Carrying the device around is no hassle, as it’s lightweight at 1.19kg. With dimensions of 179.6mm x 32.4mm x 267.8mm, it could easily fit into a big handbag. The netbook has a smooth finish, with rounded edges, giving it a stylish look.

It comes standard with Windows XP, wireless, webcam and microphone and VGA Out. What we really liked about it is the crisp 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen with a 1 366 x 768 resolution. This netbook, unfortunately, does not support high definition playback. We were disappointed by the quality of the sound from the built-in speakers, located beneath the keypad. A set of portable speakers or earphones on hand will make listening to audio more bearable.

The battery life was also disappointing, to say the least. If planning on working remotely at a coffee shop, make sure there is a plug point nearby because connecting wirelessly and surfing the internet provides about two hours, 15 minutes. The keyboard size is ideal if you don’t have very large fingers and keys are neatly spaced out. The right Shift key is smaller than the left; chances are you might miss it and hit Up instead.

The netbook comes with a VGA Out, memory stick and SD card slots, and only two USB slots. Connectivity options include integrated wireless LAN, Bluetooth and Ethernet.

While the Sony Vaio W Series may not be the best netbook on the market, it will appeal to the younger generation, especially fashion-conscious ladies.

SPEC BOX
Processor: 1.66GHz Intel Atom
Display: 10.1-inch WXGA
Screen resolution: 1 366 x 768
Weight: 1.19kg
Memory: 1GB
Storage: 160GB
OS: Windows XP Home
Connectivity: WLAN, ethernet, Bluetooth

Written for Digital Life, September / October 2009.

I currently have the Sony Vaio netbook on test (a review of it will appear in the next Digital Life magazine). I thought I’d do a post squaring off both these netbooks before Vaio gets collected.

Battery Life
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a netbook / laptop. My Asus EEE pc gave me 3 solid hours while the Sony Vaio W Series gave me only 2 hours 15 mins. I performed the same tasks on these netbooks: connected to the internet wirelessly, surfed and watched the occasional Youtube video (which is what netbooks are intended for).

Looks
The Asus is chunky compared to the Sony. Sony’s design is minimal and smooth with rounded edges. It has a matte finish which is great – no fingerprints. Both have large trackpads – always a good thing. The Sony weights 1.19kg and the Asus 1.4kg.

Sound Quality
Both netbooks have stereo speakers but the quality on the Sony is very disappointing. Listening to music feels like you’re listening to the radio from the 70’s, it’s vile. You definitely would need portable speakers or earphones to go with the Sony. Sound on the Asus is clear – not wishy-washy like most netbooks / laptops.

Screen resolution
Sony wins, hands down. Their 10.1-inch display is crisp – I’d say it’s the best feature of the netbook. It has a 1366 x 768 resolution. The Asus has an 8.9-inch screen with a 1024 x 600 resolution – which is decent. You have nothing to complain about, only after using the Sony, you’d agree that it’s (Sony) awesome. Both netbooks are widescreen (I think most are).

Just like most netbooks, both have 1GB of memory (therefore runs on Windows XP), built-in WLAN, Ethernet jack, VGA out and a webcam. One other thing I’d like to point out – the Sony only has 2 USB ports, while the Asus has 3. I think that any netbook should have a minimum of 3 USB ports. If you have a mini mouse and speakers connected to the Sony, you will have to remove one to access information from a flash stick.

I’d say that the Sony netbook would suit the busy fashionista or a spoilt rich kid. The Asus is a good choice for students and journalists who work from public hotspots every now and then (longer battery life a big plus).

Technical specs for both netbooks in my possession:
Asus EEE pc here and Sony Vaio W Series here.

I received a Sony Vaio netbook to review today – in hot pink and for someone who hates pink gadgets – I’m finding this one surprisingly likeable. I’m glad that the keyboard isn’t like the last Lenovo I played with (the Ctrl and Fn keys appear left to right, respectively) – exactly how I like it.

I know I’m not the world’s best photographer, this was just a test on the N97 camera. It’s very difficult to take pictures of products and this is the best I came up with (pics taken at night):

After connecting and hopping onto the wireless, what did I do? Download Google Chrome, Picasa and Google Talk

The review of the Sony Vaio netbook will appear in the next edition of Digital Life. It’s currently not available for sale, so I don’t have any prices.

Statistics aside, smart phones are now being created to give you the ultimate browsing experience. That’s what the touch-screen Nokia N97 promises. You can customize the phone’s home screen with widgets, watch high-quality movies, browse ‘real’ web pages etc. But what about the price tag that comes with a high-end phone like this? I’m not talking about business men and women who need these devices or the super rich. I’m talking about middle class working citizens who save up, look what the market has to offer, make comparisons and then decide what to go with.

Put yourself in this scenario – would you spend ± 6k on a cellphone and browse the web on a 3.5″ screen or spend about ± 4k and browse the internet on a 9″ screen, with full qwerty keyboard (98%)? It’s not a difficult decision.

The current mobile market is very competitive. It’s not like a few years ago where you knew exactly what phone you were getting. Now all phones offer the same features – so what do you go for?

I’ve reached a point where I don’t go for the phone that has all the coolest features. I’m not big on a GPS merged into a phone. (I think the two devices should remain separate). You can’t put everything onto a cell/smart phone. What happens if you get a call while your phone is taking you to your next destination of if you are recording an interview and your phone starts ringing? What about battery life?

I think if the average consumer is opting for a netbook, chances are he won’t be spending ± 6k on a smartphone.

Oh, I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to get my hands on the Nokia N97. Perhaps Nokia will let me play with one

Converting your cellphone into a WLAN.

I came across this particular software called JoikuSpot that does exactly that. Visit www.joiku.com from your phone and follow instructions to download the application. You need to select your phone model and add your cellphone number in international format. An sms will be sent with the download link. Configure settings accordingly.

If you visit the website from a web browser, you will notice that there is a light version (free) and a premium version (€15). I am referring to the free version.

This is just an emergency solution, not a permanent one. Can you imagine what your phone bill would be like? I would suggest that you keep a Virgin mobile SIM card in your wallet for a situation like this as they charge 50c/MB out of bundle – which is 75% cheaper than Vodacom’s (prepaid) offering.

So I ran out and what I saw was…. a box [not so neatly] wrapped and placed on my car. I opened it to find an EEE pc wrapped up! It’s the 9″ one, with Windows XP, and has an 80GB HDD.

I was so excited – the neighbours probably heard me.

I will try to do a review at some point.

How’s that for geek romance?