Sony gets official with VAIO P: world's lightest 8-inch netbook
By Darren Murph 
posted January 7th 2009 7:29PM
posted January 7th 2009 7:29PM
SONY UNVEils WORLD's Lightest 8-inch notebook
Full-Featured VAIO PC Fuses Style, Mobility and Connectivity for Anytime, Anywhere Computing
LAS VEGAS (CES Booth #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony today took the wraps off the world's lightest 8-inch notebook- the new VAIO® P Series Lifestyle PC.
About the size of a business envelope and roughly as thin as a cell phone, the VAIO Lifestyle PC weighs just 1.4 pounds and is small enough to slip into a jacket pocket or handbag while integrating full-PC features.
The model incorporates a high-resolution, 1600 x 768, LED backlit 8-inch ultra-wide display (diagonal), making it easy to view everything from entire spreadsheets to full web pages- no side-to-side scrolling necessary. It also incorporates Sony's XBRITE-ECO™ LCD technology, producing images in brilliant detail for razor-sharp viewing on-the-go.
Stylish enough to take anywhere, the unit is available in an array of eye-catching colors, including garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black. Matching carrying cases and Bluetooth® color-coordinated mice are available to complete the look.
"The VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC is your portal to the world, delivering entertainment and computing in a head-turning device that's small enough to put in your pocket," said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics. "Designed for the fashionista in all of us, it's the ideal companion."
Engineered to provide the feel of a larger notebook, the VAIO Lifestyle PC provides a convenient typing experience by extending the keyboard to the perimeters of the chassis maximizing the typing area. The spacing between keys has also been engineered to help reduce typing mistakes making it perfect for long fingernails.
The notebook incorporates built-in wireless WAN 3G Mobile Broadband, 802.11n wi-fi and Bluetooth technologies. Users can toggle among various wireless options for the most efficient connection – Wi-Fi for working at a coffee shop; Bluetooth for peripherals; and Mobile Broadband service on the Verizon Wireless nationwide network when traveling outside the reach of hotspots (subscription required).
The unit features up to four hours of battery life with the included standard capacity battery and eight hours with the large capacity battery (sold separate).
It also incorporates real-time GPS functionality, making it easy to find restaurants, hotels or special sites of interest. Destinations can be found by simply typing in an address or keyword and then following the turn-by-turn directions. The Lifestyle PC even includes estimated drive times to let you know how far you are from a destination. No Internet connection is required in the United States or Canada.
The unit also has an instant-mode option that launches directly into Sony's Xross Media Bar™ interface, so you can rapidly boot up and access music, video, photos and the Web. A built-in webcam lets you video chat with family, friends and colleagues. A third-party service is required.
The PC comes with the Windows Vista® operating system, supporting office applications and all the software programs routinely found in full-size notebooks. A windows arrangement utility has been added to easily organize all open documents or websites with one touch, positioning them neatly along side each other on a single screen.
The VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC will retail for about $900. It will be available for pre-orders tomorrow online at www.sony.com/pr/pseries. It will also be sold at Sony Style® stores starting later this month and at other major retailers around the country beginning in February.
This has a LARGER footprint than a 10" netbook!
This thing has a larger footprint that most 10" netbooks, at 7.8 X 10.99!! Even the Asus EEE 1000h, which is not know for being that compact, has a smaller footprint!! This just boggles my mind, and yet they're still trying to play up the "pocketable" aspect of this machine!
Paulie
That's BS - if anything, it's slightly wider than the average netbook (hello better bigger keyboard!), but has much less depth. The overall footprint is WAY smaller than your average 10" netbook, and it's thinner as well.
you are wrong about the footprint. From Sony's site: Dimensions (Approx.) : 9.65"(W) x 0.78"(H) x 4.72"(D)
This has a LARGER footprint than a 10" netbook! this blows my mind....
This thing has a larger footprint that most 10" netbooks, at 7.8 X
10.99!! Even the Asus EEE 1000h, which is not know for being that
compact, has a smaller footprint!! This just boggles my mind, and yet
they're still trying to play up the "pocketable" aspect of this
machine!
No, you're full of BS..these are the official dimensions from the Sony website, the only thing it has going for it is that it is SLIGHTLY thinner....big deal!!
Look up your facts before you get swayed by emotions....
10.99"(W) x 0.93"(H) x 7.87"(D)
It really isn't much thinner than the new breed of netbooks out there that are about an inch thick.
These numbers speak VOLUMES, enough said! Sony is out of its mind to call this small and pocketable.....
Dimensions of 10" HP Mini 1000
10.3 in (L) x 6.56 in (W) x 0.99 in (H)
Dimensions of Sony P
10.99"(W) x 0.93"(H) x 7.87"(D)
The footprint of the HP is SMALLER despite having a screen 2 INCHES BIGGER, and it is a mere 0.06 inches thicker, which is truly trivial!!
Buddy, what are you smoking? It is obviously far from 8" deep!
The real dimensions are 9.65″ x 4.72″ x .78″
http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/21109-Apple-MacBook-vs-Sony-Vaio-P
...for those who complain this is too expensive....when have EVER bought a discount, low end Sony product? Don't get me wrong, most Sony products are priced too high even for the high end of the market but they are usually well built with great design in mind and are reliable. At $900 the Vaio P is expensive when compared to a MSI Wind or EeePC but that's the problem with the argument, the P is not meant to be compared to that class of netbooks. This is a premium device with premium features (mostly), premium design (come on, don't tell me this isn't a great looking device), at a premium price. If anything else the P's most direct competitor might be the OQO Model 2+.
If you don't like the price...don't buy it. It's the same as the Apple argument (which is a better on IMO). There's a reason why a bunch of ex-Sony employees went to work for Apple's laptop division. If I had $900 to throw around for a netbook, I'd buy the P (and then try to install Mac OS X) but I don't so I won't.
As a Mac guy, and a MacBook Air owner, I'm impressed with this machine. It's pricey, but appears very functional and stylish. If the processor keeps up with average demands, I can see this as an excellent machine for on the go usage.
Congratulations Sony, this may be a winner in Japan and other markets where people don't mind pay a premium for well-made products.
Looks cool, but i would like to stick with my macbook air.
$900, that's a bargain. This is available to pre-order on Sony's website here in the UK at a cost of £850 ($1275). Thats for the cheapest. The most expensive, including the 128Gb SSD and 3g WWAN and the long life battery is £1370 ($2050). This was on the top of my small computer list, but has just rapidly been crossed off. HP mini note looks favourite now, depending on battery life, followed by Samsung NC10, if they bring out the 3G version here in the UK.
I'm not s ure I'd say that $900 is a "bargain" for a netbook. Then again it's a Sony and the features are pretty incredible. I found this link for people who want to preorder one, it's over here: http://www.netbookreports.com/2009/01/pre-order-your-sony-p-series-netbook-now/
Sony VAIO.......VAIO....VAIO..... Is the Best and The great & No...other Can reach his technology.. God Bless for sony vaio & The company.. Keep going...
Best Regards From,
Sameer