Sony VAIO W Netbook announced in Japan

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/07/sony-announces-vaio-w-netbook/

 

There seems to be a lot of excess wasted space surrounding the keyboard and touchpad. Hopefully they aren't using 11" chassi.

 

Girls would love it.. So cute... :X

 

Same could kind of be said with the current TT(I think Sony could have either made it smaller like the TZ or put a 11.3in screen on it). With that said I have mixed feelings that this has the same resolution as my machine, which I am assuming cost a hefty bit more. Would have kind of bothered me more if it had an ION GPU(and even more so if they paired it with a dual core Atom). Too bad Sony didn't up the CPU to 1.66ghz Atom.

This could be a perfect machine to hackintosh.

 

the pink one looks nice. perfectly match color. nice

 

Brown is CTO only

 

Looks nice but the price is way too high.

 

You don't even know what the price is..

Scratch that, they updated the page.

 

Looks like a smaller CS. I would rather Sony lowers the price of P, but I guess this is not bad, either. Strangely, there is no option for English keyboard so far.

 

It is also selling in the UK and probably will be sold in the rest of the EU. I was not expecting that.
http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProductCategory.action?site=voe_en_GB_cons&category=VN+W+Series

Battery life is not that great. It is good to see Sony entering this market. I'm that keen on netbooks though. May be i should be but i'm just not. I prefer fully featured ultraportables like TX and TT. When you do have netbooks like this though it does make it harder to drop over £1,500 on a notebook like the TT especially when the processor caps at 1.4 in the EU. The graphics card i'm fine with and i don't think that needs to change.

 

Lower 1/3 price of P.I will consider it.....

this one is too bulky for a netbook.

 

I like the pink one.

*slaps self*

Anyway, the panel mouldings are less critical than the TT, so should stand up better to normal use. But yeah - too little, too late in general.

However, don't get too caught up in the 1.6 vs 1.4ULV comparisons - in terms of work you can do, the ULV C2D's are a completely different beastie to the N270's. I have had 1.33Ghz Core Solo machines which are noticeably slower than even the current 1. 2ULV C2D machines, and even those CS's are noticeably faster than the N270. Ergo, ULV C2D's are significantly faster than the Atoms even if clocked lower.

But it's ironic isn't it that Acer, Asus, etc don't have a highly visible true ultraportable in their lineup - so they can make the most out of the netbook format without prejudicing the other lineup. Sony has the TT to worry about, so they can't make the W too good.

 

According to Laptopmag, the US price is $499. Still too much imo for a 3 cell. What exactly are you paying for? All you are paying for is eyecandy. Higher resolution too, but doesn't justify the price tag, especially with a 3-celled battery. Eyecandy isn't worth the larger price tag imo.

It actually has the same height and dimensions as every other netbook out there.

 

$499 and only 2 usb ports...

 

Vogelbung, i know the SUXXX ULV C2D processors perform much better than what is used in netbooks. Regardless of whether this netbook had been released i would still want the best possible ULV processor in an ultraportable. I would also want the difference to be also as much as possible as well over a netbook especially if i am parting with over £1,500 and probably closer to £1,700.
I guess this netbook will give some people less decentive to buy the Sony TT.
To me although a 1.2 ULV SUXXX is fine for everyday tasks a 1.6 gives me a bit more processing power if i do need it in the future.

Edited to add:
I would think that the HD is a standard 2.5 HD like most netbooks use or has Sony dropped a 1.8 HD into the W like they did with the TT.

 

well overpriced, in typical Sony fashion.

better be an Ion platform in there or this will tank hard.

 

I dunno if this is too over priced. Many 10in netbooks cost what 400, and don't even come with an HD screen, and if they do its a $30 options. So this maybe a little more but this is still not that high in price. They could have priced it like the Asus S line netbooks.

 

You know, honestly speaking I can't recommend the TT to anyone at the moment. A couple of design faults too many.

 

Yeah I'm having second thoughts after looking at other netbooks with 1366x768 screens, especially the HP netbooks. That seems to be the biggest differentiation (a pretty good one too compared to the 1024x600 screen I'm using).

 

What do you think the design faults are? The lack of a better gpu lke ION?

