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RAM mounts for Sony Vaio UX series

According to a recent study by the Consumer Electronics Association, U.S. consumers will spend more than $11 billion this year on gadget accessories. Faced with such a staggering figure, I can't help but think that RAM's line-up of car mounts, now fully compatible with the UX Micro PC, is an absolute steal! The UX cradle ($24) is made of "high strength plastic" and can be used with a range of mounts to affix the unit to windshields, dashboards, and even handlebars (!). The bases and arms are sold separately and from different vendors, so ordering a "kit" is not a simple one-click process. The website in general is actually a bit of mess, but I recommend wading through it because RAM has a pretty impeccable reputation of producing high-quality products (they make cradles for just about everything, including the Samsung Q1, Asus R2H, and Apple iPhone).

Besides, consider your alternatives.

Thanks for the tip, Rob!

Sony Vaio UX230P for $999

I thought it was a typo, too. But it's very real: TigerDirect is selling the UX230P for $999.

My husband first spotted it at DealsPlus and after investigating further, I found this thread at Micro PC Talk. TigerDirect's photo gallery shows that the model number on the box and the top of the device itself is indeed UX230P and some of the paperwork has "VGN-UX200 Series" printed on it, so it's obviously legitimate.

The specs suggest the UX230P to be an American version of last year's Japanese UX50 except with XP Pro and WWAN instead of XP Home and the Compact Flash slot. It even comes with that damn stand! It's the lowest spec'd U.S. model (1.06GHz Intel Core Solo U1300 processor, 512MB RAM, and 30GB hard drive), but the price is excellent and unlikely to reappear after the UX230Ps are sold out. TigerDirect sells the UX280P for $1760, so it's not like they're not known for having unbelievable deals on UXs.

Even though the UX230P doesn't seem to have ever been acknowledged by Sony, I added it to my UX comparison chart for good measure.

Save $150 with Sony UX280P bundle

Sony has been selling the iGo (formerly Think Outside) Stowaway Universal Bluetooth keyboard as the VGP-XTBTUE for $150 since at least the middle of last year. I got mine from eBay for less than $100, I think, but it turns out that had I waited a handful of extra months, I could’ve gotten it for free. Well, free with the purchase of a UX280P.

The VGN-UX280PK1, the newest UX addition at SonyStyle.com, is shipping now with the folding keyboard and an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista for $1,800. The bundle-less UX280P retails for the same price and both "versions" are available, so be careful when placing your order.

You can see a couple of pictures of the keyboard and the "detachable UX stand" (as Sony calls it) in my UX180P stand options review. The keyboard is excellent, but the stand doesn't withstand a lot of detaching. Mine is a few "detaches" away from breaking.

[Micro PC Talk]

Sony Vaio UX series: At a glance

Until Sony overhauls the design of its UX series of micro PCs to make telling them apart a bit easier, I hope the following chart will help to keep everything straight.

I've tried to make the chart as accurate and complete as possible by cross-checking with Sony press releases and product pages, but it's still a work in progress.

Sony Vaio UX around the world

Keeping track of all of the new micro PCs joining Sony's UX lineup is no easy task, particularly because the company has a nasty habit of assigning different model numbers to what is essentially the same device. Depending on which country you call home, the exact numbers and letters following the standard "VGN-UX" label in other parts of the world matter very little. In fact, they may not matter at all. Maybe it is only in my quest to create a basic yet comprehensive chart of all the UXs ever made that they actually matter a whole lot.

While trying to pinpoint the release date of the UX27GN tonight, I came across VAIO Online, which is a portal to official Vaio sites/pages from around the world that helped me make the following table.

Sony Vaio UX Micro PC series keeps growing

Several weeks ago, Sony quietly began selling the UX380N, not to be confused with the UX390N (also called the UX Premium), which is essentially the U.S. version of the UX1XN. Other than the UX380N's 40GB hard drive and silver casing, it is identical to the UX390N.

Now, I don't know about you, but I can barely keep all of this straight. The UX380N is, after all, what I think is the eleventh micro PC that Sony has released within the past year.

New Vaio UX Micro PCs: One in blue, all with Vista

Sony Japan just announced three more models to its UX series of Micro PCs. The UX91S, UX91NS, and UX71 are the first in the family to run Windows Vista Home Premium and Vista Business in a variety of configurations . . . and colors.

The product page is in Japanese, so I can't tell exactly to what extent the configurations are customizable. What's clear, however, is that the high-end blue UX91NS ($2,283) runs Vista Business on its 1.33 GHz Core Solo U1500 processor and has the same 32GB SSD seen in other models, as well as 1GB of RAM and the extended battery. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the silver UX71 ($1,557), which features Vista Home Premium, 1.20 GHz Core Solo U1400, 30GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, and the standard battery.

All three 1Seg-tuner-toting models are scheduled for release in Japan by the end of the month.

[Micro PC Talk]

Sony adds UX390N to Micro PC lineup

I added a bit about the Vaio UX390N as an update to the UX1XN news from the other day, but since that post will soon be pushed off the main page by all the CES madness this week, I wanted to give the upcoming Micro PC some proper attention.

