Guess who is going to join the Verizon’s netbook range? The very tiny SONY VAIO P!
The specs have not undergone huge change except for the fact that it now comes with a much bigger 160GB HDD and wireless broadband module (which is absent in some International models). Other specs: 2GB RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium and that 8-inch screen with super high resolution (1600×768)
Price: $299.99 with a 2 year contract. Sounds a bit expensive. Yes, but then it is SONY.
Currently, Gateway LT2016U, HP Mini 311 and HP Mini 110 are being offered by Verizon and we are sure that SONY VAIO P (review) will attract a lof of people due to small size and light weight.
There is no need to use 9.04 Ubuntu’s drivers now on the Karmic Koala as there are new GMA 500 drivers for the Karmic Koala. Just add the following repositories to the sources (System>Administration>software sources>”Other Software”)
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/lucazade/gma500/ubuntu/ karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/lucazade/gma500/ubuntu/ karmic main
..and then install psb-kernel sources and psb-kernel headers using the following commands:
sudo apt–get install psb-kernel-source
sudo apt-get install psb-kernel-headers
sudo apt-get install psb-modules
Reboot.
Note: You can reboot using sudo reboot in the terminal
I just installed Ubuntu 9.10 on the VAIO P and unlike 9.04, its 1600×768 resolution is supported out of the box! In 9.04 Ubuntu, you had to quite a few tweaks to get it running in full resolution, but that problem is now gone in Ubuntu 9.10. Full review to follow today
SONY VAIO P originally shipped with the Windows Vista and later on, after few months, we saw official Windows XP variants of it. Windows Vista, out of box, ran pretty badly due to the large amount of crapware installed by Sony. I went for a fresh Windows Vista installation (at that time) and tweaked the heck out of it and it ran pretty fine. Now that the Windows 7 is finally here, it made perfect sense to try it out. I installed it via USB method that I mentioned here
Click on read more to read the full article
We were just waiting for the Shanzai folks to come up with a clone this netbook notebook: Sony Vaio P. The clone features a 10-inch screen with 1024×600 resolution and has Atom N270 processor. It has 1GB RAM and 160GB HDD. Like VAIO P, it has 2 USB 2.0 ports, but it weighs much more: 1.16 kg
At first glance, it may look fantastic, but it is actually not. It has lower res-screen; less RAM and is not as portable. Real VAIO P has 1600×768 display, 8-inch screen and weighs less than 650gm.
Many people, like me, love to dual-boot. Until now, I ran Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 on my VAIO, but being a Linux geek, I could not stop myself in installing Ubuntu. I went for the Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop edition this time as I thought that VAIO P has extra-ordinary resolution and Desktop edition might just fit the bill right. Boy, was I wrong!
Click on read more to know how to get the VAIO P run at its native resolution (1600×768)
SONY has silently unveiled 3 new models that run Windows 7 OS. The VGN-P39VL/Q is the new top of the line model that comes with the mighty Intel Atom Z550 CPU that runs at the clock speed of 2GHz. It uses 128GB SSD for storage and has the usual 2GB RAM. It will be available in only one color: black. OS: Windows 7 Professional
Second and third models are VGN-P31ZK/R and VGN-P31ZK/Q, both of which run slightly slower Intel Atom Z540 processor (1.86GHz). Both run Windows 7 Home Premium, which means they won’t have XP compatibility mode. They use 80GB hard disk drive instead of SSD. VGN-P31ZK/R will be available in red color and VGN-P31ZK/Q in black.
[SONY VAIO P UK]
Read our VAIO P review
So you never bought a VAIO P thinking that Vista would be dog-slow on the VAIO P? Well, we installed Windows XP on the VAIO P, which it runs pretty nicely. Here is a complete “how to install windows xp” guide for installing Windows XP on the VAIO P.
Click on read more to see the instructions
In case, you have a fresh Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation on your VAIO P, you might have noticed that SONY has NOT provided any application/driver to get it working. Actually, there is no need for a driver at all. While lurking online, I was actually able to find a solution to this problem. Here is how to do it:
You must be very glad and excited after knowing that after using the coupon code VAIO500P during the checkout, you will get rebate of 30% on Sony Vaio P models. So hurry-up as offer is valid till Oct 13. Note that high capacity SSD +2GB RAM models are valid
READ our VAIO P review here
Few months back, we did the unboxing of the VAIO P. However, since then, we did not ever published its full review. We have criticized VAIO P heavily (see THIS), but we need to understand one fact that is VAIO P is a crop of its own.
Anyway, been using VAIO P from past few months, I am now fully aware of its pros and cons. Now, how is the immediate out of box experience. To be honest, you immediately feel its slowness as soon as you take it out of the box. It took it 30 minutes to take me to the desktop! Then, even after the desktop was loaded, it was very slow.
Click on read more to read the complete review!
Searching for the SONY VAIO P’s drivers? Now you won’t have to look any further because we have done the hard work for you.
Sony is pretty much satisfied by the overall response of VAIO P and is now working on its new version. There is not much known about it other than the fact that it will make its debut at the end of this year. However, it should come with a faster Atom processor and Windows 7, which has been getting “thumbs up” from a lot of tech journalists from all around the world.
To be frank, we were not hugely impressed by the VAIO P ever. It is slow, runs the bulky Vista and crams too many pixels into its small frame to be considered as useful as a netbook.
SONY has silently launched Windows XP version of VAIO P in India at a price of $999 (Rs49,990). The Windows XP version comes with just 1GB of RAM and that too soldered to the motherboard. This means that you are stuck at 1GB of RAM forever.
Also, the new XP model, VGN-P25G comes with Z530 processor that runs at 1.6GHz as opposed to Atom Z520 processor that runs at 1.3GHz. The speed difference should be huge as XP runs pretty well on all netbooks as opposed bulky Vista, which gives awful performance on VAIO P with Z520 processor
[VAIO P VGN P25G webpage (India)]
