Product Description

Incomparable Sony VAIO Digital Studio PC Sony’s incomparable new VAIO Digital Studio delivers the most powerful digital entertainment package we’ve ever seen in a PC system. This incredible desktop boasts a blazing Intel Pentium 4 3.20 GHZ processor, an astonishing 1GB of DDR RAM, and a huge 120 GB hard drive to propel a phenomenal array of multimedia options. ATI RADEN 9800 Pro 128MB graphics card! Creative Soundblaster Audigy Sound! A state-of-the-art DVD/CD burning combo drive with Sony’s great Click To DVD Creation Software! You’ll get an advanced 3D performance delivering an immersive, cinematic experience for the most demanding next generation games. You’ll be able to create your own professional quality DVDs. When it comes to multimedia entertainment - you can perform virtual magic! Check out all the details below! This is the PC you’ve always dreamed about, now we’ve made it all possible with this remarkably low price! ... Read more

Features

• Intel Pentium 4 Processor 3.2GHz with HT Technology
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• 1GB PC3200 DDR Memory
• 120GB Hard Disk Drive
• DVD±RW/CD-RW Optical Drives

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's new RA Series of multimedia desktop PCs combine the style and attraction of VAIO with new and unique next-generation features. With an i915P Grantsdale chipset, x16 PCI Express for graphics, and four serial-ATA ports, the RA Series is equipped for a hardware challenge. The stylishly black VGC-RA710G comes complete with a DVD+/-RW drive and a variety of Sony digital media software that makes it easy to burn your home movies and digital audio collections to disc. It also comes preloaded with Sony's GigaPocket software, which enables you to watch and record TV programs right on your PC. Other features include a massive 250 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a hyper-threaded 3.20E GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The included 250 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) is one of the largest installed drives found on the PC market. It will provide more than enough space to store your favorite TV shows as well as room for recording old VHS tapes.
• Processor: The 3.20E GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system) is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market. It's based on Intel's next generation 90 nm process technology, which delivers faster transistors and increases performance. It also has a 1 MB L2 cache and a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed.

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1 GB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes with two optical drives: a DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive and a 16x DVD-ROM for playing music and movie discs. The combo drive offers 8x write, 4x rewrite, and 8x read speeds for both +R/RW and -R/RW discs and a 40x write/read and 24x rewrite speed for CD-R/RW discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and optical mouse (with PS/2 connector).

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 in front, 4 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 4-pin in front and 1 6-pin in back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 2 composite video/audio inputs (front and rear)
• Coaxial input (VHF/UHF)
• 2 S-Video (1 front)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) digital optical connector
• 1 line input/output

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows--even pause or rewind (up to 7 seconds) FM radio broadcasts. Sony's Giga Pocket built-in software converts TV signals to digital MPEG2 format and lets you watch and record TV programs right on the PCV-620G, watch while you record with the Slip Playback feature, and burn shows directly to DVD. It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop PC measures 8 x 16 x 16 inches (WxHxD).

More Technical Features
The heat pipe advanced cooling system pulls heat away from the CPU, dissipating it through an exchanger, ensuring ultimate performance without the noise or hassle of alternative cooling systems. Noise reduction is at the core of the RÕs design. With impovements in the optical, hard drive, power supply and graphics card, youÕll hardly know it's on.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio VGC-RA710G desktop PC, IR remote control, keyboard, mouse, and set of two speakers.

More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

What sets this PC apart is that it is powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, which offers the features, reliability, and power of Windows XP Professional, plus advanced digital entertainment capabilities. The Media Center interface offers you more types of entertainment to enjoy: TV, Personal Video Recording (PVR), Movies, Music, Photos, Videos, Radio, and DVD. Use the remote control to enjoy from anywhere in your room.

TV & Movies 
Watch TV when and how you want, and never miss a moment of your favorite programs.Pause and rewind live TV. Record a TV episode, series, or category. Automaticallyrecord a personalized selection of TV programs using Keyword Record. Media Centerdownloads the latest program listings for you and even wakes up from power-savingstandby mode to record programs, so you can watch shows on your schedule.
 	 
	Photos & Video
	Easily edit your digital pictures and digital videos, and then launch a dynamic slideshow complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. While viewing a picture, zoom in to see more detail. You can rotate, correct red-eye, and print your pictures using the remote. Play slide-shows straight from digital storage devices.
 	 
Music & Radio 
All your music is stored in one digital jukebox and using the remote, shuffle your entire music collection according to artist or genre or listen to your tunes through playlists that learn what you like. Tune in FM stations and pause live radio. Full-screen visualizations pulse to the beat of the music. Cool on-screen effects show music information, such as track title, track time, and artist.

... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio PCV-RS620G proves that PCs aren't just for spreadsheets any more. A multimedia powerhouse, the RS620G comes complete with a DVD+/-RW drive and a variety of Sony digital media software that makes it easy to burn your home movies and digital audio collections to disc. It also comes preloaded with Sony's GigaPocket software, which enables you to watch and record TV programs right on your PC. Other features include a huge 160 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a hyper-threaded 3E GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though it's not the largest on the market, the 160 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) is still quite huge, and it offers a wealth of storage for your media library as well as necessary space for editing digital video.
• Processor: The 3E GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system) is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market. It's based on Intel's next generation 90 nm process technology, which delivers faster transistors and increases performance. It also has a 1 MB L2 cache and a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed.

