Japan has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to mobile devices, especially computers. Importers such as Dynamism, Kurns & Patrick, iCube, and Kemplar have stepped into the void for these innovative devices that US consumers crave. While Japan has been producing very small laptops for a few years a lot of interest has been sweeping the internet recently about ultra-portable computers. Slightly bigger than a PDA but much smaller than even the smallest laptop, UPCs have been anxiously awaited by consumers. Devices like the OQO and FlipStart have been vaporware for years and yet they stay in the news and anxiously awaited by many prospective buyers. The manufacturers of both device are claiming they will be released late this year.
It was into this climate of consumer clamor for ultra-portable devices that Sony entered and surprised everyone with their announcement of their U-50 & U-70 UPCs. Slightly larger than a PDA yet packing an entire Windows XP powered laptop smashed inside it's small case, the two Sony UPCs were not only announced without prior information leaking but Sony has actually released the devices in Japan. The first units hit the market in Japan months before the other two UPCs mentioned above are expected to be released. Unfortunately, if you don't happen to live in Japan then you'll have to obtain one of these little PCs from an importer like the ones mentioned above.
I have been using a U-70 for a few weeks now, and I have been totally impressed with the thoughtful design Sony has put into this computer in almost every way. So, can you use one of these UPCs in your everyday mobile lifestyle? Read on to see how it works for me.
The Sony comes in two flavors, the U-50 & U-70. There are three differences between the two models which are otherwise identical. The U-50 comes with a Celeron 900 MHZ processor, 256 MB of RAM, and Windows XP Home Edition. The more powerful U-70 comes with a Pentium M processor running at 1 GHZ, 512 MB of RAM, and Windows XP Pro Edition. Of the three differences noted above the amount of RAM is probably the most significant, as anyone running Windows will certainly attest to. The different processors might exhibit different battery consumption too, but I don't have two devices to compare. So what do you get in the box? The specs:
U-50 / 70 Internal:
20 GB hard disk
CPU (one of the two mentioned above)
256/ 512 MB RAM Around the sides:
Compact Flash slot
Memory Stick Pro slot
Hold switch
Standby button
Ctrl-Alt-Del switch
1- USB 2.0
DC in Docking connector:
Hold switch
WiFi on/off switch
Power switch
Headphones jack Front of the device:
Three mouse buttons (L, M, R)
Three indicator lights
Zoom button
Rotate button
5" LCD screen (landscape orientation default)
Scroll pad with Enter button
Track point stick with Enter button
Tools button
LCD brightness button
NextText button External:
1800 mAh standard battery Docking cradle
I/O connector
4 - USB 2.0 ports
1- i.Link port (fire wire)
DC in Plastic stylus
Mini surf board style VGA/ Ethernet dongle
Fontopia style headphones with remote control (LCD display)
Sony AC adapter
Fold-up USB keyboard (Japanese and Engl
Tits and ass have been encouraging viewing for years.
and as soon as my patent (#121928431841329) for T&A passes thru the local patent office, we are having the biggest T&A party ever at my house. Even Hugh Hefner will be there.
Slashdot Mirror
It'd be...
101 Yellow Dogs.
And less we forget...
102 Yellow Dogs, Gates' Revenge.
Too bad that the gfx card industry has nothing but vapor releases. Maybe in six months these cards will be available for sale.
Do you realize you just recommended a non-GPL product on /.? What's your major malfunction, lil' boy?
Uninstall windows... duh...
Will microsoft ever live this one down?
One down. Now if I could just figure out how to get 'ad[s]*\.' into Adblock on my PVR.
What a crying shame.
Japan has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to mobile devices, especially computers. Importers such as Dynamism, Kurns & Patrick, iCube, and Kemplar have stepped into the void for these innovative devices that US consumers crave. While Japan has been producing very small laptops for a few years a lot of interest has been sweeping the internet recently about ultra-portable computers. Slightly bigger than a PDA but much smaller than even the smallest laptop, UPCs have been anxiously awaited by consumers. Devices like the OQO and FlipStart have been vaporware for years and yet they stay in the news and anxiously awaited by many prospective buyers. The manufacturers of both device are claiming they will be released late this year.
It was into this climate of consumer clamor for ultra-portable devices that Sony entered and surprised everyone with their announcement of their U-50 & U-70 UPCs. Slightly larger than a PDA yet packing an entire Windows XP powered laptop smashed inside it's small case, the two Sony UPCs were not only announced without prior information leaking but Sony has actually released the devices in Japan. The first units hit the market in Japan months before the other two UPCs mentioned above are expected to be released. Unfortunately, if you don't happen to live in Japan then you'll have to obtain one of these little PCs from an importer like the ones mentioned above.
I have been using a U-70 for a few weeks now, and I have been totally impressed with the thoughtful design Sony has put into this computer in almost every way. So, can you use one of these UPCs in your everyday mobile lifestyle? Read on to see how it works for me.
Photos and screenshots of the Sony U-70
What you get in the box
The Sony comes in two flavors, the U-50 & U-70. There are three differences between the two models which are otherwise identical. The U-50 comes with a Celeron 900 MHZ processor, 256 MB of RAM, and Windows XP Home Edition. The more powerful U-70 comes with a Pentium M processor running at 1 GHZ, 512 MB of RAM, and Windows XP Pro Edition. Of the three differences noted above the amount of RAM is probably the most significant, as anyone running Windows will certainly attest to. The different processors might exhibit different battery consumption too, but I don't have two devices to compare. So what do you get in the box? The specs:
U-50 / 70
Internal:
20 GB hard disk
CPU (one of the two mentioned above)
256/ 512 MB RAM
Around the sides:
Compact Flash slot
Memory Stick Pro slot
Hold switch
Standby button
Ctrl-Alt-Del switch
1- USB 2.0
DC in
Docking connector:
Hold switch
WiFi on/off switch
Power switch
Headphones jack
Front of the device:
Three mouse buttons (L, M, R)
Three indicator lights
Zoom button
Rotate button
5" LCD screen (landscape orientation default)
Scroll pad with Enter button
Track point stick with Enter button
Tools button
LCD brightness button
NextText button
External:
1800 mAh standard battery
Docking cradle
I/O connector
4 - USB 2.0 ports
1- i.Link port (fire wire)
DC in
Plastic stylus
Mini surf board style
VGA/ Ethernet dongle
Fontopia style headphones with remote control (LCD display)
Sony AC adapter
Fold-up USB keyboard (Japanese and Engl
Tits and ass have been encouraging viewing for years.
and as soon as my patent (#121928431841329) for T&A passes thru the local patent office, we are having the biggest T&A party ever at my house. Even Hugh Hefner will be there.
Be there or be square.
There's a whole bunch of us who aren't 35+ and can't discuss where we were when it happened. It sucks.
Do I feel left out? Nope, because I can distinctly remember where I was during the O.J. white bronco chase.
Plus we went there 35 years ago and never went back. Why? Because it's boring up there.
See ya in 6 months.
It's like an 8-Track++
HAHA.. No innovation?! Obviously You have never tryed this brilliant piece of software
Now I won't have to get out of my neighbor's tree for hours!
According to this previous slashdot article, the bathroom would be cleaner.