Slider hybrid Ultrabook: Sony VAIO Duo 11

Sony has announced a Windows 8 based Slider hybrid Ultrabook/Tablet PC: the Sony VAIO Duo 11

Slider hybrid Ultrabook from Sony combines fully-featured PC productivity with tablet convenience

• Surf Slider™ design transforms full-function Ultrabook™ PC into tablet operating mode for on-the-go computing
• Slim and light: weighs approximately 1.3kg and 17.85mm thin
• 29.4cm (11.6”) wide view Full HD touchscreen
• Comfortable and precise hand-writing experience with a digitizer stylus pen

VAIO Duo 11 puts touch and handwriting right at the heart of your Windows 8 computing experience. Write, sketch and interact with media and applications on the responsive, touch capable, super-bright Full HD OptiContrast™ Panel. A unique pressure-sensitive digitizer stylus gives the satisfying, expressive feel of handwriting directly on the touchscreen. Make notes, sketch diagrams or ring key points on your presentation with supple responses and imperceptible latency. Smart text recognition even lets you quickly convert handwritten notes to text for easy archiving and searches.

Optional Sheet-type battery extends battery life, and also incorporates a handy digitizer stylus holder.

Sony updates the Vaio P Series (tiny notebook)

Sony has updated the Vaio P Series of mini notebooks. Starting at $799, these slim little computers can probably fit in your white coat pocket. The new features include a touch pad (it's really a thumb pad) and a built-in accelerometer. In addition to rotating the screen, tilting the device will also move web pages forwards or backwards (tilt and navigate). I think a "tilt and pan" would be an interesting feature to build into mobile computers. You can read more about the updated Sony Vaio P on Engadget.

Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 vs. Sony Vaio P

Thinking about getting a really small PC? How about a tiny PC? Well, maybe you've been playing with the Sony Vaio P series at your local Sony store. If you want something that's even smaller, then you may want to look at the Fujitsu LifeBook UH900.

At Pocketables.net, you can see some great photos comparing the Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 vs. Sony Vaio P. So, if you thought the Vaio P series had a small keyboard, think again!  Image source: pocketables.net

Sony Vaio P or Fujitsu LifeBook UH900?

The Sony Vaio P is a tiny little computer. The Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 is also a tiny little computer. So which one is better?

If you're a fan of tablet computers and touch screens, then the UH900 is the obvious winner. However, neither device is "perfect" in my opinion. If you're a busy health care professional and you're looking for a tiny little computer that you can put in your purse or glove compartment, then either of these will suffice.

Unfortunately, these novel computers are not priced like netbooks. However, let's hope that prices will come down as more competition arises. I'm not sure that I'd buy a clamshell computer if I want something really small. I currently have both an OQO model 02 and a Samsung Q1 Ultra, so I've experienced the mini tablet, the slider QWERTY, and everything in the middle.

Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 (Smallest Multi-Touch Handheld PC)

I've owned several Fujitsu tablet PCs. They recently announced their smallest multi-touch handheld PC called the LifeBook UH900. Here's a snippet from their recent press release:

Combining amazing engineering with the latest technology, Fujitsu presents the LifeBook UH900, delivering unprecedented mobility with complete PC performance capabilities and multi-touch feature. Featuring a 5.6-inch vivid glare screen and estimated to be the size of a long wallet, the 20.4cm x 10.65cm x 2.38cm ultra lightweight LifeBook UH900 has an unrivalled sleek design which can be easily slotted into a clutch bag or a pocket! With full wireless communications capabilities and also a 3.5G configuration, the LifeBook UH900 charts the epitome of ultraportables with full-featured PC performance.

Reminds me of the Sony Vaio P series, except that this device features a touch screen. I'm sure this one's going to be expensive! I'm guessing that this will be replacing the existing U or U800 series (U810, U820, etc.). I wish that the screen on the UH900 could flip all the way back or swivel like a convertible tablet PC. That was a feature found on the U800 series.

Sony Vaio P for $299?

The Sony Vaio P is a tiny little computer. I can't call it a netbook. Sony won't like that. It's generally priced at $849 (less if you get a refurbished model from the Sony Outlet), but it may appear on Verizon Wireless for $299 if you commit to a 2-year contract with a data plan.

What do I think about the Vaio P? I think it's a great little computer if you like tiny font on a small screen and you don't need long battery life. I've had several computers made by Sony and I'd buy another Sony, but I won't pay retail for a Sony. I enjoy playing with gadgets at the retail Sony store, but you won't find me walking out of that place with a bag in my hand.

More touch-screen desktops appearing this fall

Windows 7 features some unique multi-touch capabilities and we will start to see more touch-screen desktop computers appearing this fall. I wonder if all this multi-touch excitement will revive the tablet PC market (probably not, right?).

