It might share some specs with netbooks like the Eee PC and the MSI Wind, but Sony’s VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC, announced today at CES, is clearly in a class all its own. Sony touts it as "the world’s lightest 8-inch notebook," which isn’t hard for it to achieve, since most small notebooks come in 8.9- or 10-inch varieties. But the P Series weighs in at just 1.4 pounds.
While the screen is small, it packs a 1,600x768 display, which is better than any netbook we’ve seen, but that also means you’ll likely be doing a lot of squinting. The screen uses Sony’s XBRITE LCD technology, though, so expect it to be plenty bright and crisp. And the keyboard extends right to edge of the device, so hopefully that’ll make for a much better typing experience than on the 7-inch Asus Eee PC.
Sony says the laptop should run Vista for about four hours, or eight with an optional larger battery. Other notable features include integrated GPS, 3G (Verizon) cellular radio, and a Webcam. And of course, it will be available in a host of fashionable colors.
Now, whether the extra features and style are worth the estimated $900 price tag is up to you. But it won’t be available until later this month at SonyStyle stores (and other retailers in February), so at least you have a couple of weeks to decide.