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1 GB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes with two optical drives: a DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive and a 16x DVD-ROM for playing music and movie discs. The combo drive offers 8x write, 4x rewrite, and 8x read speeds for both +R/RW and -R/RW discs and a 40x write/read and 24x rewrite speed for CD-R/RW discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and mouse (with PS/2 connector).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get excellent range of connectivity options befitting the multimedia tasks associated with the PCV-RS620G, such as three PCI expansion slots (two available), one 8x AGP (accelerated graphics port, available) slot, two 5.25" half-height bays (both occupied), one external 3.5" bay (occupied), two internal 3.5" bays (one occupied), and the following external ports:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 in front, 4 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 4-pin in front and 1 6-pin in back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 2 composite video/audio inputs (front and rear)
• Coaxial input (VHF/UHF)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) digital optical connector
• 1 line input/output

Preloaded System and Software
This PCV-RS620G comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works 7.0 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Sony's Giga Pocket built-in software converts TV signals to digital MPEG2 format and lets you watch and record TV programs right on the PCV-620G, watch while you record with the Slip Playback feature, and burn shows directly to DVD It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop PC measures 7.2 x 15.6 x 14.9 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 26.5 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCV-RS620G desktop PC, IR remote control, keyboard, mouse, and set of two speakers. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's new RA Series of multimedia desktop PCs combine the style and attraction of VAIO with new and unique next-generation features. With an i915P Grantsdale chipset, x16 PCI Express for graphics, and four serial-ATA ports, the RA Series is equipped for a hardware challenge. The stylishly black VGC-RA810G comes complete with a variety of Sony digital media software that makes it easy to burn your home movies and digital audio collections to disc. It also comes preloaded with Sony's GigaPocket software, which enables you to watch and record TV programs right on your PC. Other features include a dual layer DVD+RW drive, massive 250 GB hard drive, a whopping 1 GB of installed RAM, and a 3.40E GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor. For a step down in price, the VGC-RA710G has the same 250 GB hard drive, but saves you money with 512 MB of installed RAM and a slightly slower 3.2 GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The included 250 GB Serial ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) is one of the largest installed drives found on the PC market. It will provide more than enough space to store your favorite TV shows as well as room for recording old VHS tapes.
• Processor: The 3.40E GHz Pentium 4 processor (newly labeled as the "550" by Intel) with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system) is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market. It's based on Intel's next generation 90 nm process technology, which delivers faster transistors and increases performance. It also has a 1 MB L2 cache and a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed.

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 1 GB of built-in memory (PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM) will enable you to handle a variety of processor-intensive video programs and editing work. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1 GB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes with two optical drives: a double layer DVD+RW and single layer DVD+/-RW combo drive and a 16x DVD-ROM for playing music and movie discs. With double layer DVD+RW discs, you get up to 8.5GB of storage capacity--enough for 4 hours of high-quality MPEG-2 video. The combo drive offers 8x write, 4x rewrite, and 8x read speeds for single layer +R/RW and -R/RW discs and a 40x write/read and 24x rewrite speed for CD-R/RW discs. You get 2.4x write speeds for double layer DVD+R discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and optical mouse (with PS/2 connector).

• SMARTSHADER 2.0 defines a higher level ofimage realism for you
• SMOOTHVISION 2.1 smoothes uneven edges and improvesblurred images
• HYPER Z III conserves video memory bandwidth for improvedperformance in demanding and applications and 3D games

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get excellent range of connectivity options befitting the multimedia tasks associated with the PCV-RA810G, such as three PCI expansion slots (two available), one 8x AGP (accelerated graphics port, available) slot, two 5.25" half-height bays (both occupied), one external 3.5" bay (occupied), two internal 3.5" bays (one occupied), and the following external ports:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 in front, 4 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 4-pin in front and 1 6-pin in back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 2 composite video/audio inputs (front and rear)
• Coaxial input (VHF/UHF)
• 2 S-Video (1 front)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) digital optical connector
• 1 line input/output

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows--even pause or rewind (up to 7 seconds) FM radio broadcasts. Sony's Giga Pocket built-in software converts TV signals to digital MPEG2 format and lets you watch and record TV programs right on the PCV-620G, watch while you record with the Slip Playback feature, and burn shows directly to DVD. It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop PC measures 8 x 16 x 16 inches (WxHxD).

More Technical Features
The heat pipe advanced cooling system pulls heat away from the CPU, dissipating it through an exchanger, ensuring ultimate performance without the noise or hassle of alternative cooling systems. Noise reduction is at the core of the RÕs design. With impovements in the optical, hard drive, power supply and graphics card, youÕll hardly know it's on.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio VGC-RA810G desktop PC, IR remote control, keyboard, mouse, and set of two speakers. ... Read more

Product Description

It's your flat-panel LCD TV. It's your high-performance PC. It's all in one. The VAIO V TV-PC brings high-quality television to your desktop computer. Designed to be sleek and modern, yet highly functional, it compliments any room. With the added benefit of Sony creative software, you can create, manage and share digital photos, videos and music. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gorgeous; must see in person to appreciate.
Is beautiful machine.Fits sleekly into library office or den, and gets comments from everyone.The screen is so bright and rich in colors that people cannot believe it is a computer.Is at same display level to eyes as hdtv lcd quality.Oh yeah, the computer part works great, too.Loaded with real software, and everything runs smoothly the first time.Is real fast.Instantaneous speed.Unreal.Only negative is the high price.Because of the screen aspect ratio, though, get the 20 inch model, not the 17 inch model.The 20 looks like a 17 in person. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sporting a distinctive style and a design that liberates valuable desktop real estate from annoying cables and wires and clunky computer boxes, the Sony VAIO PCV-V300G is far removed from the typical PC. The VAIO PCV-V300G features an elegant all-in-one design that combines a 15-inch flat-panel LCD viewing screen, speakers and all internal components inside a single futuristic module. The PCV-V300G also features a super-sized 200 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a DVD+/-RW drive, and a wide array of pre-installed multimedia software--including the Giga Pocket application, which enables you to watch and record TV programs right on your PC.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The built-in 200 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) is one of the largest installed drives found on the PC market. It will provide more than enough space to store your favorite TV shows as well as room for recording old VHS tapes.
• Processor: The 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market--a definite plus for a video-centric PC. It also has a 512 KB L2 cache and a 533 MHz front-side bus speed.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes with a DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive. The combo drive offers 4x write, 2x rewrite, and 5x read speeds for both +R/RW and -R/RW discs and a 16x write, 8x rewrite, and 24x read speeds for CD-R/RW discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The system also includes a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, thereby freeing your working surface from even more clutter.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get a decent (but not overpowering) range of external connectivity options with the PCV-V300G, including:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports (2 on side, 2 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 line in VHF/UHF
• 1 S-Video in
• 1 composite A/V in
• 1 VHF/UHF in
• PCMICA Type II PC card slot
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This PCV-300G comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works 7.0 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Sony's Giga Pocket built-in software converts TV signals to digital MPEG2 format and lets you watch and record TV programs right on the PCV-300G, watch while you record with the Slip Playback feature, and burn shows directly to DVD. It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

Dimensions and Weight
The compact PCV-V300G measures 15 x 13 x 7 inches (W x H x D), making it the perfect desktop companion. It weighs 16.8 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCV-V300G desktop PC, wireless keyboard and mouse. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio PCV-RS630G proves that PCs aren't just for spreadsheets any more. A multimedia powerhouse, the RS620G comes complete with a DVD+/-RW drive and a variety of Sony digital media software that makes it easy to burn your home movies and digital audio collections to disc. It also comes preloaded with Sony's GigaPocket software, which enables you to watch and record TV programs right on your PC. Other features include a massive 250 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a hyper-threaded 3.20E GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The included 250 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) is one of the largest installed drives found on the PC market. It will provide more than enough space to store your favorite TV shows as well as room for recording old VHS tapes.
• Processor: The 3.20E GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system) is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market. It's based on Intel's next generation 90 nm process technology, which delivers faster transistors and increases performance. It also has a 1 MB L2 cache and a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed.

