Hands on with Sony's would-be UMPC killer, the UX180P
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jul 7th 2006 5:45PM
posted Jul 7th 2006 5:45PM
For our purposes, we set out that we would consider the UX a success if, among other things, we felt comfortable taking it anywhere (within reason, of course). If we didn't, we'd be hard-pressed to justify the difference in convenience between the UX and a much more powerfully-spec'd 12.1-inch subnotebook for the same coin.
At the end of the day, we concluded that the portability of the UX rivaled that of the OQO; we could tote it pretty much anywhere we could possibly want to do some computin', though to do that, this reviewer had to attach the included ballistic nylon carrying case to the shoulder strap of his Timbuk2. We know that Sony has been throwing around the "pocketable" term with the UX, but have no illusions, folks -- no pocket we're aware of will comfortably swallow this thing. Think of it more as a "very small computer" than as a "very large PDA." After all, that's what it is.
Breathe easy, friends: Microsoft has triumphantly declared the UX180P "Vista Capable." With a Core Solo U1200 and 512MB of RAM, it may not be pretty -- but yeah, it'll do it.
We're not going to waste any keystrokes here beating up on the UX's keyboard, as there are plenty of reviews already posted elsewhere that have done that for us. Think of it this way: it's there to get you by when nothing less than pure, QWERTY goodness will do. You won't write your thesis on it, you won't rock World of Warcraft on it (though we don't put it past some of our readers to try). We would characterize the tactile feedback to be about on par with a Cingular 8125, and it worked just fine when we needed a keyboard for a few minutes at a stretch. Those with smaller hands might have some trouble with the middle keys, however. The thumb stick on the right side of the computer's face was easy enough to use, though some might complain that it takes you away from the keyboard, whereas the OQO's does not. A nifty feature of the stick is that it can be configured to register downward pressure as a click, though we found it too sensitive to be useful.
One of the big draws of the Americanized UX is the inclusion of the EDGE modem. What gives, Sony? We can't think of any device in the world more suited to an internal HSDPA card. Of course, the modem's internals are of Sony Ericsson origin; apparently Sony couldn't swallow their pride and source HSDPA hardware from elsewhere since they don't have an 850 / 1900 card of their own in production yet. At any rate, we didn't test the service, but we imagine you can expect speeds on par with Sony Ericsson's GC83.
So, when all's said and done, what did we think of the little beast? It's a great piece of hardware with immaculate design, soured by mediocre software -- typical Sony. The stock Windows XP Professional install is an embarrassment, loaded with enough adware and trialware to bring the already underpowered hardware to its knees -- in fact, it hung the very first time we tried to shut it down. Of course, our immediate reaction was to replace it with a clean Tablet PC Edition image, but several drivers on the recovery DVDs we burned were non-functional upon installation, rendering the device crippled. We got closer by downloading drivers directly from Sony's site, but we found that it was hanging on each and every shutdown and standby. It's odd to us that a company with such vast resources and a keen eye for industrial design can fall so far short on the software side.
Despite its flaws, the UX is likely still the best thing going for ultimately portable computing, leaving the UMPC crowd and the venerable OQO in its dust. For those looking to take the plunge, we recommend keeping a pulse on the user community to work through these driver issues and make it a worthwhile second or third computer -- and, of course, there's the ever-present prospect of dropping Linux on 'er. Without further ado, on to the eye candy.
Can you try to shimmy OSX86 on there please?
Pretty cool lil' machine! I'd even contemplate buying one except for one searing fact. The trouble with Sony is that in a few months they'll dump this and move on to something else leaving all the people who bought it in the dust. I for one, have decided to stop buying Sony stuff as cool as it is, because they are terrbile at supporting their user base.
Can you try to shimmy OSX86 on there please?
Why would any one to do that? They showed the label it's Vista Capable.
So that means a nice stable just as secure OS as OSX and it works with all the millions of applications out there?
Why would I want OSX so I can plug my DRM ipod into it and have fun with the very very cheezy attempt to take on media center with the laughable front row?
No thanks I will take the super slick super secure Vista with built in media center anytime there applefanboy
This device definitely has some PSP-genes. I wonder if it will ever hit Europe...
"applefanboy"
This seems to be the pot calling the kettle black. How are you so sure Vista is "slick" and "super secure"? It's not even in it's finished stages.
@ mcepat
So he likes Mac OS. You don't. Why do you have to be such an ass?
AND why does every thread have to degenerate into a my dick (er, I mean OS) is bigger than yours.
