Sony VAIO VGN-UX380N 4.5" Laptop (Intel Core Solo Processor U1500, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, Vista Business)

Average customer rating:

Very good ultra portable COMPUTER..

Unpleasent

Bad investment

Sony did a good job - excellent UMPC

Excellent PC if tweaked a bit

Sony VAIO VGN-UX380N 4.5" Laptop (Intel Core Solo Processor U1500, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, Vista Business)

Manufacturer: Sony IT
ProductGroup: Personal Computer
Binding: Personal Computers

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Product Features:

Amazingly small micro PC fits in your hand--4.5 inch LCD touch screen and hidden keyboard

40 GB hard disk drive, 1.33 GHz Ultra Low Voltage Intel Core Solo U1500 processor, 1 GB RAM

Tri-mode WiFi (802.11a/b/g), wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) with Cingular SIM card, Bluetooth connectivity

One built-in USB 2.0 port and Memory Stick slot; includes port replicator with three USB, one FireWire, Ethernet, VGA out, composite A/V out

Pre-installed with Windows Vista Business

ASIN: B000MJ01LW
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Product Description

The Micro PC is a new class of computer that drastically increases the portability of a full-featured PC into a hand-held device. The VAIO(R) UX Micro PC features a 4.5" wide high-resolution touch screen display. A stylus is stored conveniently on the backside of the PC. Text entry is a breeze with a hidden thumbable keypad. Just slide the LCD screen up to reveal it. This keeps the PC compact in size and saves you the mind-numbing chore of using a stylus to type. Like I said, this is a full-featured PC. You get a powerful Intel Core Solo processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, 40GB of hard drive space and much more. You even get two ways of connecting to the Internet. You can do it via a Wi-Fi HotSpot that supports 802.11a, b, or g; or if you subscribe to the service, you can connect via the Cingular Wireless National EDGE Network. 40GB 4200RPM EIDE HDD with G-Sensor Shock Protection 4.5 Wide Touchscreen Native Resolution - 1024x600 Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Graphics with 224MB of shared memory (memory is shared with the main system) MemoryStick Media Slot - supports Memory Stick(R) DUO media with MagicGate(TM) functionality Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, 1 Headphone, 1 Microphone, & 1 USB 2.0 Wireless LAN - integrated 802.11a/b/g Wireless WAN - via Cingular Wireless National EDGE Network with SmartWi technology (optional service required) Integrated Bluetooth Support Unit Dimensions - 5.91 (w) x 3.74 (h) x 1.5 (d) Unit Weight - 1.2 lbs. Color - Silver Note - When you first turn this machine on, you will have to wait ONLY 5-6 minutes before you use Windows Vista.

Amazon.com Product Description

With the arrival of the Sony Vaio VGN-UX380N Micro PC, you'll soon think that laptops are too bulky. Placing full-size computer performance into a pocket-sized package, the UX380N weighs just over a pound and measures 5.9 by 3.75 inches to easily fit in the palm of your hand. It features a 4.5-inch widescreen SVGA screen that ingeniously slides up to expose an integrated keyboard. The pocket-sized UX380N comes equipped with a stylus and Sony's VAIO touch launcher for quick access to functions frequently used such as Internet access, e-mail, various computer applications, games and music. Just push the launcher button located on the side of the unit.

It's powered by Windows Vista Business and Intel's groundbreaking Core Solo processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life. Advanced wireless capabilities are built right in--including tri-mode Wi-Fi, WWAN, WLAN, and Bluetooth--and expansion is a breeze with the included port replicator. It even includes two built-in cameras--one on the front (0.3 megapixels) for VoIP tele/videoconferencing and the other (1.3 megapixels) on the back for taking snapshots. Other technical features include a 40 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, a Memory Stick slot, and a full complement of pre-installed software (from Internet security to Microsoft Works). For added convenience, a docking station with three 2.0 USB ports, Ethernet, VGA, iLink (FireWire/IEEE-1394) interface and an AV output comes with the unit, making it easy to connect to peripherals like a full-sized keyboard, display and speakers when back in the office or at home.