The UX390N, due out in February for $2,500, is the U.S. version of the flash-based UX1XN. Entering the country of course means that the device loses its Compact Flash slot in favor of integrated WWAN, but other than that, everything is essentially the same.

This new model makes number six (I think) in the UX series, which only debuted in May. We already have the aesthetically identical UX50, UX90, UX17GP, UX180P, and UX280P. Do we really need a UX390N? (By the way, assuming the "N" stands for NAND flash memory, what do the "G" and "P" stand for?) Samsung's Q1 lineup is expanding just as quickly, but at least each new model includes the "Q1" designation. Unless the second-generation of UXs will be called UYs (actually, the UX is something of a replacement series for the U, so perhaps UXY or UXZ is more likely?), I think the onslaught of new models that all look exactly the same and bear seemingly arbitrary numbers is pretty ridiculous.

Review: Sony Vaio UX leather case

The official leather case (VGP-CCUX1) for the Sony Vaio UX series made its debut here in October, and now it's back for a full review.

Here's what Sony says about it: "Designed specifically for the VAIO® UX Series Micro PC, the VGP-CCUX1 case securely holds your UX computer and battery in place while protecting it from scratches. Ideal for the commuter or constant traveler, this stylish case is available in black and constructed of genuine leather to provide extra protection."

And here's my take.

UK gets new Sony UX with Vista

UPDATE: A U.S. version dubbed the UX Premium Micro PC (VGN-UX390N) will be available for $2,500 next month. Like all the other models, this one will swap the CF slot for WWAN.

The newest upgrade to the Sony UX series looks to be headed for the UK.

The February issue of Stuff magazine showcases an all-black UX1XN that packs a 32GB solid-state disk, 1GB RAM, 1.33 GHz Intel Core Solo U1500 processor, and of course Windows Vista under its hood. Typical of international models in the UX series, the UX1XN has both Memory Stick Duo and Compact Flash slots (and no WWAN module). Priced at £2,000 ($3,861), this Franken-top is nicely spec'd (it's essentially just a mash-up of some of the best features on other models) but I was hoping for a hardware upgrade.

Even though the first line of the article is "There's an old addage that suggests one should not fix what ain't broke," the UX1XN is the fifth (?) identical (save for the color) Micro PC in the series. I do love the design and all, but this is seriously getting out of hand.

[jkOnTheRun]

Sony UX Micro PC named worst notebook of 2006

The UX not being a notebook and recently being named the best-selling handtop notwithstanding, Korean website dcinside.com has proclaimed the UX17 (international variant of the UX180P with CF slot instead of EDGE /GPRS radio) to be the worst notebook of the year. The worst!

Citing poor resolution (1024 x 600), short battery life, and a bad keyboard, the website gave the UX the number-one spot on its list, ranking it "higher" than an HP, Averatec, Lenovo, and even the Sony TX laptop. Why the UX is being compared to full-sized notebook PCs is beyond me, but the list isn't exactly what I'd call the model of objectivity.

The Korean site bestowed the "best of the year" title onto the iFN-MS12A S3100, which according to Google sure looks like a Korean notebook to me. Other computers on the "best of" list include those by Samsung and LG. Hmm. I wonder where their headquarters are.

[Micro PC Talk]

Sony UX Micro PC is best-selling handtop

That's what Richard Shim said, anyway. In a CNET article about the upcoming crop of Vistagami UMPCs set to sprout at next month's CES, the IDC analyst noted that the best-selling handtops are the Sony UX series, which aren't even part of Microsoft's Origami class. According to Shim, Sony determined their target consumer, "built a device that audience wanted, and . . . set it at a price point that audience wouldn't mind paying for."

Now, it's no secret that I love my UX180P, but I can't help but doubt Shim's claims about its popularity (Casino Royale didn't spur that many sales, did it?).

I think the Asus R2H is considered to be one of the most successful UMPCs around and it sold at least 40,000 units since September. I don't know about the other models in the UX line-up (and there are several), but I believe Sony Style received only 750 UX180Ps for its launch in July. And it was replaced with the UX280P within two months, which isn't the typical route a selling-like-hotcakes product takes.

In any case, it's always nice to see the UX getting some attention.

Save $700 on Vaio UX280P bundle

Looks like that "all good things come to those who wait" saying is true.

Proof: When the James Bond 007 UX Spy Gear bundle was announced last month, it cost a whopping $3200. Then when Casino Royale hit theaters about a week ago, the price dropped to $3000. And now until Christmas, the $2000 UX280P, $450 Cyber-shot T50, and $150 Bluetooth GPS receiver (not to mention the black aluminum case and glass certificate) can be yours for just $2500.

I can't imagine that the bundle would ever be on the receiving end of another slashing, so now might be the time to treat yourself to some swank secret-agent gear. Cash in on the deal here.

Christmas with the Vaio UX280P

Here's a nice little Christmas ad of the UX280P being shown at SonyStyle.com right now. I assume it's from Sony's holiday catalog because that's company-sponsored pro golfer (and fellow Hawaii resident) Michelle Wie on the left. It's true that a $2,000 computer makes one hell of a stocking stuffer, but if you plan on stuffing one this year, don't forget to put at least a new car under the tree.

