Sony Vaio P Netbook Lifetime Companion

When our video team was chastised for calling the Sony Vaio P a "netbook" at CES, I knew I had to investigate and get the full story. They were told simply, "It's not a netbook; it's more of a...Lifetime Companion."

Those crazy marketing types and their funny little phrases! I'm not typing this on a keyboard, I'm using my "Touch Experience Companion."

I can't be too harsh with the Sony reps. I was actually impressed with the Vaio P, and I want one regardless of the high price.



So I stood there behind a selfish photog, wondering if I'd ever get my own look at the vaunted Vaio P, when Sony's Chris D. (full name withheld to protect the innocent) pulled a Vaio P out of his pocket (HIS POCKET!) and offered it to me.

First things first, 1.4 pounds is so light you barely register something's in your hand. The P in question was turned off at the time, so Chris showed me the first and most awesome feature -- the immediate boot into theXross Media Bar, or XMB; where I quickly accessed everything I might want to without waiting, including internet access, email, music, and photos.

Then I asked Chris why the netbook moniker was taboo. His reply: "Netbooks usually denote a lack of features and functionality for most users. We've created a fully functional PC in the Vaio P, so naturally we stay away from calling it a netbook."

Sounds reasonable, show me MOAR!

Next I was shown the keyboard, which is technically 92% of a full notebook keyboard, but it doesn't feel that way. By this time the P was into Windows Vista -- a full version of Vista, not a slimmed down mobile iteration of the OS -- so he opened up Notepad for me and I began touch-typing full sentences, like: "I like this Vaio P. It has a nicekeybaord that makes it esasy to type. Whoa typo alert. I need to get used to this keyboard. It looks like I'm now used to this keyboard after three cro-magnon man sentences. WIN."

Like the HP DV2, Sony made less used keys smaller and kept common keys as large as possible.

Battery life check. Chris told me the Vaio P has 4 hours of battery life with the standard battery, but the P in my hands had an 8-hour life. I hadn't noticed the extra weight of a larger battery connected to the P in question, so Chris turned it over, and sure enough, the P had a little more bulge on the underside. Chris explained that yes, it's hardly noticeable, and the slight slope it gives the keyboard is more comfortable for a lot of users.

I felt like I was an unwitting participant in a Ron Popeil commercial. "But wait, there's more! YOUR VAIO P HAS THE LARGER BATTERY!"

And there was more. Built-in GPS, comes with Microsoft Roads & Trips for turn-by-turn directions, Verizon 3G, Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth, 2 USB slots, 1 video out, 1 SD slot, 1 Memory Stick Duo slot, up to 2GB RAM, 64GB hard drive (upgrade to 128GB SSD), starts at $899.

That's what I got before my agoraphobia caught up with me, but I've got to hand it to Sony. Like Apple did with the MP3 market, Sony waited until they got the right mix of hardware, software, and user experience before they released their netbook lifestyle computer.

Check back often for more CES 2009 coverage and afterthoughts.

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