Travel Technology - Would You Buy A Sony P Instead Of Another Brand EEE Model?

I was first alerted to the new Sony P series that debuted at CES by an e-mail from Forbes. In the article A Vaio In Your Pocket (http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/07/ces-sony-vaio-tech-personal-cx_ew_0107vaio.html?partner=alerts)they raise issues such as

. . .the Vaio's relatively steep $900 price tag set it apart from the dozens of netbooks that will be launched at the sprawling trade show in Las Vegas this week. Sony's approach is markedly different from that of, say, AsusTeK, whose Eee PC netbooks sport a cute, friendly look and sell for around $400. It's also something of a break with past Vaio offerings.

The specs of this machine are available here. (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896)

Personally, I'm not in the market for one or any additional computers at the moment. I'm typing this on a new TT series which has an incredible 1080p HD display. Granted, however, it costs more than a netbook.

at the $800 (or is it $900?) price tag i'm going to have to say no. to me a netbook shouldn't be over $350.

that being said it is a very attractive machine.

Definately that wins out in "cool factor" for netbooks.
But..bought a used TZ for the same price.
Optical drive, 8 hr battery, duo core processor.
Kinda hard to compete with.

Definately that wins out in "cool factor" for netbooks.
But..bought a used TZ for the same price.
Optical drive, 8 hr battery, duo core processor.
Kinda hard to compete with.

Are you aware of the TZ recall last year? Did you check it out?

To Sony's credit, this is not a "me too" product. It's significantly smaller with a higher resolution screen and built-in Verizon 3G.

I suspect it might have done well outside of it's unfortunate introduction in the middle of a worldwide recession. It's a netbook for the well-to-do. Unfortunately there are 40% fewer of those people around nowadays.

it has built in gps too doesn't it?

Are you aware of the TZ recall last year? Did you check it out?

I had mine checked out last year - it was only a very specific range of serial numbers that might have an issue. When I reported that I had one in the range, they sent me the packaging, picked it up on Thursday afternoon and returned it on Monday morning tested and cleaned (mine didn't need repair).

There was no need to produce proof of purchase or even to report it in the same country - I brought mine in HK and they collected it in London (and the repair centre was in France).

I would buy another TZ - though the SSD is very small.

it has built in gps too doesn't it?

Couldn't determine if this was with the wireless broadband acitivated or not.


Are you aware of the TZ recall last year? Did you check it out?

I read last year about possible problems with wires near the hinges catching fire..and recalls.
Will have to re- research this.

My SZ works well for video editing, will see if the TZ is strong enough, haven't had a chance to
test it yet.

I was first alerted to the new Sony P series that debuted at CES by an e-mail from Forbes. In the article A Vaio In Your Pocket (http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/07/ces-sony-vaio-tech-personal-cx_ew_0107vaio.html?partner=alerts)they raise issues such as



The specs of this machine are available here. (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896)

Personally, I'm not in the market for one or any additional computers at the moment. I'm typing this on a new TT series which has an incredible 1080p HD display. Granted, however, it costs more than a netbook.

I would buy it, though not right now. It will be over priced for three months. I have finally outgrown the need to have the latest tech right when it becomes available syndrome. For now if you want a Sony, look at some of the great otebook configurations which are already leading the pack under 5 lbs. My SZ several years old now is still far more capable than a lot of stuff entering the market. I will look closely at the new P when it comes out and then harder six months later. I really want SSD prices to drop.

Ugh I wish I hadn't seen this thread, because I want it. I'll probably wait for 3-4 months and then buy it.
I already have a TZ and happy with it, but I could do with even smaller one, and it seems good because the P keyboard still looks usable.

I have an old Vaio PCG-TR3A that used to be my primary computer. It's 3.5 pounds and I still use it for travel. Now I'm using a VGN SZ370PC as my primary computer. Despite a few quirks over the years, overall, Sony makes great laptops. I love the great screens and the dependability.

I do wish they'd offer an option to ship with just the OS and crucial drivers installed, though :)

Anyway, if the TR3A dies, I'd definitely consider a P to replace it.

Now I'm using a VGN SZ370PC as my primary computer. Despite a few quirks over the years, overall, Sony makes great laptops. I love the great screens and the dependability.

I do wish they'd offer an option to ship with just the OS and crucial drivers installed, though :)


That is the computer that I have. I simply cannot believe how good a computer it is. The screen simply has to be seen to be believed. And the weight is a dream for traveling. Yes it has a quirk or two and yes Sony bloatware is just horrendous, but the computer is amazing still two years after purchasing it.

I'll look at a P, if my SZ dies, but until then, I love it...except for the battery which I need to replace :)

I have been using the TT for about a week now and it is just spectacular. I found an HD clip on YouTube and could not believe the presentation. The screen is much brighter than the TX (in fact it's the brightest laptop screen I've ever seen) and the resolution is great (1080p).

Went from traveling with SZ to TZ. Is it better...well a little I guess.

Went from traveling with SZ to TZ. Is it better...well a little I guess.

I have actually never seen a TT in the wild and a TZ only once being used by a passenger next to me. I was surprised by how large the TZ keyboard still looked but I did not have the opportunity to use it.

I like Vaio laptops. They ARE quirky. They are more expensive. I think they offer unique features that are not seen in other laptops and they are FAR lighter. If they would simply get rid of the bloatware I would truly be happy.

I'll definitely take a look at the TT and the P when my SZ needs to be replaced. Though I'll also look at other manufacturers comparables as well.

Checked a lot of videos on youtube about the Sony P.
The Sony spokesman at CES said it was designed for
women. Seems like an odd thing to say but he said it.