Despite the promotion, Sony hasn't dropped the price on the UX. The James Bond 007 Spy Gear bundle, on the other hand, has received a $200 price cut in honor of yesterday's Casino Royale release.

Sony Vaio UX in Toyota Camry Hybrid

Making a guest appearance at the SEMA auto show going on now in Las Vegas is none other than my favorite Micro PC. Mounted in what looks like a custom-fitted dock in the headrest of a Camry Hybrid Limited, what I assume is the UX280P is sitting pretty at the Toyoto booth until Friday.

First James Bond and now this? I hope this means that the UX won't meet the same fate as the Clie.

[Autoblog via jkOnTheRun]

Sony unveils Vaio Type G subnotebook

Sony kicked off the new month by announcing its Japan-only "Vaio Business" line of subnotebooks at a news conference in Tokyo this morning. First up will be the carbon-bodied Vaio Type G series. Aimed at the business professional, the new models were based on feedback and suggestions garnered from more than a thousand people who fit the company's targeted-user profile. A computer by professionals, for professionals: imagine that!

Starting at about $1400, the Type G has a 12.1-inch XGA display (1024 x 768) and weighs a scant 1.98 pounds. The UX280P, by comparison, tips the scales at 1.2 pounds. The subnotebook's standard battery has an impressive 6-hour battery life and its carbon exterior is tough enough, says Sony, to withstand a fall from a table without any damage. A drop from exactly how high and onto what kind of surface are details obviously too tedious to go into.

The Vaio Type G will be available on December 2.

[Digital World Tokyo]

Sony Vaio UX280P: James Bond edition

Looks like the Micro PC will make an appearance on the silver screen next month in Casino Royale, as Sony Style is currently taking preorders for a limited edition James Bond 007 UX Spy Gear bundle (VGN-UX007). For a hefty $3199.99, you'll get the Vaio UX280P (codename UX280P7), the Cyber-shot T50 (codename T50/JB), Bluetooth GPS receiver, black aluminum attache carrying case featuring foam cutouts for all the goods, exclusive welcome letter, and serialized glass photo certificate corresponding with the UX.

Let's see. Since the gadgets can all be purchased separately (minus their uncrackable codenames, of course), Sony is pricing the case, letter, and certificate at $550. Do we really need spy gear to spot a rip-off?

Official leather case for Vaio UX

Sony recently began selling a new leather case (VGP-CCUX1) for the Vaio UX series of Micro PCs. It first appeared a few weeks ago at Sony Style with no price or indication of when it would ship. As of today, the case is no longer listed, but a Google search indicates that the MSRP is $49.99. Other retailers sell the case for less (PC Universe, for example, carries it for $33.89), but no one seems to have it in stock at the moment.

I couldn't track down additional pictures of the case either, but it's definitely a lot slimmer than the soft carrying pouch included with the UX. According to a couple of descriptions I've read, the case is made out of genuine leather and can accommodate all models in the UX series equipped with either the standard or extended battery. Even though there are already a handful of third-party cases on the market, I think I'll hold out for this official one.

I hope it has inner pockets...

Vaio UX180P extended battery: Part 2

Now that you've seen the extended battery for the Sony Vaio UX series, it's time to check out its performance. Using the same parameters from my reviews of the standard battery, I ran several drain tests under various usage scenarios to determine the accuracy of Sony's claim of 5 to 9.52 hours.

Videos
Since I learned from the standard battery tests that file specs, wireless options, and where a movie is stored don't make a significant impact on battery life, I chose to run "Movie 2" from previous tests off of the UX hard drive with all wireless radios turned off.

And so you don't need to switch back and forth between pages, here again are the specs of the movie.

Duration: 1 hr, 35 min
File size: 780MB
Codec: DivX 4
Resolution: 480 x 270
Bitrate: 1005kbps
Frame rate: 23.97fps
Audio: MP3 128kbps CBR

All of my previous tests were run with the LCD set at mid-level brightness, so I wanted to find out how such settings actually impacted power consumption.

Maximum screen brightness: 4 hrs, 1 min
Mid-level screen brightness: 4 hrs, 19 min (standard battery - 2 hrs, 8 min)
Minimum screen brightness: 4 hrs, 23 min

Vaio UX180P: Cingular EDGE woes

When I decided to sign up with Cingular to access its EDGE network on my UX180P, I was already well aware of the cost advantages of unlocking the UX and using my exisiting T-Mobile SIM card. But since Cingular offers a 30-day free trial and the UX ships with a SIM already loaded, I assumed the integrated process would be quick and easy. I was leaving for New York the next morning, too, so I didn't have time (not to mention the patience or interest) to waste on calls to Sony Tech Support. I've had some experience with Sony's representatives in the past and have since vowed to take alternate routes to avoid them whenever possible.

The preinstalled SmartWi Connection Utility is one such route.