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1 GB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes with two optical drives: a DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive and a 16x DVD-ROM for playing music and movie discs. The combo drive offers 8x write, 4x rewrite, and 8x read speeds for both +R/RW and -R/RW discs and a 40x write/read and 24x rewrite speed for CD-R/RW discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and mouse (with PS/2 connector).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get excellent range of connectivity options befitting the multimedia tasks associated with the PCV-RS630G, such as three PCI expansion slots (two available), one 8x AGP (accelerated graphics port, available) slot, two 5.25" half-height bays (both occupied), one external 3.5" bay (occupied), two internal 3.5" bays (one occupied), and the following external ports:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 in front, 4 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 4-pin in front and 1 6-pin in back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 2 composite video/audio inputs (front and rear)
• Coaxial input (VHF/UHF)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) digital optical connector
• 1 line input/output

Preloaded System and Software
This PCV-RS630G comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works 7.0 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Sony's Giga Pocket built-in software converts TV signals to digital MPEG2 format and lets you watch and record TV programs right on the PCV-620G, watch while you record with the Slip Playback feature, and burn shows directly to DVD It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop PC measures 7.2 x 15.6 x 14.9 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 26.5 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCV-RS630G desktop PC, IR remote control, keyboard, mouse, and set of two speakers. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

SONY DOES IT AGAIN!
I usually do not write reviews, but I am so happy with the PCV-RS630G that I would like to share my enthusiasm.

Most recently I had a Sony Pentium 3 VAIO desktop purchased in 2001 which I felt was ready for replacement.

Unlike the previous reviewer who had problems "out of the box" (which can happen to anyone), my computer purchased at Circuit City was up and running immediately. With previous computers, I was always able to get programs running but often had problems connecting to the Internet. This time, my Earthlink DSL connection worked right away. All my programs loaded properly and ran ok with no error messages. There were a few minor issues using Outlook for sending and receiving e-mail, but Earthlink helped me work them out within five minutes. It was an Outlook issue because I could immediately send and receive e-mail through the Earthlink e-mail program.

The hyper-threading technology seems to be very good since I am able to run many programs simultaneously and do things like anti-virus and spyware checks in the background while doing other tasks without anything slowing down.

Specific points:

I cannot comment about the speakers that come with the PCV-R630G since I run my VAIO through an external audio system. But I can tell you that audio CD's sound crisp and clean so this system must use very good digital converters. DVD's also look top notch using Windows Media. I have not used it yet for burning DVD's.

I cannot make any comments about gaming since I am slightly out of the computer gaming demographic.

So far I have been using this new Sony desktop for two weeks with excellent results. There has not been even one instance of freezing up, or where I have needed to "inform Microsoft of the problem!" Likewise, I have never had to restart the computer other than by choice.

Earlier VAIO's had operating system discs and lots of bundled software. Those days appear to be over. Sony suggests you make a back-up of XP which is probably a good idea, although since I bought Windows XP for my last VAIO, I have XP discs should the need ever arise.

If you use Microsoft Office for Word/Excel/Outlook/Power Point, you will note that you are teased with a 30-day free trial. When you realize you are hooked, you will have to go through a conversion (this is not a religious procedure) to switch from free trial to "I actually now own this expensive Microsoft software!" You can accomplish this online with a "key" to unlock the program. But if you want the packaging, you can simply go to your nearest Staples/Office Depot-type outlet and buy an Office 2003 Upgrade edition which will work. Since this is not backward compatible, you cannot use a previous version of Office (i.e. Windows 2000). You will need to buy an upgrade of Office 2003. But it's worth it. I think it has some nice refinements from Office 2000 and besides, Bill Gates really does need your money.

Also, a new trend seems to be not to include hefty booklets with software anymore. You get the computer (slightly less weight than previous VAIO's in a more compact box), with just basic "how to turn it on" instructions with the advice that you can find anything about the computer's operation at a VAIO website online. XP is already preloaded as are the few other programs and games so you can literally turn the computer on and be ready to roll.

The only part of the design that doesn't thrill me is the design of the CD and DVD trays. It would have been better if you could use the same external button to close the trays which you can use to open them. You have to put just the right amount of pressure on the tray so it closes all the way. On my VAIO, too little pressure will leave the tray partially closed. If you have people using your computer (i.e. tiny tots), make sure you show them how to load the trays and close them because they are a tad fragile.

One last point: I bought the 17" Sony Flat Screen monitor which looks great but does not have the greatest refresh rate (typical of LCD monitors.) I did some research online and found that Hitachi LCD's have a faster refresh rate so I returned the Sony to Circuit City (which charges a 15% restocking fee which I was unable to beat even with a certain amount of begging and groveling and resorting to those "Circuit City has now lost me as a customer for the rest of my life" veiled threats which the store managers probably hear all day long and laught at!) It cost me about $80 for having had the monitor for just ten days. Oh well.

Anyway, I wound up buying a Hitachi CML175SXW 17" LCD monitor online. Unfortunately the Hitachi monitors are not sold at any retail stores. It is, however, the same price as the Sony but I feel a better product. When scrolling, it refreshes better than the Sony so you do not have quite the same blurring issues. This attractive LCD display also comes in 15" and 19" sizes.

All in all, you cannot go wrong with this new desktop from Sony. Highly recommended and I feel well worth the price.