They refer to it as a lifestyle pc, not netbook or notebook.

I have actually never seen a TT in the wild and a TZ only once being used by a passenger next to me. I was surprised by how large the TZ keyboard still looked but I did not have the opportunity to use it.


TZ keyboard is still quite comfortably usable (mine is a TZ) and does not feel too far off the Apple Keyboard (the really flat one) that I normally connect to it when I'm not travelling.

However, I have small hands, so I am not sure how guys with big hands would feel with TZ.

The Sony spokesman at CES said it was designed for
women. Seems like an odd thing to say but he said it.


Maybe an excuse for the somewhat small keyboard and being 'handbag sized' (rather than being 'pocket sized' - it looks a tad big for the pocket)?

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It's playing in a different space to a netbook.

To me anyway, if all you're doing is the standard netbook stuff (email, web, movies, Sling, Skype plus occasional work) then it seems significantly over-priced.

If it's designed to be more business orientated, then, again personally, I'd want a bigger keyboard & screen and end up just hauling a "proper" laptop along.

I just wonder is this a niche too far, even acknowledging the huge power of the Sony brand?

...if all you're doing is the standard netbook stuff (email, web, movies, Sling, Skype plus occasional work) then it seems significantly over-priced.


Nothing new there for new-release Sony hardware. Is it as relatively expensive as the previous subnotebooks? IIRC the old Sony subnotebooks with a 5" screen and WinXP Pro were 200-300% the price of a netbook.



I just wonder is this a niche too far, even acknowledging the huge power of the Sony brand?

I think that like the previous generations, this is a chancer (in 'Western' and most other markets). It may be 98% for the domestic market and any sales in the US and elsewhere is just a little incremental business - there to get punters to have a look, then sell them on a larger subnotebook Viao.


FT netbook panel - what are the chances Sony will create and sell a more serious netbook + category model, something along the lines of the Asus S101/S121 with a slim profile, netbook specs plus faster graphics?

Nope. It's way way overpriced. It's a nicely designed product but in terms of specs, it's no better than netbooks half it's price. In fact it has a slower processor and half as much HD capacity as my netbook, which I paid $350 for (aspire one).

Get the aspire one. It's consistently regarded as the best netbook on the market, and is the top ranked netbook on notebookreview.com, which is a site that reviews both netbooks and notebooks.^

Nope. It's way way overpriced. It's a nicely designed product but in terms of specs, it's no better than netbooks half it's price. In fact it has a slower processor and half as much HD capacity as my netbook, which I paid $350 for (aspire one).

Get the aspire one. It's consistently regarded as the best netbook on the market, and is the top ranked netbook on notebookreview.com, which is a site that reviews both netbooks and notebooks.^
It is a nicely designed product. MacBooks are nicely designed products as well. Not everyone buys their products based on specs - in fact, I'd argue that very few do and those that do are the same folks who bargain hunt on fatwallet. :)

As for specs, I think the VAIO P is running the Atom Z520, which is Atom for the UMPC, not the N270, which all the Atom netbooks are running. I've also read that it's fanless - one complaint I have about my Lenovo S10 is that the fan is noisy. There's also the aforementioned GPS and Verizon 3G connectivity. Finally, there's the beautiful 1600 x 768 display and the included 2GB of memory - neither of which can be found on any current Netbook.

Oh, and beyond finally there's the interesting dual/fast boot feature where you can fastboot into Sony's XrossMediaBar for music, video, and web browsing.

I agree that it's not for everyone, but it's not like you can get a better netbook for less unless you're just talking only about the difference between the N270's 1.6 GHz and the Z520's 1.33 GHz and not any other feature.

I wouldn't buy it, but it is significantly lighter (by about a pound) than all of the other netbooks.

Like all Sony laptops it is aesthetically pleasing but otherwise it's way over priced for what you are actually getting.

Like all Sony laptops it is aesthetically pleasing .

Based on the video from Sony's red carpet at CES the P is designed to fit in the back pocket of $250+ designer denim jeans. Photogs seemed to like
that shot with the Japanese models. ^

While netbooks ship with 1 gig of RAM, it only cost me $20 to up the memory to 2 gigs. I'm concerned that the Vista actually makes the machine slower than a netbook running XP home with 1 gig. Looking at this design, you will probably lose a lot of features if you try to downgrade it to XP. Conversely, I wonder whether you can install more programs on the Linux side (e.g. Open Office and Evolution).

I think we all need to ask what we are doing with the device. If it is an in flight entertainment device and an oversized Crackberry than the device might have pontential. I took two reports which I was behind on with me this weekend to work on during a quick dive trip in FL. With my cheapy netbook, I was able to right a fair amount, do some research, do my mail, etc. While I would have been able to open and edit the reports on the Sony, would it have been a practical way to write a fair amount?

How would someone in their forties (deal with the screen size)? I love the notion that these devices don't eat up your full carry on limit or can open on a coach seat (assuming no reclining -- a risky assumption). I had a first class upgrade over the weekend so it wasn't a big deal.

Stu

They've got them on display at the Sony store in NYC right now if anyone wants to check them out live. I figure I'll pick one up at the end of the month. Yes, it's a little overpriced, but it comes in green. :eek:

but it comes in green. :eek:

I'm not a Sony fan myself, but I tried one today and I was this close to placing a pre-order for a green one too. It's about the size of a really long and thin paperback, so you might be able to fit it into a pocket with some difficulty. If they shipped at the end of January, I would've bought one to take on a RTW trip, but they only start shipping at the end of February (I was told late March if you don't pre-order) and I figure that in a couple of months they'll come with Windows 7 so I'll wait... or get one and try to squeeze OS X onto it.