Sony VAIO P Series gets an accelerometer, touchpad (Updated: starts at $799)
By Joanna Stern 
posted May 10th 2010 8:00AM
posted May 10th 2010 8:00AM
Update: The U.S. has finally released its PR. The VAIO P will start at $799 stateside, though that includes the 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor, and not the newer Z560 upgrade. That's an $100 price drop, but still too much if you ask us.
MEDIA ALERT: NEW SONY VAIO P SERIES LIFESTYLE PC DAZZLES WITH VIBRANT COLORS AND ONE-TOUCH BUTTONS
Subject: Media Alert: VAIO P Series to Boast Bold Colors and New Touch Features
WHO: The new Sony VAIO® P Series features an array of built-in one-touch buttons that enable you to instantly access the web, adjust screen resolution and even tune-up your PC. A convenient trackpad built directly into the LCD bezel and a mobile nav grip have also been added making it easier than ever to access content on-the-go. Taking fashion to the next level, the P-Series is now available in five vibrant new colors – electric orange, neon green, hot pink, icy white and classic black.
WHAT: Measuring about the size of a business envelope and roughly as thin as a cell phone the P Series weighs in at just 1.4 pounds. It integrates full PC features so users can edit documents, watch online videos, and organize photos all with an ultraportable design.
◦ The new PC features one-touch buttons providing convenient shortcuts with just a click.
• Press the WEB button, and this Instant mode option launches directly into your browser. You can even press it when the PC is turned off and it will launch you into your web browser without a full boot through the Windows® operating system.
• The ASSIST button launches Sony's own VAIO Care ™ software, an easy-to-use program that lets you tune-up, maintain, update and troubleshoot the PC.
• A resolution button lets you increase or decrease screen resolution for optimal viewing.
◦ The P Series also boasts a unique mobile nav grip to surf the web without a mouse or keyboard. A trackpad and left- and right-click buttons are built right into the LCD bezel, providing a creative solution to navigate the web and a new way to interact with a PC.
◦ It features 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. Plus, for a more convenient way to read long web pages without all the scrolling, turn the P Series on its side to change the viewing orientation from landscape mode to portrait mode. A new array of stylish carrying cases and wireless mice are now available.
WHEN: Available now for pre-sale at www.sony.com/pr/pseries and at select retailers around the country for about $800. To find the closest Sony Style store, please visit www.sonystyle.com.
Sony delivers a smarter on-the-move computing experience: Ultra-portable, easy to carry new VAIO P Series
· Colourful ultra-portable PC weighs just over 600g
· New design for two-handed operation while standing or walking
· GPS and Digital Compass
· Accelerometer sensor
· Built-in Everywair 3G
· Clear, bright, widescreen VAIO Display Plus
· Easy to use with Quick Web Access
It's smaller than a notebook and smarter than a smartphone: the colourful VAIO P Series from Sony is your perfect partner for on-the-move computing.
Weighing just over 600g and slipping effortlessly into a bag or jacket pocket, new VAIO P Series gives you all the power of a fully-featured Windows® computing experience... and so much more.
Ideal for busy people who can't sit still, it's the first VAIO designed for simple operation if you're standing or walking. The central trackball is complemented by an additional touchpad and mouse buttons. Duplicating the main controls, they're located at either edge of the screen for comfortable operation with both thumbs while you're holding the computer in two hands.
VAIO P Series is the first notebook computer from Sony with built-in GPS and a new Digital Compass. Perfect for telling you where you are and what's happening around you, they can help you find your hotel or a nearby restaurant if you're standing on the street corner in an unfamiliar city1.
A brand-new VAIO Location Search software offers a real-time map view without tying up your web browser. Your map position and orientation are displayed along with nearby Points of Interest and even local weather conditions.
The ultra-light notebook's 'on-the-go' credentials for travellers are boosted with Everywair 3G on-board, giving high-speed connectivity to mobile networks (where available).
New VAIO P is the first notebook from Sony with a built-in accelerometer that responds to physical movements. Just give VAIO a gentle shake to 'flick' through pictures or the pages of a PDF document, or navigate back and forth through your web browsing history.
The sensor also recognises when VAIO P Series is turned on its side, automatically 'flipping' the screen for easy reading of documents or web pages in portrait mode. The notebook's additional mouse buttons are perfectly placed for comfortable page-turning when you're reading in portrait position – just like a paperback book or magazine.
New VAIO P Series is beautifully designed for easy operation, with a comfortable full-pitch keyboard for easy typing, plus a bright, extra-wide VAIO Display Plus that's ideally proportioned for viewing movies or two web pages side-by-side. There's also an ambient light sensor that dims screen illumination for comfortable viewing while saving power.
For extra convenience, dedicated buttons are provided for Quick Web Access and one-touch access to VAIO Care. There's also a handy new Change Resolution button: instantly select a larger font size for easy on-screen reading, or choose maximum detail for HD movie viewing.
