New VAIO P coming 9th of January

You really cannot compare HP and Sony. Sony is 0.6kg and HP is 1.3kg, twice more! and its also bigger.

 

You're mistaken. Triangulation is not GPS, which is what these computers have.

 

I was actually responding to this point of yours:

 

I believe I just said that triangulation is not GPS -- that was the whole point.

Do you have any non-sales-material references to there being true GPS?
Like, for instance, someone acquiring actual GPS satellites, or using the "GPS" without a Sprint/Nextel subscription?

 

Sorry my bad.

 

Conversely, how do you know it's NOT true GPS? Why are you automatically assuming it's cell phone triangulation and not GPS?

 

The "GPS" of the P series will work without the subscription to the cell provider here in the US. That is what they have been saying. Now if it's worked out a deal with the cell companies to provide triangulation or if it's a true GPS module in the notebook I am not positive.

 

Because that's what Sony has done before. The "GPS" in the Z series, for example, is "assisted GPS", which requires at least one cell phone tower within reach to work. Even if it has satellite capability, it's not real GPS -- it takes the timing data from a single satellite, sends it to the cell phone tower, which sends back a location. If a satellite lock can't be obtained, it will triangulate three cell phone towers instead. That is not GPS -- there's nothing "global" about it, as it requires at least one cell phone tower in the vicinity.

A real GPS will acquire a lock on four satellites, and give you an accurate posistion based on the delay on timestamps from satellites. No cell phone tower is required. You can use it Globally, which is the G in GPS.

 

The Z doesn't have a true GPS and it was never marketed as having true GPS. I mean when I was buying the Sony Vaio Z I never expected to have real GPS.

Now the Sony Vaio P is marketed as having true GPS. Thats the difference, Sony has never said the Sony Vaio Z had GPS, its just a feature you get when you activate WWAN through sprint.

As for some models oversea that do not have GPS. Its either based on different laws in different countries they may prevent Sony from including some features in different countries. Or its based on marketing factors.

 

hey guys!

I saw it this evening in Barcelona SonyStyle Shop!

It is AMAZING, the screen is totally usable, trackpoint i'm not used so a little problem here.

 

Great picture man, thaks!

Looks beautiful, the best picture I have seen...is really like a tiny TX! The screen is another Sony miracle, crazy resolution but very crispy and usable. What was the price in Spain?

 

1000€ the Base model with 1.33ghz/60gb HDD/Vista Home Premium
1100€ the same + Vista Busines + Large battery
1500€ 1.6ghz/128gb SSD/Vist Busines/Large Battery

All with HSDPA.

The model on showroom was a prototype with 1.6 and 60gb HDD. Not a final unit.

 

Base model in EU have vista home premium, while in US vista basic but no GPS.

thats the only difference according to my observation.

I ordered red P11 at my retailer because he said his vendor already sold all of P that will be in first shipment.

I guess this machine will be a huge deal and sold out pretty fast!

 

double post

 

At Conics.net it gives the option of the internal WWAN/HSDPA & GPS...So I think the GPS is connected somehow with the 3G...it means that the japanese models of the P will have the GPS right?

http://conics.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_40&products_id=401

What about the europeans models? Are they made in Japan?

 

I have read on sony new zeland that all sony vaio P are hand polished and have several layers of paint on the magnesium case. Thats why they are so shiny.

Do you think its true? Each hand polished?

 

It's true that without the P being released yet it is difficult to get absolute confirmation. But the US SonyStyle's description on their Features page is very specific:

A Complete GPS Solution... The Lifestyle PC delivers real-time GPS functionality, including the maps. And you don’t even need an internet connection.​

"don't need an internet connection" sounds a lot like not needing a Sprint subscription.

 

Uh, A-GPS (GPS only with the assistance of cellphone towers is still GPS, using actual GPS satellites, and it is not the same as triangulation which GSM/EDGE phones use. You seem to think that only a blackbox device with Garmin printed on it and no internet access can be called GPS.

It is very easy to suss out the difference between triangulation and GPS - one pinpoints your location within feet, and the other can place you in a general vicinity.

 

I believe that a-gps is a device that can use data from network provider to get data if there is no data via satellites. Correct me, if i am wrong.

Because my PDA have a-gps and it works even if i turn off phone/gprs connection.

 

New atom on the way, inevitable the P will pick this up I think

http://www.trustedreviews.com/cpu-memory/news/2009/01/14/Atom-Update-Coming-Q3/p1

 

Um, no, it's not. GPS = Global Positioning System.

Something that requires nearby and cooperative cell phone towers for location, but can use GPS satellite data to increase precision is no more GPS than a car driving on a runway is a plane.

I hope that the P has real GPS, and thus can be used everywhere, but judging by what Sony has done before, I won't believe it until I see it.

 

You're splitting hairs.

 

AGPS is Assisted GPS.

Assisted GPS has both:

1. Normal GPS; and
2. triangulation using cell towers.

So both Mark Larson's definition (the part you quoted) and the effect of your comment above are wrong. I think Mark Larson understands what AGPS means, but the post is not entirely clear.

Please show us where the Z is advertised as having GPS...

Of course, definitely wait before you buy. You really seem to have a love/hate relationship with Sony...

 

I doubt, because it will be from N2xx serie, and P uses N5xx serie because it offers hardware accelleration for HD videos.

 

GPS is a project created by the Department of Defense. It was later put into civilian use under certain standards and specifications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm
http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/

The links above explains how GPS works and how GPS can be assisted, Differential GPS.

 

Nice video on

http://www.cnet.co.uk/

 

The VAIO-P's designer spills some secrets

9.2" screen is hot.

