Sony VAIO UX
If there’s one company that can give Apple a run for its money, its got to be Sony. The Sony VAIO UX is an ultraportable PC thats fits comfortably in your palm. It features a a 4.5″ TFT LCD with a resolution of 1024 x 768, 2 cameras (one for video conferencing), Intel Core Solo processor running at 1.2GHz, 512 megs of DDR2 RAM, a fast 533MHz front side bus, an EDGE radio and all the works you’d expect on a desktop. Small wonder then Apple hired Sony VAIO engineers to work on the Intel based notebooks.
Mitchelle Thatcher of CNET does a (video) review on the device.
I’ve fallen in love. This is just the sort of device, I’d like to go to bed with ( considering I do that now with this)
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Keyboard design leaves a lot to be desired. Too small to place on a table or your lap to type and its too much of a stretch for the thumbs when you type otherwise. They have a better version of the above model. Sells on amazon for 2 grand. not worth it.
October 3rd, 2006 at 1:20 am
The keyboard cant be made any better for a size that small. It definitely cannot replace a laptop in terms of productivity. In case you’d want to use it on a table you can get an additional USB/Bluetooth keyboard and start typing. I can already imagine the possibilities with this neat device. Its perfect.
The price is, as you said, a little too steep. Sony has always been overpricing their products. If they’ve given it a little more thought, I’m sure there would be wider acceptance.
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:11 pm
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_VAIO_UX50/4505-3126_7-31958097.html
CNET also feels the keypad design was/is poor.
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:35 pm
If you are interested in portable/pervasive computing, try something called the Pepper Pad, runs Linux, powerful baby. Not as sleek at the VIAO but almost 1/5 of the price.
Sorry, just realised fact you linked to the same link(even though it was a different model). Was really intrigued as to who Mitchelle Thatcher, i did not know who she was. Do you use Yahoo Tech also a lot for the reviews ?.
October 3rd, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Damn! Its beautiful! 1999 usd?
That Pepper Pad 3 looks good too.
One question though, Adel. Does your old gizmo feel j if you go to bed with a new one?
:)
October 4th, 2006 at 1:13 am
Rama, in terms of usability the keyboard surely does not get high marks. The point is for a device of that dimensions, having a keyboard with it in itself is a big plus! Even if that meant not being able use it to the fullest. Sony could have easily have done away with it and significantly deacreased the dimensions (and cost), but I dont think it would have made such an impact as it does now with an inclusion of a keyboard.
Like I said, it probably isnt the best tool to do regular computing with. But size being its biggest advantage, I can see myself using it to surf the web, listen to music, watch videos and even work on some documents or spreadsheets.
The Pepper Pad looks (and sounds!) interesting. But I’m not too sure about the split keypad design although its too early to say not having worked on it. Plus it does appear to be bigger than the UX.
As for Yahoo Tech, I do keep a tab on it but on a semi regular basis.
October 4th, 2006 at 1:18 am
Hey Abhinav, hows you? I’m not sure about how my old gizmo would feel coz I havent done anything of that sort yet. But I’m sure she’s understand, knowing fully well how sexy the new one is! :)
Did you finally get MacBook? I’m eager to know.
October 4th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
I hope wives/girlfriends were half as understanding and accomodating as these gizmos! ;)
Nope, MacBook plans dropped coz my dealer ditched me with the DVD Writer saying that there will be an additional cost for that. So, for now, I am going in for a Dell and MacBook plans cancelled till 2007 end or 2008 beginning.