Vaio UX180P on vacation

An obvious advantage of the Sony UX series over, say, a subnotebook or UMPC is its size. Unlike any other gadget running a full version of Windows XP, the UX Micro PC is so small and light that I carried it in my purse while visiting New York last week. The weight and bulk of the computer were imperceptible (and I had my bag on my shoulder for 8 to 12 hours at a time), even though it was actually more than what I'm used to.

I don't have one of those gigantic bag lady purses, so I had to sacrifice a few things to make room for my UX. One such thing was my digital camera, which is usually a must-have while on vacation. However, I chose to leave my Sony T7 at home for two reasons: 1) my husband is a shutterbug and 2) the UX180P is equipped with two cameras, the rear one capable of taking website-worthy 1.3-megapixel shots.

I already tested image and video quality several months ago, but the subject matter was hardly on par with the landscape in NYC. So here's a new round of pictures and a short video clip taken with the UX180P's rear camera.

Vaio UX180P extended battery: Part 1

In my 3-part UX180P standard battery review, I spent well over 100 hours charging/draining the included li-ion battery (VGP-BPS6) to basically just confirm Sony's  stated rating of 2.5 hours. Now, thanks to the kindness of a reader known to many as Supp0rtLinux, I'm taking on the large capacity, or extended, battery (VGP-BPL6) to see if the company can be proven wrong.

The extended battery is compatible with the new UX280P and just so you know, it's a monster.

Sony has given it an oddly specific estimated battery life of  5 to 9.52 hours, depending on usage. Based on my previous tests, I'm pretty certain that the lower number is accurate. But I won't know for sure until I give it a try, so that's what I'm setting out to do.  Actually, I'm in the midst of it right now.

UX180P stand now available (sort of)

Two weeks after I wrote about several alternatives to the plastic carrying stand that isn't included with the UX180P, a Micro PC Talk forum member shared an email he received from Sony's Direct Accessories & Parts Center stating that the elusive stand (item #268933301) was now being sold for $22.31 here. It's out of stock now, which is strange considering that it's not included in the unit's available parts list or found when doing a search for "UX180P stand" and even just plain "stand." Actually, it seems the only way to locate it is to search for the item number, which most people obviously wouldn't know. And even if some random-number-generating geniuses figured out the sequence, they would still hit a roadblock because the part is descriptively named "stand" and there's no picture of it or any indication that it's compatible with the UX. This is all pretty ridiculous, if you ask me.

Anyway, thanks to a couple of ever-resourceful Micro PC Talk members, here at least are some photos of the stand, which in addition to being overpriced also comes with the added bonus of being completely unusable with the AC adapter. It also needs to be removed to properly dock in the port replicator.

Oh well. At least it's adjustable.

Vaio UX180P reviews: All in one place

Rather than add to the sidebar clutter, I've compiled a consolidated (and continually updated) list of all my feature-specific reviews on the Sony Vaio UX180P Micro PC. The reviews also apply to the UX280P, which is essentially just the UX180P with a bigger hard drive and more RAM.

Please refer to this chart to learn about the differences between all the models in the UX series.

Bluetooth dial-up networking
Cameras
Cingular EDGE (to be continued . . . eventually)
Extended battery: Part 1
Extended battery: Part 2
General complaints
Included accessories
Integrated keyboard
LCD screen
Leather case
Screen orientation
Screen protector
Stand options
Standard battery: Part 1
Standard battery: Part 2
Standard battery: Part 3
Web browsing: Part 1
Web browsing: Part 2

Click here to see everything (not just reviews) I've written on the UX180P, and here for all things UX280P.

Vaio UX280P makes firm landing

Finally! More than a week after the new UX280P vanished from where it was first spotted a week earlier, it has finally landed on solid ground at Sony Style. Despite its initial flakiness, Sony has actually remained true to what it told Micro PC Talk at the end of August:

A new “refreshed model” will be posted in SonyStyle on September 19.

The updated specs (40GB, 1GB RAM, Windows Vista Premium Ready) and price ($1999.99) haven't changed since earlier reports.

Vaio UX180P: Gripes and grievances

Since the day my UX180P moved in, I've spent a pretty indecent amount of time exploring its features and hardware components. To say that I'm obsessed with the device is certainly an understatement (check the reviews listed in the sidebar for proof). While I haven't devoted even a nanosecond to regretting my purchase, the past 10 weeks haven't all been hearts and flowers and rainbows. That is, I'm not so blinded by love that I can't see its flaws. In fact, I've even compiled a little list of them.

Taking my cue from jkOnTheRun and in no particular order, here's all the stuff that bugs me about the otherwise lovely UX180P. Oh, and just so you know, the unit's specs don't bother me. A lot of people complain about them, but I don't understand why. Who buys a computer without already knowing the details of its HDD, RAM, and processor?

Out-of-box storage capacity. Because of the hidden partition and all the preinstalled software, only 14.4GB of the 30GB hard drive is accessible when you first turn on the computer. Less than half of what it's supposed to be?! People who don't know about this beforehand will obviously think they received a defective unit, which instantly sours all of the unboxing excitement.

