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Sony VAIO U50 Reviewed In Depth
LabRat007 writes "PDA Buyer's Guide reviews the Sony VAIO U50/U70, the hybrid PC/PDA that has beaten both the FlipStart and OQO to market. The short version?
They like it, but it's too expensive. Editor in Chief Lisa Gade provides the typically in-depth review, with pictures and words and
everything." The design looks great, but the price -- yow!
Is't the best technology expensive?
Webmaster of Infoweb
More pictures at http://www.dynamism.com/u70/gallery.shtml
This seems like almost the perfect form-factor for a Tablet PC, since it's small enough to actually hold in only one hand, and big and powerful enough to write legible text, and do decent recognnition of it.
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
enough to be a PDA, and not big enough to want to sit in front of for a long time.
A 12" Apple Powerbook would perhaps be more useful, and leave plenty of money for ice-cream.
like the U1, U3 or U101. Right now I would rather get a PC-CV50F which has a great screen resolution and
the directHD feature which is very nice for synching or installing Linux.
Maybe if Sharp would turn the screen into a touchscreen, that would be the best of both worlds, the resolution of the Sony is just too low.
***Quis custodiet ipsos custodes***
Erm, Clios are Palm devices...
The U50 and U70 are $2199 and $2699 respectively. The OQO will be "just under $2000". The Flipstart price hasn't been announced yet, but I'd be surprised if it will be much cheaper. These things will remain rich men's toys for the forseeable future.
In short, I ended up going for the Palm for a few reasons. First off was price - Sony does not price their gear competitively. Their market appears to be the executives with fat expense accounts who see shiny new toys and go for them. I have a number of geek friends and none of them are big purchasers at Sony, with the sole exception being Sony's monitors.
Secondly, when it came to software - because Sony regularly releases high-end models with customised software, they don't seem to support them for too long.
So if I was somebody looking at the palmtop/tablet options out there, I would probably give this a miss. The spec's are nice, but it looks like something for someone who needs such functionality *today*, rather than waiting for equivalent devices to come to market in the next 6-12 months with a lower pricetag.
But like most Sony products, damn... it looks sweet! ;-)
Man watching 6 MSCE's around a sun box, looks alot like the opening scene's of 2001:space odyssey...
...is it you want it to do something beyond what Sony envisioned for it at this moment in 2004.
Examples:
I can guarantee you that if you want to run Longhorn when it comes out, it won't do it. The drivers won't work and Sony will not update drivers for older products.
If it breaks after the warranty period, forget it. The replacement parts will cost more than the thing is worth.
It will have minor incompatibilities with standard software suites, sony tech support will deny it and then mysteriously 6 months later a patch will appear that will be unannounced, you'll have to hunt for it on the Sony site.
In short, when you buy a piece of Sony computer gear, buy it for what it does out of the box, forget about putting BSD or Linux on it (or even another version of windows), and if it breaks, throw it away.
Its just a mindset at sony, and it explains why people generally buy Sony computer gear exactly once.
I will never understand the "wow, that computer is cool, but soo expensive" mentalality. I paid about $3000 for a laptop about 5 years-ago. I was happy with that machine. This one is more powerful, has a better battery life, and is cheaper in terms of actual dollars than the laptop. Should I pissed off that I bought my laptop now?
If you want the vaio, and have the expendable income, buy it. Who cares if you can get a better desktop for a tenth of the cost. The most powerful computer in the world isn't worth the money if you aren't happy with it and don't use it.
Anything that you buy is worth the money if you are satisfied with it. I really hate to see the put-down mentality of some people that take otherwise happy customers and make them feel stupid or cheated for their purchase. Absolutely, no good comes from that. You discourage people from buying products they would enjoy. You hurt companies that produce something cool, which causes them to raise prices on their not-so-cool items. In the end, for what? Your ego? Get a grip.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -Homer Simpson
I could be wrong, but I think he means 20 Gig hard drive.
its nice in a "ooh i'm shiny buy me" kind of way. if you DO have the cash to pay for it (usd2200 - USD2700) i may even be a nice toy. but i guess for most people all this would be is primarily an entertainment unit and a secondarily a pda.
as the article states
of course if you put a lower footprint version of windows (say 2k) on it, it may handle things better. i should also PROBABLY run linux
but for me i would personally prefer a larger laptop for half the price (and i tend to put things down and forget them) or better yet a PDA for PDA work/email and a good portable DVD/VCD/MP3/CD player for entertainment. a 5" screen is just too small for my shortsighted eyes
of course this may be a big hit in the gadget crazy japanese market. but at the risk of getting a LOT of flaming i will ask "but what use is it? especially at that price!"
i am sure i will get a lot of responses, but i still think that this is a solution looking for a problem
Suchethalearn from yesterday, plan for tomorrow, party tonight
or one out of three ain't bad
The price for these two items in Japan are currently 210,000 yen (1,900 USD) for the U70 and 178,500 yen (1,600 USD) for the U50.
I don't think price is a big concern for anyone willing to shell out an extra 700 bucks over the original retail price to get the latest toy from Japan, when there are so many comprarable products in the US that would be just as useful to 99.9% of the population. Stuff like this doesn't have to fill a particular niche, it just has to be new and unique enough to attract the attention of rich technophiles who crave the bleeding edge.
