Showing posts with label Netbook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Netbook. Show all posts

Saturday, June 25, 2011

VAIO X-Series Review

Sony Vaio X fits a large-size office 
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We live in an interesting world, where portable computer systems have become more popular than desktop PCs and people prefer smaller devices, as they can provide a very basic computing experience in an ultraportable form factor. While netbooks appear to have been last year's craze, it now looks that the majority of users are looking for PCs that are a bit more performance-capable, but can still deliver the portability factor that netbooks are known for. This is how the market for ultraportable PCs grew, giving us a choice for a number of new platforms from both AMD and Intel.
On that note, we start off our review of the famous VAIO X ultraportable, a system that Sony launched back in late 2009 as the “world's lightest notebook.” The claim alone put the Japanese giant in another battle with Cupertino, California-based Apple, which is famous for their MacBook Air laptop. But that was probably Sony's intention, namely to develop a product that could seriously compete with Apple's pride and joy, in the market for the world's most portable computer system. However, looking for the lightest design and the most compact form factor took Sony on a different path than the one Apple chose for their Air.

The way the Japanese giant tackled the issue of lightness and portability was by developing a laptop based on one of the most efficient x86 platforms on the market, namely that of Intel's Atom. Now, for most users, Intel's Atom is synonymous with small, low-power, computer systems primarily good for one thing: Internet browsing. That puts Sony's VAIO X in a different category, most likely one of its own.

With the VAIO X, the PS3 creator really pushed the limits of their design capabilities, developing a product that bridges the gap between smartphones and portable computing systems. In addition, the X-series is also a confirmation of Sony's expertise in the ultraportable segment, as a company that has always been looking to promote new form factors and slim-line designs, even as back as when the Pentium chips were on the market, for those that remember the VAIO PCG-505 model.

Basically, the VAIO X is an evolution from a line of products that Sony is very fond of and makes use of all of the company's experience in that field. But also, dare we say it, it's a very nice-looking piece of machinery. But before we draw any conclusions, lets us continue with the review and go through all the necessary steps.

 
Sony Vaio X - closed
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Sony Vaio X - closed
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Sony VAIO P (2010 Edition) Netbook Review

Vaio P - front/left angle view
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I'm not really sure just how many of you can still recall the advent of netbooks, as well as the fact that some of the world's most important portable computing solutions' manufacturers sort of shunned away at the idea at the first, with Asus being one of the sole backers of this trend, at least in the beginning.
 
 
Anyway, Sony was actually no different from the others, so they've adopted the netbook trend quite late, a lot later than most of the competition, in fact. Funny thing, they haven't even called it a netbook, but rather a “Lifestyle PC”, in an attempt to differentiate themselves from the competition.

This brings us to the subject at hand, because Sony's first-ever netbook series was the Vaio P, which is exactly the subject of our review. Of course, we're not talking here about the original model released in early 2009, but about the 2010 version, which comes with some very interesting upgrades, both inside and outside.

In spite of getting an upgraded CPU, more memory (both in terms of RAM and storage), as well as a rather interesting set of gimmicks, mostly related to controls, the Vaio P is, primarily, a computing system designed more to impress on-lookers and to provide a supreme level of portability, than actual be useful for doing any time-consuming work.

Sure, it's ultra-portable, it's very good looking, and will prove to be great at checking e-mails or browsing the web, but its minuscule keyboard and screen will actually make it sort of in-practical for long-time use. But these are just a few starting words, so let's move on to the next chapter of our review, where we thoroughly detail the Vaio P's design features.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Lenovo Ideapad S9 and S10: New Netbook

Lenovo Ideapad S10
Lenovo, computer manufacturer which bases on Morrisville, North Carolina, United States, introduces their newest product: Lenovo Ideapad S9 and S10. This Netbook will be sold under US$ 500.

This netbook designed with efficient power factor. It weight is below 3 pound only. The presence of Ideapad S10 surely invites the enthusiasm of netbook users. Though Lenovo do not suggest the users to change their netbook, Ideapad S10 offers various advantages that are possibly makes user to consider again their laptop.

Ideapad S10 came with two versions, 10 inches and 9 inches. 9 inch version will be available first. Both is using 3 cell battery power for 3 hour usage or 6 cell battery for 6 hour. Both versions have 80 and 160 Gigabyte harddisk.

Ideapad S10 is equipped by two USB ports, Ethernet, webcam, headphone jack, and 4-in-1 card reader slot.

Before, HP 2133 Mini-Note is becoming the only netbook which having ExpressCard slot for WWAN. But now the facility also can be met in Ideapad S10.

IdeaPad S9 specs

* CPU: Intel Atom N270 at 1.6GHz
* RAM: 1GB of DDR2 memory
* Screen: 8.9″ Widescreen
* Storage: 4GB SSD, or 80GB hard disk
* Networking: Ethernet, Wifi 802.11B/G, Bluetooth (optional)
* Webcam: 1.3MP
* VGA output
* OS: Linux Linpus lite or windows xp
* Memory card reader: SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro
* 2 USB ports
* Dimensions: 9.8″ x 7.2″ x 1.08″
* Expresscard/34 slot
* Weight: ~2 pounds
* Price: $399 (about 258€)


IdeaPad S10 specs

* CPU: Intel Atom N270 at 1.6GHz
* RAM: 1GB DDR2 memory
* Screen: 10.2″ Widescreen (1024×600), led backlight
* Storage: 160GB hard disk
* Networking: Ethernet, Wifi 802.11B/G, Bluetooth (optional)
* Webcam: 1.3MP
* D-SUB VGA output
* OS: Linux Linpus lite or windows xp
* Memory card reader: SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro
* 2 USB ports
* Expresscard/34 slot
* Dimensions: 9.8″ x 7.2″ x 1.08″
* Weight: ~2.2 pounds
* Price: $449 (about 290€)
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