This guest post was written by Daniel Shain from LaptopLogic.com where you can read more about laptop models and find the right laptop for your needs.
The netbook world has become increasingly crowded. Recently, netbooks were cited as a chief reason for laptops outselling desktops in the world market last quarter. Netbooks are generally inexpensive and use low-end materials, and several companies known for producing higher end laptops, like Apple and Sony, have so far refused to join in on what they see as a fad. But it looks like the money was too good for Sony, as after rumor after rumor we have finally spotted a teaser on their site for a P-series “netbook”.
We don’t know everything about the new laptop, but what we do know points to it being a stylish and oddly shaped notebook stuffed with netbook guts. We know from previous reports that it will have Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n, and WWAN capabilities, so it’s designed for mobile connectivity. Early looks at the dimensions estimated it at around 9.6”x4.6” (for reference, the HP mini 1000 is 10.3”x6.5”), so it’s designed for mobility too. Sounds like a netbook to us so far.
The teaser has revealed a few more interesting tidbits. We know it will have a 1.33GHz Intel processor, come packed with Windows Vista Home Premium or Basic, feature an 8” LED backlit display with a whopping 1600×768 resolution, and sport either a 60GB HDD or 128GB SSD. Assuming the 1.33GHz Intel processor is of the new dual core crop (which wouldn’t be too big a stretch), those are all a step above your standard netbook features. It’ll assuredly come with a price to match.
Our take on this is intrigued, but not ecstatic. Aside from obviously not showing the price, the teaser intentionally leaves out weight and battery life, so we’re really not sure just how portable this thing is. The resolution is impressive on such a tiny screen, but it remains to be seen if users will have more trouble squinting than they would have had scrolling. And what will the keyboard look like on something so wide and short? Where does the trackpad go?
Stay tuned, because Sony is planning on formally debuting the P-series at CES 2009, which is just days away now at January 9th. Oh, and in case you were wondering, that is a TT-series placeholder in the teaser image. Check out the promo video on Sony’s Japanese site for a quick glance at what the P-series might actually look like.
Update: The price released at CES 2009 was £850
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To be honest, I’m not sure a Vista will be the right choice for a Netbook. After all, we’re going for simplicity and battery time with Netbooks. Vista is certainly not simple and a great battery sucker compared to the likes of XP and Linux. Will Sony ever make a smart choice by ditching Vista for their low-end, battery life focused laptops?
I have to say that whenever I oggle the netbooks in the shops (can’t afford to actually buy one) I always end up looking at the Linux ones. I’m not sure if Vista will actually harm sales of the P-Series, but I’d be more likely to buy a Linux one than a Vista one if given the choice… and the money, of course.
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