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"PERFECT portable PC - totally portable desktop/laptop solution!!!!! 5 STARS!!!" on by sharronlambert
Pros: Full Windows XP Professional operating system, fingerprint recognition, included port replicator, 2 cameras, customizable user buttons
Cons: No virtual keyboard, Cingular EDGE required for WWAN connection, Proprietary Sony Memory Stick slot, Battery life
Summary: CNET really should not allow reviews on products from people who have no use for the product, and absolutely no intention of purchasing that product. I am sick and tired of all the negative reviews (and ratings) on excellent items from people who have no idea what the item is to be used for, and have no need for it! If I have a need for a product, and it is something that I would buy and use for myself, then I don't need the opinions of people who have no use for the item in the first place, but go to the store and play with the item for a few minutes, then provide their "critique" on how useless the item is to them. When I am about to purchase a product that I think will fulfill a need I have, I look everywhere for reviews from people who have bought the item, and are using it. This information is valuable to me, as I want to know what the pros and cons are, from actual users - I don't need the advertising hype from the manufacturer. The information I need is specific to the product, such as what the product strengths and limitations are, what improvements can be made, what the user likes or loves about the product, and what the user finds annoying. I need this information from someone who actually needs the product they are reviewing, and are making an effort to use the product to fulfill a need. Time and again, I have to sift through countless worthless opinions to get to the reviews I need. For example, on this product, dc137pd's review smashed this wonderful device and all of its capabilities because this person felt that the screen is too small. In this person's own words, they played with the item for 10 minutes in a store, and had to put it down because of the strain on the eyesight. While this would definitely be a reason for some not to purchase the product, I do not think this warrants a rating of "1" on CNET, because 10 minutes with this item in a store is not nearly enough time to evaluate all of the things this item was made to do, nor how well the item does these things. One would think that a "micro PC" would have a small screen. If the screen was much bigger, the unit would not qualify as a "micro PC". If the small screen size is enough to stop a person at the door, then that person obviously does not have a need for a micro PC, and thus has no business providing a "review" on a product they have no need for.
With all of that said, I do own the Sony Vaio UX180P. I bought this PC on July 17, 2006. I use it daily. I purchased a Samsung Q1 in May. I used it for 2 months, but my heart really wanted the Sony. I ended up selling the Q1. I plan to do a review on the Q1 in a few days. Here is my review of the Sony Vaio UX180P:
This device is great! I can do anything on this that can be done on a desktop or laptop PC. I still have not discovered all of the features present on this device. All applications I have installed so far work perfectly within the screen size and resolution. The PC offers several ways to connect to a wireless and wired network, which makes it totally portable, and totally what I expect (actually, more) from a portable PC. This device has totally eliminated my need for a Pocket PC. I absolutely love the fingerprint recognition software/hardware. The buttons are customizable for mouse actions or other keyboard actions. Out of the box, Sony provides great accessories. The technical support has been wonderful. This device is fast becoming my primary PC. I have replaced my Windows Mobile device (Palm Treo 700w, and UTStarcomm XV6700). I have no need for Windows Mobile when I have the full XP Professional operating system in a totally portable device.
Screen size - the 4.5 inch screen is perfect, in my opinion, for a portable device. Yes, everything is small, but it is just what I would expect in a micro PC. For web browsing, most browsers have an option to increase the font size. I use Netscape, and I occasionally increase the font size to make it easier on the eyes. Aside from the small size, the clarity is brilliant. The resolution is great, and everything fits on the screen. Not so with the Q1, with which I had to constantly adjust the screen resolution for different applications.
Internet connection - There are 4 ways to connect to the internet using the UX180P. One can connect using an ethernet cable, for which there is a port located on the included port replicator, or the included dongle adapter. Also, there is a built-in 802.11a/b/g wireless card for Wi-Fi connection. Connection can also be made via bluetooth using a bluetooth cell phone. And then there is the included SIM card for the Cingular EDGE network. Cingular charges upwards of $70 per month for high-speed internet service, which caused me to initially count that method out. But I later found out that T-Mobile also offers EDGE, so I called Sony, got an unlock code from them, unlocked the UX180P, and signed up with T-Mobile for $29.99 per month. If you have phone service with T-Mobile, the high-speed internet service is only $19.99 per month. Between these 4 methods, one is always able to connect to the internet and email while on the go. I would like to see a PCMCIA slot, though. That would enable me to use an air card, from any carrier I choose. I currently have my phone service with Verizon, and I would like to be able to take advantage of EVDO versus the much slower EDGE service.
