Sony says their new VAIO type-P series ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs) are the lightest full-fledged Windows machines you can buy. Now you can pre-order them for delivery starting this February.
The guys over at Sony Style have started to accept pre-orders for the sexy compact 1.4 pound PC that runs a full version of Windows Vista, despite the fact that it can fit in (or at least stick out of) your pocket.
At the heart of the Type-P is it compact 8″ display, offering an amazingly crisp 1600 x 768 resolution LCD screen with a bright, power-saving LED backlight. I think that’s better resolution than my old 15″ laptop has. There’s also a built-in webcam and microphone for live video and audio chat.
Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n networking and Bluetooth connectivity are built in. The Type-P also includes on-board GPS navigation with turn-by-turn directions. Run time for the included Li-ion battery pack is rated at appx. 4 hours under normal usage, but you can upgrade to a larger battery for up to 8 hours on a charge.
The VAIO Type-P is available in Crystal White, Garnet Red, Onyx Black, and Peridot Green for those of you looking for a bit of color in your UMPC.
Prices for the Type-P start at $899.99 (USD) for the VGN-P530, with an Atom Z520 1.33GHz CP, Vista Home Basic and a 60GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM. The VGN-P588 ($1199.99) adds Vista Home Premium, and swaps the hard drive for a 64GB SSD (solid state drive). The top-of-the-line VGN-P598 ($1499.99) bumps the drive up to a 128GB SSD. If you’re looking to fully customize your Type-P or add a faster processor, check out the pre-order Japanese P90 over at GeekStuff4U.
Now I just need to find a pair of pants with bigger pockets.
