New Sony VAIO X Series Announced

I'm betting on Atom N450 Pineview. It will be released in Q4 2009, just like the X series.

GMA500 has excellent HD support. Games are a no go.

Because it seems likely it will come with Atom N450. But who knows, maybe they'll fit in CULV with Su3500 and the like. But judging by weight and battery life that seems unlikely.

 

Netbooks are far from useless. In fact I use my netbook much more than my 15.4".
Netbook 2.0 because it's the logical next step. Sony will try to sell it as a subnotebook but all other manufacturers will place this kind of device where it belongs, on top of the netbook evolution.

 

I have a netbook and 13.3 sony SZ. At the start, i used to use netbook quite often..now..it was not used for over a year now.

usualy their screen is awful, and i dont want to waste my eyes on it...now i cant wait to see the new vaio W and its screen, but i believe X will be the killer. Perfect combo would be vaio Z + X

 

I would be satisfied with 15 hours surfing capabilities

 

For me the perfect combo is Z+P. One big and one small. The X is quite as big as the Z, they are similar. I only wished that the P had the battery life of the X series.

 

My guess is that the TT is being replaced with the X because of the tanking economy. The TT, with multiple drive bays, faster CPU and higher quality simply costs too much, and people buy cheaper netbooks instead. They pay less, and get less, which is fair enough.
Personally, I would have loved to see an even higher end TT, but I don't think it's feasible in today's economy.

 

Battery is king for me but not at the expense of the things I have outlined in my previous post. Sony's battery figures for the TZ and TT where often well wide of reality. I guess I'll have to start looking for a 2nd hand Japanese 1.6ghz TT with twin SSD. Are they totally discontinued now does anyone know?

 

There are definitely discontinued here in North America and I believe soon to be in Europe. For now, they are still selling in Japan. The Japanese are much, much, much more open towards expensive ultraportables than Americans. Once netbooks with their low prices came about, the TT didn't stand a chance here.

 

Poor video playback and generally lower res screens are my companies main problems with the current crop of netbooks out there.

The atom is surprisingly useful for general office apps and web surfing. And the long battery life that a lot of these netbooks get is also quite valuable.

The current solutions either dont cut it at all (Intel 950) or are hobbled by OS/processor choice (z series atom, 500 series video and a driver that isn't worth a flip under xp or have the whole machine creak under Vista)

If they could find a way to juice the video we'd be in.

 

Maybe they can bring out a better GMA500 model with better HD support than it already has, and better performance for Aero, and possibly gaming??

Maybe a dual core Atom version of the N450 or something? That would be a good choice possibly, with out adding more heat(?).

 

If the X ends up costing €1,500 odd then its got no hope of getting my cash (sure Sony don't care either way anyhow). I configured 2 TT's via Sonystyle Japan and for €1135 I could get a 1.4 c2d, 4GB and 500GB HDD. For €1725 I could get a 1.6 c2d, 4GB, 500GB HDD, 2 x 128GB SSD's in Raid, WWAN, fingerprint reader, hdmi etc, you name it really. Sony had better make the X under €1k max or I just cannot justify it. An Atom cpu (speculation), 2gb ram (maybe no higher) and a single SSD drive in comparison pales. The biggest shame for me has always been the TT's x4500 lack of drivers for OSX. It kills me to buy a Windows-only machine for over €1.5K.

BTW, that same TT config in Ireland is not only not available but its closest (read lower spec) model cost approx €2,500. If Sony keep that kind of BS up with their new ranges such as the X they can chew on a shotgun.

 

I don't think Intel will bring an Dual Core Atom soon, because it creates too much internal competition for it's CULV platform.

The only dual core Atom is the N330, which is meant for nettops and has a quite high TDP.

 

TT are so cheap now because they are going out of sale and they are clearing warehouses...clearly nobody can expect a TT to have a base price of 1k under normal saling staretegy, it is worth much more.

thats why X will be priced almost the same, but hey...it weights half of TT, so that is huge deal for some, its also thinner. Not many people care about the "superb" performance of a laptop, they just need it for basic tasks: surfing, chatting, videos, music, web-games, etc...

PS, in europe TT is very expensive, their top model TT25X (blu-ray, 1.4ghz and single SSD) is 2700 pounds, which is even more than it was a few months ago.

 

Hm, wow i dont think anyone was expecting this.....Looks good though.

 

More and more people are wanting CULV processors over atom processors in ultraportables 11 inches and above. I cannot see many people parting with €1,500-€2,000 for an 11 inch laptop with an atom processor with 4-5 hrs standard battery life. There is a lot of competition out there.

