INBOX:Vaio P-Series fits in your pocket and provides easy access to the web, music, video and images, writes Mike Butcher
THE HISTORY of the PC has been a story of miniaturisation, almost to the point where the PC itself has started to disappear into something known these days as the internet “cloud”.
We have gone from desktop PCs to laptops, to sub-notebooks to netbooks to handheld touchscreen mobile computers like the iPhone and Google G1.
Sony however has decided that computers still need to be powerful, even when small, so it has brought out something it calls a new lifestyle laptop, the Vaio P-Series.
Like many new laptops, it is pretty thin and small, but it is anything but a diminutive netbook. They are normally designed only for light web surfing and e-mail checking.
Did I say small? By dumping the CD/DVD drive and trackpad, Sony has shrunk the P-series to just the size of a small keyboard and topped it with a screen.
Because of that keyboard, the whole thing will actually sit comfortably on your lap, unlike a shrunken Eee PC.
I wouldn’t try shoving it into your back pocket, though, as Sony’s marketing campaign suggests you do, to some ridicule from bloggers.
The trackpad is instead replaced by a small joystick, meaning some will prefer to use a travel mouse.
The 8in widescreen display is very bright and readable, but you may find yourself squinting. It may well be welcomed by today’s professional who is always on the go and who needs to refer back to their digital documents everywhere from the bus to the boardroom.
To cut down on weight – it is a mere 638g – the P-Series is made from a durable plastic, not metal, and comes in glossy versions of red, emerald green, onyx black, white and classic black.
As such, some might say that it is aimed at women more than men, being easily pocketed in a handbag. Its thinness means that it is not going to be as robust as a full metal laptop, so I wouldn’t go flinging it around.
It is very connected. This is a laptop with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS connectivity all included, as well as a slot for a 3G sim card.
It also has a built-in webcam for video calling and the option to install a 128GB solid state drive instead of the 60GB hard drive to improve storage and battery performance.
Powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom chip, it is therefore less powerful than the average laptop, but still runs Windows Vista. I would not suggest that you play games or edit video on it, but easy access to music, video, images and the web is via its Xross Media Bar interface button.
Surely there is a drawback to this device? Prices released for the US suggest it will start at $900, or €686, with the top of the range model coming in at a jaw- dropping €1,494. In other words, you really are paying for miniaturisation.
The P-Series will be available in Europe from February.
