Liliputing, one of my favorite netbook blogs, isnt going to cover the Vaio P on the site due to it’s cost. Netbooks are built on the promise of low cost and value for money. The Vaio is most definately aiming somewhere else and misses that low cost mark.
Minus points too for the pointer and the screen res from Liliputing.
I think the price justifies for the decision to not cover the Vaio P. However, I had a chance to try out the P at a SonyStyle Store. The pointer was easy to use imo. You use it to move the cursor around, and can depress it to click. Typing was also easy. In fact, I actually found it easier to type than a MSI Wind that my GF has.
The truth is, more people will move on to the UMPC market and the definition of netbook is constantly changing. It’s obvious that Sony is targeting those who are willing to pay for this premium device. With GPS and 3G alongside this tiny package with a GOOD keyboard, there’s sure to be buyers.
Furthermore, there’s the instant access to web etc, which complements the “out & in” quickly usage of a netbook.
Well, netbooks are defined as mass-market products, while the Vaio P clearly addresses the professionnal market, a “niche”, a UMPC. High price and high res display are two distinctive characteristics of professionnal products, and the Vaio P fits the bill very well in both areas.
However the marketing process does not match: they show it as a fashionable product, with fancy colors to choose from, and beautiful girls putting the device in their pants in a funny way. Not the way I’d market a product targeted at professional peoples… I mean, it looks more professionnal to buy an Asus EeePC than this Vaio P :-)
As a proof, look at the comments on this blogeee.net (french) article about the Villiv S7:
http://www.blogeee.net/2009/01/12/le-viliv-s7-compacite-et-capacites/
Basically, a lot of people are saying “Gosh, 1024×600 on a 7in display is damn small! People are already having headaches after working on a 1024×600 9in display…”
The commoner don’t want high-dpi displays… Too bad for me…
We also don’t think the Vaio P will be a big success. We had some hands-on time with it at CES and we were disappointed.
You can read our full article review at http://www.skratchboard.com/?p=299.