 

Yeah, overpriced because of crappy battery. Sure the resolution is great but we'll be seeing that resolution along with ION soon and probably for about $500. Sony is the PC's version of Apple in terms of pricing.

 

This isn't over priced when you look at the price of some of the higher end Asus netbooks with out dedicated graphics.

 

Maybe true, but considering that the ION platform is coming toward 3Q this year, and for US$495-499 in theform of the S12, the Vaio W is overpriced for what its asking for, esp. with the 3 cell battery IMO.

ASUS netbooks with dedicated graphics cost a premium since there's no others out there configured like theirs, so ASUS can charge whatever they want for it (though honestly, I'd take a proper normal laptop over the N10J with real processing power as opposed to the Atom, even if the machine comes with integrated graphics VS the 9300m).

At present, one may look at the HP Pavillion DV2 when it comes to cost VS performance ratio in comparison to the W, and (if you include rebates and such for price cutting), you get more processing power and discrete graphics over the Vaio W for little less than $100, and a Dual Core Neo configuration can be had for an extra $30. The DV2 has very solid build quality as well.

Value VS performance wise, the coming S12 will absolutely debilitate the N10J. At present, the DV2 is something I'd consider as well, especially if you're willing to shell out the cash for the low-performance base and, presumably, the build quality of the W.

 

it is clearly overpriced. To discuss any Sony product as if it's not almost always guaranteed to be overpriced is either ignorance or intellectual dishonesty. This is no exception.

some do. the overwhelming majority (at least 90%) can be had for less than $400.

no, it's at least $100 more than it should be, if it were priced competitively.

If they did that, the W would reside in a brushed aluminum case, be about .5" thinner, have a multitouch mouse pad, and come complete with Sworovsky Crystal inserts.

...and all for about $120 less.

so....yea.

is there an indication that this will have anything but integrated graphics? you can't compare apples to steak in order to justify the apples costing as much as the steak.

 

Up on US Sonystyle Looks thick, but at least they did the battery the right way like Asus does there EEE's, down and not out the back.

 

The most dissapointing thing with this W series is the battery life...I don't even consider it anymore. Why Sony can't get a decent 4-5 hrs of battery life in the P series and now in this W, like the TT and Z that have an excellent one?

 

P gets close to 3h on standard battery.

I am sure there will be an extended battery avilable for some 100$ or similar.

You cannot get bigger size battery without noticable physical difference. Decent battery costs almost the price of this little thing....

 

I was referring to the TT. The specs are fine for what it's supposed to be. It's the chassis that's the problem.

 

looks promising~

 

So, how the netbook of Toshiba has the double of battery life? I think they have a similar chassis and the price is quite the same.
The first think I look in a netbook is the battery life. What is the point taking such a device that is underpowered and has also bad battery life? I hope they don't discontinue the P, I am waiting for it with W7.

 

IF you are talking about N200, then it gets about the same battery life than vaio P, close to 3 hours, but it weights about 200 grams more, that is like 15% more.

 

The Toshiba NB200 claims 9 hrs of battery life:

http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/mini-notebook/NB200/mini NB205-N313P

The Vaio P claims 4 hrs, and the users say with the standard 2:30 hrs-with the extended 4:30.
The new Vaio W, Sony writes in the site of US up to 2 hrs! So, with extended maximum 3:30.

Of course, also the NB200 will never get 9 hrs of real usage, but for sure will have 6 hrs which is much different than Vaio.

 

Actually I was referring to the Asus N10e has the same exact specs as every other netbook on the market including the gpu, yet you'd be hard to press to find that model for under $550. The better N10c, with the 9300 gpu, cost around 650-700, which is still over priced when compared to lets say the Lenovo S12 with Ion. http://www.amazon.com/N10E-A1-10-2-...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1247000678&sr=8-7
Yes, Sony, has some over priced computers, but they do have something that attracts us to their computer, and purchase them.

Ah well, would you care to elaborate, as a I am new TT owner.

 

Armadilo, the NB200 gets 9 hrs "stand-by" time with 6-cell battery. Users report with up to 3 hours of real usage using 3-cell battery. There are also some user complaints indicating that their batteries are degrading faster than usual (and this thing has only been available for about 1.5 months).