Advanced Wireless Mobility
The UX380N features Sony's SmartWi technology, which seamlessly integrates wireless Wide Area Network (WAN), 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN and Bluetooth technologies, enabling you to toggle among your wireless connectivity options depending on your surroundings. The tri-mode wireless LAN is compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and wi-fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). The integrated wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) technology lets you access the Cingular Wireless EDGE network to extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and hotspots (a Cingular SIM card is included; see more about WWANs below). And with the Bluetooth wireless connectivity, you can synchronize and transfer files between the PC and peripherals such as cell phones and PDAs.

Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
If you're the ultimate road warrior, you need to access the Internet and check e-mail without having to plug in your Sony Vaio notebook PC, and without cables to boot. Welcome to the world of WWANs (wireless wide area networks). With WWANs, you can access critical network resources and home office files from the front seat of your car, the airport, the local coffee shop, or your recliner at home. Sony Vaio computers use SmartWi technology to access the Cingular Wireless national EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) network.

A WWAN uses long-range wireless connections -- the same networks as cellular phones -- to provide access across a large geographic area. In comparison, a WLAN (wireless LAN) covers only one or more buildings located close together. The use of wireless connectivity on a WLAN is simply an alternative to the PSTN (public switched telephone network), which you may have used -- or still use -- to dial into your ISP (Internet service provider) or reach your company's network. On a WWAN, however, you use wireless connectivity to reach your carrier's data network instead of plugging into a phone jack and dialing into your ISP. Each mobile device communicates with the public carrier's base station, providing coverage across entire states, regions, and countries via cell phone towers.

Security & Safety Features
Sony's line of Vaio UX micro-PCs take security seriously, employing a biometric fingerprint sensor and proprietary hard disk drive protection software to ensure your data is protected from unauthorized use as well as accidental damage. Fingerprint biometrics is a convenient and secure way to protect your computer and the information on it with a simple swipe of your finger. It also stores passwords to secure web sites you visit, so authentication and access are quick and easy--you only need your fingerprint.

The G-Sensor shock protection feature makes your data even less vulnerable to loss or damage. When the built-in 3-D acceleration sensor detects a risky movement like being dropped, the HDD-head will lock up to secure its position and protect the disc from scratching. An intelligent algorithm, unique to VAIO PCs, judges whether or not a movement is risky, activating disk drive protection only when your hardware is at risk.

The Basics

Processor: The Ultra Low Voltage Intel Core Solo U1500 processor offers a 1.33 GHz speed paired with a fast 533 MHz front-side bus and large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The Core Solo processor delivers enhanced performance for today's demanding applications such as CAD tools, 3-D and 2-D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming. And Intel's Smart Cache technology enables smarter, more efficient cache and bus design for enhanced performance, responsiveness and power savings.
Hard Drive: The 40 GB Ultra ATA hard drive (4200 RPM) is on the small side when compared to full-size notebooks, but it is understandable in such a small package. Sony's G-Sensor shock protection offers an advantage over traditional hard drives by safeguarding the notebook's internal mechanisms to protect against impact and help prevent a loss of data.
Memory: It's loaded with 1 GB of 400 MHz, PC-3200 DDR2 RAM. On the downside, that's the maximum that the UX380N will accept, so you won't be able to upgrade.
CD/DVD Drive: This Micro PC does not come with an integrated optical drive, but Sony offers an optional, external multi-format DVD burner (VGP-DDRW4).
Keyboard & Mouse: The hidden keyboard has 64 keys with a 0.15mm stroke and 8.6mm pitch.

Screen, Video & Audio
The UX380N's wide, touchscreen 4.5-inch XBRITE LCD has a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution (SVGA) and includes control buttons for zooming, scrolling, and a stick pointer, as well as the ability to view in either landscape or portrait orientations. The high brightness level of an XBRITE display means that black tones appear richer and deeper while white tones remain brighter. Graphics and text display clearly and colors appear more lifelike. This Micro PC includes a built-in monaural speaker and is compatible with the Windows sound system. Video and graphics are powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 224 MB of shared video memory.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
The UX380N has a single USB 2.0 port, headphone and microphone jacks, Memory Stick slot (compatible with Memory Stick DUO and MagicGate functionality), and a port replicator connection. The included port replicator offers three USB 2.0, FireWire, VGA out, composite A/V out, and Ethernet (10Base-T/100Base-TX) connections.

