With this month’s launch of the new Sony VAIO mini notebook, the P-series “Lifestyle PC” (P for Laptop), an impressive 8-inch masterpiece weighing 638g and featuring Windows Vista, band 3G mobile broadband, built-in GPS and features from other Sony ranges begs the question: which is the best Sony VAIO mini laptop?

Essentially there are 3 main contenders:

-Sony VAIO P Series – New “Lifestyle PC”
-Sony VAIO TT series: the smallest Blu-ray notebook
-Sony VAIO SR Series: Award Winning Laptop

Immediately each of them has problems. The P-series, while incredibly small and light, lacks an optical drive (ie CD/DVD-ROM drive), a fast dual-core processor, and the display, though the good-in-class is still a limitation. The SR series is a full 13.3″ laptop and lacks the portability of the other two models – it weighs 3 times more than the VAIO P series!

The TT itself lacking in size could also be a negative for some. The keyboard, while a far cry from that of a 7-inch netbook, lacks the size and space of a larger laptop or desktop. However, Sony struggles to space out the keys.

The SR series, while good in its own field as a laptop, just can’t compete with portable mini laptops like the VAIO TT and P series. There are also better computers in its size and price category that are more practical like the MacBook Air.

So, between the above two models, which one is the best?

The VAIO TT Series is the most complete model. It’s a laptop that has been shrunk down to almost netbook-sized proportions with an 11.1″ screen and a weight of just 1.19kg, very similar to 10-inch netbooks. Inside it has a dual-core processor, which it’s more capable than the Intel Atom and while it’s less efficient, the VAIO TT’s huge battery more than makes up for its battery life of up to 9 hours, enough for a full day of work.”Smallest Blu-ray Notebook.”

The strength of the VAIO P series lies in its name: P for portable mini notebook. Sony says it’s about the size of a large office envelope, allowing it to fit neatly into a jacket pocket or briefcase. It’s almost half the weight of the VAIO TT (as we’ve already noted, it’s pretty sleek for its class), but it can still fit an 8″ screen with a 1600×768 resolution (compared to 1024×600 for your everyday netbook). ), up to 128 GB of solid-state storage, and integrated GPS.

The two models have similarities; both run the trademark on Windows Vista, share Sony features such as the Motion Eye webcam and the graphics engine used in Sony’s Bravia HD-ready range of televisions.