Both systems have pros and cons. So let it rest aleady.
Amen to that, Mike.
so, install linux on it already :P
will it boot off usb?
Why couldn't Intel and Microsoft come up with something similar with their UMPC? I'd go for a slightly larger screen though, and keep the keyboard with slightly better keyboard, if possible, but make the styling plainer more utilitarian/OEM - I think most of the cost has gone into Sony style rather than sustance.
WHY DOES Mike Milo HATE THE SONY, THEIR KEWL YO.
mcepat - stop accusing James of being a fanboy, if you can't prevent yourself sounding like a Microsoft fanboy yourself. Actually, come to think of it, you sound like a Microsoft plant.
Personal opinion: Someone PUHLEASE come up with a better OS for these things... A linux distro really does need to be formed to support this/UMPC platform.
Besides OSX on this thing would be fairly cool.
Just my £0.02...
Also - am I the only one who thinks vista is just XP with more mindless eyecandy?
matthew, Vista is so much more than XP... and mindless eyecandy? I think not...its dynamic features are very user specific.
It reminds me more of the OSX if you ask me... haha
I'm a little confused by why this review concludes with a seemingly good rating, while the body of the review makes this thing sound unusable.
so far vista does seem just like xp dipped in candy. As far as sony, this thing looks super thick, seems like its thicker than my laptop. Who wants to carry this thing around? And how is it more portable than the OQO which seems very much smaller. Sony makes sexy hardware, but hardware is nothing without good software, and since this thing seemed to crap out right out of the box. I would rate it a failure, surely not leaving anything in the dust if you cant use it. And knowing sony, in a year it'll make a good door stop.
Don't go that way!!!
I thought a realy portable/small laptop would be great.
So i bought a Sony PCG-U101 some years ago. In retro: Fsck'ing expensiv mistake. Hopefully the machine will find a place in a museum or sumsuch.
A 7inch screen is ok. But the keyboard is not. Bought a small Cherry-keyb but it is just not satisfing to lug all that hw around.
My advice is to buy a good subnotebook or what goes for that these days. Everything under 2kg is portable. A full keyboard is a must. So widescreen..
There are a lot of systems that fit in that cat, ex for the full keyb.
If Sony wouldn' try to fsck me(/us) so often and not pay for it, i'd list some of their devs but:
SONY YOU HAVE LOST. *wiiiiiii*
--
And if you want to go naked.. I like the E61 after i added a MB of python code.
I'm not sure if MS is pulling another Windows 98 on us with Vista, but I think that there is going to be a true bump in security. But not having a DVD burner, I haven't tried Vista yet. Besides, I'm a linux guy.
And as long as the processor architecture is supported, one could get Linux on there. Ubuntu (my personal distro of choice) is about 700 MB, it would fit nicely. I assume it's an x86. Try it if you're adventurous...
Slick as this handheld beast looks (should of been clamshell though), the price kills the deal(same goes with the OQO). Soon as this hotness hit $800-$700 price tag, I'm all on them. If more UMPCs follow this design, and released at a more affordable price.. they can easily become the next must-have tech device (dare I say replacing teh Notebook/Laptop surge).
Eh, I guess I'll just to the *Averatec AHI* is released. Does anyone have any new info on it..
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/07/averatecs-ahi-umpc-takes-shape/
My guess is that your shutdown hangup has to do with the built in fingerprint scanner. I had the same problem when I did a fresh install of XP Pro on my Vaio SZ110/B. It turns out that this is more of an issue with the OS than it is with the hardware. The Fingerprint Scanner acts as a USB device and it doesn't respond to shutdown as it should when you go to shutdown or suspend. Microsoft has a patch for it however for one reason or another they haven't pushed it to the masses. One way you can be sure that this is your problem is to disable the fingerprint scanner and or built-in camera in device manager and then try shutting down. Here is a thread that goes into more detail on the issue.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=42310
I would be interested in knowing if this resolves your problem.
I would rather have the Averatec AHI. Looks nicer and I believe from the early #s has better specs too.
WTF i thought this was out in the us for hella long (like month and half).
My friend has the ux90 its cool but he had to reformat it becuase all the stuff sonty preloads slows that thing down bad. The camera is dumb i dont see the point its like a big ass crappy digital camera.
I would like it alot if it was faster its not worht 1k even when you get like 5 or 8 tabs open in firefox it slows down alot and the 8hr bat seems good but it seems to run out faster on a pc or maby it is becuase you just leave a pc on longer.
