The Sony Vaio P is a new approach to Netbooks (even though Sony don’t like to call it a Netbook), It it a fairly powerful system put into a 8″ clamshell, widescreen case and marketed as a PC that will fit in your pocket.

The unit itself weights under 700 grams, is under 2 cm thick and supports a 2.08:1 aspect ratio (1600×768).

This is not a cheap unit though, with prices as high as $3000 for a top of the range model, and $2300 for the standard Sony Australia model, I doubt anyone would carry it in their pocket. The Netbook runs on Windows Vista with a custom instant on Linux based OS, so you can access photos, movies and the internet within 10-15 seconds of turning the device on.

The Australian model only comes with the 1.60 GHz processor and a 64 GB hard drive, but after a bit of searching on the internet, I stumbled upon this site: Conics ,this is a Japanese site that lets you customize a Vaio P to your liking and has options for English keyboards and Australian power plugs as well as the 1.86 GHz processor and a 128 GB solid state drive.

Sony have not had the greatest record with laptops as of late, as they try to fit too much into such a small design which causes overheating problems and eventual breakdown of the unit itself. Hopefully Sony have learnt their lesson and haven’t put out a unit that will not only overheat, but as they want you to carry it in your pocket, will set your pants alight.

Chris Thursfield