Yesterday, Sony Philippines opened their office doors to the media to introduce the latest addition to their popular, fashion-friendly VAIO PC line. Dubbed the VAIO P, the 2009 CES showstopper weighs just around 600 grams and can potentially slip into one of your pockets. But no, it’s not a netbook, at least according to Sony.

The sexy Sony VAIO PC line goes even sexier with the addition of the new P series.

Powered by the latest Intel Atom Z series chips with the matching Atom-optimized GMA 500 GPU and 2GB memory, and featuring a high-resolution ultra-wide LCD screen and a maximized isolation keyboard, the VAIO P “pocket-stye” PC promises to be capable of doing more than typical machines meant for content consumption. As such, the newest VAIO marks Sony’s claim to introduce a new category in PC design and usability.

How much truth lies behind this claim, we are unable to tell conclusively for now. (This writer, for one, is still fantasizing over the idea of getting to witness first-hand the VAIO P’s computing prowess once a demo sample makes its way into our office.) So for the meantime, enjoy more of our first-look photos from the launch!

Again, here’s a good look at the new VAIO P, showcasing the premium design of the interior. It’s pretty hard to miss the ultra-wide, 8-inch LED-backlit display that boasts a high resolution of 1600 x 768.

Wondering how it looks when closed? Here you go. Sleek and sophisticated.

Heck, even the bottom of the VAIO P screams of high-grade quality and style! Notice that there are no screws to be seen anywhere on that surface. (Unfortunately, this is a discouraging sight for the more hard-core hardware tweakers out there.)

At the launch event, there were several dioramas set up to showcase ideal usage scenarios for the VAIO P. This one shows off the main idea behind the VAIO P – taking computing outdoors.

Here’s a closer look at the above display, highlighting how the VAIO P seamlessly fits into users’ common outdoor activities.

This homey setup exhibits the possibilities of the VAIO P integrating with your digital home entertainment solutions. You can even forget about the wires, thanks to this new VAIO’s wireless connectivity options.

In case it hasn’t occurred to you yet, the VAIO P is also the ideal travel partner, and not just because of its small size and handy performance. It also features noise-cancelling audio technology, similar to that of the Sony VAIO’s other ultra-portable champ, the T series notebooks, making it perfect for those long flights.

Unsurprisingly, the members of the press flocked around the units on display as soon as they were given the green light to do so. Consumers will likely follow suit as soon as the VAIO P hits shelves really soon.

One of our colleagues tests out the “pocketability” of the VAIO P – and succeeds!

On to the really good stuff – the features! Check out the VAIO P’s keyboard. Despite its diminutive proportions, the keyboard extends across the whole width of the unit and comes in the very user-friendly isolated key format.

In order to pull off its unique 120mm width, the VAIO P replaces the traditional trackpad with the more old-school (yet still effective) tracker button.

The Sony VAIO P also has a pair of unique buttons. Pressing the key on the left activates the built-in window arrangement utility, which neatly organizes all open windows across the screen. The other button is known as the Instant On key, which launches Sony’s Xross media bar interface for quick bootup and access to the Internet and user’s multimedia content.

Sony’s Motion Eye webcam is also integrated into this little mean machine. Unlike other mobile computers though, this webcam is located on the upper right-hand corner instead of at the middle.

At the left profile, you’ll find the power port, a USB port, and a standard 3.5mm stereo jack for headphones.

This view shows the VAIO P’s wireless switch and its pair of card reader slots, one for SD format cards and another for Memory Stick format media.

Over at the right side are another USB port and the I/O adapter port, to which the Ethernet and display ports are connected (see below).

The torque-hinge on the VAIO P looks rather sturdy.

Bundled with the Sony VAIO VGN-P15 model are these headphones which work optimally with the unit’s built-in noise-canceling audio technology.

Also bundled with the P15 model is this adapter, which connects to the I/O port on the VAIO. It has one port for VGA connections and another for LAN plugs. It also snaps onto the VAIO’s power bar to keep things neat.

Also on display during the event were the variety of accessories (sold separately) to complement the VAIO P. There are slip cases and carrying pouches, as well as Bluetooth mice. Here is the black variant, which exudes an undeniable air of seriousness and professionalism.

Meanwhile, the red set is sophisticated and elegant, clearly a good match for the female user segment.

The white set of accessories likewise conveys elegance and luxuriousness, but at the same time it communicates a sporty and trendy vibe.

The last set is not necessarily all green, to match the other color variant of the VAIO P. It still remains faithful to the more grounded earth colors, thus adding a sense of vibrancy to the already outdoors-friendly VAIO P pocket-style PC. 

Now that you’ve seen the photos, it’s time to check out the hard numbers. Below are the specs, as well as the pricing for the two Sony VAIO P models that will be released in the Philippine market:

The Sony VAIO P series PCs will hit Philippine store shelves on February 25, 2009, but eager beavers can get a jump ahead of everybod¬y else once the official VAIO P microsite goes online tomorrow, January 30, 2009. So, fellow tech-head, sleep well tonight and pre-order first thing tomorrow morning on www.sony.com.ph/vaiop!