Vaio VGN-P31ZK/R
Discovered in January 2009 on the CES show in Las Vegas The Vaio P was an exceptional machine. Netbook luxury, the only one that can fit in a (large) pocket, he had hit the headlines. But once arrived ente our hands, the technological performance quickly faded: he had the defects of his qualities. A thumbnail of a screen resolution incredible? A horror to the eyes. Z Atom processor more energy efficient? A Windows Vista in agony. A pocket size? A battery too weak to hold over time. Defeated but not conquered, the little devil in his den waiting for the release of Windows 7 to wipe out the disgrace. Renaissance or swan song?
Reminder. The Vaio P is a netbook the material sense. That is a mini-system with a processor with very low consumption. The term “economic” effect disappears in the face of the first 999 ticket … Twice as wide as long, it is the luxury of displaying a resolution higher than that of his colleagues twice as big. A performance that has earned our ire …
The world is gray enough, lets not positive. Finishing in first place as yours every high-end devices for the Japanese. The quality of the keyboard then: although two times smaller than a conventional device, it is surprisingly comfortable to use, the keys format Chiclet (and which stand apart from the hull piece) doing wonderfully. Having a real PC for the size of a book of just 700 grams is also noteworthy. If this Vaio P is shown, in our opinion, less suitable for intensive use, it has however taken (USB, VGA) and PC software in a small footprint. It was for the illuminated face, turn to the dark side of the force …
Physics, O merciless physical
For reading comfort, the suspense ends there: same screen, same defects. The incredible resolution of 1600 x 768 pixels, true technological tour de force, completely loses its interest in its use. S’esquintent eyes to decipher the characters, however, pushed to 125% by default. Beyond this magnification, portions of text are sometimes hidden or dialog boxes disappear. A slab excellent for watching movies on a plane in hand.
Windows 7 is not a messiah
As Yoda would say “Lighter than Vista is”. But if Windows 7 corrects many errors of his grandfather, he does not transcend space and time and can not do much for our poor Atom Z. In use, the Vaio P is slow, unbearably slow even when encased website Flash animations on the horizon of our browser. It must confine itself to the application lighter and behave in “man”, ie Monotachi remain. Limited to word processing and background music is ok, but do not ask for more.
Ergonomics forgotten
In a sense, this Vaio P is incredibly informative. It is through this kind of product that can define and confine the limits of use: up where we can reduce a conventional laptop without having to use an interface of a new genus. But beyond the limits of space and readability, this Vaio P is dealing with an enemy within: the development teams and marketing as Sony. Proof Internet Explorer: first launch, the first collapse. The screen is already small and limited vertically to 768 pixels, is reduced to a bare minimum of three toolbars préintallées, in which a bar of geolocation of doubtful value, or a bar antivirus and not very useful not really suited to such a small device. Make small it is, think well its products is better.
Short legs
We’re relentless that we have inflicted on this little father the same abuse as other netbooks. That is to say turn the beast in two music sites, Jiwa and Deezer. Gasworks Flash loaded into pieces stressing that both the processor that all the Wi-Fi card, screen thoroughly. And the verdict is bloody 2:01. A poor result it must balance: a measure is “the worst” which, again, does not reflect the use of this little typewriter. By using Wi-Fi (e-mail, surfing, etc..) Screen with a 60% one must grow at 4 pm at best. A term that must be subtracted the latency induced by the weak performance of the machine.
The X Media Bar, which remain constant
Like the first version, this Vaio is equipped with a secondary operating system, the X Media Bar (pronounced “cross media bar”). A small GNU / Linux that you throw in 20 seconds for quick access to the Internet or files. Alas, if the interface is reminiscent of the PSP or the Playstation 3, it is neither as quick nor as pretty. It is poorly done, poorly put overlay on top of free software that have not even received an actual integration effort. It was the last card of the Vaio P – a system adapted to the format could do wonders – but Sony chose to go. What a pity …
After the celebration, albeit subdued, performance technology in the first test, this test is uncompromising for novelty. Where a note even more cruel. Ask if it is worthwhile to 1 000 in a machine, certainly impressive but tiring to use and very ergonomic, and we will not respond. Coldly. If Sony had pushed the development of its Cross Media Bar gives it would have been different. Too bad.
