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Lenovo's VAIO P Reserve Edition?
What you're looking at is a genuine Lenovo device taken by a trusted source from inside of a showroom within IBM's Beijing headquarters Lenovo's Beijing office. The details sent to Engadget Chinese are brief so we can't tell you if it's a working model or not. Nevertheless, it bears all the hallmarks of a ThinkPad Reserve Edition with just a tad of VAIO P thrown in for taste... so to speak. A few more hurried shots at the break.Update: Tipster clarified that the pics are from a showroom inside a Lenovo office, not IBM's Beijing HQ.
Sony's Vaio P benchmarked in all its magnificent and diverse forms
Thanks to the work of the gang making time over at their Vaio P forum, the folks at Pocketables have been able to compile benchmarks of all the various configurations of the ultraportable. Including the three models available domestically (which all sport a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520) and the various 1.6GHz Z530 and 1.86GHz Z540-based machines available elsewhere, this ragtag group of benchmarksters have come to the conclusion that the main factor when it comes to the machine's performance is the disk drive type. "Yes," writes Jenn Lee, "the faster CPUs give the ALU/FLU numbers a noticeable bump up, but it's not as significant as the increase seen between a HDD and SSD." Hopefully this is some small comfort to those of you who are miffed that the 1.86GHz model isn't available in the States. Of course, now that we've seen the Vaino we're so over Sony's sassy'n'classy non-netbook, but if you're morbidly curious the read link tells the whole sordid tale.
Sony's VAIO P going for €599.95 with T-Mobile Germany data contract
Thinking of picking up a VAIO P for your left rear pocket? Do you call Deutschland home? In need a mobile data plan? If you've somehow managed to answer yes (or "ja," as it were) to all three of those inquiries, T-Mobile Germany has a deal for you. Sony's WWAN-packin' VAIO P -- which has seen itself subsidized in America on Verizon Wireless -- is currently being offered for just €599.95 (VAT included) with a web'n'walk Connect L data plan. For those too uninspired to search, that's a €400 discount from what it costs to buy outright over there. Tempting, nein?[Via Pocketables]
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXXVI: the Vaino not-so-ultraportable
You know, it was just another busy Wednesday here in the Engadget compound until this guy came across our screens and greatly brightened our day. Bearing the appellation that the Vaio P's highly fashionable media campaign has thus far only hinted at, the "Vaino" is a 10.2-inch, 1.6GHz Atom-powered ultraportable also-ran that, sadly, will not be making it to these shores any time soon.[Via Slash Gear]%Gallery-46721%
Corel brings InstantON technology to Sony's VAIO P
Man, that first edition VAIO P was not the one to buy. Just a month after we saw the thing unveiled at CES, we've already learned that a Gobi-equipped version is on the way. Furthermore, Corel has just proclaimed that all future VAIO Ps will ship with its own InstantON technology to alleviate slow boot times associated with running Windows Vista on an Atom CPU. As with most alternatives, Corel's version of the software enables users to surf the web, check email, chat online and play back photos, videos and music in seconds after turning on their machine, and it sounds like Corel has crafted a customized interface specifically for this pocket-friendly(ish) PC. If this just made your decision to run out and snag a VAIO P, you can find the Corel-equipped version now in Japan and elsewhere later this month.[Via GadgetMix] Update: In order to address some understandable confusion with this release, Sony has provided the following response: "All of the P Series shipped to date come equipped with Gobi mobile broadband technology and the instant-mode option, but certain feature deployment varies region by region. As such, the mobile broadband feature is exclusively supported by the Verizon Wireless network for all US customers."
Sony bringing Gobi WWAN module to VAIO Z, TT and P
Hey, you! VAIO P modder! Hold up on that HSDPA hack just a minute -- er, on second thought, you should probably proceed, 'cause Sony isn't about to take back your current machine when this Gobi-equipped model ships. Quite curiously, Sony has announced here in Barcelona that its VAIO Z, VAIO TT and VAIO P laptops will soon be embedded with Qualcomm's Gobi, which provides both EV-DO Rev. A and HSDPA support on a single module. As it stands, Sony's US model VAIO P only supports Verizon Wireless' mobile broadband network, which should leave a pretty bitter taste in the mouths of early adopters. There's no mention at all of when Sony plans to start shipping these oh-so-connected machines (nor if they'll be coming to US shores), but we're hoping it's sooner rather than later.Update: In order to address some understandable confusion with this release, Sony has provided the following response: "All of the P Series shipped to date come equipped with Gobi mobile broadband technology and the instant-mode option, but certain feature deployment varies region by region. As such, the mobile broadband feature is exclusively supported by the Verizon Wireless network for all US customers." In other words, all existing VAIO P units (even US models) have the Gobi chip -- it's up to you to hack away that Verizon lock and get down to business, though.