PlusSoft PenPlus for VAIO. To justify the inclusion of a touch screen without Windows Tablet PC Edition, Sony preinstalls a couple of applications that can make use of it (e.g., Touch Command, touch panel, etc.). The most Tablet-like program on the system is PenPlus, which—to put it mildly—absolutely sucks. It's worthless. And my software standards are incredibly low; I mean, I think Microsoft Paint is great. PenPlus is little more than an on-screen doodling app, and who needs that?

Sony UX280P disappearing act

Remember when the UX280P was available on Sony's Business Solutions website? Well, hopefully you had the foresight to at least take a screenshot because it's gone now.

The UX series page now features a lonely UX180P.

And the former UX280P product page shows only a "You have requested a page we are unable to serve" message.

According to Buy.com, the device is temporarily out of stock.

Meanwhile, Dynamism is still selling all of the UX models and is even taking preorders for the UX280P. And of course, the micro PCs are still absent from SonyStyle.

Stay tuned as the wild goose chase continues...

Save $300 on the UX180P

Head over to Staples before Saturday (9/9) to take advantage of a $200 instant savings on the Sony Vaio UX180P Micro PC. Enter the coupon code 55061 at checkout for an additional $100 off!

But before you reach for your credit card, take a look at your address. Staples only ships to street addresses (no P.O. boxes or APOs/FPOs) throughout the continental United States. If this excludes you, don't feel too bad: I live in Hawaii so I wouldn't be able to get one either.

There's actually a slight chance that this discount is on some kind of cycle because I vaguely remember hearing about it several weeks ago...

Thanks for the info, Dan.

Sony unveils UX280P

That was quick. The UX180P discontinuation rumor barely had any time to stir up a commotion, and the 40GB UX280P is already being featured here on Sony's Business Solutions website, alongside the 180P. Aside from the slight increase in storage capacity, the most notable improvement of the new UX is its 1GB of RAM. It's not listed at SonyStyle (yet?), but it has an MSRP of $1,999; its younger brother is still selling for $1,799.

The new specs are an improvement, of course, but this isn't exactly the upgrade I was hoping for. I'm holding on to my "old" UX180P until something much better comes along.

Thanks for discovering the link, guys.

Not again! Did Sony pull a Sony?

Just months after its release, the UX180P has been discontinued!

Well, not officially, but that's what it looks like. Head on over to SonyStyle and you'll see that the micro PC is no longer available. Searches for the device at other online stores yield the same results.

So what's up? On the one hand, who would really be surprised if Sony yanked the UX180P completely? That would be par for the course (oh, how I miss the Clie). On the other hand, if the series was a complete and utter disaster, would Sony Japan still be offering UXs with configuration options? To make sense of the rumors swirling around various gadget forums, I headed over to the leading source of UX information, Micro PC Talk. If anyone knew what was going on, it would most certainly be them. And it was.

As it turns out, according to a Sony USA rep, a new model (presumably with improved specs) will make an appearance at SonyStyle in a few weeks. It will most likely be available for preorder then and could start shipping as early as October. As for the UX180P? It's out of stock. And all indications point to it remaining that way.

So if you were waiting for whatever reason to buy the UX, it looks like your patience may be rewarded with something even better.

UPDATE: Jim from Sigma Trading Company emailed to tell me that CDW has the UX180P in stock. Go here to get yours now.

Review: Vaio UX180P stand options

You are already well aware that unlike its Japanese counterparts, the UX180P's accessory bundle does not include the carrying stand. Apparently, it seems that Sony wants U.S. consumers to scrounge around for their own alternatives.

So far, UX owners have pleaded with Sony to sell the carrying stands, fashioned homemade stands made of sheet metal and acrylic, modified existing iPod accessories, and/or just purchased docks designed for other gadgets. Take a look at the pages throughout this thread for pictures of a few users' inventions.

Other folks, like me, have simply accepted the supplied port replicator as the best (albeit bulkiest) option. However, after booking a flight to New York last night and glancing at the size of my carry-on luggage, I began to have second thoughts. So today I took a quick scan around the house to find something better suited for traveling.

I didn't come up with much, but anything more compact than the port replicator deserves a little photo shoot. None of these "stands" are ideal while using the UX keyboard, but they may not be too bad for watching a video or connecting a few peripherals for some light away-from-the-office work.

Buyer's remorse and the UX180P

A reader named Jahayra is considering the UX180P as an overpriced replacement for her Sony Clie. She emailed to ask whether the device has been a worthwhile purchase for me.

It's been 7 weeks since the UX first appeared at my door and I honestly haven't spent a single second regretting the purchase. Before placing the order, I spent a week or two digging up info to decide whether it was better suited for me than the Samsung Q1 (which I still intend to buy one of these days). I even went so far as to make paper mockups of both devices. Yes, that's how far my obsessions can take me.

What it came down to was determining why exactly I "needed" it and what I wanted to do with it. I was well aware that for the price, I could easily get a pretty high-end laptop or desktop with superior specs; thus, my decision wasn't based on what offered the most bang for the buck.

I couldn't come up with a single reason why my life depended on the UX. I mean, in truth, no one really needs new gadgets - they're just fun and more convenient than older technology. I came to the conclusion, then, that the only reason to buy the UX was because I wanted it. Plain and simple. The more gadgets shrink, the more I want them. I'm addicted to portable consumer electronics, remember?