Available in five vibrant colours (black, white, pink, green and orange), the new VAIO P Series is complemented by a choice of stylish accessories that includes a distinctively perforated silicone slip case and carry strap.
The new VAIO P Series ultra-portable notebook computer is available from June 2010.
cute!
@Sree
Orange...being my favourite colour, I'd buy the orange one just because it is so ... *ehem* cute...but the black one is the best one if you are a university student...as a man, the last thing I want is being caught with a brightly coloured small laptop...
@kapanak
ha ha...yeah I agree...
@Sree oh forreals. i think that the vaio p series is the obvious king of all the vaios. i think that its great that they did something "new" with the p series! im really thinking that the p series is an inevitable win, but i know for sure it needs a faster processor, i dont know if they have done that yet. i hope they dont actually think that they have done enough to it and never add a super fast processor, because ive seen the old processore SPEEDS, and they were not very ideal. i mean its supposedly "not a netbook" but then there online help persons actually call it a netbook.
i mean wtf, probably because it needs the processor speed update, i mean that i dont really think id ever actually look into seriously buyingone unless it was uber fast and cute like it is. although i know a lot of people are not too keen on the black keyboard, and prefer the metal/silver looking ones because they look more classy or something.... but i like the black keyboard. i like they bold i mean they should have them availible in black and silver colored, because well, they have all those colours, i mean the pink keyboard is uber cute and i wish that sony does something about the base keyboards, beccause they seem to have a win with the ""chiclet" style keyboard but maybe add some bit of multicolors excluding colors such as ugly orange, buger green and piss yellow.
@emopoops
Lol, the P is cool but its pretty clear the Vaio Z would be the king, and the Vaio X would be next in line as far as thin and lights go.
@Luxury Guy
yeah a "cute king"....may not be possible....
@Sree Damn, that's actually a really genius touchpad! You'd only need to use your thumb to control on both sides, and compared to a traditional touchpad, it will decrease the chances of CTS since you'd be straining the first 2 fingers..
about the bezel.....
@Billy ..I'm not rich so I ain't gonna buy it...
@Billy I think its cute...so I said it's cute...
I like this thing and all but the price is killing it.
@cdf74dc9
If they bring the price down to $599 or even $699 from the thousand dollar they charge now, I'd buy one, with the highest options...I hope they opted for a SSD this time, the 64GB harddrive got very hot in the older model (running Vista)...
Now, if they added a touchscreen to that...hm...
@cdf74dc9 I guess you can't call it a VAIO without that added price tag, much like the x, y and z series. http://j.mp/z-sony-series-review
Im guessing around $800? No thanks. Pretty though...
Yeah, more useless stuff to justify a ridiculous price.
@Saad nice to see you again,saad
@Saad
I love sony, but I have to agree with you (Although you put it in a harsher way than I would have).
I wonder why not use a touch screen rather than that optical touchpad?
IMHO that would have done it for a lot of geeks like me here, better than any ipad-like tablet could... oh well, not that I'd spend that much money for it anyway.
Ohh..and after a second look through the photos, that green one is killing me with want :-( Damn you Sony for your gorgeous products that i cant afford!
If that's under $250 I'm so buying one, but it's a Sony so they'll price it at $500-600 and say they're selling it at a loss... Now if only man purses were "cool" I could carry this around a lot easier.
It's called a satchel.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget Why on earth do you expect a $250 netbook, ultra-thin netbook with a high quality screen? -_-
Brilliant!
overpriced piece of portable shit. i hate sony for so many rsns. their very own memory card that is overpriced for one. wont support micro/mini sds or regular SD cards.
@(Unverified) Outdated complaint is outdated.
P.S. no one uses miniSD now. NO ONE.
@(Unverified) FYI it does support SD cards as well as Memory Sticks.
@Herr Synnberg LOL! I cannot even remember what miniSD looks like.
If Apple can sell a million iPads, which have less functionality and features than a cheap netbook. I'm sure Sony can shift a few of these.
@mukatuna Why does having more features automatically make something a better product?
@soupisgoodfood Well Apple and Sony both have one thing in common. Paying for the name. Both also have their fanboys.
@mukatuna
And both also aren't really any better than their competition. What they do well is design. So ppl pay premium for, usually, lackluster gear that looks fantastic and is branded.
@mukatuna
I would take an ipad over this. Bigger, better screen, better battery life, same weight and an ecosystem of mobile apps. Then when you consider that it is half the price, it is a no brainer.
@DrDr All I'm going to say is, I'd have this one over the iPad. In that it doesn't need another computer with iTunes just to get basic functionality out of the thing.
@DrDr Let's see:
iPad screen: 9.7" 1024x768
Vaio P screen: 8" 1600x 768
Battery life. No idea, but iPad is probably better.
Weight:
iPad: 730 grams
Vaio P: 594 grams w. battery.
Applications:
iPad: cutesy little "Apps" in the appstore.
Vaio P: Ever heard of this thing called Windows? It runs, umm... Proper APPLICATIONS and stuff, you know?