 

The difference between GPS, which works all over the globe (except in deep valleys where you seldom see four satellites) and "assisted GPS", which only works near a cell phone tower is splitting hairs? Like 95% of the world for $0 per year versus 5% of the world for $500 per year?

If you want to use it when sailing, hiking or vacationing, those hairs can be quite relevant.

Again, I hope the P has real GPS, but I'd like to see some evidence before I believe it.

 

Most A-GPS units these days include full GPS functionality but use A-GPS to help speed up initial positioning. Oddly enough, on some devices it actually slows down overall GPS performance by having the device continually switch between GPS and A-GPS, so it is actually advisable to disable A-GPS if your device will allow you to do that.

But I digress. The P itself does not have GPS (or A-GPS), it's simply a part of the WWAN card and will therefore differ by market. You'll have to look at the specs of each individual WWAN card to know which type of GPS functionality is included. Otherwise you could just buy your own mini-PCIe GPS card and add it in yourself.

And if I might make a conjecture, most people will probably remain in areas where A-GPS is available. And if you're going sailing, hiking or vacationing, the P is not the device for you.

 

There's two types of A-GPS - one is where you can only use the GPS in range of a cell tower thanks to evil kkkorporations, and one where you get better TTFF and better coverage when you're in range of a cell tower.

For example, the iPhone uses the second type of A-GPS. Another example is the Nokia N95 which only used the "real GPS" in the first iteration, but added A-GPS later, which led to a much better GPS experience when enabled.

 

gotta ask, why do you always link to the comments?

 

Sorry, never knew clicking the permalink too you right to the article.

 

Does this mean there will be next vaio P model with 9.2" ?

 

Sony Vaio-P Low and High End Specs Comparison

 

Vista looks slow but useable on this 1.3 model video review

http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/200901151217/hands-on-with-the-sony-vaio-p-series/page-2.html

 

Lol, what kinda idiots write this reviews? Do they know nothing about taxes and differents selling markets, etc?

 

Really what is this model?

http://flickr.com/photos/cool3c/3198422237/in/set-72157612548885827/

This is the 9.2" screen? Wow, this would be perfect.

I think it will come in the near future a similar option.

 

Its the prototype. I think its a mockup screen only. They shortened the screen to put in the mobile 3G and wifi ariels

 

Both tests are heavily influenced by HDD speed, which SSD should win easily as the results show. Love to see them do some more tests that pit the 1.86GHz Z540 against SU9400.

 

5 minutes to boot up?

Vista on this device = EPIC FAIL

 

I wonder if anyone has got windows 7 working ok .engadget couldn't get it all working

 

This is a review
http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/sony-vaio-vgn-p11z-g---788/1
You can translate it to read it.

Btw, i broke my TX and i considered getting a P but the battery life issue made me pass up on it and decide to repair my TX. I need very good battery life and i was impressed when Sony first stated 8 hours with the extended battery but it does not live up to that. Also, i am not that keen with the way the laptop lifts up with the extended battery. Also, the 1.6 processor V 1.33 did weigh on my mind as well.

If you don't need very good battery life then it could be right for you.

 

I think battery life will be good enough with the necessary tweaks.

My G11 came with Vista, normally it would state 5 hours battery life. After some tweaking it would state 9 hours.

Notebookjournal says 196 minutes with 30% CPU load on the standard battery.

 

My TX does a bit better than that with Vista even what is with probably an 18 months old battery. It is odd though as they have both exactly the same hardware. I think that the TX might have a higher capacity battery so that might be the reason. I was getting at times over 7 hours with Vista with the standard battery in power saver mode.

When i switched to XP the battery life went up close to 9 hours. It might have gone over that but i cannot remember now. This is in power saver mode and not Vaio Ultimate mode.

Even with mobile broadband in Vista i was getting about 6 hours battery life which is very good battery life to be getting with mobile broadband. When i look at battery life i deduct from it to take into account mobile broadband. I think laptopmag tested it over mobile broadband and they got something like 2 hours 4 mins of the standard battery.

 

The highest I could get on the G11 (wifi) on was 10 hours in Vista.

G has a different screen than the TX.

With some tweaking I think 4 hours with the P and default battery is possible. That would be enough for me.

 

I agree with your figures Phil.

I was guessing that the P would be able to hit about 4 hours over wifi. I also thought that it would get about 2 hours 45 minutes over mobile broadband. With the laptopmag test it came out a little worse at 2 hours 4 minutes but i don't know what settings they were using.

For a lot of people it would be enough. If you commute though for long hours you will need more.

Are you considering buying one?

 

I like it a lot, but the high price for the 1.6 model and the small pixels are stopping me at the moment.

I should really try the pixel size before I buy it. Even the TZ annoyed me sometimes, and that pixel size is a lot larger.

 

I like it a lot too, but same here some things are stopping me.

1) Vista+slow CPU
2) Battery life

They could be resolved if someone orders from Japan, the 1.86 ghZ CPU and the extended battery, but then the price is the major deal-breaker.

I think I will wait for the refresh of the P in a few months...What do you things guys Sony can improve/change on this model?

 

Just one quetion:
I believe the idea of Netbooks is to have something ultra portable.
Now the TZ got several hours,
the old SZ got 2hours on "Vaio Optimized "with everything running, you can get over 4 hours quite easiyl out of it.

Isn't 2 hours and a bit a bit low for a high quality Sony product?
And doesn't it defy the point of a netbook?

 

Sony defies logic (See the prices!)

But you gotta give it to them, cause their motto is "Be. Like. No. Other" Lol