Operating System
The Windows Vista Business operating system is designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so you will be less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day maintenance of PCs. An array of sophisticated new backup technologies helps protect your information even in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure. And Windows Vista Business has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, which is designed to deliver new levels of efficiency for any business user. This new interface makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions and Weight
Amazingly small, the UX380N measures 5.9 x 3.75 x 1.5 inches (WxHxD) and weighs just 1.2 pounds with the included standard battery.

Power
It comes with the standard VGP-BPS6 standard capacity lithium ion battery, which provides between 2.5 and 4.5 hours of power (depending on usage). The optional large capacity VGP-BPL6 battery can power the UX380N for up to 9 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGN-UX380N, detachable stand, stylus, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, AC adapter and power cord, port replicator, Cingular SIM card, soft carrying case, and VGA/LAN adapter. It's backed by a 1-year limited warranty with 1 year of toll-free technical telephone assistance.

Customer Reviews:

Very good ultra portable COMPUTER.........2007-12-22

Hi Everybody,

First, let me tell you what it is:

- 1.33 Ghz. Core Solo Intel processor.
- 1 Gb RAM.
- 1 320*200 pixels Motion Eye integrated camera on the front to be used as a webcam (the best i've seen to date. By far better than my Macbook pro's iSight)
- 1 1.x Mega Pixels integrated camera on the back intended to take picture and it even has a "capture" button but... the software leaves something to be desired.
- Biometric reader which beyond letting you login to windows, it's supposed to be used as your password assistance everywhere... i can't make it work the way it should...
- Integrated mouse and keyboard.
- 1 USB 2.0 port
- Microphone and headphones ports
- Memory Stick DUO PRO port
- Dock Port
- Integrated wireless lan, Bluetooth and EDGE wan technology (the same sloooooooooooow service you get on a GSM phone like iPhone when out of Europe to connect to the internet, UMTS should be better but. let's face it, we're far away from Europe in this matter)

Whar comes with it:

- The computer.
- The papers.
- One Wired Lan and VGA out port in case you need it on the run (it connects to the dock port and it's a reasonably small cable). I spent hours trying to know if i could attach an external projector to do a presentation or to connect to LAN or both.... well with this included adapter you can and because you're reading this, if this was a concern now you can use those researching hours for something more productive like... sleeping? :)
- One port replicator Dock station with 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 VGA port, Wired Lan RJ-45 ethernet port, A/V out, 1 four pins IEEE 1394 firewire port.
- A very practical carrying case that you can attach to your belt (i didn't know this and bought the very unpractical and expensive leather case which i won't use anyway)

What i like:

- It's ULTRA sharp screen... make no mistakes, it's wonderful. I just can't emphasize it enough.
- It's design, let's face it... it looks great!
- It's usability, despite it's small sized keyboard ,it's designed to be used by your thumbs just like the rest of the computer.
- Finally... It Works!

What i don't like:

- It's an ultra portable computer but lacks of worldwide assistance and warranty.. which is a veeeery stupid policy from Sony... My MacBook Pro has Worldwide coverage like almost any premium priced portable just because it's portable so you can be here today and there tomorrow... and still be covered. but let's face it, Sony it's not a monopoly in consumer electronics just because the stupidness of some of their management. :(.
- Battery Life.
- Memory Stick instead of SD which adds no value but anyway... this is a Sony product and has to be as proprietary as it can be.
- Time you spend explaining almost all the people around you that it's not a PDA... yes... it works with Vista... Yes it has a Hard Drive... Yes, it's a complete computer.... No, it doesn't works with Windows Mobile nor Symbian... but anyway it's not the product's fault... it's just because it's so small which is it's main advantage.