...and here's the kicker:
iPad: Needs another computer to be useful.
Vaio P: Self sufficient.
Still think your iPod Jumbo is better?
@Herr Synnberg
Couldn't agree more with you buddy, I'll take the Vaio P in a heartbeat over the Giant iPod.
@Herr Synnberg
I used to WANT the vaio P every time i saw one at a store, but it is an essentially useless device, too small to really do anything with and too expensive to keep around as a toy. The iPad works as a really good ebook reader and web browser as well as being a really fun toy. It is overpriced, but cheap enough to work as an impulse buy.
@mukatuna
I think your obsession with the word 'functionality' is why you and the other Windows apologists are consistently wrong about pretty much ever tech/business prediction you have and will ever make. More importantly, you're constantly annoyed/upset when Apple succeeds, and it seems to confound all Geek Logic.
Just sayin'. Hold off on the whole "life savings investment in SNE stock", pal.
@Herr Synnberg: No way do I want to run desktop apps on an underpowered system with a screen that small. Why do you think so many people are raving about the iPad? The only people who want to run Windows 7 or Vista on such a small computer are some of us nerds and gadget freaks, and perhaps a few niche users. Desktop OSs on such small devices are on their way out now that Apple has shown the industry how it's done.That HP have canceled their tablet and bought Palm is a clear sign the industry has realised that it needs to change.
So yes, I still think the jumbo iPod is better.
If only I had the money...
... I'd save it for the Samsung Galaxy S Pro (with a qwerty). Super AMOLED 4.1" + Android Froyo + Front Cam + 4x faster than Snapdragon processor + qwerty = WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN.
@TareG
You mean some mythical device that won't be available for another two years...especially with that processor requirement...?
@kapanak
WOW. Epic fail, man. This processor is not mythical, it's the current processor inside the Samsung Galaxy S:
Samsung's Galaxy S has four times the polygon power of Snapdragon
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/samsungs-galaxy-s-has-four-times-the-polygon-power-of-snapdrago/
@TareG
I read four times faster...still, it will probably cost just as much as the new Vaio P when it comes out...I'm sure Sony won't charge a thousand dollar for it anymore...but hey, that's what contracts are for when it comes to phones right?
@kapanak
Well, probably not. It will probably be priced exactly as high as the current high-end phones (Nexus One, iPhone 3GS, HD2...etc)
However, it will be:
1) More portable
2) Offer phone functions
3) Offer a mobile-friendly interface, with a finger-friendly UI.
4) Fit in your pocket.
5) Offer the full web experience as well.
6) Have a front cam.
7) Be sunlight viewable (SUPER Amoled).
Any extra costs will make it well worth it. Besides, if you want an always-on internet connection on your Vaio P, you'll need a Data plan, right?
@TareG
Comparing the functions between a mobile and a ultra portable does not seem like a good idea... you know, the Sony P is running WIN7.
But if you like that mobile so much, hope you're not considering it for media (especially pictures and videos):
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9000_galaxy_s-review-467.php
Or a good support from Samsung that from that point of view seems to be very bad. (Considering they also have their own system now, Android might be left behind a bit...)
That's for the Galaxy S, but don't compare it to a PC, they are different things.
@(Unverified)
Not for pictures and videos?? Are you... joking?
Video player eats DivX/XviD and 720p videos for breakfast
The Samsung I9000 Galaxy S is among the best performers in the Android family as far as video playback is concerned. In addition to packing a dedicated video player app (though playing videos through the gallery is still possible) it also has DivX and XviD video support, which is very rare in the Google OS family.
Performance with higher-res videos is great – it played 720p videos like a champ. Small wonder, considering it can record 720p videos. There’s no TV-Out but thanks to the DLNA support you can still stream videos and photos to your DLNA-enabled TV or media player (any PC with Wi-Fi and DLNA-capable software would do too).
It's not a PC, it's the perfect smartphone. The Vaio P is a crippled PC. Good luck running Photoshop there.
Seems like they're using features that makes sense for a tablet, but on a netbook. Of course, I'll hold off final judgment until I've used one.
accelerometer??
In the vertical mode, is the presence of the keyboard not odd?
@NewBie The presence of the keyboard would look weird but it would feel similar to holding a book.
@deepfriedpirate actually, it doesn't, not even close. I have a P and it's very weird to hold end-on, book-style. The weight distribution feels all wrong; it keeps wanting to tip over from the top.
I was really hoping for more significant spec bumps and less stupid tinkering around the edges. Instead of sticking a janky trackpad (seriously, who the hell is going to use that) in all the space bezel space, just make the frickin' screen bigger! Frustrating.
what happened to the webcam?
this would be so full of win if sony sneak in a fast bootup of linux under 10 secs for light usage. while also have win7 in case the user needs it.
@dark star Yeh I was wondering that as well?
Come on Sony, where is the webcam we find so useful?
@dark star Sony already has an embedded quick 10 second starting Linux in the current Ps, with Firefox, Skype and IM. I presume they would still include that in new machines.