Review: Vaio UX180P Bluetooth DUN

Now that I finally have a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, I decided to test out the Bluetooth dial-up networking (DUN) feature of the UX180P. Assuming you know your carrier's settings, the process is really quick and easy. These settings can be obtained directly from your service provider or from excellent online resources such as HowardForums.

Although several other methods exist, what follows is a step-by-step guide of what worked for me with my UX, Treo 650, and the T-Mobile Total Internet add-on data plan.

Tutorial
1. Make sure the Bluetooth settings on your phone are correct. This varies by make and model, but here's what it should look like on a Treo 650. Naming your device "pocketables" is of course optional!

Review: Vaio UX180P standard battery: Part 3

Well, it's been a long time coming but Part 3 of the UX180P battery review is finally done. If you haven’t already, you can read Part 1 and Part 2 now.

For this string of tests, I enabled wireless options only when necessary (i.e., when I actually used them). In my multimedia tests, I often turned on the wireless radios just to find out how battery life was affected. Since I learned the hard (and long) way that the UX battery doesn’t really distinguish between "wireless on" and "wireless off," I decided not to spend any more of my life testing it out under an extra set of conditions.

Internet
Most of my UX time is spent online; in fact, sometimes that’s the only thing I’ll do with it for several days. All my web surfing is done either through a hardwire or wireless connection, with or without Bluetooth enabled for my Think Outside Stowaway Universal keyboard.

Waiting for the UX180P

A reader by the name of "drvg" recently emailed to find out about UX180P startup times.

I ran the clock from switching on the unit's power to being able to interact with the system normally (opening applications, typing, clicking icons and links, and so on). These aren't absolute numbers, as everyone's times will vary slightly according to startup options and installed software (e.g., anti-virus programs aren't too snappy and usually bog things down a bit). I haven't reconfigured anything in terms of what Windows automatically loads or doesn't load, but disabling certain startup items will likely shave off a few extra seconds.

From standby: 6 seconds
From hibernation: 15 seconds
From cold boot to login screen: 49 seconds
From accepted login: 58 seconds

My UX is set to resume from standby/hibernation without a password prompt, so startup will of course be slower if you need to login first (vice versa for the cold boot scenario).

And since I'll do anything to maintain my longwinded reputation, I also tested the times in reverse.

To standby: 12 seconds
To hibernation: 19 seconds
To complete shut down: 26 seconds

Viewing comics on the UX180P

UK reader Dominik asked about how well suited the UX180P is for viewing comic book pages. I'm glad he included a few links to check out because I probably would've ended up at a My Little Pony cartoon site on my own. Imagine my surprise when the first link I clicked on began with something about burning flesh. Hmm. Not exactly a comic about rainbows, I guess.

UX in landscape mode
While the images were loading, they looked very promising. I was certain that viewing comics on the UX, even when in landscape mode, would be an enjoyable experience.

But then the images finished loading.

Review: Vaio UX180P standard battery: Part 2

This part of the standard battery test review will cover results garnered under various multimedia scenarios (i.e., watching movies and listening to music). For a reminder about the testing parameters, please read Part 1 of the review.

Videos
If you don't have a PVP, portable DVD player, or mp3 player with video capabilities, you may decide to watch a movie on the UX when you're on an airplane, waiting in line at the DMV, or just sitting on the couch and can't find the TV remote. The first thing you'll need to decide, aside from what to watch, is where on the UX to watch it from: the internal hard drive, a USB flash drive, a Memory Stick Duo, or an external hard drive connected via USB 2.0 (firewire is only available on the port replicator). But which is better?

To find out, I ran my tests from the UX180P hard drive, a 1GB SanDisk Cruzer Micro USB 2.0 flash drive, a 1GB  Lexar Platinum II Memory Stick PRO Duo, and my ZVM configured with a 4GB removable storage partition and connected via USB 2.0. (Up to 16GB of the ZVM's 30GB hard drive can be used as a UMS device, but I usually keep mine set somewhere between 512MB and 4GB.)

Review: Vaio UX180P standard battery: Part 1

It's already a well-known fact that the battery life on the UX180P leaves much to be desired. Exactly how much is the topic of this installment in the feature-specific review series. This will be another multi-part review, as I still need a week or so to run all the tests.

The standard capacity lithium-ion battery (VGP-BPS6) that ships with the UX has an estimated battery life of 2.5 to 4.5 hours. Because top numbers on a range like this are usually based on unrealistic settings and usage patterns, I always look at the lower number to figure out how long I can be away from an outlet.

Since 2.5 hours isn't too long, I decided to spend what is becoming too many days staring at the battery indicator in the tray icon while putting my UX through its paces. It takes about 3 hours to charge the UX, so I can't run more than a few tests per day - hence the time it's taking to finish this review.

Review: Vaio UX180P web browsing: Part 2

In case you missed it, click here to read Part 1 of this review.

Picking up where we left off...