So the Sony Vaio L is Sony's first touch-screen PC. HP has the TouchSmart PC. A growing number of manufacturers are making desktop PCs that utilize touch-screens that can leverage Windows 7 features. Soon, hospitals and physician offices will be leveraging more touch-screens through a combination of tablet PC use, mobile clinical assistants (MCAs), and even touch-screen desktop PCs.

The Viliv S7 reminds me of my Fujitsu P1610

The Viliv S7 is a really tiny convertible tablet and it reminds me of a convertible tablet I once owned: the Fujitsu LifeBook P1610. Fujitsu now has the P1630 and it's a really nice (tiny) convertible tablet that has a decent keyboard.

So, Viliv is a small company that is starting to create some novel computers that are really small. The S7 has a 7" touch screen and it's a bit smaller than the Fujitsu P series, so I can't speak for its keyboard. When the keyboard gets too small, it becomes too difficult to use. For example, the Sony Vaio P series is probably too small for most people. Of course, Sony was targeting women with the Vaio P and I suppose that makes sense since most women have smaller fingers compared to men. This is especially true if you're talking about Asian women.

Viliv is a Korean company and I think it has potential if they create products that are high in quality. Earlier this year, they launched the S5 and the X70.

Sony VAIO X netbook

Wow, this looks like it's going to be a really think netbook. The Sony Vaio X is only 1/2" thick. It's probably so think that it will break when you lift it up. Something tells me this netbook won't be in the $200-300 range. Take a look at the photos on Engadget.

Ways to use a dying laptop

I have an old Sony Vaio laptop that's slowly been dying over the past few years. It began with some occasional unexpected shut downs. Now, I'm getting the blue screen of death (BSOD) even when I'm trying to reinstall Windows. I'm fairly certain that the problem is rooted in a bad motherboard. In some ways, I'm surprised that it's lasted this long. However, now I feel that this laptop is finally on its way to the grave. So, I could sell it for parts. Perhaps I could modify it so that I can use it as a digital photo viewer. I've done that with some really old laptops. Since the LCD screen works fine, perhaps that's what I'll do at the end of the day.

The trouble with mobile computers is that they are often more prone to problems due to physical trauma. Laptops get dropped. They fall off desks. You carry them around and they endure extensive vibration, even if they're in a bag. Portable computers simply don't have the same level of reliability compared to desktops that hardly ever get moved around. Perhaps as mobile computing technology improves and we rely on fewer moving parts (like those found in hard drives), we'll actually see some reliability improvements over time. The irony in my case is that the defective part in question is RAM - no moving parts there.

How much do you pay for a PC?

I was looking through some old records and I noticed that just a few years ago, I spent a lot of money for a new computer! Now, you can get netbooks for less than $300. At one time, I bought a tiny Sony Vaio laptop that was over $2,000!

A desktop that I had purchased back in 2004 was over $700 and that was even from an outlet store! Just last year, I purchased several desktops for a physician office for less than $300 each.

It really is incredible to look at the evolution of computer prices.

Touch screen Sony Vaio

I have a Sony Vaio laptop. However, it doesn't have a touch screen. They've had a history of making some great mobile computers, but we have yet to see a true tablet PC from Sony. I'm not counting the Vaio UX series when I'm talking about touch screen.

Well, there are circulating rumors that Sony will come out with a Vaio that has a touch screen. Windows 7 integrates some nice "touch" features, so whether this touch screen is built into a desktop or a laptop, it will be a nice feature. There's a part of me that wonders if all future computers will have some type of touch screen. Perhaps computers in the future will primarily rely on voice recognition and touch. No keyboard, no mouse. Can you imagine that?

Should mobile PCs have a thumb keyboard?

As more healthcare professionals use smartphones (BlackBerry, Treo, etc.) that have a thumb keyboard, they're getting fairly proficient at thumb typing. You don't need to have a T-Mobile Sidekick to know how to use a thumb keyboard.

Does it make sense to include thumb keyboards on more mobile devices such as ultra-mobile PCs (UMPC)? The OQO model 02 had a thumb keyboard. The Sony Vaio UX series also had a thumb keyboard. Samsung added a thumb keyboard to the Q1 Ultra UMPC series when the original Q1 did not have a thumb keyboard.

Does it make sense to have a thumb keyboard on smaller slate tablet PCs? If we follow the Samsung model, we see this:

• Original Q1 (slate only, no thumb keyboard)
• Q1 Ultra (slate plus thumb keyboard)
• Q1 EX (slate only, no thumb keyboard)

Does this reveal that the thumb keyboard on an ultra-mobile slate tablet PC was a flop? What about sliders? The OQO and Sony UX both included a thumb keyboard. Even the Nokia N810 MID has a thumb keyboard. However, the Viliv S5 does not. Does that make sense?