I play Nethack on my Sharp Zaurus SL5500.
Screenshots and other info here.
I want a handheld computer that is also quick with 3d.
I'd really like to see competent graphic chipsets worth a damn become a standard feature in these devices.
Do I have to get a PSP? But I'd like to play around creating 3d apps of my own - do I need to get a Sony SDK license (at what cost)? This one, at $2800, still sports the (for 3d) underpowered 855GM chipset. Shared memory, no 3d hardware (or does it have?)...
Ok, with a 3d gfx card, the battery life might fall through the roof - but still... I'd feel like Superman without the cape with a hi-res screen like that, a fast CPU, but with abysmal overall 3d performance.
668.5
Lisa Gade provides the typically in-depth review, with pictures and words "and everything".
/.-ers out there are wondering about Lisa's "and everythings".
I bet more
I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
These things will remain rich men's toys for the forseeable future.
Will rich women be allowed to buy them too? After all, they are a growing demographic.
I thought I recognized the submitters text from somewhere.
I'm not a big fan of the price, but this is heading in the right direction.
I hope in 3 to 5 years there are a lot of these palm or hip tops, because it's really where computers start becoming more of an assistant than pain in the ass. I'd like to grab breakfast while browsing the web, turn off the screen for mp3 playing, maybe turn it on again to check e-mail halfway to work or if I stop somewhere. Then when I get to work plug it into a dock for a full keyboard/mouse/display for the workday routine. I just want ALL of my data with me ALL the time.
In retail situations, bringing your pricelist in your pocket will be big business as soon as the price point goes down. With all of the new credit card verification stuff, I don't see why we won't be checked out as soon as we buy something. Just pick up the receipt on the way out the door.
Just in case somebody will write a Linux installation report about this device, I would like to include a link into the Linux on Sony laptops and notebooks survey as well as into the Linux on TabletPCs and Pen PCs overview.
I still have a Sharp PC 1403 Pocket Computer. The near same PC 1402 was my first computer ever. I wanted portable over games (as in the ever present C64 back then). I've still got the 1403 on my desk, doing little tax calculations in Basic, printable on this cool little cash register printer.
Anyway, it's got tons of special periferals and looks very much like this Sony thing with all the extra stuff and it's brushed brass/metal feeling.
But: The Sharp PC 1403 runs 130 hours on two button-cell watch batteries and probably something like a decade when powered by the printers 4 mignon cells. Still have to find a modern portable computer to beat that.
Until then I'll settle for my current 12" iBook, which beats all others in price/performance/usability ratio. Oh, and it's OS doesn't suck either. Can't say that about the U50, can we?
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
I'd LOVE to have a PC of this size.
The funny part is that I HAD a pc that size back in 1991...
It was called a Dauphin DTR-1. It ran windows for workgroups 3.11 had the best handwriting recignition system I have EVER used and was all around cool.
Funny how Sony simply took that old idea and simply updated it with today's technology.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I wonder if this is a concession from Sony that their marginalised memory stick format is on its last legs.
...its lack of an integrated camera. This means that it's "corporate-friendly", something Sony's UX-50 was not (and it's the ONLY reason I bought a Palm Tungsten T3 unstead of the UX-50.)
My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
My (2nd) biggest problem with this style device, (other than price), is the boot time. It takes the same time as a normal PC to boot up?
Not very convenient for an "on-the-go" device like this (and yes, I think laptops boot too slowly too).
"We're sorry, but the website you're trying to reach has been disconnected."
Well it is cool, and probably will be an interesting device to play with but it just doesn't fit.
It's too big to be a PDA, it's too expensive to be thrown in your pocket and carried with you anyway. It's also going to take too long to boot up as someone mentioned. One nice thing about Palm and Pocket PCs is that they're always on practically. Push the power button and you're good to go.
I haven't seen much need for a crossover device like this in the US either. Laptops are popular, and seem to work as a form factor. This thing may be smaller but it doesn't have the power a laptop does.
Presently here, but not there.
Neat!
Dauphin Info
Specifications and information
Introduced:
Original Price:
CPU: Cyrix 486DRX2-50
Memory: 4MB RAM
Operating System: MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows 3.1 with Pen Extensions
Input/Output: Monochrome VGA LCD display; pen input with handwriting recognition; optional separate keyboard
Resolution: 640x480 grayscale
Bus: N/A
Other Items in Collection: Keyboard; carrying case; external 3.5" floppy disk drive; documentation; original box
Items Needed:
Weighing in at only 2 pounds, the DTR-1 was the original Windows-based palmtop pen computer, years before the advent of Windows CE.
Looks like LabRat007 is a plagiarist.
The only reason people think Harleys are any good is because that's what they've been told. With a Harley, you're paying for an underperforming, overpriced name that only means something to nonbikers. Go to any AMA motorcycle group and you'll see that real bikers overwhelmingly prefer Japanese and European bikes to Harleys.
Exactly the type of portable webpad I need:
(a) around the house, to look up stuff, browse the web, check movies, etc;
(b) at work, to pull up files and email during meetings, etc;
I would buy one today if it were a better price.
