Sony Vaio M Atom 2.0 netbook

Crapware

While I agree that crapware is the bain of my life (and probably many others' lives too), it doesn't matter for the kind of people this machine is aimed at.

For people who are likely to read The Reg, they will always shop around to find a machine that is the best of breed, fully capable and best value. This Sony will not come into the radar for these shoppers so crapware won't be a problem.

For the average PC World/Currys/John Lewis shopper, the only thing they're looking for a good looking machine. The Sony fits that bill, and is priced similar to other models, so they will see they can get a Sony machine (and of course Sonys are of higher value than other brands, because it's Sony) for the same price as anything else, and they will just use whatever crapware Sony ship with it, because, well they don't know any better. They don't care that their videos, music and DVDs open in VAIO media gate or whatever, just that they open. Then they'll install iTunes with QuickTime to go with their iPod/iPhone and all of a sudden you'll have conflicts between 3 media apps and their techie friend will get a call and have to spend 3 hrs of their own time untangling the whole mess all the while cursing Sony's name under their breath.

Not that it's ever happened to me before, no.

70% seems high

The bar charts show these are all essentially the same machines, but that poor battery life, crapware and low RAM should put this out of the running.

USB ports

"Sony has opted to put all three USB ports side-by-side on the right edge of the machine...[which] appeals to my sense of order."

Well, yes.

Until you end up sitting somewhere where USB devices on the right side of the laptop are bound to be destroyed by passers-by, such as the edge of a desk or the 'C' seat on a 737. Headphone sockets on the front are not so very clever for similar reasons, but I usually have my USB headset adapter with me anyway.

e.g.: I like having USB ports in different places around the machine. It's practical.

Dodgy Review Ratings

I Just dont get your review rating criteria Reg, and never have, you give such high marks that seem contradictory to what you say in your review. Based on what you have written I would guess at 60% max. but its rated at 70%, which i would say is pretty ok.

the Verdict is a great example:

Verdict

The combination of a specification at the top end of the scale with Bluetooth and 802.11n wireless included, a price on the right side of £300, an attractive design and peripheral features usually found on more grown up laptops should have made the Vaio M strong competition for the slightly more expensive Samsung N220. However, the Vaio M's failings are just too many and too glaring to overlook. As it stands Sony's first attempt at a bog standard netbook is a decent enough effort hampered by a poor keyboard, weak battery and, evidently, no option to upgrade its 1GB Ram. ®

Status LEDs...

So the Sony, having 1 less status LED than a Samsung NC10, is a good compromise compared to a LED-less Dell? Funny compromise!

Actually, while we're on the subject of status LEDs... I've never understood why the NC10 has a backlit power button AND a power status LED on the front too, why not just have the power button one... which could have also changed colour when the charger is plugged in too, that would have been neat.