Disclaimer: Intel, Via, Transmeta, IBM and HP are all clients.
The product ships with 256MB of memory, a 20GB hard drive and a 1.2-pound carry weight, making it the lightest shipping Windows XP computer. It is also the first computer in this class that uses the Pentium M processor instead of one of the Transmeta processors.
While $1,900 for a handheld computer may seem like too much—and I have to admit, $2,799 seems very steep—Ive received a lot of mail from people who still use the clamshell Jornada Windows CE products that HP used to make. These folks really liked having a PC they could pocket, and the current crop of handhelds isnt meeting their needs. It was interesting to note that the vast majority are women, which suggests that the industry may not be adequately addressing the needs of this buyer, and this class of computer may be what they really want.
Ziff Davis Internet Editor in Chief Jim Louderback and I had a long discussion about this recently: He feels devices this small wont go anyplace, where Im convinced there is a huge potential market for PCs that you can easily carry.
Sonys new desktop is arguably the best-looking all-in-one design on the market. And with its black color and sharp edges, it feels more business-oriented than the Sony W series that preceded it. I imagine it will find its way into a number of offices and homes as a result.
This system is clearly a wake-up call for Apple, which rejected the ultra-portable and hasnt updated its all-in-one line significantly in some time. Here at eWEEK, we continue to debate whether Apple should even be in the PC business, and these new PCs from mainstream PC vendors dont help my argument that they should.
This builds on my earlier column that Sony is clearly back and back with a vengeance as it showcases the continuing emergence of the new class of ultra-portable computers. We are entering a period where the PC vendors are getting increasingly creative, and that means more choices. And, I dont know about you, but I was getting tired of the boring designs from non-Apple vendors.
Rob Enderle is the principal analyst for the Enderle Group, a company specializing in emerging personal technology.