Sony VAIO VGN-UX390N 4.5" Laptop (Intel Core Solo Processor U1500, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB Flash Drive, Vista Business) | List Price: $2,399.99
Discount Price: $1,359.99
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Brand: Sony
Binding: Personal Computers
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
A gem; as long as you don't need a lot of disk space [Posted on 2007-09-30]
I did a lot of research before buying this computer, after it was recommended to me by our IT vendor. Thus far it has proven to be an extraordinary tool, has great connectivity and a lot of outstanding features. The display is small, but I do not find it unreadable. The keyboard is useless so get a Bluetooth add-on. Ditto the "mouse". Also, although I can use a networked optical drive I found it better to buy the Sony add-on disk drive. This works great and I recommend you buy it as well. Has an awesome amount of junk software installed. After cleaning up the "hard disk" (which isn't a disk) I only have 7GB left. Fortunately most of my storage is on our network. I don't see why they didn't just bite the bullet and put a phone in as well, then you could toss the Palm/Blackberry. Is great at detecting wireless networks. I have not found speed to be a problem, and the unit works as well as my former desktop in most applications (MS Office, etc.) that I use. I wish it had Win XP, but I'm slowly getting used to Vista. Graphics on an LCD external monitor are excellent. Most inventive use I've encountered: A missionary who saves movies to the disk and Memory Stick card and watches them on long flights to SE Asia. Summary: A cool tool; very useful in my working environment.
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.
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