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Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment
The Vaio X, aside from being thin and light, is notoriously difficult to mod -- simply put, there's not much room in there to play around! Besides, when you've spent well over a grand for a machine, you're not necessarily going to be gung-ho about digging in with your soldering gun. Still, when InsanelyMac forum member Asama was struck by inspiration (in the form of a Vaio P OS X image) he followed his heart -- and, much to the world's amusement, it installed on the Vaio X with few complications. Sure, it wasn't a flawless operation: the WiFi card is unsupported (as you probably guessed) but, that said, this is definitely an item of note for all the Hackintosh freaks in attendance. Indeed we're looking forward to seeing Psystar get sued over a similar hack at some future junction. Get a closer look after the break.
Joseph L. Flatley11.24.2009
Sony's VAIO X ultraportable gets gently unboxed on video
Sony's 11.1-inch VAIO X may not have the internal hardware we'd like, but there's no denying that this thing is as capable as any machine at seducing you into a purchase. The good lads over at NewGadgets have managed to secure one over in Germany, and while their version doesn't ship with an extended battery, it's still worth taking a look at. Trust us. It's waiting for you after the break, and if you're new to all of this, that giant "Play" button that'll appear is what you'll want to press.
Darren Murph11.03.2009
Sony VAIO X reviewed: outrageous battery claims tested, nearly vindicated
At this point you know pretty much all there is to know about the amazingly thin (0.6-inches), light (just 1.4 pounds or 2.2 pounds with extended battery wedge), and expensive ($1,299 base) VAIO X ultra-portable laptop from Sony. The only thing missing were tests to confirm or deny Sony's claim that the VAIO X battery lasts "all day and well into the night and will set the new standard for battery stamina," as proclaimed at its IFA unveil back in September in Berlin. A bold claim that Laptop Magazine has now put to the test. The result? Well, first of all, if you're hoping to get anything close to the hype then you'll have to opt for the extended battery -- the standard 4-cell battery is only rated for about 3 hours of power. Fortunately, the extended battery bolt-on (literally, it attaches to the bottom with two screws) is included in the X-series price -- smart move Sony. According to Laptop's tests, the VAIO X merrily pumped away for nearly 10 hours using WiFi (GPS and 3G turned off) thereby easily laying to waste most 6-hour, 6-cell netbooks. Impressive. For booting and processing everyday tasks, the 2GHz Atom Z550 paired with 2GB of memory and 128GB SSD did very well against netbook-class machines but suffered dearly with regard to 3D graphics performance. Likewise, the X couldn't handle full-screen flash video without chop. Sure, the mass market will ultimately shun the X as it did its VAIO X505 ancestor, but it will definitely find its niche amongst Windows 7 road warriors with pockets deep enough to afford it and egos fragile enough to by fed by the envious stares of others.
Thomas Ricker10.21.2009
Vaio X series thin-and-light reviewed: 'It's really thin! And light!'
In the mood for a thin-and-light, got $1,300 burning a hole in your pocket? Have we got a lappie for you! The kids at T3 have put the new Sony Vaio X through its ever-lovin' paces recently and have been kind enough (and gracious enough) to give us the scoop. In short, there's a lot to love about the thing: thinner than even the MacBook Air (yet packed with an ethernet connection, VGA, and two USB ports) and "super light," this guy offers an "impressive" 11.1-inch display with "excellent color reproduction." On the other hand, while the carbon fiber keeps weight down, it isn't too terribly sturdy -- the entire body "flexing alarmingly under light pressure." And sure, you're paying quite a premium for an Atom CPU, but hey -- maybe you're into that sort of a thing. If so, hit the read link for the rest of the story.
