Sony VAIO UX390N – A UMPC that performs like a desktop PC!

June 11, 2008

The Sony VAIO VGN-UX390N is a micro PC with a full copy of Windows Vista Business…like it or not…squeezed into one of the smallest units available. It performs well when running everyday tasks and can handle a wide array of applications, which is impressive considering its size. This ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is in fact so small that it would be difficult to use full time in place of a desktop or conventional laptop, but that is not it’s intention. The UX390N is a fully functioning PC, and for the true road warrior, it may be the perfect companion.

The Vaio VGN-UX390N sports a clever design, hiding a sliding QWERTY keyboard behind the 4.5″ LCD and using a trackpoint-type pointer for a mouse. Under the mouse is a zoom button that magnifies the screen by 1.5x, 2.0x, 2.5x and 3.0x. The keyboard is a bit cramped, but anybody who is used to a Blackberry or smart phone might even find it spacious.

Despite the tiny size, Sony has packed the UX390N with many features like a biometric fingerprint reader for secure logins and a camera on the front as well as one on the back.

The UX390N runs on an Intel Core Solo U1500 (1.33GHz) CPU with 1GB RAM. The 4.5″ (1024×600) touch screen LCD is powered by an Intel 945GMS chip with 224MB of total available graphics memory. The main drive is a 32GB solid-state drive with no moving parts, essentially an enormous flash memory card. The absence of a spinning hard drive makes the laptop more resistant to bumps and shocks, and allows for faster file access times. The result is a faster computer, and Windows Vista only takes 45-50 seconds to boot to the desktop.

The Vaio VGN-UX390N has only a single USB port, an Express Card slot and a Memory Stick Duo card reader. Ethernet, S-Video, D-Sub outputs and a second DC jack are provided via the included port replicator. There is also built-in Bluetooth, 56K modem, Cingular WWAN and 802.11 a/b/g wifi.

One possible weakness is its less than stellar battery life. It will run for almost 3 hours for normal use, but only half that if you’re watching a movie or surfing the internet a lot. This isn’t awful, but a couple more hours of life would be nice, considering the high price of a second battery.

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