✓Ultra-compact and stylish design, including integrated still/video camera
✓built-in Bluetooth adapter and hardware MPEG2 encoder
✓high-resolution TFT display.
Cons
✕Moderate performance
✕disappointing battery life.
Sony's latest C1-series notebook, the C1MGP, is even lighter than its VFK predecessor, tipping the scales at just under a kilogram (998g). It also features a faster 733MHz Transmeta Crusoe 5800 processor than the VFK model, which was powered by a 667MHz 5600 chip. As well as an integrated Motion Eye camera, Memory Stick slot and built-in Bluetooth adapter, the new MGP model adds an integrated hardware MPEG2 encoder, making this diminutive ultraportable almost certainly the smallest video-editing platform available. The resolution of the 8.95in. TFT display has also been increased from 1,024 by 480 to 1,280 by 600 pixels.
Transmeta's low-power Crusoe processor has not been the runaway success that either its creators or legions of battery-life-hungry notebook users hoped it would be, but Sony has remained faithful to the cause ever since introducing the first Crusoe-based notebook in the shape of the 600MHz C1VE back in October 2000. Generally speaking, performance has been moderate and battery life disappointing in the C1 range -- a pattern that the latest model fails to disturb.
Although we were unable to run the mainstream application-based Business Winstone 2001 benchmark due to lack of memory (the Crusoe chip reserves 16MB of the system's 128MB of DDR SDRAM for its upgradeable Code Morphing software, taking it below the benchmark's minimum requirement), processor-level tests show the C1MGP lagging behind Intel-based systems with similar clock speeds. For example, the 750MHz Mobile Pentium III-M-based Toshiba Portégé 2000 delivers a CPUmark 99 score of 64.4, compared to the 733MHz C1MGP's 52.2. Floating-point results show an even wider gap, the Portégé 2000 recording 4,100 under FPU WinMark 99 while the C1MGP managed only 1,950.
When it comes to battery life, the C1MGP is frankly disappointing, the system's 1,800mAh Li-ion unit delivering just under two hours' run-time with power management features turned off -- 18 minutes less than we got from its VFK predecessor. Sony claims that you can get up to three hours from the standard battery, and with power management turned on that's not unreasonable. However, this is nowhere near the 10-hour-plus lifetimes that were bandied about before the Crusoe launched. Anyone expecting to use a C1MGP away from mains power for any length of time would be well advised to consider buying a second battery.
Apart from its 733MHz processor and 128MB of DDR SDRAM (upgradeable to 256MB), the C1MGP's headline specifications include a graphics subsystem powered by ATI's 8MB Mobility Radeon-M chip and a wide-screen-format TFT display with a native resolution of 1,280 by 600 pixels. You can display a more conventional aspect ratio on an external monitor via the supplied port replicator, which in addition to a VGA port carries Ethernet, USB and AV in/out connectors. Hard disk capacity is up to 20GB from 15GB, and there's a MagicGate Memory Stick slot. No media are supplied for the latter, and you'll have to pay extra for external floppy or optical drives. Other on-board I/O and expansion facilities include i.LINK (IEEE 1394), USB, Type II PC Card, RJ-11 modem, microphone and headphone, plus a proprietary connector for the port replicator.
The C1MFG's design has been updated, although its overall dimensions are very similar to its predecessors'. The livery is a darker shade of grey-purple, the mouse buttons have been restyled, and several elements re-located – the Memory Stick slot on the right-hand side of the front panel, the Jog Dial between the screen and keyboard on the right-hand side, and status lights at the top of the screen beside the Motion Eye camera. Some may find the new location of the Jog Dial less than satisfactory, but it's a matter of indifference to those (like this reviewer) who never use the thing.
The C1MGP's Bluetooth functionality is substantially the same as the VFK model's, although there's now a hardware button for turning the Bluetooth adapter on and off in addition to the facility within Sony's BlueSpace utility. As before, BlueSpace looks after the discovery of and connection to other Bluetooth devices, while the VisualShare application handles file sharing with other Bluetooth notebooks such as Sony's recently reviewed SRX41P.
The usual bundle of multimedia-orientated Sony software is provided, along with Windows XP Professional. The standard one-year warranty is extendable to three years if required.