Battery life - leaves a lot to be desired. Under what I consider normal use (web browsing, email, using office applications), I average a little more than 2 hours. I have a car ac/dc converter, which I use most of the time the PC is in the car, and I dock the PC to the port replicator or plug up whenever possible, but standalone use without power is definitely nothing to brag about. This would cause me to rate the UX180P at a 9.5, if that were possible. But that's not enough for me to drop the rating to a 9, considering all the other wonderful things there are to enjoy on this device. There is an available enhanced battery, which I plan to purchase, or I may just purchase a spare standard battery. If I get the enhanced battery, I will add to this review at a later date to comment on the life of that item.
Cameras - There are 2 cameras - a front-facing camera for web cam use, and a rear-facing camera for taking pictures. I am not much of a camera user (the ones that come with phones and such), but I took a few pictures using both cameras on this device. The rear-facing camera took better pictures, but the front-facing camera held its own.
Accessories - Sony includes some cool accessories. The port replicator is my favorite, and one that I am glad they didn't decide to charge extra for. It includes 3 USB ports, a/v out, a monitor port, a firewire port, and an ethernet port. It holds the PC at a nice viewing angle, and provides power while the unit is docked. I plan to purchase an extra port replicator, as I find myself taking the one I have with me everywhere I go. There is also a very nice carrying case, a VGA/LAN travel adapter, retractible stylus, adapter holding band, wrist strap, and spare pointer caps. Not to mention the ac adapter and power cord. These days, I'm lucky to get a power cord and USB cable with most of my gadgets.
Keyboard - The keyboard is fairly easy to use, once you get used to holding the device and typing. I won't be writing any term papers on this device using the physical keyboard, but it's great for portability and on-the-go tasks, such as email. I rely on the stylus more, since I have been a PDA user for many years. My one lament is that there is no virtual keyboard. I solved this problem by going online and finding a very well built virtual keyboard FOR FREE, which I intend to profusely thank the author for, at this site: http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/. Now I can call up the virtual keyboard in a pinch, instead of sliding the physical one out. This saved the UX180P from getting a 9 instead of a 10 from me. Still, although it's not a dealbreaker, I think Sony should include a virtual keyboard on this PDA-sized, touch-screen device. There is one on the Samsung Q1, but then again there better be, due to the fact that there is no physical keyboard.
Other - fingerprint recognition. I absolutely love the fingerprint recognition software/hardware included on the UX180P. I had it on one of my Pocket PC's, but the functionality was limited to logging in. On this device, you can use it to get to password-protected websites and applications (once programmed), log in, launch applications, and maybe more that I have not discovered yet. I mainly use it to substitute keying in user id's/passwords on websites. I know that some browsers "remember" the user name/password combinations, but with the fingerprint recognition, you do not have to use that feature at the browser level (you can if you want to). And some web pages are programmed to not allow the browser to remember the user id/password. You can still swipe a finger to access these websites.
Did I mention that I LOVE the fingerprint recognition? -
"Hands-On Review!!!" on by tim liora
Pros: Excellent screen, Great battery life for this type of unit, Great wifi range.
Cons: bulky and a little to big, can't fit in pocket. Hard to use keyboard.
Summary: I used this unit for about an hour at a friends house. This friend happens to be the product manager for Sony USA. I have to say it felt well built. Typical sony quality. The Xbrite screen is the same as the U-series but has a slight sparkle effect due to the fact that its a touch screen. I was told it last for about 3 hours with wifi on and heavy usage. I did feel like it was a little bulky. Your not going to slide this in and out of your pocket easily. Its almost too big, OQO had the right shape and size but it was riddled with problems. Also, one thing I need to mention is that its hard to use the keyboard because of the distance between your hands when holding it. The middle keys are hard to hit. You almost need to let go of the sides and hold it from the bottom of the keyboard..very strange and sometimes frustrating because you feel like you will drop it if you do this. Everything else was great. Great wifi range. Great perfomance with processor intensive programs.Overall I think its a very good device minus a few shortcumings. If you have specific questions you can e-mail me at MrFranCopa@yahoo.com
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"LOVE IT!!! I highly recommend!" on by rbhogan
Pros: ultra portable; ultra sleek; fingerprint reader; easy to use mouse; high-res screen
Cons: none for me - it does just what i need it to do
Summary: Im sick of reading so many negative posts about his AWESOME computer. i've never posted before, but i felt obligated to share the good news with everyone. this thing is really amazing...
don't get me wrong; this is NOT the computer you want to sit down with and type a long research paper with. but its perfect for quick emails and beign in touch 24/7. also, don't forget that adding a TV/computer monitor along with a wireless mouse and keyboard makes this baby work like a normal desktop.
