Sony VAIO VGN-UX390N 4.5-inch Laptop (Intel Core Solo Processor U1500, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB Flash Drive, Vista Business) | List Price: $2,399.99
Discount Price: $1,999.99
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Brand: Sony
Binding: Personal Computers
Release Date: 2007-01-30
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - Amazingly small micro PC fits in your hand--4.5 inch LCD touch screen and hidden keyboard
- 32 GB flash memory storage, 1.33 GHz Ultra Low Voltage Intel Core Solo U1500 processor, 1 GB RAM
- Tri-mode WiFi (802.11a/b/g), wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) with Cingular SIM card, Bluetooth connectivity
- One built-in USB 2.0 port and Memory Stick slot; includes port replicator with three USB, one FireWire, Ethernet, VGA out, composite A/V out
- Pre-installed with Windows Vista Business
Great machine after tweaks [Posted on 2007-12-02]
I've had a 380n (identical twin to the 390 but with a conventional hard disk) for about 2 months now, and am more impressed with it every week. Sony has made some major blunders with this machine, but they're fixable:
(1) The machine runs "okay" on Vista, beautifully on XP. If you're technical, rip out Vista and upgrade to XP. Sony won't help at all with the drivers, but you'll find them in a neat little package (along with a lot of friendly support) at micropctalk.com.
(2) Sony loads up the system with loads of Crapware. Uninstall it.
(3) Sony loads up the hard drive with a hidden recovery partition. If you're technical, create a backup disk (Sony says how, or buy it from Sony), then erase the hard drive and start over without the extra partition.
(4) Increase the display DPI setting to 150%. Makes everything bigger and more legible on the screen.
(5) Install "RitePen," a free and amazingly accurate stylus-to-text interpreter. Now you have a perfectly functional touchpad.
(6) Get an Igo bluetooth keyboard ($50). Now you have a fully-functional keyboard when you need to write that 20-page document.
Once again, a remarkable machine, with great potential. Go for it.
I really wanted to like this... [Posted on 2007-12-17]
The screen is very hard to read, especially if you have the presbyopia problem that people usually get after they are 40 years old (this is difficulty in seeing small things up close).
There is a Zoom in/out, but it is useless because one cannot enter data when it is in use.
A scroll wheel would have been nice to view things when not using a mouse (the thumbpad mouse that comes with it, is kind of awkward to use (controlling the mouse pointer is hard).
Cnet review said to lower the resolution to read it easier, but many apps do not work with a lower resolution. In addition, even at high resolution, some apps have popup screens that are off the edge of the screen & you can't scroll to it (ie: lets say you are adjusting preferences in Internet Explorer - or any program - the little popup window that comes up, you can't click the OK button because its off the screen. So your pref changes don't get saved).
The keyboard keys should have been raised, not recessed. Its very hard to type on it.
A solution I've found to browse the Internet is to use the free Opera internet browser. It will adjust webpages to fit the screen, yet using a larger type.
I do use this with an external monitor & a wireless mouse & a Think Outside keyboard which works very well. However, there goes your portability.
Just really really bummed about not being able to read the screen...
VGN UX390N [Posted on 2007-12-24]
Pretty good computer but not easy to configure. too complicated, has a lot of hardware and adapters on it.
runs a bit slow on Vista therefore might want to invest on extra copy of Win XP Pro, or Tablet PC to run satisfactorily. Also, invest in external USB DVD drive, keyboard, mouse and of course external monitor.
It needs experienced computer user, not kid.
The drivers alone for this machine for Win XP are about 140MBytes. over 30 individual drivers. gotta scavenge the internet as far as Australia to find all drivers. sony does not list XP drivers.
it needs touchpad drivers or the stylus pen won' t work very well.
Small harddrive though. Invest in external drives, sony memory stick, etc, etc
expensive product overall.
Nice performance but Flash Drive too small [Posted on 2008-01-09]
UX390N have a better performance compress old model, but 32GB Flash Drive too small. Sony did not support creating the recover CD, even you use Sony iLink CD/DVD burner. Hate this.
beautiful but slow [Posted on 2008-06-22]
(+) very nice design
(+) touchscreen functions work well
(+) decent screen size. very nice screen with high resolution.
(+) provided accessories
(-) slow. needs cpu upgrade & faster disk. more RAM would be nice.
(-) weak antennas. needs "n" upgrade.
(-) have to carry peripheral devices, so defeat the small size.
(-) small & crampy keyboard. typing is hindered by the raised edge.
(-) feel thick in your hands. should be slimmer like the OQO-2
(-) I HATE SONY BLOAT WARES. had to format hard drive and reinstall everything (make sure you have all drivers when do so).
(-) short battery life. need extended battery.
(-) sliding screen scratches keyboard.
*** unless you absolutely are a technophile who love Sony products, i would not advise purchasing this UMPC. i had both this and the OQO-2. personally, i like the OQO-2 more. BUT i barely used these due to the slowness, the small screen size, and syncing data. having an EDVO-enabled WM cell phone takes away the ultramobility functionality of these UMPC.
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