Sony VAIO P gets HSDPA WWAN at last... via a mod, naturally
Right, so integrated WWAN is awesome. But what's not awesome is Sony's decision to lock you down to Verizon Wireless on its ritzy new VAIO P. We've seen one team of investigators hack away in search of a SIM slot to no avail, but we should've known tnkgrl was the real lady for the job. Once again proving just how awesome she is, tnkgrl has not only modified the VAIO P to accept an AT&T SIM card, but she's managed to get it working, host up the pictures to prove it and even provide a how-to guide enabling seasoned hackers to follow suit. Hit the read link for all the requisite details, but be sure you've got lots of spare time to give before taking this one on.
Sony's US VAIO P ripped open in search of SIM slot
So, does the VAIO P have a SIM card slot? That's the question that the X-ACTO knife wielding crew over at Pocketables sought to answer in their most recent tear down, and the answer is, well... both yes and no (but mainly no). For those unaware, the US version of Sony's flashiest netbook reserves its WWAN for Verizon Wireless, but many have wondered whether a SIM card slot was conspicuously included. Even after ripping out a plastic blockade, it was found that the so-called SIM slot was actually not made for SIM cards, thus crushing any hopes of retroactively hooking one's machine up with AT&T / T-Mobile 3G on-the-go. Hit up the read link for some pretty brutal images of the detective work.
Caption Contest: Sony Vaio P is escorted to Grand Central Station
Sony looks to drum up a little more buzz for its new ultraportable, the Vaio P, at Grand Central Station.Paul: "There's a Vaio P configuration for every wig-adorned model in your life."Josh T.: "She's so fine, there's no telling where the money went. Wait, no. It went to the VAIO P."Nilay: "Alias has really gone downhill."Joseph: "It's nice when replicants find honest work."Laura: "You have no idea how expensive it is to make something look this cheap."Donald: "Ok, now bring out the mimes."Chris: "Don't just stand there, let's get to it, strike a pose, there's nothing to it... vogue."Tim: "Seven blondes walk into a Sony Style ..."Thomas: "Hey look, those mannequins are just as slow with the VAIO P as Vista!"Ross: "And like that, Andrew McCarthy and Meshach Taylor knew just what to do to kick-start their careers."
Verizon softens the blow, offers $200 rebates on VAIO P wireless broadband activations
Yeah, $900 for the netbook, and a hefty chunk of change for Verizon data -- you're not made of money, right? Verizon Wireless is making things a little easier on VAIO P buyers hesitant to activate 3G service, and offering $200 rebates, in the form of a debit card, if they sign up for a two-year data contract. Hopefully Sony's working up a similar rebate program to help with the uptick in eye care due to that impossibly high resolution screen.
VAIO P spotted and unboxed in the American wild
Sure, we were certainly rocking Sony's littlest VAIO in various locations across these United States, but the things have been taking their time in finding their way to the hands of our fellow gadget lovers. After finally starting shipping on Wednesday they're now starting to show up on the doorsteps of lucky folks around the country, with AdamW at HappyAssassin the first to give one the domestic unboxing treatment -- also performing a bonus little comparo with his friendly neighborhood Aspire One. Adam indicates that installing Linux is next on his to-do list, which sounds quite tasty to us.
Hey Sony, where's the 1.86GHz VAIO P for America?
We already asked this question with "1.6GHz" in place of "1.86GHz," but seriously Sony, is there some sort of weird embargo on high-speed chips to America that we aren't aware of? While we Yanks have exactly one CPU option for the newly released VAIO P (that'd be the 1.3GHz Atom), those in Japan can order up the VGN-P90S with a 1.86GHz Atom Z540 processor. Of course, it's a ¥15,800 ($174) option over the baseline Z520, but an option nonetheless.[Thanks, Erica]Read - Sony's VGN-P90S pageRead - Order page
Sony VAIO P begins shipping Stateside
Officially announced to ship in February, Sony's VAIO P was just spotted riding the FedEx truck to destiny. At least one lucky reader can gaze longingly at his very own shipping confirmation received from Sony Style USA. That puts him and his VGNP530H/Q on course for a January rendezvous. It's another Obama miracle.
