Sony VAIO 10th Anniversary Bash and VAIO UX180P Coverage (pics)

[Malia]

The keyboard was a bit spongy feeling and the build amazingly soft and brittle for this VAIO laptop on display (view large image)

Last night, Sony had a media event to introduce the AR series of notebooks (overview posted last night) and the new VAIO UX UMPC device. The excuse used for the party was Sony VAIO's 10th anniversary, so they had a few things on display. Let's take a look.

(view large image)

1999 - VAIO C1 Series. First ultraportable with a built-in camera.

 

(view large image)

2004 - VAIO X505. First Sony carbon fiber model. Very thin. (VAIO X505 Review)
2005 - VAIO T-Series. First computer from a major manufacturer with a built-in WWAN. (VAIO T Review)

 

(view large image)

2006 - VAIO SZ. VAIO's 10th anniversary model. Demo only, not for sale!  So if you want some Swarovsky crystals on your VAIO logo, you'll have to DIY! (VAIO SZ Review)

 

(view large image)

2006 - VAIO VGN-FJ290P1/V. Limited edition FJ series Wild Violet 10th Anniversary VAIO.  Available at the end of May for about $1,400. (VAIO FJ Review)

For whatever reason, all the old laptop models were behind scratched-up plastic cases, while the current models (desktops and other entertainment devices) were within reach. Sony's own photographer found that strange and doubted that the organizers were worried about theft. The photographer gave me some tips for shooting through glass that I'm saving for the next time.

There were also a handful of posters hanging around:

(view large image)

1996 - VAIO 90 Series. First VAIO computer introduced in the US.

(view large image)

2000 - VAIO LX Desktop. First consumer pen tablet in the market.

(view large image)

2004 - VAIO X505. Clippings from a fairly clever ad that mean something completely different when blown up 3x the original size. I guess they only had two "regular" posters and needed something to cover up the wall.

(view large image)

People mulling around, waiting for the obligatory speeches and the unveiling. Watch a 2-minute video about what Sony has been up to for the last 10 years. Sony bigwigs sound desperate to impress upon the media the words innovation and revolutionary. "So it is, once again, revolutionary, setting the stage for, once again, innovation, for VAIO." De-emphasizing the $3,500 price tag on the VAIO AR, sounding almost sad.

2006 - VAIO UX180P UMPC...

And now, the keynote - Sony announces what everyone has been waiting for, "the world's first full-function pocket-sized PC. Now, this is also very revolutionary..." Sony says they listened to a lot of customer feedback on their former similar devices, and as a result, added a keyboard and WWAN (Cingular's EDGE). "We think that the next generation, or the next evolution, of ultra-portable computing is here, and you are viewing it and seeing it tonight." Shipping early July for approximately $1800. "This is another example of VAIO's innovation leadership and the first step in our next revolution."

VGA-UX180P in its docking station, surrounded by a sea of cables. (view large image)

So, what's this all about? By the time I'm done taking notes and taking snaps of the VAIO AR, the show's mostly over and people are just hanging around -- which means, more room for me and the UMPC. Its name is UX Micro PC, because Sony doesn't want to be called UMPC i.e. Ultra Mobile PC, but they know that that's what everyone will call this device and they want the acronym to continue to work.

(view large image)

I pick it up. The keyboard slides out nicely -- effortlessly, but without being wobbly. The shape is comfortable, with the sides being thicker than the middle to allow your hands to nicely wrap around the device. However, at 1.2 pounds, it feels like this could get uncomfortably heavy after a while. I have large hands for a gal, but they're still nowhere nearly as big or strong as man hands, so it's possible that it would be more comfortable to hold for men. I do know, however, that I wouldn't want to be carrying it around everywhere in my purse.

Gah, the Start menu takes up the entire screen! My eyes are hurting now, this WSVGA (1024x600) resolution on a 4.5" screen have completely defeated both my eyes and my camera that somehow made a blurry trapezoid out of it. The display is very, very, very sharp, so sharp that it's killing my eyes.

I touch something and a dialogue box pops up. My finger is almost too big to hit "No", accomplishing the task with some difficulty. However, I do notice that the screen is not retaining the fingerprints nearly as much as most devices, so that's a big plus.

A bored Sony rep comes up to me to ask what I think. I say "meh" and he's very much surprised. After all the hoopla, how could I... He takes it from me and I notice that you're supposed to navigate it through some thing on the top right, as the rep brings up some program while talking about how this could be used for presentations and just about anything. For $1800, you better be able to use it for just about anything. Ok, I don't feel like being harassed any longer, so I'm leaving. I get a press kit with the specs and a bottle of champagne to celebrate VAIO's 10th anniversary at home the proper way - and I'm gone.

Sony VAIO UX180P Full Specs:

• Core Solo U1400 Ultra Low Voltage processor, 1.2GHz, 533 MHz FSB
• 512MB RAM (PC2-3200), which is also the maximum capacity
• 30GB 4200 RPM Ultra ATA HDD w/ G-Sensor Shock Protection
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 w/ 128 MB shared RAM
• Built-in monoaural speakers and microphone
• 2 built-in cameras -- .3 megapixels in the front for web conferencing and 1.3 megapixels in the back for taking snaps
• Action Buttons: Mouse left, mouse right, scroll, zoom in/out, capture, center button, WLAN on/off, VAIO Touch Launcher
• Biometric fingerprint sensor
• Inputs, Outputs, & Networking:
• Headphone Jack
• Microphone Jack
• MemoryStick slot
• 1 USB port
• Port Replicator
• 100 Mbit Ethernet
• 802.11a/b/g WLAN
• WWAN accessing Cingular's EDGE network
• Bluetooth
• Inputs & outputs on port replicator:
• FireWire
• 3 USB ports
• Ethernet
• VGA out
• A/V out
•  Software:
• Windows XP Pro w/ SP2
• Microsoft Streets & Trips
• InterVideo WinDVD
• Microsoft Works
• Roxio DigitalMedia SE
• Pen Plus
• VAIO proprietary software
• Bloatware, including trials a whopping 60 minutes long
• Battery life: 2.5-4.5 hrs standard, 5.0-9.5 hrs large capacity
• Measurements: 5.91" W x 3.74" H x 1.27-1.50" D
• Included accessories: port replicator, soft carrying case, stylus, strap
  

[Andrew]

how in the heck is that UX 1.2lbs. Holy moly, that's heavy for a palm top device, PDAs should be weighed in ounces and not lbs. I guess it's a "Micro PC" but I can't help but think of it as a PDA.

