Pocketables

Sony releases XP drivers for Japanese Vaio P models

Following Sony Japan's recent addition of Windows XP as an OS option for the Vaio P mini notebook, the company has just made the XP software (including drivers and utilities) available for download on its support site.

The requisite files are being hosted specifically for the Japanese P models (VGN-P70, P80, P90, and P91) and as such can only be downloaded from those particular units. Yes, I already tried to snag the setup folder from my American VGN-P588E earlier today and was promptly denied.

Sure, anyone with a Vaio P (regardless of region) can follow these instructions from several months ago to gather everything needed to install XP, but it's much easier and more straightforward to take the official route, don't you think? I'm guessing that we should all be able to tread that path soon, as once someone with a Japanese unit gets ahold of the files, it probably won't be long before everything is posted somewhere for everyone else to grab them too.

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Sony Vaio P gets Windows XP option

Sony continues to step up the options for its Vaio P mini notebook. In addition to all the colorful choices and pick of processors we covered yesterday, potential Vaio P owners also have their choice of operating system when customizing their dream device. Sony has added the option to select Windows XP Home Edition with SP3 in addition to Windows Vista, the operating system of choice at launch.

Windows XP may improve performance but it comes at a cost as some features present on the Vista configuration are not available in Windows XP. Most notably missing is the option for 2GB of RAM because OEMs are limited to selling XP machines with just 1GB of RAM per Microsoft's rules. Also missing are a few select Vaio-specific software titles that are bundled with the Vista version.

Despite the few limitations, these new options make this notebook even more compelling than when it first debuted. And besides, you can always buy the 2GB Vista version and just install XP yourself!

[Sony Style Japan]

This post was written by Kelly Hodgkins, long-time fan of mobile devices and news writer at The Boy Genius Report.

Sony Vaio P in new colors with dark brown keyboard

Sony Style Japan's Vaio Owner Made program, which allows buyers to customize their configurations to the hilt, has just added a few new options for would-be Vaio P owners to choose from when building the mini notebook that suits them best. Sure, it'll take a moment to decide between the Intel Atom processors (1.33GHz to 2.0GHz), storage capacities (up to 80GB HDD, 256GB SSD), and wireless options, but the real test of those decision-making skills is when it comes down to the color.

As if having to choose between the launch colors (onyx black, garnet red, peridot green, and crystal white) wasn't hard enough, Sony went ahead and added pyrite gold, frozen white, mesh garnet, layered peridot, and a dark brown keyboard to the mix. Decisions, decisions.

Non-US Sony Vaio P models can now be unlocked

Two months ago, a hack to enable HSDPA became available for US models of the Sony Vaio P that let people use AT&T and T-Mobile SIM cards for their mobile internet needs.

This was great news for those in the US, but what about for users in other countries or folks who wanted to import a unit with a faster processor? Up until a few days ago, these people were out of luck.

But not anymore! DC-unlocker has been working with Conics.net and has just announced that the Option GTM 382 data card (displayed in the Device Manager as the Globetrotter MO40x) found inside the highly configurable Vaio P90 can now be unlocked.

Vaja releases leather case for Sony Vaio P

Two things I get the most flack for covering around here are accessories and the Sony Vaio P. Why people feel the need to 1) tell me what I should and shouldn't do with my own site and 2) complain about free content they can easily ignore amuses me on some days and annoys me on others. In any case, however, I can't stop liking what I like or buying what I buy.

That's why although not everyone shares my feelings, I'm glad to see that Vaja has just released the classic Retro Slim Jacket for the P. Starting at $120, the case is customizable like the luxury leather company's other products and handcrafted/made-to-order in about three weeks.

How to rotate Sony Vaio P screen orientation

A popular way to use slate- and convertible-style computers is to rotate their screens into portrait mode for reading ebooks and other long documents. These devices are designed with such usage in mind, so switching between screen orientations is generally quick and easy. Some make use of an accelerometer, some automatically rotate along with a convertible's display, and others are controlled by a shortcut key.

Standard laptop users don't often feel left out, as the size/weight of the device generally prohibits comfortable portrait use, but what about those of us who use a Sony Vaio P, a mini version of the traditional notebook computer? Weighing in at just 1.4 pounds with the standard battery and boasting an 8-inch screen with 1600 x 768 resolution, the Vaio P is actually very well suited as an ebook reader.

Sony mylo 2 (COM-2) now just $150

Remember late last year when Sony began offering a $100 instant rebate on the mylo 2 (COM-2) internet device? The reduced price was only supposed to be good until the end of January 2009, but it turns out that the "limited time" savings wasn't so limited after all.

Now advertised simply as "starting at $199.99" (see screenshot below), the mylo 2 has become so tough to resist at its lower price that there aren't any left!

Review: Sony Vaio PC cleaning kit (VGP-CG100)

I'm a complete neat freak when it comes to taking care of my electronics. I buy six packs of compressed air to keep my keyboards dust-free, wipe my screens with lens cleaning cloths, polish away smudges, and even detail my computers with Q-tips and alcohol. Add to this obvious neurosis a consuming affection for anything that Sony slaps its Vaio brand on . . . and well, you understand why I had to import the company's PC cleaning kit (VGP-CG100) from Japan. I paid a bit more than the 2480 yen (~$25) retail price, but for something that will probably outlast all of my gadgets, I think it was money well spent.

Sony X1000 Series Walkman has NetFront Browser

The last time the upcoming Sony X1000 Series Walkman (NWZ-X1050 and NWZ-X1060) showed its OLED touchscreen to the world, it was under glass at CES 2009. The WiFi-equipped player was always known to have direct access to YouTube and the internet, but exactly which browser would allow us to surf the web on a 3-inch WQVGA (432 x 240) display was anybody's guess.

Given Sony's history with using the NetFront browser on the mylo 2 internet device, however, it should come as no surprise that the official X1050 and X1060 product pages now up for perusal at the Sony Style Hong Kong website reveal that WEP/WPA/WPA2-secured browsing will be handled by the "NetFront Browser for Walkman."

There's no mention of Flash (the mylo 2 supports Flash Lite 3), but browsing should be decent considering that the full list of specs includes a line about a "podcast direct download" application and NetFront has never been a slouch. It also probably wouldn't be a stretch to assume that some touch gestures will be involved to improve the surfing experience on that low screen resolution. Tap to zoom, perhaps?

Complete specs and more info on the Sony X1000 in the database.

Thanks, scrambledpete!

Benchmarks of all Sony Vaio P models (1.33GHz, 1.6GHz, 1.86GHz, 2.0GHz, SSD, HDD)

UPDATE: 2.0GHz Intel Atom Z550 benchmarks now added.

Though there are three different models of the Sony Vaio P in the US, each one runs on the 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor. In other regions, the 1.6GHz Z530 and 1.86GHz Z540 chips are available and paired with the same 60GB hard drive and 64GB/128GB solid state drive storage options offered in the US.

Since these other models boast faster processors and can be purchased through importers like Conics and Dynamism, anyone interested in the mini notebook has much more to choose from than what Sony has made officially available to them. But how much "better" are these alternate configurations?

We have members from all over the world using every existing SSD/HDD and CPU combination in the Vaio P forum, so it wasn't long before all of the CrystalMark benchmark results could be put into the comparison chart below.