for the amount of money that I would otherwise love to spend on this sexy, sexy machine, I expect more in terms of battery life. Connectivity, graphics, the whole bit-- none of it any good if you have to keep plugging in your machine every couple hours just to use it.

[Jon @ Nov 4th 2007 6:50AM]

Well it has a smaller battery... There is also an option for larger battery which increases the battery time to up to 7 hours.

SSD capacity is nice.

[Homeboy @ Nov 4th 2007 7:49AM]

You have you have to bare in mind that this device is a handheld with the performance of a 2 years old PC. Can't have it both ultra portable, kick ass specs and uber battery performance.

[Carlesious Davis @ Nov 4th 2007 8:09AM]

They probably want another couple hundred for a higher capacity battery.

[Wwhat @ Nov 4th 2007 8:42AM]

intel core2, guess that's the choice that doomed the batterylife?

[Temple @ Nov 4th 2007 9:59AM]

THe issue is that the battery is the size of a cell phone battery and powers a fully functional PC. As already mentioned you can get a larger battery, but that will likely add heft.

[Benz145 @ Nov 4th 2007 10:37AM]

I definitely wouldn't say that it has the performance of a 2 year old computer, the having an SSD means the drive is much faster than any standard HDD, graphics are decent as well, capable of playing many different games (WoW for example, and F.E.A.R). I use the UX180 (about 1.5 years old now) as my primary desktop because it can handle everything I need to do, which is multimedia and internet browsing. Sure you won't get insane desktop power out of it, but for its size its extremely powerful.

[Eric Leung @ Nov 4th 2007 7:38PM]

well im hoping that 1.5-3.5 is active battery life... if standby is that little, well that kills the point of having a mini computer w/ you right?

[dc crowley @ Nov 4th 2007 6:45AM]

(ex Sony employee here) - the price is as usual over the top. And is as such just another great product that whimpers instead of kills.

[Matty @ Nov 4th 2007 7:17AM]

That's why Asus' Eee PC is such a game-changing device.

[Vincent @ Nov 4th 2007 7:19AM]

True Story!!

[Bernhard @ Nov 4th 2007 7:19AM]

Guess what, the battery will be the first thing to fail after less than 2 years. Guess what else, its gonna cost you $ 500 to replace it.

[tehpyro @ Nov 4th 2007 7:46AM]

Already been on our shelves here in canada for 2 weeks... I don't like it... Solid build but i mean just buy yourself a laptop or 2 (or 3?) at that price

[greg @ Nov 4th 2007 9:17AM]

or you can buy a macbook

[steve @ Nov 4th 2007 10:09AM]

If you're spending 2500 dollars on something like this, it's because you don't want a laptop. Any idiot knows that laptops are cheaper, so theres only one reason they would want this: the size. When they start selling macbooks that fit in your pocket (that are actually full fledged desktop environments, not the iphone) then that comment would make at least some sort of sense. As it is, you're an idiot who doesn't understand the target market of this device.

[Ryhan @ Nov 4th 2007 7:52AM]

I have a question; does that have a touchscreen? because moving around with that joystiq/tilt thing would kill...

[Annun @ Nov 4th 2007 7:55AM]

"4.5-inch 1,024 x 600 resolution touchscreen"
So yes it has a touchscreen, it's right there in the article.

[Ryhan @ Nov 4th 2007 8:18AM]

oops...thanks :D

[rento @ Nov 4th 2007 7:54AM]

Is this real? You can get this in the UK for $1700

[Vasilis @ Nov 4th 2007 8:14AM]

In which UK does this cost $1700 cause in the one I live it does not even exist to buy not even from Sony themselves. You can get the old model for 1600$ though if you are referring to that one.

[Blooper62 @ Nov 4th 2007 8:17AM]

It says on the Sony site that this series come with a 48GB Solid State Drive, large capacity battery and Bluetooth GPS receiver. So that means 3-7 hours of battery life. Its not the best but its better than 1-3 hours.

[yakirz @ Nov 4th 2007 8:56AM]

Nice. But I'm not spending $2500 to run Windows. When it runs Leopard, give me a call.

[michael @ Nov 4th 2007 9:31AM]

That's a pretty pointless comment you know.

[Benz145 @ Nov 4th 2007 10:37AM]

Its already been made to run the version of OS X before Leopard. Leopard should be ready to roll soon.

