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Sony Releases Smallest VAIO Yet

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the potent-portables dept.

ephidryn writes "Sony Corporation has released their new VAIO laptop in Japan. The PCG-U1 is even smaller than their previous sub-notebook the C1 PictureBook. Measuring in at 7.3" x 5.5" x 1.4" and weighing a mere 1.8lbs the 6.4 inch XGA screen does 1024x768. The laptop uses a Transmetta Crusoe TM5800 processor and can house up to 384 megs of RAM." As a Picturebook owner, I can't imagine how a keyboard any smaller can still be usable, but this little guy offsets that with thumb controls to make input easier.

4 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. OLD news by neuroking · · Score: 5, Informative

    This has been out for MONTHS (I have one I got 2 months ago).

    Check out the NEW version, the U3, here: http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Products/PCG-U3/

    Wow, that was teh most out of date story I've seen on /. ever...

  2. hmm this reminds me of something very similar by QuaZar666 · · Score: 5, Informative

    if memory serves me correctly this was discused some time ago PCG-U1

  3. test the battery before you buy by 0WaitState · · Score: 5, Informative

    I made the mistake of buying a vaio assuming that the battery would be at least ballpark useable (eg. sales literature says 1-2 hours, I figure at least 1.25 hours doing text entry). Wrong--the wonderful BP1-A half-empty battery could barely keep the screen lit for 40 minutes.

    I ended up having to buy a decent battery (BP-71A) on ebay for $200 extra.

    Not a happy camper when people say Vaio.

    --

    Remain calm! All is well!
  4. Re:I want small and cheap by curiosity · · Score: 5, Informative

    I recently bought a Sony VAIO SRX - not quite as small as the PictureBook, but still smaller than just about anything else out there (there are a few in its class - Fujitsu has a nice offering with built-in DVD drive). I recommend you take a look at it if you're looking for a small form-factor without sacrificing usability. It's got a usable keyboard, and a touchpad (pointing sticks drive me nuts - otherwise I was really looking at the picturebook). The battery life on the standard battery is about 4 hours or so for normal usage, and the 10.4 inch screen (1024x768) is very easy to see and read. Built-in Wi-Fi is the best thing since sliced bread - I don't even use my Home Theater PC anymore for quick internet stuff - it's faster to flip open the laptop and use the wireless connection from the couch, and I don't have to fumble around with a bunch of remotes.

    Performance is good for business use - it's got integrated Intel 815 graphics (bleh), an 850MHz mobile PIII, and 256MB of RAM standard. I paid $1300 at Best Buy for the SRX-87, with a $100 rebate. The 87 is the now-discontinued model, so they are (or were) dirt cheap. The only difference between the 87 and the current line seems to be that the new ones come with a CDRW/DVD Combo Drive - I got a DVD drive. There's no docking station or port replicator - the drives are i.Link (Firewire)

    Also, it mostly runs Linux, according to Linux-Laptop.net