Sony kind of already did this with the VAIO U750 (review here: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=1943), although this device is decidedly better looking and the integrated keyboard cool. It'll die though, sorry Sony.

That cake looks pretty good. They ever slice into that thing?

[jetstar]

The UX180P reminds me of the Sony Clie.

[Rahul]

Even though the Vaio Ts are kinda old right now, still one of my top most favorite ultraportables, like em better than the newer TXs anyways.

The Picturebooks were pretty cool from Sony. Are there any more pics from that event, comparing older models to each other?

[Malia]

Originally Posted by abaxter

That cake looks pretty good. They ever slice into that thing?

I don't believe so. I was too busy with the AR (while Mr. PC Magazine was busy taking snaps of me taking snaps), and I didn't take a look at the cake on my way out. Nobody stopped by the stand with a plate of cake though, which would have occurred to at least some people - cake and movie - so I would say they didn't cut the cake.

Gigantic laptops, like Swarovsky crystals, don't cease to amaze people.
(Ever walk by J&R?)

I, too, think of it as a PDA. I can just imagine trying to do a presentation on a 4.5" screen. The person I'm presenting to would be like, what's that? I can't see anything. It would also seem like you're trying too hard, so if I'm trying to sell something, the buyer would try harder to get a lower price. Just bring a laptop or a tablet and get it over with, dammit!

rahulnimal - no, these are the only old laptops that they had. It was kinda lame. They coulda done it SO much better. I wanna be an event organizer, I could tell them what's up!

Malia

[DaCheese]

Originally Posted by malia.zee

I don't believe so. I was too busy with the AR (while Mr. PC Magazine was busy taking snaps of me taking snaps), and I didn't take a look at the cake on my way out. Nobody stopped by the stand with a plate of cake though, which would have occurred to at least some people - cake and movie - so I would say they didn't cut the cake.

Gigantic laptops, like Swarovsky crystals, don't cease to amaze people.
(Ever walk by J&R?)

I, too, think of it as a PDA. I can just imagine trying to do a presentation on a 4.5" screen. The person I'm presenting to would be like, what's that? I can't see anything. It would also seem like you're trying too hard, so if I'm trying to sell something, the buyer would try harder to get a lower price. Just bring a laptop or a tablet and get it over with, dammit!

rahulnimal - no, these are the only old laptops that they had. It was kinda lame. They coulda done it SO much better. I wanna be an event organizer, I could tell them what's up!

Malia

Odd. I like Sony's laptops, but it seems anything that requires human interaction with Sony needs some major improvement, like customer support, PR, etc. Is this just the case for Sony North America? Or has Sony a company policy to only hire incompetent people for anything except engeneering?

[beammeup4]

let's see them get a working Blu-Ray drive first!

http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/arc.../16/11622.aspx

[Malia]

beam, please don't post that. The PC Mag editor who wrote that was drunk, was walking by while I was taking my pic with the drive open, didn't know that that one of the laptops was playing a DVD for comparison purposes, thought he had a scoop, walked away to have more drinks. The laptop on the right was playing a BD, the laptop on the left (the one pictured) was playing a DVD. I feel bad for Sony, since if it wasn't for me, this guy would never have taken the picture - and now it's been picked up by all sorts of sources.

DaCheese - it's funny, but I was talking to a Sony rep about that, and he agreed that support is horrible. He says it's much better since they moved it from India, but he still cringes every time he has to call them. But, it takes a long time, and I can sympathize, since I know what it takes to run a call center. Re PR - this event could be better in so many ways, like, if they had lighting (even spot lighting) to make it easy to take pics of the things they were showing off. The reps there were very nice and knowledgeable, but the event as a whole needed help, since even the spec sheets they gave out had errors - and they'd been printed days before, if the datestamp is correct.

Malia

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by malia.zee

beam, please don't post that. The PC Mag editor who wrote that was drunk, was walking by while I was taking my pic with the drive open, didn't know that that one of the laptops was playing a DVD for comparison purposes, thought he had a scoop, walked away to have more drinks. The laptop on the right was playing a BD, the laptop on the left (the one pictured) was playing a DVD. I feel bad for Sony, since if it wasn't for me, this guy would never have taken the picture - and now it's been picked up by all sorts of sources.

Malia

Lol, the butterfly flapping its wings in Africa affect, not your fault. At least by going you stirred up some excitement on the web.

[Rahul]

Ah, I knew it. Sony couldn't have been that stupid to have had that laptop playing a burnt DVD. But man, its caused a lot of stir on the internet though.

Still, I'm losing more and more respect for Sony now, even with their stylish cool products. I don't think I'm the only one.

It is a shame how many people complain about the poor quality of tech support going to India, my home country. I've never had to use tech support ever, so I can't compare, but I hope that the support in India can get better.

What is the main reason for so many complaints about India's tech support? I'm guessing its mostly the language/English accent barrier??

I wish I could've gotten into that event, or any cool tech events you big grown up adults do, haha.