Netbook/Nettop Superthread

[Uriel]

Sony has introduced a new ultra-portable netbook.

This thing is fucking sexy. I want one.







Press release:

SONY UNVEILS WORLD’S LIGHTEST 8-INCH NOTEBOOK
Full-Featured VAIO PC Fuses Style, Mobility and Connectivity for Anytime, Anywhere Computing
LAS VEGAS (CES Booth #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony today took the wraps off the world’s lightest 8-inch notebook— the new VAIO® P Series Lifestyle PC.
About the size of a business envelope and roughly as thin as a cell phone, the VAIO Lifestyle PC weighs just 1.4 pounds and is small enough to slip into a jacket pocket or handbag while integrating full-PC features.
The model incorporates 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— no side-to-side scrolling necessary. It also incorporates Sony’s XBRITE-ECO™ LCD technology, producing images in brilliant detail for razor-sharp viewing on-the-go.
Stylish enough to take anywhere, the unit is available in an array of eye-catching colors, including garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black. Matching carrying cases and Bluetooth® color-coordinated mice are available to complete the look.
“The VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC is your portal to the world, delivering entertainment and computing in a head-turning device that’s small enough to put in your pocket,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics. “Designed for the fashionista in all of us, it’s the ideal companion.”
Engineered to provide the feel of a larger notebook, the VAIO Lifestyle PC provides a convenient typing experience by extending the keyboard to the perimeters of the chassis maximizing the typing area. The spacing between keys has also been engineered to help reduce typing mistakes making it perfect for long fingernails.
The notebook incorporates built-in wireless WAN 3G Mobile Broadband, 802.11n wi-fi and Bluetooth technologies. Users can toggle among various wireless options for the most efficient connection – Wi-Fi for working at a coffee shop; Bluetooth for peripherals; and Mobile Broadband service on the Verizon Wireless nationwide network when traveling outside the reach of hotspots (subscription required).
The unit features up to four hours of battery life with the included standard capacity battery and eight hours with the large capacity battery (sold separate).
It also incorporates real-time GPS functionality, making it easy to find restaurants, hotels or special sites of interest. Destinations can be found by simply typing in an address or keyword and then following the turn-by-turn directions. The Lifestyle PC even includes estimated drive times to let you know how far you are from a destination. No Internet connection is required in the United States or Canada.
The unit also has an instant-mode option that launches directly into Sony’s Xross Media Bar™ interface, so you can rapidly boot up and access music, video, photos and the Web. A built-in webcam lets you video chat with family, friends and colleagues. A third-party service is required.
The PC comes with the Windows Vista® operating system, supporting office applications and all the software programs routinely found in full-size notebooks. A windows arrangement utility has been added to easily organize all open documents or websites with one touch, positioning them neatly along side each other on a single screen.
The VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC will retail for about $900. It will be available for pre-orders tomorrow online at www.sony.com/pr/pseries. It will also be sold at Sony Style® stores starting later this month and at other major retailers around the country beginning in February.

Sonystyle store link

[Grave]

correct title of thread pls

That said, it's the same form factor as the old Vaio Picturebooks, so I'm automatically in love with it. I wouldn't say the price is right, but if the keyboard is good enough I'm gonna find a way to get one of these.

[Uriel]

Okay well it is a P Series notebook, i just didnt add "Lifestyle PC" on the end.

Gizmodo loved the keyboard.

EDIT: Fuck I misspelled Vaio.

[Grave]

Yeah, but that doesn't mean a lot to me. A lot of websites seemed to eagerly recommend the Eee PC even though its keyboard is complete crap. I gotta try one out, but damn do I want this thing.

[cka]

speaking of the EEE, the new tablet netbook asus has at ces is pretty rockin' (both versions, the one with the regular keyboard and the one with the island keys)

edit: done

[Uriel]

Can a mod simply rename this into a netbook/sub-notebook thread? I did a quick search and didn't find one, and we should have one.

[Grave]

Hey, that was a good idea. Anyone have recommendations regarding netbooks with as-close-to-full-size-as-possible keyboards? As long as whatever it is can run OpenOffice and gets decent battery life, I imagine I'd be quite happy with it. I want to try out a Samsung NC10, despite the new Sony being so sexy that model is about half the price and they claim it has a pretty impressive keyboard.

[YellerDog]

Somebody recommend me a good sub-$1000 tablet pc. It can be refurb.

[Uriel]

Are you using it for artistic reasons, or basic interface ones?

I'm asking because tablet screens arent good for photoshop, etc. Relatively poor accuracy and sensitivity. For creative pursuits I would instead drop a grand on a Cintiq 12WX and use it with your existing computer.

[YellerDog]

That is stupid advice. You're stupid.

I've seen tablets work just fine, and I don't need ten-hojillion levels of sensitivity. Many of them seem to have some sort of Wacom-licensed tech in them, too. I need something that'll let me take my storyboarding (using Flash) away from the desk and into say, a coffee shop.

I know it can work for what I need it to, now I just need something cheap but good. It can be an older model. Perhaps something comperable to a Toshiba Portege M200.

We used to use Cintiq 21UX's (or one model number back, anyhow) at my last studio, they were fancy. The WX is small and inneffective and doesn't fix the problem of being chained to the desk. I'd be better off getting something multifunctional for the same price.