In the UK the middle model of the TT sells for £1,700 this is €2,000 what the X is predicted to sell for.

We really do need to wait and see though what the pricing will be.


I could justify the price with a CULV put not so much with an atom.

 

Yes, but you are forgetting one big advantage of X - weight!

1.27kg vs 0.7 ... you cannot compare X to anything on the market, it is even the same ligh as P, which is current the lightess thig around.. Apple air is like 1.2kg so its...unimaginable for me to see a normal size laptop with 700grams of weight AND a battery lifetime of 5 hours...crazy.

 

Your totally correct regards the weight, there is nothing on the market that I know of that has an 11/1" panel at that weight. It is the same as the Vaio P Mark 1. One thing though, that screen looks for more fragile than the Vaio P. The TZ and TT screens did flex but not to the same extent which has been shown in these early (pre-production) videos. Flexing I can deal with, especially when its from Sony whose engineering I respect but I'm scared this may be just a smidgen too far. There is an engineering vanishing point where trade-offs can be too much. Just look at the MBA, the cripple of the famliy.

The X, unfortunately for it, can be compared to the TT. 11.1", long life battery, SSD, chiclet keyboard, carbon fibre chassis, sub 1.3kg class. And arriving just after the TT was laid to rest. If there is no TT replacement and many still want a premium Sony ultraportable (the W is a toy) its got some big (little) shoes to fill.

With high capacity batteries on both TT and X the percentage weight difference will likely be greatly diminished. The X's 18 cell will likely weigh more than the laptop itself. Then it could be 1.3kg for the TT, maybe 1-1.1kg for the X. Just conjecture but food for thought for those of us addicted to battery life.

 

The weight and design are plus points. I think that people would pay a premium for them but the question is how much of a premium would people pay if they go for an atom/CULV processor?


The original X505 was i think 11mm thin and Sony managed to put a 5w 90nm processor into that. Of course there was limited options back in 2004 but it was possible. That was 10.6in also. That kind of makes me a little hopeful. A core2solo would be ok for me.

I wonder how the extended battery is going to look?

Edited to add:
Sony have now put this laptop on their splash page.

 

I thought it was 9mm at the thinnest for X505, but anyway the CPU was not on the side of 9mm -- there basically just has the keyboard and back-cover. I do think Sony definitely know how to put a CULV in X, but I personally would accept Atom+SSD and a lower price.

 

I'm still going with Atom N450. Which for me would be enough for netbook usage. But I will not pay more than a $1000 / 1000 euros for it.

 

Except it won't. The N450 is not coming this year.

 

You could be right. Some sources say it will, some source say it won't.

 

There was a Digitimes rumor that said, they would come out next year and then Intel posted a denial and said they would come out in Q4 of this year.
Also Sony seems to be Intel's buddy. They had an 1.8GHz Z Atom for the P but nobody else did.

 

X series will be only with 11,6 display, or will be a model with 13+ for w7 at 22 october?

 

I think sony is still on the only one to have the 2.0ghz Atom Z? No?

 

tho, seeing this stuff built with carbon fibre, it aint gonna cheap..

 

True. I'm afraid it 'll be more than a 1000.

 

Considering nobody even knew the new X was even a glint in Sony's eye until they unveiled it to a surprised crowd your guess is as good as mine. However, bear in mind that the older X505 only came in one screen size (10.6' I believe) and that to make a 13" version would cause potential competition in terms if screen size with the Z series I reckon this is the only one we will see for at least a 8-12 months. Also its not an 11.6", its 11.1". 11.6" appears currently reserved for manufacturers who want to make crap netbooks with glossy displays, the gloss often used to disguise poor screen quality. This is a Sony, and the screens are almost unanimously fantastic and industry leading. The fact that the X is a matte display shows Sony has confidence in its quality. They don't have to resort to underhanded tactics as others do (cough, Asus, cough, thieves, cough).

 

Except those devices maybe be less of a netbook than the X-series as those are running at the very least a Celeron cpu, which is marginally better than the Atom cpu but a gpu that better than what Atom devices get(minus the Ion and 9300 gpu a few netbooks have). There is also the upcoming Samsung X120, which comes with the specs comparable to the Vaio TT(i.e.a C2D cpu), except that is a 11.6in device also. Not sure of the screen is glossy, but the design isn't as good as what Sony is offering in the TT and X.

 

I think the lines between netbook and ultraportable are burring at an alarming rate. This has resulted in lowering prices for sure but its also murdering high-end ultraportables which many (myself included) wanted and needed to acquire. The TT is the latest example although its death was really the fault of Sony and their ridiculous belief that a world existed in which a €3,000 ultraportable was viable. Now at the Japanese price of around €1,100 that suits me. I hope the X follows suit.