I am use my computer in the hospital to make rounds (med student). it is extremely convenient - i can check lab values and keep up with patient records at the bedside when everyone else is having to fight over the few desktops. it fits comfortably in my coat pocket and i just slide it in there and let it go into hibernate mode and the battery life lasts plenty long doing it that way.
the coolest thing about it is going to be the navigation system. i am in the process of getting the power and sound hard-wired into my car so that i can use it as a navigation system and as my music library on the go. i must say i am looking forward to surfing the web/listening to music/and using my navigation device all at once on my next road trip.
overall, i highly highly highly recommend. I have loved it and everyone around me has been amazed by what all it can do.
by the way, its pretty sweet to just swipe your finger and have access to all your password controlled websites...
go buy one! you will be pleased.... -
"I don't own the product but..." on by Jaedalena
Pros: Size, speed, great screen, security, camera, media, geek candy
Cons: It'll be outdated in 4 years time... if you're picky wait for the Microsoft Origami MAYBE that'll be better
Summary: So I don't own one but I got to 'test drive' one at the Sony store. Plus I've done research and asked sony reps as many questions as i can think of. And i figure if that other person can rate the device on 1 for screen size alone and not being even remotely open-minded i figure hey can review it too. But I'll try to be more informative =)
So..screen size. It's sharp and crisp and the one down side is that if you're zoomed in you can't type. BUT, when it comes to doc, pdf, or adobe files you can scale it to 150 to 250 percent to help your eyes and you can still edit stuff. ALSO, when it comes to surfing the web, just increase the pixilation or whatever to get a larger font. same thing for most applications. I've surfed on my friend's treo, and on my cell phone. Granted the font size is larger but it's almost like you're already working in the "zoom in" mode (which you can't zoom out of). So us "meer mortals" should learn to use our pc knowledge to get around those silly little things.
Typing - I have medium sized hands, for a girl, they're definitely not dainty but not huge either and when i held on to the ux and typed a little somthing in word it wasn't so difficult. My thumbs could touch at the center so i didn't have a problem reaching the keys. Complaint I've read elsewhere: needing to press hard on the keyboard. The one at the store wasn't tough. Maybe, like a new pair of sneakers, you just have to wear them before they feel just right.
Cingular Edge - I wasn't diggin on that too much when i heard about it. But it's just an option. If you have a bluetooth enabled phone you can use that to surf the internet instead of buying a plan from Cingular (which doesn't work well in my neighborhood). I confirmed this with a Sony Rep.
Heat - some devices get really hot after a long period of usage, and I don't remember this device feeling warm to the touch. And since it was at the store it was on for most of the day (i got there around 3pm so give or take a couple of hours). At least that's good.
Weight - I asked the sales person at the store if its alright to stick it in my bag for a bit. Once i dropped it in I didn't even feel it. Being that i'm a college student i have heavy text to carry and my 4lb laptop is too much on top of everything.
Downside - the button on the mouse got screwy (stopped moving on screen) on the one i used at the store. The rep had to remove it and fudge around with it to get it working so who knows. But I'd definitely recommend shelling out the cash for an extended warranty on this baby. Most laptops are good for that first year, after they start messin up.
People just have to remember is that the whole point of this device is portability. So it's going to be designed so that everything you want fits. People want something that doesn't take much room in a bag or pocket, but complain it's too small or too big. They want a keyboard attached for typing but the keys are too small, and it's flush against the device.
pick pick pick... I would have given it a 9 because nothing's perfect but for the screwy button it got an 8Updated
Now that i have it I think it's great and would probably change my rating to a 9 if i was to do it again. Here's why:
Surfing is great especially in the verticle mode. Especially for emails and pages with alot of data. You get a fuller page.
Key Board - I've gotten pretty used to the layout so i can type pretty fast. but don't get me wrong I have my slip ups, where i press or miss a letter and I really wish there was a Right Shift key. I'm no where close to normal speed but it's doable. If I don't want to slide up the screen I've set a shortcut for the on screen keyboard (with a large font) when I'm in verticle/PDA mode. Very Handy.