If I wasn't a Mac guy, I'd buy this. It's the exact form factor I'm looking for in a computer. Hell, I still might.
By the way, Amazon has a $150 rebate right now. It makes the price slightly more palatable.
Personally I think this is a really cool looking device. It looks well built and probally will last quite a while. The only thing that I think is stupid is why they are trying to make something that small anyway? I would much rather have a bigger screen so I don't go cross eyed looking at this small screen. I don't mind the weight of a laptop so whats the real perpose of this device? But I must hand it to sony they are always trying to make things bigger and better then everyone else and for that I say good job.
Sony did the nicest job of the "UMPC" thing.. but yeah, uhmm.. once you go Mac you never go back = no way i can sit and use XP without getting frustrated because some norton shit keeps popping up, or one of the other annoying things that pc's do. - Hello! You are connected to the internet! *closes dialog box* ... Hello! would you like to take a tour of XP?! ... *closes dialog box* ... etc lol
I have the UX50 (the Japanese version with a slower processor) and I ran into the same hanging on shutdown/standby problem. According to this forum: http://www.micropctalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26 the reason has something to do the with the USB Root Hub for the built in camera. From the post:
1. Right-click on my computer.
2. Click on properties.
3. Go to the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button.
4. Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section.
5. Right-click on the 5th USB Root Hub icon and select Properties.
6. Click on the Power Management tab.
7. Uncheck the box next to "Allow computer to turn off this device to save power."
8. Click OK.
9. Close the Device Manager.
10. Click OK on the System Properties window.
11. Restart the computer.
I tried it, and it's worked perfectly for me. All the original drivers worked on my machine as well, though I did have a problem with the Bluetooth drivers, solved by reinstalling the drivers from scratch.
Linux test already done:
http://mozy.org/vaio/
I'm sorry, but I will not be a part of yet another piece of Sony "Abandonware"
I got burned on the hardware when they dropped the Clie line of PalmOS handhelds, then again with software when they went out of their way to interfere with development on the PSP platform.
Nowadays I simply don't trust Sony with my large purchase dollars, or even my meduim ones.
20-dollar set of earbuds? -Absolutely
High-Technology tool/toys? -Been fooled twice, shame on me.
What Works:
1 Keyboard,
2 mouse,
3 screen (doesn't fill the screen yet).
4 USB is detected (obviously because we booted from it!), as is the
5 CardBus chipset (which houses the Cingular WWAN adapter).
What Doesn't Work:
1 The "VAIO Button",
2 Fingerprint scanner,
3 Intel WiFi card,
4 zoom buttons,
5 touchscreen (this might work if I look into it more..maybe later.), and finally... both the
6 camera's DON'T work.
Obivously drivers are required for ALL of these things to work.
---
trying to use linux on a high-tech device eh?
C'mon guys. Please stop making 13 page long posts in the feeds section. These how-to sections and hands-on sections are a real pain to browse with a smartphone or a pda, plus not eveyone is interested in 13 shots of a cardboard box. Can't you use a link or something for the rss feeds.
I got to play with this two weeks ago in the Sony Building Gallery in Tokyo.
I'm a Mac guy at heart, but I've got to admit that this PC turned my head - and it's a lot of fun to use. The screen resolution is really amazing. Kind of hard to type on a keyboard of this size, especially with the edges on this model.
All things considered, very cool PC.
i would take the OQO over this Sony POS any day
you have nice hands, johnny endgaget.
So how long is the battery life?
How long will the batteries last on continuous video? (Can I use it as a movie player on an airplane for long periods of time?)
What are the dimensions? Is it REALLY unpocketable?
How do you protect the screen when not being used?
JaXs- seriously. This thing's a brick. OQO has a pointing stick and a Transmeta CPU. I don't understand why people bash OQO. I've used their device and it rocks, and I know people who use them as their only PC. -Carl
CarlLumma- The OQO doesn't do movies well or for long, does it?
Wow, it shares a lot of ports/connection with my U50...
Does anyone know how well it runs usb dvd-rw
And to all those vista guys, just thought you should know I have recieved 3 betas, it looks cool (although very osx ish) but filled with bugs, you can set your watch by the cashes.
For now osx has the uper hand, but well see......
I bought one of these , got it Friday, it's back in the box ready to be shipped back. I spent more time with the zoom button then anything else. Unusable is the correct word to describe. Great to look at but i'm telling you so hard to read. The pop-ups had to be zoomed every time, status bar pop ups can't be read.
