2. Fantastic Features, Compact Footprint

The VAIO UX Micro PC is loaded with almost all the features you could want in a mobile PC and everything fits into a case that's 5.91" x 3.74" x 1.50". It weighs 1.2 pounds with its standard battery, lighter than the OQO Model 01+.

The UX Micro PC comes with a 1.20 GHz Intel Core Solo U1400 ultra low voltage CPU (Front Side Bus 533 MHz), 512 MB of DDR2 PC2-3200 400 MHz RAM. The 30 GB Ultra ATA hard disk drive runs at 4200 RPM.

Sony's new VAIO UX Micro PC with its keyboard exposed.

The UX's widescreen Sony XBright SVGA display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 and can be used in landscape or portrait mode. The device uses Intel's Graphics Media Accelerator 950 graphic processor. So, it's not for high-end gaming or engineering applications.

Local area networking is provided by Intel's PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g) network adapter. Bluetooth is also included. And, drum-roll please, the UX Micro PC comes with wireless WAN capability. WWAN service is provided by Cingular. My own Sony T350P has WWAN capability and I have loved it since the day I bought the laptop.

The VAIO UX has two built-in cameras. One camera is on the front of the unit. The other is on the back. The front camera is for web conferencing; the back camera is for taking photos. The device also has a set of stereo speakers and a built-in microphone as well as headphone and microphone inputs, so it should be a great multimedia player. And, anyone for Skypeing?

Sony's VAIO UX Micro PC docked in its port replicator.

The UX Micro PC has one on-board USB 2.0 port and a memory stick DUO slot. A VGA adaptor and a port replicator come with the tiny PC. The port adapter includes three USB 2.0 ports, an IEEE 1394/Firewire port, VGA and AV-out ports, a wired Ethernet port and a DC-in jack. The VGA adapter includes ports for VGA, Ethernet and AV-out.

Battery life is estimated at 2.5-4.5 hours with the standard battery and 5.0-9.5 hours with the high capacity battery. The super-PDA comes with Windows XP Pro. I'm a little concerned that XP Tablet PC isn't available, but there is a stylus and the keyboard looks pretty good. I expect it'll work as well as the keyboards on other PDAs; pretty well for limited typing. For heavy duty typing on the road you can connect a USB or wireless USB keyboard.

The list price for the VAIO UX is $1,800.

Keep your eyes on this space. As soon as we've completed our review of the Sony VAIO UX Micro PC, we'll let you know. And, I'll probably have one of my own by then. Hey, some people collect baseball cards, some collect video games and some collect cars. What's wrong with collecting mobile computers?

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