Sony readies Via-based low-cost mini-notebook...

According to Techspot.com, there are rumors that Sony will be announcing a low-cost notebook that will directly compete with the Asus Eee, MSI Wind and others. Unfortunately, the notebook will only have an option for a VIA processor, not an Intel.

"Sony will soon join the low-end ultra-mobile PC bandwagon with a notebook based on the VIA OpenBook reference design. While there is limited information about the notebook, rumors suggest the system will run a 1.6GHz C7-M processor, while sporting a 60GB hard drive, 1GB of memory, WiMax support, and Windows Vista Home Basic. Sony has not stepped up to claim the system, so it's all speculation for now, but more information should arrive in the coming months as Quanta says the notebook will ship in Q3. The move would certainly impy a big shift in Sony's strategy for the notebook market and a significant boost for Via."

Any opinions?

 

I do not think this will happen and I REALLY hope it will not happen.

Sony has always made their own designs, especially beautiful ones for their smaller notebooks. So I simply cannot believe they would simply rebrand Via's OpenBook design and not create their own and I also hope they will not use Via either, especially the current C-7 processor, which runs hot and has very poor performance.



I do feel that Sony will release a 7 to 9" subnotebook to compete with the others on the market. But I want them to make a costlier, higher end model, not try to make a cheap $300 to $500 model. I want them to sort of create an 7-9" version of the Vaio TZ.

I want them to try to emulate the HP Mini-Note which has things over the competition (Asus EEE, MSI Wind, etc.) like Express card slot and higher resolution screen (1280x768 vs 1024x600 in others), but without the horrible Via processor the HP has.

I hope they will bring back the C1 Picturebook model which lasted from 1998 to 2002 for its 10th anniversary.

 

I hope that they won't use VIA at all. They should stick with Intel. I guess its just to keep the cost low.
I hope they'll be the first to implement a real graphics card and not an integrated one in such a small notebook. Let's be optimistic here...anything is possible. Maybe they'll utilize an advanced version of their PSP graphics chip?

 

Here's an interesting website. They even include a picture of Sony's upcoming VIA low-cost notebook.
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/06/02/sony.micro.notebook.leak/

 

Isn't that a G series?

 

It maybe a G series. I'm not sure. Maybe the VIA ultraportable will be similar in design? Let's keep a look out for announcements.

 

I'm actually looking forward to this release...if the rumors are true The only problem is, coming from Sony it most likely will not be "low cost" which defeats the purpose.

Keep in mind, most people who buy these types of laptops are either young educational people, geeks or people who buy them to compliment their other devices. All of which these ULCPCs do just fine.

 

It has to be low-cost if Sony wants to compete with the Asus Eee and MSI Wind etc. Otherwise, what will the purpose of such a notebook be? Sony will fall behind the competition again.

 

Sony really has never really catered to the lower end, less expensive market. They started to recently with the N and NR series though.

I must be one of the few that want them to make a notebook the size of the EEE and Wind, but make it higher priced and have higher specs, like the HP Mini-Note which costs more but also have more features the others do not.

I don't want them to directly compete with the cheap subnotebooks, but make a higher priced one but also make it great, putting in a fantastic screen, strong battery, etc.

Sony isn't really trying to become the number one PC maker, but they cater to a bit of a niche market, especially with their ultraportables, which I like.

 

I don't really like ultraportables though. I prefer a 15-17 inch notebook range. It is just more comfortable to use. Ultra-portables are often expensive. For the price of a TZ series, you can easily get two FZ series notebooks with a blu-ray player included. You get more bang for your buck.
The cheaper sub-notebooks that are being currently released are sort of pointless for people looking for performance and build-quality. It's intended for business and people who need the most basic functionality. I find that a lot of sub-notebooks in the market today are overpriced, because of the more compact technologies they use which are harder to make. It's either mobility or performance.