MobileTechReview.com Discussion Forums: First Look: Sony Vaio UX180P Micro PC

Editor's Note, July 17,2006: we've published our full review of the Sony UX180P here.

If the UMPC seems just too big (kinda hard to imagine, but hey) and the OQO model 01 doesn't float your boat (it didn't quite keep us above water) then Sony hopes they have the answer with the Vaio UX180P Micro PC. This is the US version which just started shipping and it features a faster CPU than the Japanese UX50 import model, is $400 less than the similarly spec-d import UX90, and a built-in EDGE wireless radio. The EDGE radio replaces the UX50 and UX90's CF slot on the UX180P, so you'll need to use a USB card reader or (in Sony's dreams) switch to Memory Stick Duo media. If you have a PSP, that slot is pretty handy though... or a Sony Ericsson camera phone.

When I first heard about the Sony UX series, I nearly dismissed it because I just couldn't imagine that 1024 x 600 on a 4.5" screen could ever be readable. Yes, the price is certainly another issue-- consumers don't flock to spend twice as much on a "notebook" that's less than half the size of a standard ultralight. At least not in the SUV-lovin' US. Well, happily I was wrong. That tiny XBRITE display is easily readable, despite the number of pixels squeezed into close company. I used it for two hours to read MS OFfice documents, PDFs and web sites and I was neither temporarily blind nor half-clueless as to what the words were on screen. I am a bifocal-wearing myopic, so that's pretty impressive. Still, a display this small isn't for everyone. There are those who don't like 12" high res notebook displays, and the UX certainly presents an even greater challenge.

So what is a Micro PC? It's Sony's latest creative venture into super-small Windows computing. It honestly makes last year's very interesting and also ground-breaking Sony Vaio U50 / U70 look pedestrian. It fits in the palms of your hands, runs Windows XP Professional (a sticker on the box says it's Windows Vista-ready), measures just under 6 x 3.74 x 1.27 - 1.5 inches and weighs 1.2 pounds. In the fine Sony tradition, it has everything except the kitchen sink: WiFi 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, Ethernet, a good selection of ports (some require the included docking station or dongle), a wide SVGA display, XBRite, the new Intel Core Solo processor running at 1.2 GHz, 512 megs of DDR2 RAM, a fast 533MHz front side bus, and EDGE radio (built-in Sony Ericsson card, locked to Cingular), a backlit thumb keyboard, biometric fingerprint scanner (a must on a device that's small enough to easily lose but powerful enough to carry corporate data) and both front and rear facing cameras. Whew! No wonder this puppy isn't cheap. And it has a touch screen that calibrates much more accurately than the OQO's display (you can use your finger too).

Does it fit in your pocket? Heck no, unless you're wearing some super-sized baggy pants (and at 1.2 lbs., your low-riding baggies will likely visit your knees). Does it fit it a large coat pocket? If you're a man or a women with a traditional rain coat, then yes. Does it fit into a purse, briefcase or clip onto your belt using the included soft case and belt mount? You bet. It's about as portable as the OQO and is less than half the size of UMPCs.

I have the Samsung Q1 UMPC. I like it. I have the Sony UX180P. I like it too. I will not tell you one is strictly better than another because their intended usage scenarios are different and because there's a big price gap too. It's hard to fault the UMPC for not having "cool feature x" found on the Sony because it costs $700 less after all. The UMPC makes a great web tablet, ebook reader, multimedia companion and works as a somewhat sluggish regular notebook. Good enough for the web, MS Office work and a little Photoshop. It's easy on the eyes compared to the Sony since it has a lower resolution 800 x 480 pixel 7 inch display. Icons aren't as tiny; when watching videos, characters in large-cast scenes are bigger and text is larger. Though Microsoft was critized for setting the UMPC's specs at 800 x 480 resolution, I think that it's a good compromise: most folks can actually see and use the display, even those over 40

. It's a mass market product with mass-market feature promotion- watch videos, listen to MP3s, surf the web, draw, use real Windows and do it without breaking the bank (though UMPCs are still too expensive for mass-market penetration).

The Sony is more of a speciality item, suited to early adopters, those who need serious computing ability most anywhere (and EDGE connectivity), and those who hate carrying 5 to 9 pound notebooks. It's good for sales force automation, IT folks and consultants on the go. I seriously doubt that Sony thinks everyone will have one on the coffee table, which is what MS hopes for the UMPC.

The Sony UX180P has a thumb keyboard (cross a tablet with a Sidekick and you've got the idea). No one has been happy about the lack of a keyboard on the UMPC, though you can plug in a USB keyboard or use a Bluetooth wireless keyboard. Score one for Sony. That said, the backlit keyboard has almost no travel and very little tactile feedback. Despite this, I found it fairly easy to type correctly but you don't have the feeling you're getting it right with no feedback.

It's built like a tank! It has great fit and finish. No creaks, no uneven joints, no squeezy-squishy slots. I throw this in my purse (inside the included case) and don't worry. The UMPC is well made, but you don't get the feeling it will survive a ride in the purse or briefase as well (the 7" display being a big point of vulnerability).

The Vaio is pretty fast, and you don't get that feeling you're using a two year old laptop when it comes to performance. Even with the myriad software Sony pre-installs, which includes the ever-intrusive Norton Security Suite.

Given the relatively high screen resolution, dialog boxes generally fit on screen and aren't truncated. You generally won't need to side-to-side scroll when viewing web sites. Nice. The screen is the sharpest, brightest we've seen, beating even the Japanese import Sony Clie VZ90 with OLED display. Movies look great on it. Everything looks great on it.

WiFi works well and has range similar to a good PDA. It doesn't have the range of a full-size Vaio notebook but it beats the OQO. The Intel ProWireless module supports 802.11a/b/g. Bluetooth plays nicely with phones, keyboards and stereo headsets. Sony includes an excellent wireless management module that allows you to easily control all three radios. Nice when you want to switch between WiFi and EDGE.

Speaking of EDGE, the UX180P has an embedded Sony Ericsson wireless card and comes with a Cingular SIM. The notebook is locked to Cingular (odd thought, now not only your phone but your notebook can be provider locked). However, if you call Sony, they'll give you the unlock code. If you're a Cingular customer, you can get $20/month discount on the data plan should you decided to use the included SIM and Cingular service. The EDGE connection management software is nice- easy to use and understand and it's pre-configured. Throughput has been good at around 150-160k. Not quite WiFi, but 3x faster than dialup. What a shame that the unit doesn't have 3G capabilities. It will be stuck in EDGE-land forever.

And yes, you can use the included docking station (or dongle, you get both) to plug the Micro PC into your desktop monitor, keyboard, wired LAN and etc..

We'll be posting the full review of the Sony Vaio UX180P in the coming week. In the meantime, feel free to post questions.

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Da Editor
http://www.mobiletechreview.com

Edited by LisaG (07/18/06 11:24 AM)