My final comments:

- With the Dock, you can have a complete computer in your hands when on the road and a desktop PC when you're in home or office, even both. Just connect your monitor, wired or wireless keyboard/mouse and everything you should connect to USB/Firewire ports and you're done!
- The keyboard as well as the computer itself it's veeeeery well designed to be used with your thumbs. You can manage the mouse, the typing and everything with your thumbs and believe me, it works, most people complaints about it's tiny keyboard because it's small for their fingers and bla bla bla... but it is not designed to be used like your everyday keyboard, it's designed to be used on the road, while walking, etc. If you need to have a better keyboard with you when you're on the road and you can spare a table, i really recommend iGo stowaway bluetooth keyboard (formerly a think outside product). I have it and it couple veeeeery well with this computer... it even has an stand for the computer while typing.
- Prepare psychologically to explain to people what it is (the computer) everywhere you go but, if you like showing up... it's a very good tool for that. (i don't particularly like that)

Final words:

- If you like it and understand what it is... just buy it, you won't regret!
- If you need top performance because you're a serious gamer, just don't bother looking, at least for that use, buy a PSP which is cheaper and made just for doing it (gaming)
- If you want to have a veeeeeeery advanced iPod or i might say... Walkman... remember it only has 40 gigs and Microsoft Vista which is HUGE... but you can find 1.8" toshiba hard drives from 100 gigs to 120 gigs and maybe when you read it 200 or more gigs that you could use to upgrade your Vaio. Just as a curious comment, it uses the very same type of hard drives iPods uses.
- if 40 gigs are not too much, just imagine 30... because it has a 10 gigs restore partition. My recommendation, make your restore DVDs and then reduce this partition to it's minimum... BTW, this partitions lies hidden somewhere...

If only Sony had ears to listen to their customers... This should be a 7 stars product, even on a 5 star scale but... even when i like Sony, i can't understand why such an advanced and innovative company can make earing aid buds at least for internal use.

PP

Unpleasent.......2007-12-21

I bought the SONY VGN UX 380N 4.5" Notebook.
This was the worst think that I have had .
The 380 is not powerfull enought to run VISTA and the 1G Memory (maximum) is not enought also. The computer is VERY SLOW and crash or freeze all the time when I launch 2 applications. It is impossible to have the camera with SKYPE.
I am realy disapointed because all my computers until today were SONY VAIO.
I will check with SONY the possibility to install WindowsXP

Bad investment.......2007-11-26

If you buy this computer you will be sorry. The battery life is terrible. It is suppose to be a portable unit, but if you can't be close to power forget it. My battery only lasted less than 35 minutes when using. Then Sony does not offer a car charger for the thing. Sony should be ashamed !!

Sony did a good job - excellent UMPC.......2007-11-20

I am using it since last 20 days it is consistent; really nice product; This is one of the best PC I have ever worked on; the Cingular edge makes it even more powerful and enables connectivity wherever you go.

I would recommend this device for business users

Finally:
--Compact and excellent performance
--The only problem which I have experienced is with keyboard keys, they are very small

Excellent PC if tweaked a bit.......2007-10-24

I've had a 380n for about 2 months now, and am more impressed with it every week. Sony has made some major blunders with this machine, but they're fixable:

(1) The machine runs "okay" on Vista, beautifully on XP. If you're technical, rip out Vista and upgrade to XP. Sony won't help at all with the drivers, but you'll find them in a neat little package (along with a lot of friendly support) at micropctalk.com.

(2) Sony loads up the system with loads of Crapware. Uninstall it.

(3) Sony loads up the hard drive with a hidden recovery partition. If you're technical, create a backup disk (Sony says how, or buy it from Sony), then erase the hard drive and start over without the extra partition.

(4) Increase the display DPI setting to 150%. Makes everything bigger and more legible on the screen.

(5) Install "RitePen," a free and amazingly accurate stylus-to-text interpreter. Now you have a perfectly functional touchpad.

(6) Get an Igo bluetooth keyboard ($50). Now you have a fully-functional keyboard when you need to write that 20-page document.

Once again, a remarkable machine, with great potential. Go for it.

EDIT: To the reviewer who only got 35 minutes on the battery--Sir, you need to charge the battery once in a while. I get about 2:30 on the standard battery, Vista people apparently get about 2:00. You can get a double-size battery from Sony for it, but it's expensive.

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