Sony Vaio P

It appears that Sony is refreshing the Vaio P series this fall. What do we expect to see, other than Windows 7? Will they include a backlit keyboard? (I doubt it, even though it could really use it). What about a lower price? If you haven't had a chance to play around with a Vaio P, I urge you to watch this video and then walk into your nearby Sony store. I don't think you'll walk out with one, but you'll be impressed by this little toy.

Sony's official netbook: the Vaio W

The Sony Vaio W is being called a netbook, even by Sony. Although they don't call their Vaio P a netbook (I suppose P=Pocket book, so why didn't they go with N=netbook?), the Vaio W is an official netbook. However, instead of being priced below $400, it appears that it will cost roughly $500 for this netbook. Why Sony? Just because it's branded a Sony product? I'm a big fan of Sony products, but I'm not a fan of their high prices.

We can now get really nice netbooks for less than $400. Many of the major computer manufacturers have a netbook. The Sony Vaio P is extremely expensive in comparison. Plus, the P has such a small screen that I wonder how many people have found it to be useful. The Vaio W sports a 10.1" screen and a decent keyboard. Like many other netbooks, the specs are very familiar: a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM, Windows XP, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n, VGA out, two USB ports, Ethernet, webcam, and MemoryStick / SD card readers.

So, do you have a netbook? If you don't, do you plan on getting one? If so, which one? These are the types of questions I love to ask, because at the end of the day, you have to answer the ultimate question: "why?"

Sony Vaio UX Used by John Connor in Terminator

I thought the Sony Vaio UX was dead. However, you may have caught a glimpse of it in the movies. It appeared in the latest James Bond movie, and it's also on the new Terminator movie. I don't have a Sony Vaio UX (I decided to get an OQO model 02 instead of the Sony Vaio UX series). Had they used the OQO in the new Terminator movie, would this have saved the sinking company? (I doubt it)

You'll see some interesting biomedical concepts in the new Terminator movie. I don't wish to spoil things for people who plan to watch it, so I won't go into any details. The movie wasn't great, but it wasn't too bad either. My wife and I were both entertained. The critics gave it a C+ and I give it a solid B.

HP Mini 1151NR Netbook on Verizon Wireless

I told you it was coming. Here it is. Verizon Wireless now offers the HP Mini 1151NR. Is this a business-class netbook or purely a consumer model? You can visit the Verizon Wireless store and try one out.

It's hard to believe that netbooks are so affordable. Several years ago, I spent over $2,000 for a tiny Sony Vaio laptop that would now be equivalent to a modern netbook that only costs $300.

Top Posts in April 2009

Here were the top posts for April 2009:

1. Windows 7 Build 7077 on the Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC

2. Windows 7 RC (build 7100) to Expire June 1, 2010

3. Reflections on the Sony Vaio UX and the OQO

4. Viliv S5 Premium UMPC

5. MacBook Air Closeout

Reflections on the Sony Vaio UX and the OQO

I've been thinking about the Sony Vaio UX series and the OQO. Both are very small computers. Both have slideout keyboards. Both run a full Windows operating system like XP or Vista. The Sony Vaio UX isn't made anymore and the OQO probably won't be made anymore. So what's the problem with these types of devices?

High price killed them. With small netbooks coming out at an average of $300, it's very difficult to justify the purchase of a small computer that's over $1500 or even $2000. Given the enconomic hardships that this country is experiencing, price is even more critical. Therefore, I can understand why companies like OQO are struggling and why Sony decided to end the UX series and come out with the Sony Vaio P super-tiny-laptop-that's-not-a-netbook.

Sony Vaio P

So, when will Sony add a backlit keyboard to their Vaio P series? I'm a big fan of Sony products, but I will not purchase the Vaio P unless it comes with a backlit keyboard. I'm willing to pass on a touch screen (unless we're talking about a convertible tablet), but I must insist that the device have an illuminated keyboard.

Why am I so insistent? Well, I spend a fair amount of time doing work while I'm sitting in my bed and my wife is asleep. I have a USB light that shines down on the keyboard, but this can be quite disruptive. My wife has a MacBook Pro that has a backlit keyboard and it's a great machine (but a bit too big for my uses). I like tiny gadgets - that's just who I am. I used to use my OQO model 02 (which does have illuminated keys), but that's just too small and the fan is too loud. So, I often sit in bed typing on my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 tablet and using the USB light that has a bright LED on the end.