Editors' Note: We tested a pre-production sample of the VAIO P Series. We'll update this review once we receive a final production unit.
To say Sony is going against the grain would be an understatement. At a time other notebook vendors are heavily promoting low-cost $499 (and cheaper) 10-inch netbooks, and establishing a new category of affordable 12-inch ultraportables, the VAIO P stands alone. This premium lifestyle PC (starting at $899, $1,199 as configured) emphasizes design and fashion over speeds and feeds, sporting a one-of-a-kind design that's not only incredibly compact but a feather-light 1.4 pounds. When you see it, you want to hold it.
The VAIO P also differentiates itself from the netbook field by including features like mobile broadband, GPS, and an instant-on mode. Plus, the keyboard is quite usable given the device's tiny footprint. Add it all up and you have a premium netbook that bests the field when it comes to its combination of design and features. Unfortunately, this system doesn't provide the kind of performance we would hope for under a resource-intensive OS like Vista, and many may find it difficult to justify the high price. Nevertheless, if you can afford it, the VAIO P Series has a lot to offer.
Design
Sony has long been a leader in making miniaturization sexy, and the VAIO P is a quintissential example. The machine is considerably longer than other netbooks but also remarkably thinner and smaller at 9.7 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches. To put its size in perspective, when closed the VAIO P has about the same footprint as just the keyboard on the Lenovo ThinkPad X200s. We had no problem slipping this device in a suit jacket pocket, even though we could feel the weight. In a way the VAIO P is in a category all its own when it comes to sheer portability.
Ultimately, however, the VAIO P is something you'll want to show off, not hide. Our configuration of had a glassy onyx black lid (with subtly visible specks in the paint job) and a silver deck and keyboard. It's also available in standard black, as well as red, green, and white. To drive home the fact that the VAIO P is a fashion statement, the company sells luxurious color-matched protective cases made of leather ($89) and Bluetooth mice ($69), although we think at least the former should be included given how much the device itself costs.
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