Also, I think that they could trim the specs and still have a marketable product: grunt power and number of ports are not important for this style of product.
Erm, for that matter, there's no such thing as a Sony Clio...
Here's the three point reality:
1. I want to be able to read a document while taking a dump or while lying in bed. It has to be light and easy to hold, and the screen has to be at least twice the size of the standard PDA. 5"x2" will do the job, allowing you to actually see a whole paragraph at once! (whooo.)
2. I want to be able to touch-type into the thing with comfort and ease. Handwriting recognition is the single most limited, irritating and hence, unused technology in handhelds today. Thumb-only keyboards are useless to anybody who needs to write more than a sentence. I don't need the thing to fit in my pocket, because I'm not a space-man living in a Star Trek episode. Further, I don't need to instantly be able to access the thing on a whim, because I don't intend to keep my BRAIN on a PDA. I'll pull the device out of my BACKPACK or BRIEFCASE, or pick it up off the TABLE when I want to do some WORK or READING. --Neither of which are done while standing around the water cooler.
3. The power has to last at LEAST 30 hours on double A's or something else I can easily replace at a convenience store. I DO NOT want to mess around with idiotic recharge bays and proprietary batteries.
It should also be noted that. .
I DO NOT NEED OR WANT a color screen. I do not need to watch movies or play games on my wallet. I DO, however, need to be able to type essays on a reliable machine. Until somebody can make a color screen which doesn't turn good batteries into worthless 5 hour charges, then just give me a Black & White LCD screen!
The closest I've seen anything come so far is the Psion series 5. I've written about this several times now in the last week, since I just became the proud owner of a used $75 ebay model. The machine is ALMOST perfect. The screen is just a little too shiny which makes it hard to read, and if the keyboard was only one inch wider and slightly more responsive, it'd be the perfect machine. WHY, OH WHY, DIDN'T THEY MAKE IT PERFECTLY???
I mean, it gives you 35 hours on a couple of AA's, an excellent word processor, fully programmable key-board and as many megs of memory as you can stuff on a Compact Flash card. Man, for 75$, that is one SWEET machine!
ONE inch wider, guys, and a non-reflective plastic on the screen, and you'd have created the perfect product.
-FL
PDAs are things you boot up quickly, and shut off with the click of a switch. They're incredibly useful when you need to look up a detail while standing somewhere. The 'instant-on' feature is, I think, one of the strongest points of PDAs as opposed to laptops. So what's the point of making what is essentially a PDA with all its disadvantages (small screen, for example) without its main advantage of instant bootups?
Workers of the world, unite! http://www.labourstart.org
1 Newton 2000 for handwriting
1 Zaurus SL-C860 for display, keyboard, Linux
add
Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 802.11b (or g)
6 hrs battery life with replacable batteries
Support and a vendor supported dev. community
Stir Vigoriously, pour into a sub $600 package
Sell hundreds of thousands of units!!!
"I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Despite appearances, the Sony Vaio U50 and U70 are indeed Windows computers. They can run Windows software, and take as long to boot up or resume from standby as any notebook PC. So if you're looking for instant-on, quick access to data, and don't need to run Windows PC software on the device, consider notebook-like PDAs such as the Sharp Zaurus C860.
Can you imagine trying to get someone's contact info at a business meeting with one of these?
Let's see, open the lid, wait 5-10 seconds for Windows to wake up from standby mode.
If it's not booted, you're waiting 2-3 minutes to boot.
Now, enter your username and password to login to Windows.
Now, open Outlook by double-clicking it's icon.
Choose what folder you want the contact in (business/personal). Maybe you even have to establish a network connection to place the contact in a shared folder.
Now click "New Contact" and try to figure out a way to input their data without a keyboard!!! WTF, no keyboard for data input?!?!
Guess you'll be using Windows XP's on-screen keyboard to enter all their data, hunting and pecking with your stylus or fingers on the little tiny on-screen QWERTY keyboard. Better go to Start|Programs|Accessories|Accessibility|On-Screen Keyboard. 5 clicks later and you can actually type!
Type in contact name and phone number painfully slow while hunting and pecking on the on-screen keyboard.
Click save.
By this time you've probably wasted 5-10 minutes of your business associate's time and he's already handed you a business card or written his info down on a piece of paper and handed it to you. Not to mention he thinks you're a total wanker for using technology that just doesn't fit the purpose.
Compare all this with my Palm enabled Treo phone?
Open the flip.
Click the "New" button.
Type in their name and phone number and hit "Done."
Total time on the Palm enabled phone? 30 seconds or so.
So basically, this is just a smaller than average laptop. I still have to carry around a PDA, cellphone, and every other device I always had to carry. These devices might be popular in Japan where there is a demand for very tiny portable computers, but here in the US they will fail miserably.
It seems like they're trying to capture a small percentage of the already tiny PDA market, by marketing a device that doesn't even function as a PDA... Fucking brilliant. Someone ought to knock those Sony and OQO executives that greenlighted these products upside the head with a clue-by-four.
"When the president does it, that means it's not illegal." - Richard M. Nixon