Sony (Finally) Unveils Its VAIO P Series

Multiple leaks, multiple teasers, and finally at CES on Wednesday Sony announced the P-series Lifestyle PC. They are calling this a notebook, and not a netbook, despite the obvious similarities.

I am, however, not sure that this laptop fulfills Sony's promise to "change the way you look at laptops. Forever."

First off, most of the leaked information, including, if you recall, a leak from Sony's own online store itself, was correct. The leaked images were correct, as well. We just have the details from the horse's mouth now.

Specifications:

• 1.4 lbs (with standard battery and SSD)
  
• 10.99"(W) x 0.93"(H) x 7.87"(D)
• 1.33Ghz Intel CPU
• 8" screen, 1600 x 768 with XBRITE-ECO Technology
• 60GB HDD available, up to 128GB SSD available
• 2GB DDR2 SDRAM
• Estimated Battery Life: Up to 4 hours (standard capacity battery); up to 8 hours (large capacity battery, sold separately)
• Wireless LAN4: Atheros 802.11 b/g/n
• Integrated Stereo A2DP Bluetooth technology
• Wireless WAN: Integrated Mobile Broadband (Verizon)
• Webcam
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator
• 32-bit Windows Vista Home Basic or Premium

Colors include garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black.

The dimensions of the new notebook mean it can be carried in overcoat pockets as well as some purses. It also means you won't be scrolling sideways on web pages. However, the emphasis on width rather than depth also means no trackpad, which most consumers are used to; rather there's a pointing nub, which will take some adjustment.

And yes, it does have that chiclet keyboard we thought, though Sony emphasizes that "the spacing between keys has also been engineered to help reduce typing mistakes making it perfect for long fingernails."

On the other hand, that statement wonder who the target audience for this device is.

The Lifestyle PC also incorporates real-time GPS functionality so that (since you can fit it into your overcoat), you can find the closest restaurant on that all-important dinner date. And finally, the P-series will have an instant-on mode, which boots the user into Sony's XrossMediaBar (XMB) as seen on Sony's PS3, for example.

Starting price is $899. You can pre-order it now, and Sony's press release says it'll start reaching retailers in February.