Even if I don't end up getting an X series (likely won't due to lack of ports) its great to see not only Sony fighting back against its detractors and becoming more conscious of the world around it but also to see real quality, innovative design, startling matte screens and a much needed touch of class being injected back into the small form factor laptop market which thanks to Asus et al (HP excluded) has been diluted to nothing more than a bargain bin collection of 'me-too' plastic monstrosities. Prior to this their was only the TZ, TT, HP 21xx and now 51xx eries netbooks which attempted to produce quality product. Of those 2 were Sony's, the 51xx is a direct TZ rip-off and the 21xx (which I own) was made from magnesium alloys, the kind of exotic materials Sony have become known for. Even Lenovo messed it up with the U series IMO, all flash and consumer bling. The X may show the market again that small need not mean poor quality cheap Chinese rubbish.

Why should we be able to have premium 15" laptops at 2K that suit peoples needs and be forced to use a pound shop plastic lump in the 11" market. Those looking for an ultraportable are often just as serious (maybe more so) about their laptops as any gamer or 17" wielding graphic designer. I'll take a €1,500 bombshell of an ultraportable capable of being presented in business to a client (or a courtroom) over 4 plastic creaking slabs any day. Thanks for keeping it classy Sony. Now go CULV and make a new TT please, pretty please.

P.S: Coldmack, a TT variant with a Nvidia 9300 would be my perfect laptop. Sadly I fear it wil never happen. Whimper. As you point out the Samsung X120 has power but with plastic chassis, side trackpad mounted buttons, non-chiclet keyboard and a glossy display its lacks any form of finesse or business credentials. I couldn't bring myself to use one.

 

Another video of the X series. This one for those who understand Greek.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgr0YXmdgXY

Notice at 1.28 minutes into the video (capture below) that the Windows 7 build used is clearly shown as 7264. That puts it, at the latest, as a mid June release of 7. Assuming that Sony's engineers used the most recent build available to them (and why wouldn't they) to put on the X that would put this hardware revision at a mid June build at the very very latest, likely earlier. A lot happens in the electronics world in 2 1/2 months. Thats plenty of time for Sony to change the Atom on the show model to something more substantial and could be a very good reason they said its not set in stone by any margin. They know the hardware available to them to show the world is not a recent build, just like the OS.

 

I would have chosen ION but I totally agree with you there. I don't get how LG almost 2 years ago had TWO devices with SU7x00 C2D cpu, and a nvidia 8400(or was it 8600) gpu, in 10.6in form factor, the P100 and X100. Granted, the optical drive was optional, but still the P100 was a tablet and had all that stuff. You don't think now a company like Sony can give us a slight larger 11in device with an nvidia based gpu and a CULV cpu?

 

that looks hottt

too bad it won't be able to run any good games :[, oh well, i won't be needing another laptop until next year. hopefully, the vaio x will have some beefed up components by then.

 

11.6" is a hot category. Dell Mini 11z, Acer 1410 and Timeline 1810, Samsung N510, Samsung X120, Benq, and more.

 

Guys installing OS X on PC hardware is illegal and discussing it is against the forum rules.

 

No offence but I think if your the gamer type you couldn't be further off the mark in looking at ultraportables focused on battery life like the X. You might be able to find one of the LG models Coldmack described above with the Nvidia 8400M 128mb (good memory Coldmack and spot on). For Halflife 2 etc the X would be fine. I'm sure if it was running an Intel x4500HD it could run half life 2 very well. It runs on a GMA 950 if you drop the settings. For Crysis (or whatever the latest is) heads amongst the NBR faithful I think we might be a long way off in the sub 12" sector, at least from Sony . Asus may have something you will like though and ION based netbooks are starting to arrive in dribs and drabs. Whats it like playing on a netbook keyboard. Anyone have any experience? Does it hurt after a while?

Its probably the hottest sector in terms of new model numbers but all the gloss on them is making me dizzy. I use my lappies in darkness and bright light. My 2133 looks like a mirror in direct light and it unusable, and its one of the better ones. Just give me a few stunningly built models like the X or TT. Having 100 different models of the same basic spec in slighty changed plastic wrappers helps nobody. I think Sony have gotten it right with the matte displays. It always amazes me the amount of complaints I hear regards glossy displays and they still make every netbook with them. Go Sony. Can't wait for the 1st production reviews of the X.


@ Phil. Sorry Phil can you point me to where (and in which nation) this activity is considered illegal. I have no understanding of its illegality. You just hit me for a breach of forum rules which I would like to discuss with you via PM if thats cool but the illegal part has me intrigued. Cheers.