My Active desktop calendar (http://www.xemico.com/adc/index.html) has turned this baby into a high powered PDA and it's fab.
School wise this is great, it's light and I can get started on my lab reports while on the train and not have to worry about takin elbow space. Plus i can get my textbooks as an ebook (through ichapters.com) to lighten the load -awesome!
Pen plus is great for writing little memo's on the screen it's very reponsive to my handwritting. but i have to admit it takes some time to get used to the stylus shortcuts as sometimes it doesn't seem to "get" what i'm requesting. (oh yeah and i'm afraid i might lose the small stylus one day so i'm extra cautious)
Battery is great, I have it set to hibernate when I hit the power button. I use and then turn off. so far i've got 2.5-3 hrs. (by the way a short batt is good cuz do you really want to view a tiny screen for 5 hrs at a time? The screen doesnt generally bug me but once i spent that much time and my eyes did feel a bit tired)
And the memory stick option works fine. I use mine mainly for my psp (it's 2 gigs), but what's great is that if my batt dies on my psp i can just use my UX for movies and music.
As for other entertainment I've got location free and was able to watch my shows while vacationing in Philly. Very cool
Oh yeah the speaker on this little guy can get pretty loud.
Wireless - I'm thinkin about unlockin mine and just using my sprint acct but i'm not sure since that's an expensive monthly perk.
Other than that it's been great. oh yeah I got mines off of ebay WITH a 3 yr warranty for the retail price (and it was brand spankin new) so I'm even happier
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"miniture wonder" on by shinklee
Pros: small size, Japanese design and quality.
Cons: keyboard is terribly designed, only cingular.
Summary: I spent about 4 hours thoroughly testing this device at the Sony Store.
Good:
Optional large capacity battery.
Bright screen.
Handy controls on the palm rest.
High resolution screen.
Full Windows XP OS, not a PDA operating system.
WIFI and bluetooth built in.
Wireless cell internet capabilty.
Built in camera, mic and speakers.
Can be connected to a external monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Backlight on the keyboard.
Does not get uncomfortably hot in the hand.
Japanese design and qulaity.
Bad:
The keyboard surface feels like one smooth continuous plane the size of a palm. Meaning, by feel one can not distinguish where one key begins and another ends easily. i have to look at the keyboard and carefully press on the one key you want to type. I recommend coating the keys with a thin layer of rubber.
The only cell wilreless that this device offers as a option if Cingular.
The graphics is extremely slow. Panning is very laggy. For example one can set up a virtual desktop of a larger resolution then the hardware screen resolution. Then pan to the areas of the desktop using the mouse. This is extremely laggy and unpractical using the slow Intel graphics chip built into this unit. I can only imagine how slow a graphicvs application would be on this unit if it can not even pan.
Camera, very laggy on the images.
NO SCROLL WHEEL !!!
A big disadvantage when trying to scroll on a word document or a explorer page.
Only 512MB limitation!
What where they thinking. Especially with the new Microsoft OS coming out this year.
A built in obsolesence that will take effect in 2006. Meaning the device is pretty much already obsolete. It should at least have a 768MB limit and preferably a 1GB limit.
Overall the unit feels unresponsive. Why use a Centrino? Combined with a bottlenecked intel miniture motherboard you now have a very portable device that feels very slow. Combine this with a 512MB memory limitation and the next OS due out this year and you'll have a a almost unusable device.
I used this device indoors and the screen was extrememly reflective. It was almost a mirror! Just focus your eyes slightly to the surface of the screen and you'll get a clear image of your face. This unit is not usable outdoors in the sun.
I am seeing a lot of careless design flaws more common in American devices in this Sony.
Conclusion:
For me keyboard that requires you to visually find every key and the lack of a scroll was enough not to buy the device.
I was tempted by the size and the solid feeel of the unit. I loved that everything yo need was already built into the unit (hardware wise).
Sony seems to lack talent when it comes to designing a ergonomic keyboard. They have had this problem since their early days of laptop manufacturing. Never really quite caught on that it was a problem. Everything from the feel of the keys to the layout of the keys feels interferes with its use.
I would of course still go for a Sony rather then a Dell, HP or Gateway which I have discovered are junk both in design and quality.
This is a neat little device for short emails and quick referencing on the hard drive or the internet. I do not recommend this as a main computer. The use of it just toooooo uncomfortable. Wait at least and see if they fix the keyboard and put in a scoll wheel.
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