Bob
I really want one but cant justify it, just damn.
Junk-pure junk. Like most PDA's and small machines on the market, junk. Did I forget to say junk? I'll wait until I can have something embedded in a contact lense, projection keyboard...size versus practicality...are these companies asking this question? Dell, HP, Sony??
Hmmm... Twice the performance of the OQO, but twice the size of the OQO (thickness)! Nice device but I'll stick to my pocketable OQO Model 01+ for now :)
Take a look at http://pocketables.blogspot.com for continuing coverage of the UX180P. Great, friendly forum community at http://www.handtops.com and lots of info at http://www.micropctalk.com.
i have an XDA EXEC (HTC universal) and i think the battery life the EXEC has is winning out on this one.
Hello
does anyone knows this model ???
It seems that it is lighter 492g instead of 520g and it is BLACK
http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Style-a/Product/U/index.html
But is it available in US ?
Are there other differences ?
It is not my language ;)
Sebastian,
The black model is a flash memory version. It has a 16GB flash memory instead of a hard drive. That is the major difference in the two. Everything else is pretty much the same. That may explain the difference in weight. As of right now this version in not available in the U.S., nor do I think it will be.
I have both the UX180P and an OQO 01+. Unfortunately the UX is too thick to fit inconspicuously (or comfortably) in my pocket. However, the UX is still incredibly useful. Sony support was very helpful in unlocking the SIM card so I could swap in my own Cingular SIM, and I disagree with most reviews I've seen regarding keyboard, I think it's better than the OQO. There is enough tactile feedback for me, and I like the wider keys and having the numbers on the top row.
This is a neat little device, though the price is a bit out of my league. I'm a Treo 600 user and I am quite happy with my now old device. The Palm Os is so much better (to me) compared to the Windows interface.
When everyon had that kissing bug virus years ago, windows system crashed and thank GOD I had dumped my Pocket PC when a few of my files were lost, mostly MS things.
My palm, while everyone lost their OutLook contacts, my computer was lost, but a quick format and reinstall, then a hotsync and voila! I'm up and running like nothing ever happened.
The palm os Palm Desktop rules in my book, I do not just use it for addresses, I use it for:
notes, recipes, game descriptions, codes, website urls, books I want to buy, html and flash codes (not compiled and editable).
Other Palm Os features include: video playback and mp3 playback.
True it is dated technology, but once your windows device crashes or COMPLETELY FAILS on you, you will appreciate Palm Os, though it is slowly being pushed out by jack-of-all-too-many-trades Windows.
That's my two cents. The PSP should be upgraded to the PSP2 and be VERY similar to the Muylo with a qwerty keyboard and THEN you gots me.
Does anybody know how to unlock the vgn-ux180p to use with t-mobile service. Its twice less price that cingular service?
UX180 is overpriced and underperforms BADLY in the battery department. UX50 is confusing as the Clié had exactly the same name but the Clié was a better machine. Vista is not important - what is is a useable small format computer for the serious mobile person and the only thing that has come close is the earlier versions of the UMPC from Sony such as the U8.
Sony needs to focus on battery life and dropping the crap-ware that is sent with every OS. If they want these to sell they need to work without special programs and for longer than 2 hours without reverting back to power sockets. The average plane flight lasts for between 4 and 6 hours and a second battery is too expensive to justify over the machine. Come on Sony - if you are "Like no other" start to prove it beyond your overpaid marketeers!
Not to be a fanboy, but how sweet would this be with OSx86 ported and a turion instead of whatever intel core malarkey. Also, the EDGE modem is (in my humble opinion) a waste, because a growing number of people are buying UMTS, HSDPA and EVDO phones with built-in phone as modem feature, and are rediculously faster than EDGE. Phone company gave me a free EVDO phone and I can probably get phone as modem service for less than the monthly fee on the UX's built in EDGE.
ok, I'm an OS X / AMD / CDMA fanboy, but those are my opinions on how to make this ditty better. If it was thinner, I'd look into it, the other dimensions I don't mind because my clie(coincidentially also a UX series, sony must be implying something to former customers, "this device is too expensive and doesnt have great battery, but its feature set and uniqueness are unmatched") gets swallowed by most of my pockets.
As with my clie and my psp, if this device ever makes it into my collection of "good idea, bad execution" sony portables, it will be well after the device is released, when its available on ebay, or stolen from the store and put on the black market, for cheap.