Smart netbook
Such is the nature of the technology market these days that, after a couple of years, netbooks can be considered a mature category. As a result, we're now seeing companies try to differentiate themselves in this market by exploring its limits.
Sony doesn't want us to call the VAIO P series a netbook, as opposed to a notebook, but it has an eight inch screen and an Atom processor so, sorry Sony, a netbook it is. But it is a pretty distinctive one. Not only is it one of the lightest you'll find - at 632 grams - a novel form factor and some funky colours, it's got some of the better specs you'll find in a netbook.
Firstly the CPU. Yes it's an Atom, but it's a Z540. This isn't the very latest Pine Trail Atom, but the Z5xx generation all come with GMA 500 graphics, which features Imagination Technologies IP. In effect, this means better graphics than an Atom that relies solely on the graphics processing Intel has managed to develop in-house.
But it's the addition of some components you would normally associate with smartphones that is most noteworthy. There's a GPS chip and a digital compass, designed to enable the VAIO to partake in navigation and location-based services, assisted by some pre-installed map software. There's also embedded 3G.
There's also an accelerometer, which not only allows you to automatically switch between landscape and portrait display mode, but also enable's physical gesture driven control, such as navigating a document by flicking the device one way or the other. Lastly there are also additional trackpad and mouse buttons positioned either side of the screen for thumb-based control when holding the device.
This looks like a bit of a coup for Intel against the ARM ecosystem, which has yet to see mini-notebooks using its processors hit the market. These devices, which we can't name for fear of legal action from opportunistic Germans, are supposed to be the hybrid of a smartphone and a netbook, but Sony has launched a product that could be described as such, but runs full Windows too. Furthermore, it will be available from next month.
Having said that, it only claims five hours battery life and looks like costing around $800+, so it's not ticking all the hybrid boxes.
