When faced with reviewing a pretty straightforward item-in this case Sony’s new VAIO P-Series Notebook Computer-the No. 1 question that comes to mind is, “What is it about this product that makes it different from anything else?” If you ask Sony, they’ll say (in their press materials) that “It’s all about the screen,” and in this case, the hype holds true.
The VAIO that we reviewed came with a backlit 8-inch widescreen display that offered surprisingly bright and vivid color utilizing Sony’s FullHD technology, and crisp type and graphics, all uncharacteristically good for a model of this size. At about 3/4-inches thick and weighing in at 1.4 pounds (including battery), the VAIO is, to date, the most compact and light notebook computer I’ve tested to date. Fortunately, Sony hasn’t skimped in terms of computing power or usability. With built-in 3G mobile broadband, wireless connection was available in what seemed like seconds. The keyboard was surprisingly big and user-friendly considering the unit’s size.
The cursor button in the middle of the keyboard took a little getting used to, but once I got the hang of it, I was able to navigate the screen quickly and with good accuracy. The 1.33GHz Intel Processor-enabled Windows Vista OS ran preloaded programs fast and efficiently.
One minus was the wireless mouse, which, at least in the case of the unit we reviewed, didn’t work (we’re presuming you won’t encounter this problem, but you certainly want to check to make sure everything’s in working order). But overall, the VAIO is an outstanding new entry in the growing competitive notebook arena, one that offers deluxe performance and features in a mini size.
Sony VAIO P-Series Notebook Computer
www.sony.com
$899.99
8-inch widescreen display
Lightweight 1.4 lbs.
1.33GHz Intel Processor
Built-in 3G mobile broadband connection
“What is it about this product that makes it different from anything else?” THE PRICE. $900 for an 8-inch netbook is nutz. I mean, it's sony, which is the same thing