 

Installing OS X on anything else than Apple hardware is illegal in every nation as far as I know.
http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/MacOSX.htm

PS, I only gave you a warning

 

Hi Jurispudence, thanks for the video. I speak Greek, the guy in the video said that this is the answer of Sony to the MBA and that the full specs of the X will be released in the next few days.
In my opinion, I really don't thing Sony will "destroy" this series putting inside an Atom. There are already the P and the W series that they are Atom-based. In the other hand will be expensive, not as the TT but quite. My dream would a ION inside this lappy. Do you guys know if there is a fan?
If before I was waiting the P mark 2, now I start debating again from these two...Can't wait to the full specs of the X and soon the P mark2 will be announced.

 

It certainly is a breach of contract in all countries where Apple sells its hardware and software, but it may not necessarily be illegal.

Only a couple of countries allow companies to make law through contracts -- in the rest, Apple will have to sue for copyright breaches, and not for breaking the license.

 

Hi Jack. Thanks for the translation. Wouldn't have had a hope otherwise. I do agree with you to a certain extent. The Atom isn't that bad a processor for light work. If 20hr battery life was realistic under normal browsing and ofice app use Sony won't be able to make enough of these little guys. I'm debating the same as you over the Vaio P Mark 2 (9"+ screen please + 6hr battery minimum) but will have to wait and see. Its only a month away.

I heard somewhere the X is a fanless design. Don't know where, it may have been a video. Can't watch them now as I'm in work (evil admin crew keep trying to stop me installing whatever lifehacker blog on). I'm still winning overall . Will search the web and get back to you.

I love to see Apple try to make a fanless Vaio X or Vaio P competitor. The lawsuits would be great (and profitable ). The iBurn Flesh and iBurn Crotch Classic. Copy and paste becomes a euphemism for skin graft.

Think Different, Think Surgery.

 

I'm not the hardcore type, I just want a laptop that can play Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, and a few older/newer fps games (counter strike source/1.6/warsow/cod-series)

 

Then buy a normal laptop, Z serie will be perfect for you, dont look at vaio X, which will be the far lightess laptop EVER.

Why do some users want ultra voltage core 2 CPUs? What do you plan to do with this, that you need such power? I think Atom is good enough for "normal" usage and SSD will also help here a lot. I dont believe sony can make a passive cooling laptop and put inside core2duo CPU, also, "hardcore" usage will do the same to it as it does to Apple AIR, laptop heats so much that its frequency needs to be lowered so it cools down.

 

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Im in love!

 

You won't be able to play the first two on a X. Nor on a Z for that matter.
You need a so-called "gaming laptop", which will weigh a tonne, cost a fortune, and have battery life measured in minutes, and it still won't be anywhere near the experience you will get from a $900 desktop system or a $300 games console.

 

Looks awesome. But it would really be worth the probable $1999 price tag if it came with a C2D ULV CPU, 2 gigs of RAM, NVIDIA ION IGP, Intel G2 SSD, HDMI port (instead of VGA), and a wider trackpad.

Besides that the rest of the chassis looks great. Matte LED display/lid, 3G/SD card slot, and removable battery should be kept. As well as being cool and quiet, a decent battery life wouldn't hurt either. Not to mention solid build quality.

Release it with Windows 7 and it'll destroy all other thin and lights, premium or otherwise. What do you guys think?

 

we will see, lols

 

Are you sure you didn't forget anything? lol

 

One thing nobody talked about - docking station? Do you think it will have it? because if not, it will be a big shame!

 

I think all the ULV Core2 Duo supporters are simply looking at the X as the successor to the T series. One of the strengths of the TT was that it looked like a netbook but had far greater capabilities. To surrender this ground to simply make the thinnest netbook available would be seen as unfortunate to some, I suspect. I'll admit that the simplicity of the X is attractive, but I will never own a netbook because they're too limiting. If the X turns out to be something else, I will be very interested.

 

Some more rumors talk about Sony X with PineTrail:

http://translate.google.com/transla...-6419.html&sl=it&tl=en&history_state0=&swap=1

The article at the end finishes like that:
"As regards the availability and pricing of Vaio X, Sony talks about "next year" and gives no indication of the cost. Le prime indiscrezioni tuttavia, lasciano intendere un costo compreso tra 1000 e 2000 euro. The first indiscretions, however, suggest a cost of between 1000 and 2000 euros."

What? Next year?I thought that in October was coming.
The price is what I expected, it will depend on the configuration if it will 1000 euros or the high-spec model 2000 euros (bigger SSD, 3G).