Joseph L. Flatley10.16.2009
Transparent Sony VAIO X amazingly captured on camera
We've already gotten a couple of up close looks at Sony's new thin-and-light VAIO X ourselves, but it seems that the company had a little something extra for its debut at a press event in China today: an amazing transparent edition of the laptop. Of course, the chances of it ever seeing a store shelf are even slimmer than its impossibly thin profile, but we're guessing this is the best glimpse most folks will get of the laptop's internals -- as anyone shelling out $1,300+ for one of these likely won't be able to bear prying it apart. Be sure to hit up the gallery below for a closer look courtesy of our pals at Engadget Chinese.%Gallery-75444%
Donald Melanson10.13.2009
Engadget Podcast 166 - 10.09.2009
With the crazy week of news we've had, never has the ever-insightful, industry-encompassing commentary of the Engadget Podcast been so necessary, so vital, so... vigorous. Sure, you could try to make your way through the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 and an onslaught of Android news all by yourself, but then you'd just be alone and sad. And who would be there to comfort and hold you and tell you how terribly overpriced the VAIO X is and how little Dell revealed about its new Adamo this week? Nobody, that's who. Don't be another statistic, slip on some relatively comfortable earbuds and come on over to the Podcast side. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Cyberdelic - Such Great Heights Hear the podcast 00:02:30 - HTC HD2 hands-on and impressions... on video! 00:03:02 - Entelligence: The HTC HD2 and the future of Windows Mobile 00:05:00 - HTC HD2 to arrive Stateside in early 2010 -- huzzah! 00:08:00 - Windows Mobile 6.5 review 00:15:00 - Robbie Bach sits down for a roundtable discussion, Engadget is there 00:31:40 - Windows Mobile 6.5: a family portrait 00:40:00 - Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5 update guide: no, no, maybe 00:43:05 - Verizon plans to support Google Voice, will launch two 'game-changing' Android devices in coming weeks 00:45:08 - Second Verizon Android phone to be an HTC, Motorola Sholes makes an appearance 00:45:35 - Verizon Motorola Sholes not running MOTOBLUR? 00:47:00 - Motorola Sholes to launch by holidays, along with the BlackBerry Storm 2 and Nokia Booklet 3G 00:49:31 - Samsung Behold II marries Android, TouchWiz for T-Mobile 00:50:30 - Samsung Behold II caught behind glass 00:52:05 - Samsung Moment for Sprint first hands-on! 00:55:00 - Samsung Moment slider coming to Sprint, packing Android (update: official, $179) 00:59:29 - AT&T now allowing iPhone VoIP calls over 3G 00:59:35 - VAIO X spotted in champagne, propped up by extended battery, ripped apart 01:00:00 - Sony VAIO X announced, starts at $1,299 01:03:33 - HP Mini 311 reviewed with earnest, ION-enhanced affection 01:06:45 - Dell reveals new Adamo XPS, gives no details 01:19:50 - The next Engadget Show tapes live October 22nd -- with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer! Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Trent Wolbe10.09.2009VAIO X spotted in champagne, propped up by extended battery, ripped apart
While the price might be the most notable -- and welcome -- aspect of Sony's VAIO X showing tonight, we were also privy to our first look of the laptop in champagne, the incredibly odd extended battery, which actually creates a bit of a gap between itself and the rear of the laptop, and even Sony's own little teardown of the components. We'd be a bit more grumpy about that big "14 hour" wedge, given that the regular battery only gets about 3 hours of quoted battery life, but since Sony is selling the laptop with both of them in the box, we can't complain too much. %Gallery-74988% %Gallery-75003%
Paul Miller10.07.2009
Sony VAIO X announced, starts at $1,299
Sony's just started a laptop-oriented event in NYC, but we just got our hands on what look like unpublished web pages for the new VAIO X and VAIO CW and an updated VAIO L machines. All of 'em now run Windows 7, of course, but the big news is apparent confirmation that the VAIO X will indeed have a 2GHz Atom -- although it's listed at a "2GHz Intel Processor," the 533MHz bus speed also listed pretty much gives it away. And no, you're not getting an Ion in this deal to make up for that starting $1,300 price tag -- it's Intel GMA500 graphics all the way. You're also getting an integrated Verizon 3G card and both the standard and extended batteries, however. Still is that insane? It's probably insane. We'll keep you updated as the event goes on, stay with us!
Nilay Patel10.07.2009
Sony VAIO X specs and pricing leak out -- 2.0GHz Atom, $1,499?
We're expecting the official launch of Sony's hot little VAIO X ultraportable later today, but Boy Genius Report claims to have some leaked specs and pricing to think over while we wait -- and if they're accurate, you'll be staring down the wrong end of a $1,499 price tag when all is said and done. Yeah, it's not unexpected, but still, ouch. For your trouble, you'll be getting what Sony's calling the "world's lightest notebook," weighing in a just 1.5 pounds of carbon-fiber with an 11.6-inch LED display, SSD, multitouch trackpad, and a 3.5-hour standard battery life that can be pushed to 14 hours using a "super-extended" battery. Okay, not bad, but what's running this show? Well, we've got some potentially bad news to report -- we've been told that the VAIO X will have a 2.0GHz Atom Z550 inside, just like the prototypes. Yep, that's another $1,499 Sony Atom laptop -- we'll wait for the official announcement to confirm before we start wringing our hands, but we're open to your lamentations in comments.
