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Sony has announced the latest additions to its Vaio range of notebook computers--its first notebook computer that can be used as a digital video recorder, and the smallest Windows XP notebook on the market to date.

The first machine, the Vaio C1, is based on Transmeta's TM5800 processor, which runs at 867 MHz, has 128MB of double data rate memory. It has a widescreen 8.9-inch TFT LCD with ultrawide SXGA resolution (1,280 by 600 pixels), topped by a video camera with 350,000-pixel resolution.

The computer measures 9.7 inches by 1.1 inches by 5.6 inches and weighs 2.2 pounds.

The machine can double as a digital video recorder, using an external TV tuner unit and the bundled GigaPocket software to record TV programs to its 40GB hard disk drive.

Sony has been bundling GigaPocket in Vaio desktop machines for some time, but this is the first notebook computer to include the software. The software has never been included on a notebook before because of the processing demands it puts on the machine. However, recent improvements in mobile processor technology, coupled with a hardware MPEG2 encoder chip which relieves the processor of much of the heavy work, have enabled Sony to do this on the C1.

Sony's Smallest

The second new machine, the Vaio-U, is the smallest Windows XP notebook to date, the company says. Measuring 7.3 inches by 1.4 inches by 5.5 inches, and weighing 1.9 pounds, the computer is noticeably smaller than Toshiba's Libretto mini notebook computer.

Like the Toshiba, Sony has chosen a Transmeta Crusoe processor, but gone for the faster TM5800 model.

The computer has 128MB of memory and while the TFT LCD is small at 6.4 inches, it offers XGA resolution (1,024 by 768 pixels). Other features include a 20GB hard disk drive, two USB ports, a four-pin i-Link IEEE1394 port, PC Card and Memory Stick slots, and an Ethernet port.

Because it is so small, the machine is easy to hold with one hand on each side of the main body, gripping it with thumbs positioned on the top of the body just below the screen. Sony has thus included a number of design features to accommodate operation with two thumbs. Under the right thumb is a pointer, used to control the cursor, while under the left thumb are two buttons that mimic left and right clicking on a mouse. There is also a zoom-in button on the right hand side of the screen--something that might prove useful with such a small display.

Mobile Inspiration

Inspiration has also come from the world of mobile phones, where one-thumbed operation for typing and sending e-mail is so common it is becoming second nature for many.

The ThumbPhrase system makes use of a shadow keyboard arranged like that of a cellular telephone, with one button representing several characters or letters, which is used by the left thumb while the right thumb controls functions such as capitalization or switching between the different Japanese kana and kanji characters.

Both machines were previewed in early March, at the same time as Sony announced a new version of its Clie PDA and are scheduled to go on sale in Japan on April 27. Overseas launch plans have not yet been decided, says Sony.

In Japan, the Vaio C1 costs $1,755 and the Vaio U costs $1,145.

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