I am disappointed by the "claimed" battery life of W with 3-cell battery, but again I think we should wait for some real benchmarks.

 

The W comes with a 3-cell battery stock, the Toshiba comes with 6-cell stock. If you upgrade to a 6-cell which is going to be an option supposedly then you'll get same hours.

 

Guys..there are no miracles in terms of battery life. if laptops/netbooks have the same specs and the same cell battery (and about the same voltage on those), the battery life will be almost the same.

Nobody have a miracle stick to extend it...nobody, so its no point in argue about this; Sony W will have about the same battery life as other netbooks in this range..perhaps a little lower duo to its better screen, but I doubt this will be anything significent.

And 3 hours is enough for this baby...if you need a power portable laptop on a go..buy a TT and extended battery, that will give most of the users almost 10 hour of battery life.

Remember..what you pay..is what you get.

 

In response to the posts about Sony's price, everyone seems to forget that Sony is a *premium* brand. You always pay more for Sony. If you can't afford a BMW, you don't complain about the price, you buy an Infiniti.

And with regards to nine hour batteries, I'm not sure that anyone would want to type for nine hours on an 86% keyboard, now watching videos, that's a different matter.

 

Plus, nine hours just isnt gonna happen.

 

Only in the heads of the marketing department folks.

 

You shouldn't compare the Vaio P to anything other than mini-handheld netbooks. It's a completely different weight class, size class, different usage aspect, and uses a different battery.

But the Vaio W is valid for comparison.

 

Kind of hard to compare the P to anything at all besides like a medium sized moleskin notebook.

And supposedly in the heads of the Tegra folks, but we'll see about that.

 

In addition, I will (again, as regarding the P) point out the size and bad location of the right shift key. The arrow keys should be located more gathered and away from the right shift key, and this is quite possible on the given area, and the right shift key should be made a little bit bigger. For writers, at least, the keyboards of Vaio P and now W are "from hell". Hope Sony will change this. For instance, the new EEE has been changed for the much better at this point, and also the LG X110 og Samsung NC10 and NC20 have solved this unnecessary problem.

 

Has anyone pre-ordered a W yet? Would love to hear real feedback once they receive it.

 

The white one doesn't look bad...











Source: Kunkoku

But Sony lets other companies (Toshiba?) make their cheaper models right? This is one off them?

 

I would say that is a strong possibility



And everyone needs to shut it about battery life. THERE IS NO MAGIC TO IT!

Batteries hold x amount of juice at y size and each combination of cpu/gpu/everything else sucks as much juice as it does. You want a battery that will last longer then have less power hungry parts or bigger batteries. Bigger batteries weigh way more and when it comes to the P its ALL about portability and crazy small size. Now, when it comes to the W, bigger batteries are also MORE EXPENSIVE, and it has been stated they will be an option. Think what you want, every atom/1gb netbook is gonna have just about the same battery life as its brethren, the only dif between them is when they have 3cell or 6cell batteries. This one comes with a 3cell standard and a 6cell is an option. Everyone needs to stop whining and think about what they're saying.

 

The battery benchmark is out and W is in line with Aspire One D250 & Toshiba NB200 (known as Dynabook UX in Japan).
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/hothot/20090708_300532.html

Very easy access panel to replace the standard 2.5" 5400RPM HDD, but not so easy to change the RAM -- I guess this is more common in netbook, but this is definitely a first in Sony VAIO.

 

The photos in InspecterJones post 8 July show clearly the points I make about the keyboard differences (arrow keys and right shift key, apart from the difference between the enter keys). If the lowest picture shows the keyboard layout of the new W, I would be happy.

 

Thanks you! I'd like to say thats a surprise but its not, can everyone stop complaining about battery life now and get a clue?

Yea it is a bit annoying, but I don't think these machines are meant to be typed on like a normal notebook. I know that's no excuse, but I'm coming from sometimes using my GF's EEE 901 which had the shift key to the right of the arrows so this is all gravy to me.

 

So are there any news when this little babbies are about to hit Europe? Same question for new models, NW?

 

Some more info about the battery life of the W and how it looks the 6-cell battery on it:

http://translate.google.it/translat...-6011.html&sl=it&tl=en&history_state0=&swap=1