[Fred @ Nov 5th 2007 3:39PM]

When Apple makes a 1.2 lb handheld computer, give me a call, dumbass.

[michael @ Nov 4th 2007 9:10AM]

That's a pretty pointless comment you know.

[MikeG @ Nov 5th 2007 8:15AM]

I'd buy one of I could afford one, and it plays doom.

[christomapher @ Nov 4th 2007 9:47AM]

For that price, it should also receive GSM/UMTS/HSDPA/EDGE signals and make phone calls!

[steve @ Nov 4th 2007 10:17AM]

For that price, it should do my laundry

Well, my suggestion was about as stupid as yours.

[Benz145 @ Nov 4th 2007 10:43AM]

All US UX models have EDGE modems.

[Charles Han @ Nov 4th 2007 9:53AM]

WOw that is a sweet machine, I guess if I had the money I will buy one, but with the same money I would still get a 15.4 or 17 inch laptop, and use a smartphone for my portable needs.

[Jon @ Nov 4th 2007 12:25PM]

For such a pricey device, why not give it an x3100 instead of the GMA950?

[salim lakhani @ Nov 4th 2007 12:40PM]

You can get the older model VAIO UX380N for

[ChillyWilly @ Nov 4th 2007 12:55PM]

Wow. And I thought the UX280's on eBay for $1100 were pricey.

None the less, I'd still like to have one just to have a tiny PC around for when I need it.

But at $2500, I'd rather get another MacBook Pro.

[Jesse S @ Nov 4th 2007 1:00PM]

Why would anyone want this over an OQO 02?

[M @ Nov 4th 2007 3:51PM]

The OQO is not touch screen...

However, I think the OQO screen to overall device size is much better.

I would get an OQO when it is touch screen and has a decent Core2Duo chip, AT&T 3G support, and of course phone functionality, then I would buy one now.

The Sony is too bulky for such a small screen, but the build quality feels great.
M

[Jesse S @ Nov 4th 2007 4:06PM]

Yes it is, well, it's an active digitizer, so you just need the $30 pen.

[Benz145 @ Nov 4th 2007 6:32PM]

The OQO 02 is similar in size, but the UX is much more powerful. I prefer the high screen res on the UX (1024 x 600) as opposed to the OQO 02's 800 x 480, it doesn't have enough height for many applications. Though some people like that screen res more because they can read it more easily, I have no problem with the UX's screen, but I do have good eye sight. Its not that hard to increase font sizes when you need it.

[kastonie @ Nov 4th 2007 2:01PM]

whats up with the spiderman 3 font on the keyboard on this thinG? sony must have paid a lot for that font to be putting it on everything from spider man movie to the ps3 and now this...

[Matt Gagle @ Nov 4th 2007 5:45PM]

Sony Entertainment owns the rights to the Spiderman movie franchise, so they probably had to pay nothing . . .

[DT @ Nov 4th 2007 7:43PM]

Matt Gagle:
They probably do own the font, but they must have paid SOMEONE to design it (and I bet it wasn't cheap). Like kastonie said, they're looking to get their money's worth, it seems.

[Mile @ Nov 4th 2007 2:15PM]

Will it run Xandros Linux?

[Benz145 @ Nov 4th 2007 6:32PM]

If any regular XP/Vista capable machine will run Xandros Linux, then you can bet that the UX line will too.

[Mike Klein @ Nov 4th 2007 3:55PM]

For the price...if it had phone capabilities as well then you've got a possibly killer all-in-one device.

This is better than most umpcs as it has a usable screen resolution. Many umpcs are locked into 800x480...and 480 isn't enough to display many dialogs from tbird, etc.

I've already purchased a refurbished ST5111 ($1100)...so this is a no go for me.

[Sirocco @ Nov 5th 2007 12:05AM]

Xanadu!

[xc7x @ Nov 5th 2007 12:33AM]

hot,i want :-)

[trizyman @ Nov 28th 2007 4:19PM]

well u could use skype if im correct, plus it has bluetooth so in theory u could use it as a phone. Edge is fast enough for me i need at least 150-200kbps.The only thing that concerns me is the sceen res which many people have had problems with but i have good eyes so it should be no problem. Overall I personally think this is the best umpc out there, many good features, sexy form factor, solid state drive startsup 2x faster than hdd which is better for on-the-go people, 950 gma graphics which is good for many games that i play (not all tho), an u could downgrade vista to xp(saves ram an probably ssd space) etc. Only problem is the price tag.