This is the sub-notebook Apple should have made.
The <a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Afxl0M1BE6Jl0PNFqmJv24JRn1kJZX7bmpg=?Cat alogCategoryID=tI8KC0%2eNJhkAAADyQGo8lSwT&ProductI D=0PEKC0%2eNoDoAAADyNLo8lSwe&Dept=cpu" target="_blank">Sony Vaio SRX99</a> is a sweet piece of kit! I almost bought one the other day while at CompUSA to throw Linux on it. What stopped me was that it uses the shared system RAM concept instead of an independent graphics card. Even an 8 MB graphics card like the older PowerBooks (Wallstreet, Lombard, Pismo) were far superior to the shared 11 MB of the Vaio. Since the store had it connected to the net via the inegrated 802.11b WiFi I went to Apple's Quick Time trailers site. Man, the thing really sucked! Stuff even my iBook (500 MHz, 66MHz bus) handled with aplomb caused the Sony to stutter.
If Apple released something like the SRX99 for travelers I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Provided, of course, they fixed the graphics problem. Check out the specs: good hard drive, decent but not stunning amount of RAM, and good battery life with the P III processor and 10.4" screen. Peripherals like CD and floppy are seperate so you decide if you want to lug them along on the road. For a super-portable this makes perfect sense.
If Apple released something like the SRX99 for travelers I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Provided, of course, they fixed the graphics problem. Check out the specs: good hard drive, decent but not stunning amount of RAM, and good battery life with the P III processor and 10.4" screen. Peripherals like CD and floppy are seperate so you decide if you want to lug them along on the road. For a super-portable this makes perfect sense.
Comments
2-3lbs. and 1" smaller width just doesn't appeal to me as having EVERYTHING on the iBook, ready to go.
Not to mention, it looks cooler without even trying.
You see a lot of these companies throwing metal accents, curved panels and crap all over their PCs. I've never seen it work as well as the worst Apple designs, to be honest. It's looks like they're playing "me too" and "catch up" because...well, they are.
<strong>No way! I think the iBook 12" is far better than that sony thing!</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree. the iBook is way better.
<strong>Apple should invest in a "break out box" for ethernet, firewire, USB and audio I/O. One connector with an external box for their iBook, iMac and potential sub-notebook. That could consolidate some of the electronics while keeping the machines upgradeable in print if not in practice.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Problem with that is that it is yet another thing to lug around with your computer, which causes problems in the long term.
Now, if Apple came up with something like the oqo... things would be different.
Barto
<strong>
Problem with that is that it is yet another thing to lug around with your computer, which causes problems in the long term.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well with a sub notebook, you wouldn't need to carry it with you. With an iMac, the machine is stationary so it wouldn't be a big deal. Plus, motherboards could advance faster because several parts would be offloaded.
If Apple can make the iBook even lighter than it is, that would be awfully nice.
In fact, a computer cannot really get any smaller in length or width than the 12.1 iBook and still have a usable keyboard. Apple's best bet would be to work on making the iBook shorter, lighter, and cheaper by consolidating more components and rearranging the internal structure.
Deficiencies of SRX-99
Battery life, yes, they say twelve hours, but that's only with an optional double capacity battery that sits awkwardly (and vulnerably) and makes the in lap useage targeted at sub-notes even trickier.
10.4" screen??? Hello 1024x768, no thanks.
Keyboard key pitch? Not full size, therefore inadequate.
Internal Optical? Sorry, anotehr glaring omission. Under any kind of serious interaction/useage you will be handed CD-roms, and using that thing, you'll need to hook up the external drive every time.
Basically it's a total turd in every sense. Too big to go anywhere that an iBook can't. Too small to be truly useful for more than a short stretch.
And it doesn't even have the traditional PC virtues of Speed and low price: 850Mhz P3/100Mhz FSB and SHARED VIDEO starting at 1499!!! If I have to by an overpriced & underpowered PC, I may as well buy a mac, no? <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
I fail to see how this techno toy is in any way better than a 12" iBook, except that it weighs 2 lbs less when you leave all the accessories (including the useful battery and optical) at home.
Garbage. Apple has enough problems, you seem to want them to create more for themselves.
I do think that Sony has done a reasonable decent job of designing their small portables. The graphics gripe from a previous post is a valid one. Shared memory graphics suck ass in a major way.
Most of these ultra small machines use older PIII and Transmeta processors which the iBook more than holds it's own against.
Lastly, none of these ultra-portable PCs can really compete on a price/feature basis with the iBook. I think the real ultra portable is the iBook and any improvement should merely be refinement of it as it exists today.
<strong>The <a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Afxl0M1BE6Jl0PNFqmJv24JRn1kJZX7bmpg=?Cat alogCategoryID=tI8KC0%2eNJhkAAADyQGo8lSwT&ProductI D=0PEKC0%2eNoDoAAADyNLo8lSwe&Dept=cpu" target="_blank">Sony Vaio SRX99</a> is a sweet piece of kit!...</strong><hr></blockquote>
THIS is the sub-notebook Apple should have made: <a href="http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/PCOM/PCG-U1/"; target="_blank">Sony PCG-U1 Sub-Notebook</a>
[ 12-23-2002: Message edited by: Quick ]</p>
This Sony has everything that you could want. Now, I am not saying that this is a great primary computer, but this is a perfect SECONDARY computer for those of us that travel and need power in a ultra small package.
My uncle has a TiBook that he creates all of his powerpoint presentations on then he copies them over to this Sony when he gives his speeches. Coming from a man that give speeches around the world constantly, when he says that it is the best portable he has ever owned, I believe him. Plus, he says that his presentations look and run better on this thing when he uses the LCD projectors. I agreed when I compared this Sony next to hi TiBook.
<strong>I agree with those that disagree as to the Sony being the ideal portable. I think it's important to have the optical drive internal.
I do think that Sony has done a reasonable decent job of designing their small portables. The graphics gripe from a previous post is a valid one. Shared memory graphics suck ass in a major way.
Most of these ultra small machines use older PIII and Transmeta processors which the iBook more than holds it's own against.
Lastly, none of these ultra-portable PCs can really compete on a price/feature basis with the iBook. I think the real ultra portable is the iBook and any improvement should merely be refinement of it as it exists today.</strong><hr></blockquote>
How can you say that this doesn't compete on a price/feature ratio? Sure if you compare this Sony to the $999 iBook. But then the Sony is a much better machine. If you juice up the iBook to match the sony, you are within $100 or so, and you STILL don't have all the features this sony has. Do the math.
[ 12-23-2002: Message edited by: Crouton ]</p>