Not as bad...in fact, it is a pretty good system!
RS630G is a new model based on Sony's website. However, in stead of using a 3.4 GHz P4 CPU, it used a 3.2 GHz to bring the price down to compete with other desktops in this category. It supports 2Gb RAM but only has 512 MB installed. The speakers are a pair of cheap ones that might cost $20 if you buy them in a local computer store. Windows XP Home edition also brings down the cost.
Pros:

1. It is a Sony! It comes with good sony software that no other computers can compete -- if you plan to use your desktop computer to do a lot of multimedia project -- this is the machine you can choose. The machine comes with Sony's Giga pocket TV/video recording program; Sony's DV Gateplus video capturing/editing software; Drag'n Drop to DVD and Click to DVD disc authorizing program; Sonicstage music editing and managing program; Picture Gear picture editing and managing program plus Quicken, Microsoft Works suite, and a couple of trial programs such as Internet Security (a terrible program by Symantec) and Microsoft Office Standard version, both are 60 day trial. Compare to former Sony desktops, this one has a lot less application programs, but the ones that come with the computer would be good enough for anyone to complete pretty sophisticated multimedia projects.
2. It comes with a few card reader slots and seven USB-2 slots.
3. Good size hard drive (250 GB) and unlike former Sony desktops, the hard drive was not divided into two partitions.
3. It is fast and quiet.
4. It does not come with a recovery disk, but you can make a set using a simple program that comes with the machine and don't need to buy. You may choose to use CD or DVD for the recovery disk set. I spent about 15 minutes to produce a set using one DVD-R and one CD-R media although the program indicated that the process may take an hour to complete.
5. The ATI Radeon 9200 graphic card has 128 MB video memory, enough for most of the new games.
6. It can be used as a media server, which you can connect to your TV and stereo components.

Cons:

1. There are only two IEEE 1394 ports, one in the front (6-pin) and one (9-pin) in the back. I have yet had a change to test the front one. According to my past experience with Sony VAIO video studios, the front one will not be recognized unless you are hooking up with a Sony DV camcorder and fire up Microsoft Movie maker. This really sucks.
2. The modem port lacks a port to connect the telephone. Usually, the internal modem card should have two ports: line-in and line out to phone, but this one, like Dell machines, only has one port for line in. I don't know how you can connect both your computer and your phone without buying a spliter.
3. This machine is intending to market the Home users, but in fact, it is more suitable for experienced computer users. For example, the machine has a good TV tuner, but unless you use the machine as a media server for your home network, you won't be able to enjoy the TV using its 3x2 inch TV setup window. Sony's RZ series that come with Windows XP media edition might be a better option if you want a better GUI to enjoy TV, VCR, DVD functions.

My machine did not have any problem upon its arrival and I have kept it on for two weeks now and still runs great. Everything has been working.

Some notes for buyers:

1. Delete Microsoft Office Trial Edition before you install one that is not trial, otherwise they may conflict with each other.
2. Delete Internet Security. After 60 days, you have to purchase it anyway. It is cheaper to buy Symantec's Norton Antivirus then get a free personal firewall through www.zonelabs.com. Internet Security is a terrible program if you are using DSL or any home wireless network.
(...)

So disappointed!!! SONY brings me a lot of pain ... ...
Most electronics in my home are from SONY. But, this time I am so disappointed with the purchase at Sonystyle.Com.

1) When I opened the computer, the computer can not be started. I spend much much time to call the custom service. Unfortunately the custom service is very difficult to be reached.

2) It gave a lot of difficulties to return this big stuff. So I decided to send it to a SONY authorized Service Ctr. There is only 1 in Massachusetts. It needs 7 bussiness days to repair - Oh, my god!

3) I spent $2150 for the computer and 19" LCD monitor at sonystyle.com. But, no computer manuals, no software manuals, no recovery discs (you need to buy it!) with the computer. You need to spend much time to call them for every detail.

So bad service, which waste me a lot of time and feeling. I will never buy SONY again. I feel so bad with SONY ... ... SONY brings me a lot pain ... ...

So disappointed!!!
Most electronics in my home are from SONY. But, this time I am so disappointed with the purchase at Sonystyle.Com.

1) When I opened the computer, the computer can not be started. I spend much much time to call the custom service. Unfortunately the custom service is very difficult to be reached.

2) It gave a lot of difficulties to return this big stuff. So I decided to send it to a SONY authorized Service Ctr. There is only 1 in Massachusetts. It needs 7 bussiness days to repair - Oh, my god!

3) Rebate cheating:
(...).

4) No computer manuals, no software manuals, no recovery discs (you need to buy it!) with the computer. You need to spend much time to call them for every detail.

So bad service, which waste me a lot of time and feeling. I will never buy SONY again. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As part of Sony's "Digital Studio" line of PCs, the new VAIO PCV-RZ44G Media Center Desktop offers high-end performance, exceptional multimedia capabilities and oodles of connectivity options. If you use your computer for state-of-the-art entertainment as well as productivity, the VAIO PCV-RZ44G could be just the ticket.

Just one step down from the exceptional top-of-the-line VAIO PCV-RZ46G, the VAIO PCV-RZ44G is outfitted with a fast 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (Hyper-Threading allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system -- thereby boosting performance during key high-drain procedures such as multitasking), 512 MB of premium PC-2700 333 MHz DDR memory and a blazing 800 MHz bus, the VAIO PCV-RZ44G is ready to blast through all but the most demanding chores. Sony has even addressed the Achilles Heel of many out-of-the-box desktops by integrating a 128 MB nVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics card with w/TV-Out to handle high-end 3-D games and applications and provide a purely digital link to the new breed of LCD flat-panel monitors.

When it comes to storing and transferring your valuable data, the VAIO PCV-RZ44G has you covered. The system is fitted with a massive 160 GB hard disk for your frequently accessed programs and files, a 3.5-inch diskette drive for older or smaller applications, a 40-speed CD-ROM drive for listening to audio CDs and installing programs, and a DVD-RW/CD-RW drive that allows you to burn audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters and create your own DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders, scanners and external drives, the system features a total of seven high-speed USB 2.0 ports and a pair of IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors -- one each on the front and rear.

The VAIO PCV-RZ44G sports numerous other amenities, including an S/PDIF output, a coaxial input, a handy VAIO Smart keyboard, a thorough package of business, leisure and entertainment software, and a 2.1 Sony speaker system with subwoofer and desktop satellites. Sony has not included a monitor so users may select a custom display from the many alternatives currently available.

