MSRP- $100
Best Features- instant access to news, music, and more; portable device can be carried anywhere
Worst Features- poor speakers; poor touch response; no battery operation
Conclusion- You won’t be able to surf the web like you would on a laptop, but for those who just want to be able to watch videos, stream music, or get the latest news, this small device can be a lot of fun to play with.
The Sony Dash review covers the portable 7 inch semi-laptop device. It’s somewhere between a netbook and a touch screen phone, without the phone functions. The affordable Sony Dash isn’t going to replace your notebook, but for anyone who loves collecting tech, this is a neat little device.
Click here to get the Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer for only $89.99
Sony Dash Review Specs
Unlike a traditional laptop there isn’t any memory or hard drive to speak of. The Dash is powered completely by the internet. You’ll use apps like you would on an iPhone or Android phone. When the Dash was first introduced there were only a handful of apps available, but that’s changed. You can also use the USB drive to watch videos, listen to music, or view photos from a thumb drive. You have to have Wi-Fi in your home to use this device.
Sony Dash Pros
This can be a useful little device. The 7 inch screen is much clearer than you would expect. It’s also easy to read from, unlike some of the predecessors.
There is a headphone jack, allowing you to get great sound through headphones and not disturb people around you.
The USB drive is also available. At the introduction, there wasn’t a way to use a thumb drive, but the latest version of the firmware corrects this issue.
The alarm modes allow you to set alarms for different times, different days, and all with different tones. This is great for frequent travelers.
The design for the affordable Sony Dash is meant to sit on a bedside table or counter without toppling, making this a much easier device to deal with than a tablet or phone.
Sony Dash Cons
There is no web browser on this device. You’ll have to rely exclusively on apps for the content. Many people give the Sony Dash review a poor rating for this reason alone.
The touch screen can be non-responsive and slow a lot of the time. This can be frustrating, but usually isn’t enough to give it a poor rating.
No battery for the device means it must be plugged in to the wall at all times. For travel this isn’t ideal. The good news is it will automatically adjust the time each time you plug it back in, so it’s not a big ordeal to reset it when it’s unplugged for travel.
You must have Wi-Fi in your home or location to use it. There is no built in internet option.
Bottom Line
Don’t expect the Sony Dash to replace your smart phone or tablet notebook. In fact, Sony would have been much better off marketing this as an enhanced clock. While it may seem expensive for a clock, it has great features. You can set an alarm and wake up to the local weather, news, and even a screen shot of the emails you have waiting for you. You can update social networking sites, watch movies from the Netflix app, and more. The Sony Dash is a fun device, it’s just not what it’s marketed to be. For those who love tech gadgets, you can get the cheap Sony Dash online and in many local retail stores. Overall, the Sony Dash review is positive, as long as you understand what you’re getting in to.
Click here to get the Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer for only $89.99
