Sony VAIO UX180P: a first look
Published: 19 May 2006
Throwing its hat into -- or at least near to -- the UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) ring, Sony has announced the VAIO UX180P Micro PC. Or rather, it has announced the UX180P in the US, and Expansys is now taking pre-orders for unofficially imported units in the UK. Taking some of the most innovative elements of the T-Mobile Sidekick and the OQO Model 01, the VAIO UX180P features a a 4.5in. (diagonal) wide-screen display, which slides up to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. We got a sneak preview of this device recently, and our early impression was that it's extremely cool. But this is Sony, after all, and the VAIO UX180P is also extremely expensive.
Weighing 544g, the VAIO UX180P's touch-screen has a native resolution of 1,024 by 600 and is equipped with components that will make the average Treo user deeply envious. You get an ultra-low-voltage Intel Core Solo U1400 processor, 512MB of RAM and a 30GB hard drive, as well as a full version of Windows XP Professional. Networking connections include 802.11a/b/g wireless and Bluetooth. In the US, the VAIO UX180P also comes preconfigured for connecting to Cingular's Wireless EDGE network.
Remarkably for such a small device, the UX180P makes room for two cameras -- a 1.3 megapixel unit that faces out from the back and a 0.3 megapixel Webcam at the front. You also get a biometric fingerprint scanner, headphone and microphone jacks, a USB port and a Memory Stick slot. It's an impressive specification that you could expect to find on any number of recent notebooks. As far as the price is concerned, Expansys isn't saying yet, but in the US the VAIO UX180P will cost a princely $1,799 (~£961).
Leaving price aside for the moment, the fact that the UX180P has a built-in keyboard is critical, and it gives the VAIO UX180P a better shot at success than other early UMPC designs such as the Samsung Q1. We found the keys to be spaced a bit far apart, but we didn't spend enough time with the VAIO UX180P to become used to them. The device has a passive touch-screen that you can manipulate with your finger or the included stylus, as well as a pointing stick on the right-hand side.
We watched some movie clips on the VAIO UX180P, which looked great on its 4.5in. display; we also surfed around the Web a bit using the stylus to navigate. Sony told us that these systems are getting about 3.5 hours of battery life, less if you're watching a movie or surfing wirelessly; they will run up to 4.5 hours if you're being extremely gentle.
Stay tuned for a full review of the VAIO UX180P later in the summer.
UPDATE (28/6/2006): Expansys is charging £1,529.95 (inc. VAT; £1,302.09 ex. VAT) for the VAIO UX180P.
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