More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

What sets this PC apart is that it is powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, which offers the features, reliability, and power of Windows XP Professional, plus advanced digital entertainment capabilities. The Media Center interface offers you more types of entertainment to enjoy: TV, Personal Video Recording (PVR), Movies, Music, Photos, Videos, Radio, and DVD. Use the remote control to enjoy from anywhere in your room.

TV & Movies 
Watch TV when and how you want, and never miss a moment of your favorite programs.Pause and rewind live TV. Record a TV episode, series, or category. Automaticallyrecord a personalized selection of TV programs using Keyword Record. Media Centerdownloads the latest program listings for you and even wakes up from power-savingstandby mode to record programs, so you can watch shows on your schedule.
 	 
	Photos & Video
	Easily edit your digital pictures and digital videos, and then launch a dynamic slideshow complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. While viewing a picture, zoom in to see more detail. You can rotate, correct red-eye, and print your pictures using the remote. Play slide-shows straight from digital storage devices.
 	 
Music & Radio 
All your music is stored in one digital jukebox and using the remote, shuffle your entire music collection according to artist or genre or listen to your tunes through playlists that learn what you like. Tune in FM stations and pause live radio. Full-screen visualizations pulse to the beat of the music. Cool on-screen effects show music information, such as track title, track time, and artist.

... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sony TV's can't be beat, but your computers suck
I tend to avoid Sony Computers and External Burners like plague (The the Dream system (5.1DVD/CD player) is an incredible product for the price- and Sony's excellent camera's have the patended night-vision). I've had a alot of problems with my Vaio Tower. It does have every connection imaginable, but it won't run so many non-Sony programs like Stomp Music products, external burners and scanners, and at least 4 DVD importing programs that I tried, I did eventually get Sony's Vegas, but no DVD import, ridiculous. Vegas does work great for editing and other stuff. But alot of irritating things just "happen". I've seen a couple of strange failures in the laptops of people I work with, more so than others at least. There ARE people out there who swear by these, so that may be you too and I'm no guru, but I know a thing or two about computers and I don't like'em at all. Caveat.

Could have been 5 Stars
We read all the customer reviews of this model and many others before deciding on this one. As soon as this machine arrived, I reformatted the HD to make my C drive 40 MB, and then moved My Documents to the D drive, thanks to previous reviewers for those suggestions. Also, another reviewer mentioned having only 4 USB ports, mine has 7.
Probably my biggest issue, which may not affect any other users is the length of the keyboard cable. My previous PC was also a VAIO purchased in 2000, and that cable is atleast 2 feet longer, where's the extra cable? Now my current desk really doesn't work for this PC. On to other issues...
I would have liked to use the Windows Movie Maker with an analog input, I love to make MPGs especially out of my old videos. I was able to route my VCR through my HandyCam, but as soon as you hit the capture key the i.Link makes my cam play the tape in it, which is not the tape I was trying to record. I was able to work around that by using my VCR through my cam and then using DV Gate. While the older version of DV Gate my old PC was alot better than this one, I was able to make AVIs with my VCR. These files run about 100MBs per 30 seconds!! I was then able to export them using DV Gate to my D drive as MPGs knocking that 100MBs down to a more managable 4MBs. With older versions of DV Gate you could just choose MPGs to start with. And my last issue...
In order to use Click to DVD with analog inputs you have to set your TV preference in the Media Center. Since I currently have no plans to hook up cable to this I never did that, but within a half hour of emailing Sony support, I was told to set my cable preference to no TV input. Why, I couldn't tell you, but unless you do that you are not using analog to make DVDs. Over all I have had no real issues with this pc, the software seems to work fine, but I'll imagine 3rd party software to be much better and I may go that route in the future. With out these little issues it could have been 5 stars...

A trick to the small c: drive
At first when I got this Sony computer, I was very dissappointed with the size of the c: drive. I mainly got this sony because I wanted to copy my vhs tapes to dvd. The click to dvd goes through both drives to work and c: did not seem large enough to do this. For reasons that was my own fault, I had to do a full recovery on the computer. To my surprize, while doing the recovery, the computer will ask you what size you want your c: drive to be. You have a choice between 15, 40,80. I choose 40 and am delighted with the results. It did not affect my D: at all and I have plenty of room to run and edit tapes on my click to dvd. Sony really should make this known that you can change the size of the drive. Every since then , all programs run great . the only downsize is that it takes a little longer for the computer to boot up. With how much improvement it has made on the computer, I am willing to wait the extra minute it takes to boot up.

MULTIMEDIA PC
i took a month to go through this computers pros and cons and this is my review.

HARDWARE : this pc has many ports(see technical details), these specs are the at the top. from the editorial review "one step down from the exceptional top-of-the-line VAIO PCV-RZ46G". the hard drive is 160g but 14g is for c:/(if you feel the c is too small backup of your data and put only what you want the hard drive) or like a pc hardware fan said move it over to the d drive.

SOFTWARE : this comes with windows xp(pro) media centre, which is great. you can watch dvd's,tv,play music and videos and even watch a slideshow. the media centre allows you to record live tv and rewind and pause tv just like the tivo.
as for sony software the click to dvd has a simple interface which allows you to customise the menus and chapters(not too much though you can't use your own music and pics),it has creative playcentre which is good for ripping mp3's and drag and drop which allows you to easily burn cd's and dvd's.
i haven't used sonicstage or picturegear studio.
if you want to make vcd's then you'll need to download some programs. as for video editing you get windows movie maker 2.
i had some difficulty when it came to capturing clips but after it seems easy. use click to dvd or wmm2.

OVERALL : this pc is great. if you don't like the software then there are a lot of free choices so start downloading. also the hardware is great. its a sony pc and sony boasts quality and they back it up. that's why it deserves a 5.

Vaio: Style...WITH substance.
VAIO...the name itself is so stylish (check out the history of the creation of the name on Sony's website), one wonders if the computer itself will be as cool. The answer, in short, is: yes, it is, without being embarassingly overpowered (if you are the kind who would feel embarassed by excess). This computer is, in essence, aimed at what used to be called a "prosumer" (someone who wants to do what the pros do but who is paying their own tab and must therefore choose carefully what they buy).