Navigating websites
The most basic method of making your way through various websites is to use the pointing device and mouse buttons (the pointer can also be configured so that gently tapping it acts as a left mouse-click). It's easy and familiar, but not exactly the snappiest way to show off the UX's features to your friends. Sure, you can customize the pointer's speed, but even the fastest setting is still slower than the average desktop mouse.

Fortunately, Sony provides an assortment of options to help you with all the basic web functions you normally do with a full-sized keyboard and mouse: scrolling, clicking buttons and links, accessing browser menus, and performing general web tasks such as refreshing pages and moving forward/backward between sites.

Review: Vaio UX180P web browsing: Part 1

Several days ago, I received an email requesting a description of the ability and ease of viewing/navigating a website on the UX180P. Since web browsing on the UX is a broad topic, I've decided to break this installment in the feature-specific review series into two parts. Part 1 will cover the different ways of actually getting online, while Part 2 will address the emailer's request.

One of my favorite features of the UX (and all UMPCs and handtops for that matter) is its full and complete access to the Internet. Unlike browsers optimized for devices such as cell phones and PDAs, websites on the UX and its counterparts appear exactly as they do on 23" computer monitors...only much smaller. And since the machines are running Windows XP, you can view your favorite sites (designed as they were intended to be - not truncated or without graphics) through Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, and other browsers.

Review: Vaio UX180P cameras

Next up in the feature-specific review series is another unique element that won't fail to impress: two integrated cameras.

It's commonplace for just about every gadget to include a camera (or at least a camera add-on) these days, but you'll be hard pressed to find anything that includes two of them. Like its international siblings, the UX180P features a 0.3-megapixel camera on the front (designed to use with the integrated microphone and speakers for videoconferencing and communication over VoIP)

and a 1.3-megapixel camera on the back (designed for whatever you would normally take a picture of with, say, your cell phone).

Review: Vaio UX180P included accessories

Since I'm still discovering and learning more about all the UX has to offer, this addition to the feature-specific review series will focus on all the extra goodies that are included with the UX180P.*

I'm a sucker for great accessories, especially when they're already included in the package. The UX180P's box contents definitely do not disappoint.

AC adapter and power cord

I can't get too excited about an AC adapter, but I'm still pleasantly surprised by this one. It's really small (about 3.25" x 2") and the Vaio logo on the front is a nice touch (the brick for my Vaio GR390 is huge and unbranded).

Review: Vaio UX180P keyboard

Find out how the UX180P's keyboard stacks up in this third installment of the feature-specific review series.

The consensus about the UX keyboard is that it's handy for typing out short emails and URLs, but relatively useless for anything beyond that. It's true that no one will type their thesis or the great American novel on it, but a micro PC (or anything designed for mobility) isn't designed for such tasks anyway. Contrary to what naysayers seem to suggest, the goal of UMPCs and other handtops is not to obliterate the desktop and notebook market. Likewise, Sony does not intend to destroy the sales of full-size keyboards with the 64 mini keys (8.6mm pitch, 0.15mm stroke) built into the UX.

Usability
The most important feature of any keyboard is, of course, its function. I decided that the only way to find out how the UX really compared to other keyboards I use regularly was to take a typing test. So I headed over to TypingTest.com and took their 3-minute "Fishing in Finland" test on keyboards that really were designed for writing the great American novel to determine my speed (expressed in words per minute, or wpm) and accuracy.

Review: Vaio UX180P orientation

In this installment of the feature-specific review series, I'll take a closer look at the UX180P's screen orientation modes.

Ease of Use
The quickest way to switch from landscape to portrait mode is by pushing the dedicated button on the touch panel.

The UX in portrait mode is much bigger and heavier than a PDA,

but it's still relatively comfortable for one-handed operation (while resting your arm on your knee or lap!) thanks to the touch screen and retractable stylus. The system responds very quickly to the orientation change, and everything is optimized quite nicely.

If you don't like using the stylus or seeing fingerprints on the screen, the buttons surrounding the LCD can be reconfigured in a number of ways. By default, they perform different functions in portrait mode than when in landscape mode. Since I use the latter more frequently, I hit the wrong buttons all the time. Everytime I think I'm clicking, I end up zooming! I keep meaning to remap everything but never get around to actually doing it.

UX tips and tricks

Typical of first-generation gadgets, Sony's line of micro PCs is certainly not without its share of flaws and bugs. But thanks to a community of tech savvy owners, several of the series' biggest imperfections have been (or are in the process of being) corrected.

Symptom: System won't shut down
Prescription: Follow instructions one time only
Results: Remarkable difference

Wrinkle: EDGE service only works with Cingular
Cream: Call for an appointment
Results: Satisfaction guaranteed

Wound: Windows isn't for everyone
Bandage: Further research is needed
Results: Schedule follow-up

Disease: Hard drive is too small
Surgery: Not for the faint of heart
Results: Operation successful

Review: Vaio UX180P screen

This is the first of what will eventually become a series of feature-specific reviews of the Sony Vaio UX180P Micro PC.

One of the first things you notice about the UX180P is its 4.5-inch wide SVGA touch screen.

