Sony VAIO P Gets Windows XP
Sony VAIO P
I was impressed with the Sony VAIO P when I played with it, but found myself wishing over and over that it shipped with Windows XP instead of Vista. The performance was not great with Vista, and my experience with similarly equipped notebooks running XP had me longing for that option.
Sony has been paying attention to that sort of longing, and word has come out that shortly Windows XP will become a configuration option for those purchasing a VAIO P. This comes at a price, as Microsoft’s rules for putting XP on notebooks restricts the memory allowed to 1 GB. That’s crazy, but it’s the way it is for OEMs that want to put XP on notebooks. Sony is not the only OEM facing that restriction; you can buy the HP Mini 1000 with 2 GB of RAM with Linux installed but only 1 GB with XP. Kind of like not putting your best foot forward for Microsoft.
Other good news from Sony in regards to the VAIO P — there will be a new 2 GHz processor option and a 256GB SSD, but I can only shudder to think how much that will cost. These new options will be available in Japan and will hopefully cross the waters to Europe and the U.S.
(via Portable Monkey)
Microsoft should just go ahead and release Windows 7 already. Would put an end to much of these compromises. Regarding the Vaio, I don’t think the current more powerful configs are available in the US so not sure we’d see the new ones. Hm. I do like to form.
It’s a snap to put XP on the Vaio P. I’ve had it on mine since February. Here is a guide: http://forum.pocketables.net/showthread.php?t=1906
I put Windows 7 RC on mine and it’s a whole new machine. They finally got a working PowerVR driver for Win 7 so the window manager doesn’t crash on startup. THe thing that surprised me was that Verizon’s software works better under Win7 than it did under Vista coming out of sleep/hibernate.
Vista works ok on netbooks, I used vlite to slim down the build and add updates. I don’t notice that much difference between Win 7, Win. XP and my vlite build of Vista. The main difference is that the 7 and XP systems haven’t been slimmed down so all your components are there.
That’s a good way to do it for those with technical competence like you but for others that might be a bit intimidating.
Im another how upgraded the vaio p to windows 7 rc1, i purchased it 10 days ago and i didnt even try vista out, just upgraded straight away to keep all buttons etc working, then installed the msi 1095 graphics drivers, then use SETFSB (again see pocketables.net) at start up to overclock to 1.6ghz with on a couple of degrees increase of temperature. running real sweet now, i may give xp a try if the 3d graphics are a bit better on games.
Count me in on the windows 7 on sony p club. Really pleased with it, espec start up and hibernate speed. Not sure if rest of feeling it is faster is more impression than “fact” but even if so–it feels good to have a faster machine.
Jahan—I may try to overclock. Where did you find the 1095 driver, all I can find is 1092.
The pocketables forum is a great place for sony p owners, it is where I got the info and the courage (I am only a “user” type techie) to go to windows 7.
Concerning the 1 GB limit on XP, considering that I’m using plenty of machines that have 1 GB (or less!) and run XP more than fine, I don’t see a huge value in putting more in a netbook.
Jim the heres the link:
http://forum.pocketables.net/showthread.php?p=22579
look at soyas post for the download.
you dont really notice a speed increase oced to 1.6 (or 1.8) only on videos youll notice a difference.
So clearly the thing to do with the HP Mini is (if you’re set on WinOS) is to buy the (likely cheaper too) 2GB Linux version and then swap it out with XP or Win7.
IMHO, all of the default distros of Linux on netbooks have been poorly realized, while Microsoft’s hobbling of hardware in order to keep XP at bay clearly hasn’t worked. They should be thankful that OS on netbooks has kept them relevant as an OS provider and allow the manufacturers to build fort its users, not for Microsoft.
As for the Vaio – regardless of OS – its still $500 too expensive and overrated in comparison to similar devices. And that’s like soooo Sony.