But let's start with the superficial stuff first. Starting on the outside: The case is about three-quarters as high as an older computer tower, and a bit wider. It is mostly dark grey, dull silver on the sides with the word VAIO embossed into it, and with what appears to be (but is not) a black strap pulling tight all around (giving the distinct impression that this computer is so powerful that it needs to be restrained). It is a wonderful case design to see. As far as hearing goes, this machine is very quiet. The back is made almost entirely of perforated metal so there's plenty of air flow, and the fan and power supply are quiet. Indeed what drew me toward the "RZ" series of Vaio rather than the "RS" series of Vaio (with the older style tower case) was that when I viewed each series at a store, I noticed the RS series' side panels actually vibrated from all the noise they produced. The RZ in contrast is more solid and more silent. Behind every door there are audio/video/s-video/firewire inputs, most duplicated on the back of the machine as well. Do you use a Dolby Digital receiver in your room to watch your DVD movies in 5.1 surround? If so, you'll be glad to know that this Vaio has a digital audio out (phono-coax, not optical) that will send the signal along just fine (once you find all the various soundcard settings that you'll need to set to engage it properly). (You'll only need that one audio cable, because both the DVD audio and the computer's own sounds all go through the same way). Alternately Sony also includes a set of presumably so-so speakers, which frankly they shouldn't, considering how many go straight into a landfill. I was surprised that there's only 4 USB2s...6 would have been nice.

On to the interior: professional reviews mention it is cramped inside the unit, but do they mention how easy it is to add a hard drive? The whole drive cage slides out for easy working, and slides back in easy as pie. Maybe that is standard now, but for me, who was upgrading from an older computer, it was fantastic.

My next thoughts are on the computer's ease of use. These thoughts are firmly entwined with how nice Microsoft's XP Media Center operating system is, which is not unique to Sony. If you're coming from an older operating system like Windows98 you'll love the way the new Windows Explorer gives you nice big previews of your files (photos, etc), and you'll hate the way that Microsoft is trying to prevent you from using any customized start-up screens. The general "look" of XP appears to basically be a rip-off of Apple, but with a bit less style. It is still an improvement over Windows98, aesthetically. There's still the usual Windows weirdness afoot, but less of it, and far fewer crashes.

Use the included remote control to fire up the Media Center in the evening to transform your computer into some kind of Tivo-esque dream machine. Very simple set-up, naturally, since all the Media Center functions are meant to be controlled from the remote control. It downloads a free tv schedule which you can use to tell your computer when to record your favorite shows. I've had tv on my older computer but never with this much ease of use. Press the Media Center button again and it all fades away and you're looking at a regular XP computer again.

Now about video editing and DVD authoring: This can do it all, but to do it well you probably won't want to use the bundled software Sony included, which hasn't won any raves (but is not impossible, as one review suggested). If you supply the better software, for example Sonic DVDIt or Adobe Encore, this Sony's hardware will serve it well.

One complaint about the way the system is set up: As delivered, the My Documents folder resides on the C drive. The hard drive arrives partioned into two parts - C and D. But C is tiny - it has just enough room for a variety of programs and the operating system. To have the My Documents folder there is stupid, considering that people who buy multimedia oriented machines tend to have voluminous collections of images, mp3s, etc.. So before you start compiling all your photos and documents and so forth, first thing you should do - and which Sony should have done for you - is to click on My Documents and opt to MOVE the My Documents folder to the larger D drive. Having done that, the computer is pretty much all set. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio PCV-RZ56G is a full-fledged desktop PC--but it's also a television, a DVD player, an FM and Internet radio, and a personal video recorder. It's powered by the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 operating system (compatible with cable, digital cable, satellite TV, and antenna), and it features a 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 processor (with Hyper Threading technology), super-sized 250 GB hard drive, and 1 GB of installed memory.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The massive 250 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage for all your media storage--from digital audio to TV programs.
• Processor: The 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system--see more in Tech Talk section below) is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market. It is well suited for high-performance gaming and professional-quality image, audio, and video editing. It also has A 512 KB L2 cache and an 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The PCV-RZ56G comes with a 1 GB built-in memory (2 x 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 400 MHz), which is definitely suited to this PC's high-performance video and audio capabilities. The motherboard has a maximum memory expansion of 2 GB.
• CD/DVD Drive: The PCV-RZ56G has two optical drives. The DVD-/+RW drive is compatible with both DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs as well as CD-RW. Both DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs write at 8x, rewrite at 4x, and read at 8x. Additionally, it comes with a CD-RW drive with 40x write/12x rewrite speeds.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Vaio keyboard and optical mouse (PS/2).

Sound is delivered via a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy audio card, which delivers high-quality 5.1 channels of digital surround sound. The newer Audigy 2 card has 24-bit, 96 Hz recording capability and is preferred for professional-quality audio recording.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The PCV-RZ56G has three PCI expansion slots (none available), one AGP (accelerated graphics port, occupied) slot and the following external ports:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 in front, 4 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 4-pin in front and 1 6-pin in back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA/DVI monitor port
• Multi-format memory card reader that is compatible with CompactFlash (Type I/II), MicroDrive, Memory Stick, and SmartMedia cards.

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. Additionally, it enables you to control your television with the included remote and record and pause programs (much like a DVR--or digital video recorder--such as TiVo or ReplayTV). You can even pause or rewind (up to 7 seconds) FM radio broadcasts.

Record and watch your TV programs with the Personal Video Recorder powered by Giga Pocket Engine. With the pre-installed Click to DVD software, you can turn your digital photos into a slideshow and burn it to DVD. You can plug in your analog video source (camcorder or VCR) and transfer video to DVD, or store it on the hard drive as a digital file.

Other preloaded software includes Adobe Premiere LE, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Sony Screenblast Acid, Sony Screenblast Sound Forge, Microsoft Works 7.0, Microsoft Office 2003 (60-day trial), InterVideo WinDVD, and Intuit Quicken 20042 New User Edition.

Dimensions and Weight
It measures 7.75 x 15 x 15.4 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 30.86 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony VAIO PCV-RZ56G Digital Studio PC, speakers (stereo) w/subwoofer, IR remote control and receiver, IR blaster, VAIO keyboard, and PS/2 optical mouse.

