When Sony first introduced the Picturebook it was the very first Cruseo-based subnotebook to make it on to the market. The release of the C1MV Picturebook on Transmeta's 0.13 micron TM5800 signifies that subnotebooks with non-Intel chips are growing in demand. The C1MV features a 733MHz TM5800 processor, Windows XP and the standard integrated CMOS camera above the high resolution 3/4 size TFT display. The VAIO C1MV and is expected to retail for about $1900USD mid-November 2001.

Like the earlier Crusoe-powered VAIO Picturebook's the C1MV is incredibly slim and portable - but while still packing in a host of features that make it useful to both the business and home user. At 1.0" thick and weighing a 2.2 pounds, the C1MV comes standard with a 20GB hard drive, 128MB DDR memory, 8MB ATI Radeon-M graphics chip, 8.95" UWSXGA (1280x600) TFT display and TM5800 733 MHz Crusoe processor.

The TM5800 series is manufactured on the 0.13 micron process, enabling the C1MV to consume less power and remain in use for upto 15.5 with a quad-size battery. The standard size battery has enough power for the VAIO C1MV to remain in operation for up to 4 hours. As with previous Picturebooks, battery life is influenced by how much the CMOS camera is used. All that in a package which measures 1" x 9.8" x 6" and weighs only 2.2lbs!

Port Replicator

Since subnotebooks are notorious for casting aside anything that even remotely fits under the term "legacy" the VAIO C1MV comes bundled with a external port-replicator. The port replicator makes it possible for C1MV users to make use of a 10/100 Ethernet connection or multimedia ports for video editing for example.

Business will probably be content to just leave the port replicator and all the cables at work, and take the C1MV alone. The C1MV subnotebook is with a V.90 modem, IEEE 1394 connection, and Memory Stick media slot - Sony's brand of proprietory flash memory. Three different sizes of batteries are available to power the notebook; standard, double and quad. With the largest battery pack clipped in, the C1MV can run for about 15.5 hours, and with the double battery 8 hours.

DVD-Quality Video

The hallmark of any VAIO Picturebook is the built-in rotating CMOS camera just above the 8.9" TFT screen. On the VAIO C1MV, the designers have opted to use a progressive scan camera with one-button capture or digital still and video images - directly to the computer.

The C1MV also sports MPEG1 thru MPEG4 and JPEG support to yield an ideal platform for viewing DVD quality video on the 1280 x 600 screen. The notebook even goes so far as to house a built-in real time MPEG2 encoder and decoder. The encoder makes it possible for users to convert an external video source to MPEG2 for higher quality video playback.

Given Sony's past efforts the C1MV looks to be a tantalizing extension of the original Picturebook, and one which will hopefully offer users a Cruseo-based platform with long battery life, decent performance, and superb functionality.