Sony VAIO P First Look

Ah, it must have changed since I looked at the datasheet the first time when the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 first shipped. That machine uses the original version of the US15W and is limited to 1 GB RAM. I'm not surprised about the change since 1 GB RAM is not enough to run Windows Vista.

 

This seems like a very interesting product. I could never figure out why another netbook manufacturer didn't give the Pointing Stick a shot (it is great in smaller notebooks, and allows for a decent keyboard). This basically creates a keyboard sized computer with an attached (very wide) screen.

However, I have not seen one mention of a video output port on the Vaio P. I think this will be a deal breaker for the vast majority of business travelers (the people that tend to like small, and care little about price). Some kind of video out (probably VGA, but mini-DVI or mini-DisplayPort would work as well) is mandatory for giving presentations. If this port is missing, one of the card readers (probably Memory Stick) should disappear to make room for it.

I also find the aspect ratio interesting. It is more than twice as wide as it is tall. This should make running two applications (or two pages of a document) side by side very easy (albeit very small [221ppi by my count, vs. the previous high of 144ppi for a 12.1" SXGA+ display]). It is also optimized for anamorphic film. Standard 16x9 movies (usually comedies) will have bars left and right, whereas 2.35:1 anamorphic movies will have only a very slight top/bottom border.

 

While I definitely admire Sony's design flair in all its products, especially its thin-and-light and ultraportables, I personally do not think the VAIO P will be a successful product, commerically. It seems that the $900 price tag is a fair bit too high to justify even its good design - one could almost buy a much better performing Lenovo T400 for the price (I realize that the two are in two different categories), whose battery life is likely almost equivalent to the VAIO P's (albeit with a larger battery).

The VAIO P lacks sufficient power and screen size (although if there is a good video out port, you could attach to a larger monitor) to serve as one's main computer. Thus, it would mainly be used on-the-go as a secondary computer. But, most people would be reluctant to throw down $900 for a secondary computer - most would be far more willing to buy, for example, an HP Mininote, for half the price.

That said, the VAIO P sure looks nice though - I kind of like the idea of a computer whose dimensions are the same as the keyboard's.

 

Connection to a larger external display can be done through the USB port using an adapter or docking station.

 

I was always forgetting my VGA adapter for my Powerbook, but Sony has addressed this issue quite elegantly by having the VGA/LAN adapter slide onto the AC brick for transport. They form a longish stick and will fit into the extra pouch that is part of the nylon P-series carrying case. Now there is no excuse for forgetting the display adapter as you would also be leaving behind your AC charger!

 

Ahhh there is a special port for connecting the adapter.

Sold separately though which is a minus.

 

Well, yes the adapter is available separately, but only if you lose the one that comes in the box with the P. According to SonyStyle, the box contains:
* VAIO P Series Notebook
* Standard Lithium-ion battery
* AC Adapter
* Power Cable
* Noise Canceling Headphone (select models only)
* Display / LAN adapter

The noise canceling headphones only come with the top of the line $1499 model.