Nilay Patel10.07.2009
Sony's CEATEC concept party includes Walkman bracelet and 0.2mm thin OLED (video)
We've yet to see a trade show where Sony left its Rhode Island-sized booth at home, and CEATEC is no exception. Aside from pushing its 1080p 3D installations with an epic amount of force, the company also had a smattering of swank new concepts on display that caught our eyes. A 0.2 millimeter-thin flexible OLED display was alive and displaying content, while an ultrathin Reader mock-up looked more like a MID and less like a Kindle. Without question, the two items that took our breath away were the all-panel laptop (which tossed the traditional keyboard in favor of a single, swooping display) and the Walkman bracelet, which did little more than talk dirty to us and get our imaginations working overtime. Unfortunately, all the good stuff was behind bulletproof glass with practically zero information to digest, but you can indulge your senses anyway in the gallery below and video after the break. %Gallery-74747%
Darren Murph10.06.2009Sony VAIO X stars in esoteric promo video
We'd have much rather gotten a VAIO X video promising us an upgrade to CULV internals over the Atom in the demo units, but instead we're getting tinkling pianos and sword-based visual metaphors. At least there's a hint of an "autumn" release date, we suppose. Full video after the break.[Thanks, Bob]
Nilay Patel09.05.2009
Sony VAIO X slimster hands-on
Daaaamn. We just got back from our time with the Sony X-series and it's making us rethink the entire definition of thin as the word is applied to ultra-portable laptops -- see how it casually jockeys our 15-inch MacBook Pro workhorse in the pic above. Sony's X-series is so thin that it's dangerous: on one hand, it'll cut a jugular or cake with little effort, and on the other, it has just enough flex to make us worry about its ruggedness. But this isn't Sony's first experiment with this form factor and the carbon-fibre frame and aluminum keyboard should help with rigidity when this goes production in both glossy- and matte-plastic finishes. (The displays were all matte, at least for now.) The new X is followup to the rarely seen VAIO X505 that was available in limited markets early in the decade -- only then it wasn't sporting an Atom, 2GB of memory, or a 31Wh removable battery. According to Sony, the choice of an Atom processor is far from decided and is only on display to run the engineering prototypes here at IFA, so there's still hope for at least CULV internals when this thing ships. Unfortunately, access to the rest of the internal specs were software blocked and Sony was zipped tight on details. Further visual inspection reveals a pair of USB jacks, SD/Memory Stick slot, WWAN SIM slot, and folding feet on the bottom to prop up the lappie so you can attach an Ethernet cable in the mechanically yawning RJ45 jack or a Kensington lock. Unfortunately, the only video output option is VGA. Nevertheless, the Windows 7 box we tested performed as expected for such a small device -- lethargically, but capably for casual internet browsing and tweeting. And honestly, we could see ourselves dropping a premium (less than $2,000 we're told) for this 11-inch ultra-portable as opposed to the VAIO P. At least now we know what Sony meant when they said they wanted their products to be aspirational. See the new X up close with its X505 cousin in the gallery. Trust us, it's worth a look. P.S. It'll be announced with official specs in October with units available for retail about a week after Windows 7 launches.
Thomas Ricker09.02.2009
Sony announces VAIO X ultraportable
Sony just announced the VAIO X at IFA 2009, a half-inch thin ultraportable with an 11.1-inch screen and a new all-day battery that "will set the new standard for stamina." The machine's built of carbon fiber, so it weighs just a pound and a half, and we're assuming it's CULV-based, although there's no hard specs at the moment. We're racing to find out more, we'll let you know. Update: We grabbed some shots of the X in the flesh, but they won't let us hold it, and specs are still a mystery. Update 2: Well, no wonder the battery lasts all day -- we're told the VAIO X currently has an Atom processor, although final specs haven't been locked in. Still -- Atom? Whatever Sony's going to charge for this thing is way too much.
Nilay Patel09.02.2009
Sony's Vaio X, now with DTCP
Sony just gave a little bump to their Vaio X living room PCs. The VGX-XL71S features an ISDB-T digital tuner, a pair of terrestrial analog tuners, up to 1.5TB of disk, a 2.8GHz Pentium D 920, nVIDIA GeForce 6200 graphics, a dual-layer DVD recorder, up to 2GB memory, and whole host of audio and video outs including HDMI. Notable here, is Sony's expanding product support for DTCP-IP allowing you to pump your TeeVee recordings around your home network packaged in a delicious DRM wrapper. Coming at the end of the month for ¥214,000 (right around $1,880) to your local tech bodega in Japan.
Thomas Ricker06.12.2006