The C1 range has always had great gadget appeal, and despite its seriously compact form factor the keyboard is remarkably easy to type on and the screen surprisingly easy on the eye. It's not especially cheap at £1,536.06 (ex. VAT; £1,799 inc. VAT), and both performance and battery life are moderate. But if you want to impress people on the train or the plane, Sony's latest C1 model certainly looks the part -- at least until it runs out of battery power.
Specifications
General
Packaged Quantity
1
Recommended Use
corporate business,
small business
Built-in Devices
Jog Dial,
camera,
display,
keyboard,
stereo speakers
Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Processor / Chipset
CPU
Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 733 MHz
Cache
L2 - 512 KB - Write-Back
Cache Memory
Type
L2 cache
Installed Size
512 KB
RAM
Configuration Features
provided memory is soldered
Upgrade Rule
max 128 MB module
Technology
DDR SDRAM
Installed Size
128 MB
Storage
Type
none
Type
portable
Memory
Max Supported Size
256 MB
Technology
DDR SDRAM
Slots Qty
1
Empty Slots
1
Display
Resolution
1280 x 600
Widescreen Display
Yes
Color Support
24-bit (16.7 million colors)
Diagonal Size (metric)
22.7 cm
Hard Drive
Type
HDD
Installed Qty
1
Capacity
20 GB
Audio & Video
Graphics Processor
AGP - ATI Mobility Radeon
Supported Display Graphics
UW-SXGA (1280x600)
Integrated Webcam
Yes
Capture Resolutions
160 x 120,
640 x 480
Input
Type
Jog Dial,
keyboard
Communications
Wireless Protocol
Bluetooth
Optical Storage
Drive Type
no optical drive
Type
none
Processor
Installed Qty
1
Max Supported Qty
1
Upgradability
not upgradable
CPU Type
Crusoe TM5800
Manufacturer
Transmeta
Clock Speed
733 MHz
Floppy Drive
Type
none
Card Reader
Type
card reader
Supported Flash Memory
Memory Stick
Battery
Technology
lithium ion
Run Time (Up To)
3 hour(s)
Connections & Expansion
Slots
1 x CardBus (1 free) 1 x memory (1 free)
Interfaces
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11 2 x USB 4 pin USB Type A 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 4 pin FireWire 1 x headphones - output - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone mono 3.5 mm 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) 1 x display / video - composite video input - RCA 1 x display / video - composite video output - RCA 1 x docking / port replicator
Memory Card Reader
Yes (Memory Stick)
Header
Brand
Sony
Product Line
Sony VAIO
Model
PCG-C1MGP
Bundled with
port replicator
Packaged Quantity
1
Compatibility
PC
Networking
Max Transfer Rate
56 Kbps
Data Link Protocol
Bluetooth
Form Factor
integrated
Compliant Standards
Bluetooth 1.1
Miscellaneous
Color
gray,
metallic silver
Integrated Options
Stereo speakers, keyboard, display, camera, Jog Dial
Monitor
Diagonal Size
8.95 in
Color Support
24-bit (16.7 million colors)
System
Notebook Type
thin and light
Platform
Windows
Hard Drive Capacity
20 GB
Dimensions & Weight
Width
9.8 in
Depth
6 in
Height
1.1 in
Graphics Controller
Form Factor
integrated
Interface Type
AGP
Audio Output
Form Factor
integrated
Sound Output Mode
stereo
Compliant Standards
Microsoft WSS 1.0/2.0
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support
Limited warranty - parts and labor - 1 year - carry-in
Type
1 year warranty
Physical Characteristics
Form Factor
portable
Weight
2.2 lbs
Power
Type
power adapter
Operating System / Software
OS Provided: Type
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Type
Adobe Acrobat Reader,
Apple QuickTime 5,
ArcSoft Panorama Maker,
Drivers & Utilities,
Norton AntiVirus,
PowerPanel,
RealJukebox,
RealPlayer,
Sony DVgate,
Sony MovieShaker,
Sony PictureGear,
Sony PictureToy,
Sony Smart Capture,
Sony SonicStage,
Sony VisualFlow,
Sony Visualshare,
WinDVD
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