VPCP118KX/B
3.8
5
6
6
Got this one right!
Sony has done everything "right" that was "wrong" with original P series. Everything simply works better; GPS FINALLY finds fix on satellites quickly and reliably, vastly improved battery and .battery run time, smoother media playback, added light sensor that adjusts screen brightness to ambient light, added touch pad and L/R mouse clicks to dispaly panel. This is the greatest for air travel- meets current regulations and does not have to be screened separately from carryon, can be easily used when in tight areas on fold down seat tray, easy to put away for takeoff/landing, etc., can connect to airplane WiFi network. This is a VAIO I can use...
September 13, 2010
Sony Vaio P Signature Edition 2010
Having been a fan of the Sony Vaio TZ and TT series I have always been envious of the P series. The only drawback for me in previous models were the specs available. When I saw the 2010 Signature P Series I decided to take the plunge and go all out with the higest specification model with 2Ghz Atom, 2GB ram and 256GB SDD hard drive. Being the top of the line spec for US models I was expecting it to be awesome...
With the new styling this is truly one sexy looking device. The integrated thumbstick replacing the mouse really slims the unit down and the touchpad on the side of the screen was fairly usable. Typing on the unit when it was on a table was very comfortable, but most will struggle when you want to lean back on a couch with your legs up. The screen is absolutely amazing with high pixel count and the auto magnify button for the times that you need to zoom in to read. I?m young so my eyes are good and I don?t need this function. For those of you that struggle with reading small text this laptop is not for you. The integrated GPS is a bonus with the Signature series P. I am a bit disappointed that Sony USA and Canada only allow users buying the premium product the option to have access to this feature. In general I?m disappointed that there is no configure to order option with the P series. Either get the lower end model or the highest specification. In Japan you can configure whatever specs you want, colours, hardware etc.
I was able to run office 2010 perfectly fine, photoshop CS5, local avi/mpg video files without any problem. The 256GB solid state hard drive is extremely quick and large enough to put all your photos and media in this unit. My initial drive to purchase this unit was to be something I could take on the road to dump and photos from my DSLR and to quickly review in the field if necessary. This is where the large hard drive is beneficial.
Now the bad side of it:
Funny thing was running Photoshop CS5 ran well considering, office 2010 behaved well... so the day to day function of browsing, word, email and light graphics was quite functional.
- Much to my disappointment, it could barely handle skype call with video in full screen mode, the video quality was scaled back, so pixelled and audio was choppy.
- The multimedia side of this on the other had was quite the disappointment. I understand its an ATOM cpu and is using the ever aging intel GMA 500, but I'm not expecting much. With flash 10.1, I thought there would be hardware acceleration for flash and that would make the video playback bearable. The reviews from many "reputable" tech blogs stated that they were able to run 720P full screen, but I have yet to see any smooth results. Youtube could only handle 380P in window mode and when it was full screen 480P was so choppy and out of sync. 720P was an epic fail... For something that is aimed at the net browsing/email/netbook tasks, this is a major let down. Even with the new Flash Version 10.1 support for hardware acceleration, the video stutters or constantly had to buffer. I?ve been told that updating the driver directly for intel may improve this, but I never got the chance.
- Playing a standard TV/dvd rip avi file locally is perfect, but will stutter and lose audio sync with anything that is HD.
- The built in GPS lagged by 20-40 metres when using garmin mobile PC. Not very handy when trying to navigate and you keep missing your turns.
- Charging buyers for the network dongle when this used to be included in the previous model is ridiculous!
- Not being able to customize to order as mentioned previously. Even if a CTO option wasn?t available at least provide decent pre built specification options for buyers to choose from
In conclusion, on paper the specifications look great, the unit itself is extremely stylish and sexy, form factor and the weight is unbelievable. Unfortunately when you drop $1499 on something that is essentially in the same league as a net book, you expect it to perform basic tasks such as browsing youtube, video chatting etc. After using it for 3 weeks straight and trying my hardest to be happy with the unit, I finally decided to return it back to Sony. It was too much of a premium to have such flaws to be ?ok? and live with it. I hope this review helps any prospective buyers. Maybe the next round Sony will upgrade the graphics card and improve the overall performance. All in all, for something that is in the netbook class I think it does perform for those tasks such as word, email etc, but the fact that the communication/media side of things like skype and youtube not performing up to par makes this my biggest gripe with the unit. Being marketed as a on the go device adds insult to injury...
August 25, 2010
Sony VAIO P Signature Edition
I received my Sony VAIO P Signature Edition notebook PC last week. I am very pleased with it. The 2.0GHz CPU performs well on all tasks, it has ample RAM 2 GB and offers a great but small screen. The mobility of this computer is great, it travels anywhere with ease, offers built in GPS functionality and can still act like a real notebook PC not just a netbook. The built in WiFi connects easily to my home network and the Bluetooth wireless is a great addition, I use it for the Optical Mouse, a Canon mobile printer and I stream music from the VAIO to my home theater with a Belkin Bluetooth Adapter.
This model also has a 256 GB HDD which provides plenty of space for all of my data.
I am very happy I purchased this Sony VAIO P notebook computer.
August 10, 2010
Very Satisfied Customer
I was delighted to finally find a device that met my needs. I wanted the smallest, most powerful, lightweight, device that could run Word, Excel, & PowerPoint. Having said that, I had to settle for smaller text, a shorter battery life, and a higher cost. However, I am so pleased w/this purchase as I have not had any of the problems noted by "Zahid" I have small hands so the keyboard is perfect but people w/larger hands may have some difficulties. To solve the small text issue, I just enlarge the font when I'm using Word. I used the WiFi on an airplane and no problems, MiFi is also okay (just remember to disable the built-in broadband), but would like a privacy screen. Also, you can use a generic external drive or mouse to reduce additional costs. I don't play any games so I don't know if this product can handle the latest graphics. My best advice is to make a list of your objectives, price range, and go to a store for a "hands on" experience to determine any access issues.
July 25, 2010