Sony doth protest too much: don't call the VAIO P a netbook?
Our main man "Rick" over at the Sony Blog has penned another short-form stunner entitled "You Can't Tell a Netbook by its Cover," which aims to dispel the seemingly persistent myth that the VAIO P is... gasp, a netbook. We'd thought we'd break down the points (which Sony has helpfully broken down) and see if they hold water. Since the Sony Blog moves through these killers one-by-one, we're going to do the same -- read on for the hard facts.
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]
Sony's VAIO P priced at 300 on Amazon's UK site
Now we're talking. We don't exactly what's going on in the UK, but this VAIO P for £300 (about $442) makes us seriously want to jet on over. The last time we saw one of these babies priced, we were looking at a steep £1,368.99 (or around $2,017) -- though that was for the kitted out 128GB SSD version with 3G broadband on-board. Still, we'll happily take this 60GB HDD / 2GB RAM iteration at this price, since it actually hits that sweet spot we were hoping to find the first time around. The only question is whether or not this isn't just some kind of nasty glitch in the Matrix -- it does seem unlikely we'll see price fluctuations this wide. Any word Sony? We'll be reaching for our credit cards and international waybills while we wait.Update: If it seems to good to be true, it probably is, right? Right. The price is now back to the astronomical figure of £740 ($1,090). Drat.[Thanks, Varuna]
Hey Sony, where's the 1.6GHz VAIO P for America?
Sure, we Americans are enamored by flashy designs, but that doesn't mean we don't appreciate performance. For whatever reason, consumers in the UK, Japan and the Principality of Sealand (among other locales) can order up Sony's oh-so-cute VAIO P with a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor, while we Americans can't get anything other than the stock 1.3GHz chip. So, what gives Sony? Supply chain problems? Too much haterade? None of the above?[Thanks, James]
The VAIO P's designer spills some secrets
Sony's VAIO P may or may not be a netbook (or even fit in a pocket), but there's no denying that it's an incredibly sexy piece of hardware -- it's hard not to be immediately taken with it, at least until you see how slowly it runs Vista. (Windows 7 is a different story, obviously.) Of course, there's a story behind the unique form factor and crazy 1600 x 768 screen resolution, and designer Takuma Tomoaki shared some choice tidbits recently in an interview with Chinese site cool3c. Of particular note, the P was inspired by the Mini Cooper, which Tomoaki called "small and sophisticated," and the entire design was dictated by the size of the "smallest usable keyboard." Tomoaki also said that the insane screen res was aimed at HD movies, since it can play back 720p content natviely, and that Sony's looking towards integrating the P with both the Walkman and PSP families -- something it's already kinda-sorta doing with the XMB interface on the machine. Plenty more quotes after the break and tons of pics at the read link, like this early VAIO TT-esque mockup that likely launched a thousand Photoshops. Read on![Thanks to Andy Yang of Engadget Chinese for the translation!]
Sony's VAIO P gets unpocketed, unboxed
We've seen the VAIO P's sexy little case, but we've yet to witness the corrugated box in which it resides. Until now, obviously. As the rear pocket stuffing theme trucks on without any signs of stopping, the lucky souls over at AkihabaraNews managed to get ahold of a fully packaged model in order to completely unwrap it on camera. The full gallery's down there in the read link -- don't pretend like you're not heading over to check it out.
Sony's VAIO P up for pre-order in all sorts of hues
Sony's VAIO P netbook ultraportable isn't slated to start shipping until February here in the States, but those absolutely certain that they want one stuck in their coat and / or rear pants pocket can get in line starting today. The pre-orders are open for Sony's 1.4 pound VAIO, with $899.99 to $1,499.99 securing your spot on the launch list. They're available in a whole heap of colors (garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black), and there's even an engraving option if you're already thinking about a rather spectacular Valentine's Day gift. Hint, hint, gentlemen.[Via thegadgetsite, thanks K.C. Kim]