Sony's VAIO P spotted for sale in Hong Kong, price tag spotted too

Just last week our hopes for an affordable VAIO P were quickly dashed as Amazon's UK site fixed what was apparently typo, setting the price on Sony's "don't call me a netbook" ultraportable to over $1,000. That's in-line with what we've been expecting for the US release, but still we'd held out some hope for a last-minute price cut. Now, like a twist of the knife, we have photos of the machines for sale in the wild -- with a wild price tag to match. Kip HT took these pictures (one above, one below) at a Hong Kong retailer and passed them along, sending word that the top-spec model was going for the equivalent of $2,188.48. No word on a price for the cheapest model, but it seems we now have confirmation that the Sony tax also applies overseas.

[Thanks, Kip HT]

[TooKi Posted Jan 20th 2009 12:42PM]

I don't know that somebody already posted it or not..
Sonystyle.com USA site has pre-order page for the notebooks and it priced $899.99 for 60GB HDD version and $1199.99 for 64GB SDD version..
Both versions have 2GB Ram / GPS / integrated mobile broadband / Bluetooth..
Check the sonystyle.com...

[joe23521 Posted Jan 20th 2009 1:26PM]

Are Sony products really worth the premium? Or has it become a myth of which the company is taking advantage?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 20th 2009 1:39PM]

Gotta love that big yellow "Sale" sign... lol

[FILA Posted Jan 20th 2009 2:08PM]

looks liek a huge box for that little thing in the first picture. and

"dont call me a netbook, call me a pocketbook"

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 20th 2009 4:33PM]

That shop is pclcomputer.com, I bought my tz there last year! I like the shop and very nice products and service. It has shop in the Mongkok COmputer Centre and Wan CHai area

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 20th 2009 5:02PM]

I also know this store @ Wanchai Computer Centre, I made a video on that place http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHvapvgNWQ8&feature=channel_page

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 20th 2009 5:32PM]

For those that aren't quite following along: This isn't an authorized Sony dealer. The store in question imported the laptop from Japan and is offering it prior to 'official' availability in Hong Kong at a steep markup.

HK being what it is, you can be sure someone will pay to be have the newest/latest and won't mind paying the price listed (think: all the folks transiting/visiting Hong Kong from places Sony won't be selling this thing for a while). You can always try to bargain but my bet is on this item they won't budge.

Once Sony HK rolls the P out, you'll still see people selling the grey-market japanese model (the Japanese models always have better procs/memory) but they won't be able to get as much of a premium.

Finally, in HK unless you're buying at Broadway or Fortress (electronics/CE chains) and/or are Chinese, you're more at risk of paying the gweilo (White/Caucasian) tax than anything else!!

[Nandihno Posted Jan 20th 2009 6:45PM]

its been in japan..for ages now...on Lobi and other major retail tech stores...
ofcoarse on Sony bld on Ginza..but yea...i wanted to buy one..but..after reading reviews...
video is not that goood... :(
and am leaving to Australia today...!...oh well..
the Aus $$ is not that good :(

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 20th 2009 7:04PM]

That price is for the 1.86Ghz version with the 128GB SSD so you can't compare it to our 1.3 60GB price

[jhancock20 Posted Jan 20th 2009 7:08PM]

Available for pre-order in Australia

http://www.sony.com.au/vaio/catalog/product.jsp;jsessionid=1S5ECPYTC2TYICWSCFCCFEQK0IIUKIV0?id=VGNP15GR&_requestid=32649

[vitoon Posted Jan 20th 2009 11:51PM]

from thailand
http://www.sony.co.th/microsite/prebook/vaiop/?CID=vaiopprebook:googleppc

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 21st 2009 3:10AM]

Folks, chances are, this is not an OFFICIAL HK release. There are loads of shady buyers in Tokyo that go and hog stuff after it goes on sale, and tries to sell them in Japan. They are obviously marked up and have been "localized" by hand in some computer sweatshop.
The P went on sale here last week. I doubt they are doing simultaneous global release - that's just such a pain in the ass.