Tech Talk
Hyper-Threading: A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

What sets this PC apart is that it is powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, which offers the features, reliability, and power of Windows XP Professional, plus advanced digital entertainment capabilities. The Media Center interface offers you more types of entertainment to enjoy: TV, Personal Video Recording (PVR), Movies, Music, Photos, Videos, Radio, and DVD. Use the remote control to enjoy from anywhere in your room.

TV & Movies 
Watch TV when and how you want, and never miss a moment of your favorite programs.Pause and rewind live TV. Record a TV episode, series, or category. Automaticallyrecord a personalized selection of TV programs using Keyword Record. Media Centerdownloads the latest program listings for you and even wakes up from power-savingstandby mode to record programs, so you can watch shows on your schedule.
 	 
	Photos & Video
	Easily edit your digital pictures and digital videos, and then launch a dynamic slideshow complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. While viewing a picture, zoom in to see more detail. You can rotate, correct red-eye, and print your pictures using the remote. Play slide-shows straight from digital storage devices.
 	 
Music & Radio 
All your music is stored in one digital jukebox and using the remote, shuffle your entire music collection according to artist or genre or listen to your tunes through playlists that learn what you like. Tune in FM stations and pause live radio. Full-screen visualizations pulse to the beat of the music. Cool on-screen effects show music information, such as track title, track time, and artist.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

Sony VAIO PCV-RZ56G
My god this computer is probably the most powerful one out there. Listen up people if you love to take pictures and love editing them but think that it is getting too hard on your old computer? This is the one to go with. It has digital editing software that you can transfer your pictures from your memory stick (Sony) and see them on your desktop. This is running at Pentium 4, 3.4GHz Processor. That is the fastest processor out for Windows so far. I bought this computer a couple of months ago and I am enjoying every second of it. I have high speed internet and it probably goes to the website in one or two seconds! If you do a lot of word processing you should get Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 because this computer doesn't come with any good software. Some things I love about this computer is the RAM. 1024GB RAM is a huge amount and the Hard Drive is 250GB which is also humungous. The DVD+RW is the best thing to have. If you have kids who play around with your DVDs or pets that drool all over them. With a DVD Burner you can record a DVD onto another disc so it stays in good shape. But don't go to video rental stores and burn any DVDs because the police will fine you huge amounts of money. I have three of these systems with 21" Flat-Panel display from Sony too. That's the only thing you really have to buy is a display. Sony makes the best displays. I have everything from Sony. And I think you should start too. This computer will probably last you 10-20 years, if you keep it in good shape.

Speed: 10/10

Storage: 10/10

Software: 8/10

Graphics: 10/10

Some people shouldn't buy this computer because they don't use it that much.

P.S. This computer comes with Hyper Threading technology which is when you can run more than one thing at once without slowing down your computer at all. This is one of the best things computers come with these days. For this price you can't deny how good this computer is.

An incredible machine
This computer will pretty much blow away any other computer you can buy. Well, if you look around real hard, you might find a custom built computer with tweaked memory settings, but it won't be as stable and reliable as this machine. And unlike Apple, Sony doesn't cut corners on the graphics. Pick out the newest 3D game out there and this machine will eat it for breakfast. (Note: it has a ATI Radeon 9600XT, the tech notes on Amazon are a little confusing on this point.)

But to me the best thing is the 3.4GHz HT CPU. The "HT" means it supports Hyper-threading, which is a fancy way to say it can run two software threads at the same time. No other CPU in the consumer market can do that. I have a 3GHz HT cpu, and I love the fact that while I am doing something that takes a few minutes (like writing out a movie or burning a CD), I can go off and surf the web or play a game and never notice a slow down. It's almost a good as having 2 CPUs, except at a fraction of the price.

Sure, a computer at this level may cost a little more, but the way I see it is why sit around waiting for your computer to do things? With this computer you get your time back. For me that's worth a few extra bucks.

Top notch system
This is a top notch desktop. I bought mine with a 19 inch flat screen Sony monitor. Out of the box, it took me less than half an hour to set up. Also, it integrated fine with both my Router and my Digital Cable service. With the processing power and HD size a lot of nice options become available to you. Record your favorite TV programs, and watch them as you please. Picture and DVD editing are a breeze, though I would recommend upgrading to Adobe Premier Pro. I like iTunes and with the two speaker sub woofer system you have a great medium to store and run your favorite songs. Gaming is good for this system too, and applications like Office will run with no problems. Overall this is a very good Media Center desktop PC. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

PERFECT!
I just picked up this computer (refurbished) off of ubid.com. I picked it up for 600 bucks and I was a bit aprehensive. It came proffessionally packed and even smelled new! I fired it up and I have to say this thing is fast, easy to use, and forgiving considering I have not owned a computer in over 4 years! Pick yourself up one! Its totally worth it! And oh yeah, I also picked up a 17" monitor off of ubid.com for 75 bucks...the whole system shipping included in under 900 bucks! Not bad eh? -jewels

Very Nice Machine
I bought this PC for my mother, (her first one) and was looking for something that was easy to use and she wouldn't have to upgrade for a long time. I have to say that this machine is one of the best I demo'd (and I looked at alot before decideing). I agree with everything the others have written about this machine, but would like to add one thing. The speakers with this PC were awesome!! When I first checked it out, I kinda thought they sounded pretty good, but then listening to all the other systems, I realized they were far better then anything else I'd looked at. Just to see i went over to where they sold Addon speakers and started playing some. Forget about... [expensive] speakers, this machine blew them away right out of the box... If this is going to be your first PC or your just looking for a good next one. For the price you will not be disappointed.

Plenty of everything
Awesome system! I was happy with my PentiumII 500Mhz 128MB RAM system for most everything, but I use Cakewalk digital recording software which can become quite a memory hog and very processor-intensive when running over 8-tracks with intense effects processing. This Sony system lets me push it to the limit. I've run over 16-tracks with lots of effects processing, and the Cakewalk software hardly shows any signs of lagging. Best thing is, I've experienced no dropouts at all. And of course, the speedy CD recorder is heaven as I burn and copy my audio CDs quite often. I definitely recommend this system.