Size
The screen is smaller than just about everything else in its UMPC/micro PC/handtop/small form factor PC (an umbrella name is sorely needed here) class, but that's because the unit itself is smaller than just about everything else. Basically, it stacks up like this: 4.5 inches is bigger than the screen on most portable video and digital audio players (2.5" on the iPod and ZVM, 4" on Archos AV500), handheld gaming systems (4.3" on the PSP, 3" on the NDS, 2.9" on the GBA), and smartphones (2.4" on Motorola Q); smaller than the screen on most portable DVD players and all laptops; and about on par with the screen on Pocket PCs and other PDAs.

Reclaiming what is yours: Vaio UX180P's hidden partition

Before receiving the UX180P, I had read on a forum that although the device is listed as having a 30GB hard drive, only 21.9GB is accessible (and only 14.4GB is actually free out of the box). I'm accustomed to missing the 2GB Windows keeps, but 8GB? My hope that the lost gigabytes was simply a typo were dashed when I booted up my system for the first time.

It's true. Sony keeps 6GB in a hidden recovery partition, which is alarming until you consider that since the UX is not equipped with an optical drive, the system needs to be configured to boot from itself should the accessible hard drive ever encounter any problems.

Review: UX screen protector

Brando Workshop's Protector Plus screen protector is actually designed for PDAs, but it is apparently suitable for any device sporting a 4.5-inch screen.

This one from eBay is marketed specifically as a UX protector (notice the sticker on the upper left corner). The packaging claims the protector is removable, washable, scratch resistant, dust free (i.e., dust won't stick to the protector), and anti-reflective.

Yippee! (again)

You may remember my excitement over placing an order for the Sony Vaio UX180P a few days ago. Well, it turns out that Sony isn't sending the Vaios to Amazon until SEPTEMBER 5!

I found this out after inquiring about my estimated shipping date of 9/7 and the $150 rebate expiration date of 8/18. Amazon said they'd still honor the rebate, which is lovely of them, but I knew the wait would drive me mad. So I left behind the rebate, free shipping, and no tax for the sake of my sanity. Besides, while the price would've been great, I don't think waiting around for two months is worth saving a few hundred dollars.

Anyway, it took about two seconds after cancelling for me to get to SonyStyle. I got no rebate, I had to pay tax, and I couldn't get free shipping because I live in Hawaii, but I am still ecstatic. The best part is that Sony has the micro PCs in stock (they recently received 750, only 150 of which are reserved for preorders) and are shipping them within days. Days! I selected 3-4 day expedited shipping (next-day shipping costs were too outrageous), so I should know the meaning of pure bliss by the end of the week.

Stay tuned...

Yippee!

I just preordered my Sony Vaio UX180P from Amazon! They don't specify a shipping date yet, but I know a few people who preordered from Sony in mid-May who are receiving their new babies around July 5 (even though the release was originally set between July 19-22). That's next week! It's highly unlikely that I'll get mine then, but I'm still overjoyed. Once it arrives, expect nonstop gushing.

In the meantime, I need to come up with a name for it. Hey, a number of people have named their Samsung Q1s (everything from Sammy to Binky), so why can't I name my UX? Speaking of the Q1, you may remember from an earlier post that I was struggling over whether to buy it or the UX, even though they have more differences than similarities (a fairer comparison would be between the Q1 and the TabletKiosk eo, or between the UX and the OQO 01+). My indecision became so bad that I even made paper mock-ups of both to get a true feel for their dimensions and screen size (psychosis, anyone?).

The only feature on the Q1 I found attractive was the 7-inch screen. In every other department important to me (size, design, processor, extras, keyboard, wow factor), the UX was the hands-down winner. It was when I got hung up on the Q1's screen that I started contemplating a full-sized notebook, which ultimately defeated the whole purpose of buying a UMPC.

Of course, in the end I chose the UX. This site is called pocketables for a reason, after all. Briefcasables or backpackables just doesn't have the same ring.

Sony Vaio UX

The gadget that currently haunts me is the soon-to-be-released Sony Vaio UX180P micro PC. It's not technically a UMPC, according to Microsoft, but that's what I call it because it is literally an Ultra Mobile Personal Computer. The specs are barely on par with even entry-level notebooks, but come on! This thing is smaller than a 4 x 6 photograph, and it runs full-blown Windows XP Professional with support for Windows Vista! Add to it a fingerprint sensor, touch screen, integrated keyboard, 2 cameras, and built-in Bluetooth, WLAN, and WWAN, and you can understand why it's always on my mind. I can't decide if it's stalking me, or I'm stalking it.

Sony released their new 16GB (!) flash-based UX this morning in Japan, but my heart is still firmly set on the UX180P (I'd recently been tormented between deciding on this and the Samsung Q1 and later even the very lovely Vaio TX notebook series). Since I still don't have my hands on one (release date is mid-July), buying accessories is the only way to appease my impatience and restlessness. So yesterday, I got a Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth Universal Keyboard, a San Disk 2GB Cruzer (more than enough to use with Virtual CD), and a screen protector.

At least my new UX obsession has put an end to the relentless hunt for new cases (I've got 7 so far) for my Zen Vison: M, ZVM for short. By the way, get to know this acronymn: you'll be seeing it a lot.