Tech Blog

[#1]

When netbooks were first brought to market, they were pushed as a computer for tweens.  The smaller form factor and less powerful processing was pushed as a way to get kids their own computer at a lower cost.

Then the business people jumped on.  Seeing netbooks as a gateway to the cloud to access data that lives on sites like
Google Docs, or process email with a form factor that was larger than a phone, but still smaller and lighter than a full size notebook, the market for netbooks exploded in the past year.

But the new Sony Vaio P isn't a netbook - at least that's what Sony wants to tell you.  It's smaller, has more horsepower and is sexier than the standard line of netbooks, but it also has a higher pricepoint putting it more on par with notebooks at the sales till than the netbooks.

If Apple had created this instead of Sony, everyone would be raving about the sexiness and style of this unit, but  Vaio doesnt carry the same esthetic weight as Mac, so instead of gushing, the fanboy in me turns to talk of how my fingers stumble over the keys and how I have to squint at the screen and can't properly resize the text to get something readable.

Here's an introductory video:


Here's more of the spec breakdown for the Sony Vaio P

• Intel (1.86GHz) processor

• Up to 256GB Solid State Drive available
• 2GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 8.0" LED Backlight Screen - 1600 x 768 Resolution
• Estimated Battery Life: Up to 4 hours (standard capacity battery)
• Up to 8 hours (large capacity battery)
• Power Requirements: 68W + 10%
• Memory Stick PRO(Standard/Duo) media slot with MagicGate functionality
• SD memory card slot
• Built-in MOTION EYE camera and microphone
• Genuine Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit

More horsepower than your run of the mill netbook for sure, but in a form factor that will take some getting used to.

catch the buzz ... pass it on.

Message Edited by MikeLee on 07-28-2009 07:46 PM

Message Edited by Laura on 08-21-2009 10:02 AM

[#2]

The world has moved away from the 8" netbooks that started the craze.  I'm now seeing the defacto standard as being 10.x" screens (which I hope you'll agree is more manageable).  Heck, I'm even seeing 12" notebooks with netbook-calibre hardware (from Dell and HP).  So really, this Sony Vaio isn't going to catch on IMO.

[#3]

Agreed. Yesterday I brought my eeePC 8G (7" screen), to a training session. Though the screen size (running eeeBuntu) was adaquate, my biggest grief was with the small keyboard. Extended typing caused my hands to cramp up after 20 minutes or so. I too am looking forward to a nice light compact netbook that somehow manages to keep the keyboard size usable.

[#4]

I'm always banging on about it, but my Samsung NC10's keyboard is fantastic. Never had a moment's bother with it.

[#5]

I have a laptop (Sony Vaio) and a netbook (MSI wind) and I find that both have their uses - the laptop for more "rigorous" use and the netbook for being out and about. I agree that sometimes the size of the keyboard is small, but it's tons better than typing away on a phone to send a message. The netbook fits in my purse so it is easy to bring to any conference or event. The laptop is heavy and awkward on the other hand.

But at the end of the day, I don't see these as a good option for "tweens" or even teens for that matter. Kids need a PC with a regular keyboard at a desk with a chair. Using a netbook won't give them the same skills they would get from using a regular PC. But that's just my opinion.