Well, its no secret nowadays that the FCC is the biggest single leaker of details to upcoming gadgets and it looks like the latest bit of information to come out is regarding Sony’s next ultraportable Vaio. From the looks of it, its a Txxx chassis with a built-in GPRS/Edge antenna. I’d love to find out that the chipset has been upgraded to the Intel 915, but for now i’m guessing its just the same 82855. Engadget has the scoop .
Interesting. Smells like a Best Buy exclusive item a la the MPX-220, considering their relationship with Cingular. I don’t see T-Mobile doing a deal for these and I don’t see them being sold without a carrier being involved.
[quote author=“Drachen”]Interesting. Smells like a Best Buy exclusive item a la the MPX-220, considering their relationship with Cingular. I don’t see T-Mobile doing a deal for these and I don’t see them being sold without a carrier being involved.
Why not? You can buy Sony Ericsson GSM pcmcia cards without a plan. Somehow I don’t see this replacing the T2xx, in as much as being an added member. That said, its likely you won’t find this model at your local Best Buy. My guess is we’ll probably see another processor grade of T series without the GSM, before its replaced by a new design in late 2005 or early 2006. I’d like to see Sony totally prove me wrong by using Sonoma in here though.
[quote author=“jashsu”]Why not? You can buy Sony Ericsson GSM pcmcia cards without a plan.
Maybe I phrased it badly. They will be stocked in stores that are able to sell you service along with your new laptop: Best Buy’s cell dept, CompUSA’s cell dept, Cingular corporate stores and indie cell phone stores (maybe, this might be kind of big-ticket). If you put it in the regular Sony section, it’s kind of a why-bother upgrade.
[quote author=“Drachen”]They will be stocked in stores that are able to sell you service along with your new laptop: Best Buy’s cell dept, CompUSA’s cell dept, Cingular corporate stores and indie cell phone stores (maybe, this might be kind of big-ticket). If you put it in the regular Sony section, it’s kind of a why-bother upgrade.
Hmm thats an interesting idea. Though with the mainstream commoditization of cell phones and the push for lower and lower prices (recall all those free phone with activation deals) Im unsure if people will be willing to blow a few thousand on this 4E1L. I get the feeling people who need this kind of functionality already have acheived it either through tethering or a pcmcia card. It might be an interesting offering in the business sector though, for mobile professionals who need to be always connected.
[quote author=“jashsu”]Im unsure if people will be willing to blow a few thousand on this 4E1L. I get the feeling people who need this kind of functionality already have acheived it either through tethering or a pcmcia card.
I’m feeling the same way. I get the same sort of functionality with a BT-enabled cell phone without limiting myself to a level of service (GPRS vs EDGE or UTMS) or companies (T-Mo/Cingular vs Sprint or Verizon) that I could with a descrete solution.
[quote author=“Drachen”][quote author=“jashsu”]Im unsure if people will be willing to blow a few thousand on this 4E1L. I get the feeling people who need this kind of functionality already have acheived it either through tethering or a pcmcia card.
I’m feeling the same way. I get the same sort of functionality with a BT-enabled cell phone without limiting myself to a level of service (GPRS vs EDGE or UTMS) or companies (T-Mo/Cingular vs Sprint or Verizon) that I could with a descrete solution.
Yeah to be honest unless UTMS/EVDO is an option, this will be obsolete out of the gate as far as im concerned. GPRS/Edge might have cut cheese back in 2003, but its just anemic at best now. I applaud Sony for atleast providing the option though. I saw someone using a Flybook at Best Buy last week and it looked pretty fun.
[quote author=“jashsu”]Yeah to be honest unless UTMS/EVDO is an option, this will be obsolete out of the gate as far as im concerned. GPRS/Edge might have cut cheese back in 2003, but its just anemic at best now.
Yeah, 3G was rolled out back in 2002. What do we need all that slower shit for?
All I see here is the ability to eliminate something from sticking out the side of your notebook. I agree that speed is a major issue. GPRS / EDGE is so 2-3 years ago. :wink:
So how fast do you guys predict this thing will be ? The same 1.1 - 1.2 pentium M processors, or something different. Also do you think it will be upgraded battery wise any further than the present T.
[quote author=“writetovarun”]So how fast do you guys predict this thing will be ? The same 1.1 - 1.2 pentium M processors, or something different. Also do you think it will be upgraded battery wise any further than the present T.
cheers.
Intel hasn’t released any faster ULV Pentium M’s, so its probably just a 1.2 Ghz. Likewise, 1.8” hard drives haven’t increase much either, so I guess this is just going to be T250 with an integrated 3G radio.
[quote author=“jashsu”]Another promotional image for PCG-4E1L… except it seems the ad designer put a powerbook in there instead. :?
I suspect it is not a ‘mistake’ by the designer, I guess Sony is going to annouce something really ‘BIG’ which would involve collaboration with Apple…who knows…we will see what comes out very soon in May…
