Rabbit threatens to revive the legendary Sony Vaio P netbook as a $500 dedicated Linux "vibe coding machine" to take on Apple's uber popular MacBook Neo but it won't be fast

Date:
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:05:00 +0000

Description:
Rabbits Cyberdeck revives the Vaio P concept, offering a portable,
Linux-based vibe coding device with affordable pricing and customizable hardware.

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now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Rabbits Cyberdeck revives the Vaio P concept with a modern Linux twist The device targets vibe coding, not raw performance like high-end laptops
Hardware may match Raspberry Pi 5 performance while remaining affordable at $500 Rabbit is preparing to release a compact device later this year, drawing inspiration from the Sony Vaio P, a netbook briefly available in 2009.

Unlike Apple s popular new MacBook Neo, the new machine is not designed for raw performance. It is explicitly meant for vibe coding , allowing developers to run AI tools such as Claude Code and OpenAI Cursor on the go without requiring a fast processor or powerful GPU. Article continues below You may like Apple's MacBook Neo nails the netbook by being nothing like it Steve
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with a mechanical keyboard, a 21:9 touchscreen display, 64GB RAM, and an 8TB SSD Why Rabbit is building a dedicated coding device Rabbits CEO Jesse Lyu observed that existing low-cost PCs, including Chromebooks, often came with unsatisfying rubber dome keyboards that made extended typing sessions uncomfortable.

The company wanted a portable solution tailored to developers, and the idea
of a modern netbook emerged.

Project Cyberdeck is Rabbits attempt to revive the compact, portable spirit
of the Vaio P with modern hardware and software.

Early renders show a device reminiscent of the Vaio P, featuring four USB-C ports for external monitors and peripherals. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me
with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Rabbit is still sourcing components and finalizing the design, meaning specifications could change.

The goal is to achieve performance roughly equivalent to a Raspberry Pi 5, which uses a Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor at 2.4GHz with 16GB of RAM, while remaining affordable for developers.

The company is experimenting with a 7-inch OLED touch display capable of a 165Hz refresh rate and high brightness, as well as a compact mechanical keyboard with a fully hot-swappable PCB to adjust typing feel. What to read next Is that a mini PC or a NES? Acemagic Retro X3 features some familiar casing, but with a welcome hardware boost inside The MacBook Neo isn't just cheap it's cheaper and easier to repair too Why the new MacBook Neo is already the most important product of 2026

Cyberdeck will run Linux and allow full OS customization, giving users
control over third-party tools and command-line access to RabbitOS features.

To improve OLED battery efficiency, the company plans to integrate dark mode into the system.

High demand for high-bandwidth memory and other components could affect RAM capacity and production timelines.

Nevertheless, Lyu believes Rabbit can ship quickly if supplies improve, based on the companys previous 93-day development cycle for the R1.

While carrying a dedicated coding device may not appeal to everyone, Rabbit aims to create a practical tool that balances portability, usability, and affordability.

The Cyberdeck is still in development , with many details undecided, but the company is leveraging its experience from existing products and AI agents to ensure the device has a functional software ecosystem from launch.

As for its pricing, the expected retail price is $500, far lower than the
Vaio Ps adjusted $1,365 launch price, and the company hopes to avoid the original models shortcomings.

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