Super fast and way better than I expected
My jaw dropped after plugging this one in. I can't believe how fast it is. For once, I don't even know how I'm going to come close to maxing out the capabilities of a computer. The built in DVD ROM is outstanding, and the CD Burner, as others have mentioned, may be the fastest I've ever seen. It used to take me close to 30 minutes to burn a full CD on my old setup, and 5 minutes is pretty standard here. The Windows XP that's bundled with it works flawlessly, and it's a super quiet unit, as well. Hats off to Sony for making a great computer that I'm 100% happy with.

A Power Packed PC! Awesome!!!
Sony PC's are getting better all the time. The 650 is very fast and i'm happy to say that the windows XP operating system is working very well. The software suite is most impressive. If you are interested in working with photos and video, this is the machine to have. I own many Sony products from digital cameras to clock radios and I'll admit that the horror stories about Tech Support are mostly true. However, most Sony gear works so well you rarely need it. The Vaio series, and digital studio line in particular have all the features you could need in a stable and solid system. Go buy one!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The impressive MX is Sony's ambitious solution for the person who wants one system that does it all. Whether you want to watch and record TV shows, burn and listen to DVD and CDs, listen to FM radio, or edit digital images, the MX does it all, plus of course the typical things you'd do with your high-end computer.

Our first impression of the Sony MX was of how small it was considering everything it does. All its components came in a compact, approximately 2-by-2-foot box. Inside were smaller boxes that held the various cables, the keyboard, mouse, handy remote control, case, and the two speakers. The minitower case was an appealing shiny gray and light purple color, which matched the speakers and created an attractive system.

Within 10 minutes we had the basic computer set up. When we pushed the power button, the display on the front of the case glowed with a techie-looking green light, showing a marquee of the Sony Vaio brand. The computer comes loaded with Windows XP Home Edition, so we also had to perform the initial setup of that software, but from there we were ready to fully explore the MX.

One of its coolest features is a personal video recorder. Similar to other digital recording systems, this device stores television programs on the MX's hard drive. Just plug your TV into the back of the computer and you can start recording and watching TV shows. You can also download episode information from the Web, so you can plan your recordings. You can even transfer information from the personal video recorder to a DVD disc, or to a Memory Stick so you can view them on your camcorder.

For the audiophiles out there, Sony includes two large speakers, which provided solid sound quality that made the most of the Vaio's 20-watt power capabilities. To reduce interference noise, Sony has separated the internal sound board from the PC motherboard and has used fully digital signal paths to achieve the highest clarity of signal transmission. The result is a sharp, clean audio experience that sacrifices little on the bass end. While the two-way speaker system is more than adequate when using the Vaio as a PC or for gaming, we felt that TV or DVD viewing would be greatly enhanced by connecting to a surround receiver/speaker system through the unit's digital optical ports.

Also loaded on the computer is a variety of different Sony and third-party software that further enhances the MX's versatility. This software controls the tuning of the radio and the personal video recorder and enables you to edit your digital images, burn and label CD and DVD discs, and edit your digital home movies. The list goes on and on. And we had no trouble figuring out the basic usage of these programs; they were all quite user friendly.

The one major negative with the system is that there aren't a lot of expansion capabilities. About the only thing you can add to this machine is another hard drive. But then, there isn't a lot that the MX needs. The mouse, while serviceable, was a two-button ball mouse with a wheel. We would have liked to see an optical mouse with such a state-of-the-art system.

The Sony MX is a lot of machine to test, but it seems to be everything it claims to be--a digital entertainment system extraordinaire. --Patricia Atherly and Ed Noble

Pros:

• Fast computer with large hard drive and good graphics card
• Does practically everything in the way of digital audio, imaging, and editing
• Loaded with lots of useful software
• A variety of different connections and slots for different types of media
• Quiet fan and hard drive

Cons:

• Monitor not included
• Not a lot of expansion capabilities
• Ball mouse, not optical mouse, included

Reviews (13)

An exceptional cutting edge multi-media machine
The MXS10 is a great all around machine that truly shines if you are interested in TV/Video and audio/music functions. Not only can you watch TV on your monitor with the built-in tuner you can also record video directly to the hard drive using the integrated Personal Video Recorder (similar to Tivo). The MX also has S-Video out and Optical out to watch that same video on your home entertainment system.

Have a digital camcorder? Import and edit your video using the built-in firewire port, Even better once you are done editing burn your results to DVD. The DVD-RW that comes standard will record a DVD-R disc that is playable on most (read sold in the last 12-18 months) consumer home DVD players. (...).

Like Music? Not only does the MXS10 include CD-RW capability, a PC card slot and a memory stick slot it also includes a Mini-Disc Audio drive. Copy and create you own MD discs. MD is a high quality portable music technology pioneered by Sony. The MX also has an integrated FM receiver for listening to the radio.

All this and a great looking package that includes shelf size speakers.

This thing is just too cool…..

Good, except one major flaw-
Everything I need In One Sony PC!! It is a sleek slim-line PC. The only problem is that the case is pretty cramped and not much room for expansion.

Forget the PC features - let's talk bells'n'whistles here!
Let's skip all the standard PC junk (the processor, RAM, disk space, etc.). After all, this beauty is marketed as a "state-of-the-art multimedia computer with a powerful, entertainment package" - in case you happen to believe manuals. The PC features of VAIO PCV-MXS10 are impressive, so is the fifteen hundred dollars markup as compared with a similarly equipped COMPAQ or an HP. Would you like to know where the money went (I did)?
Lets break it down.
Audio:
1. The two 20W large speakers look good. The sound quality and power, however, could have been better. Any hundred bucks boombox beats them hands down.
2. Remote control - looks intimidating for a week or two, especially when you pull the lower lid down to open up the A/V recording buttons (concealed). Then you begin to wonder why on earth no other PC maker had thought of this before!
3. This is very annoying - if you happen to adjust volume (on the reflective front panel or the remote) while the computer is executing even a basic task, it will appear not doing anything for a few seconds, then will hit you with a loud volume increase which was running in the OS background.
Graphics/games:
4. Game card - not bad for an entry level multimedia computer, less than adequate for the "state-of-the art" machine. Don't get me wrong - all my games worked perfect - for now. But what happens in a year or two with all those Internet enabled graphic card power-hungry games that are coming out?
Video:
5. DVD - no composite output, but S-VHS jack for an outside TV. No S-VHS cable, plenty of RCA and coaxial cables. The playback tolerance (DVD body scratches) is impressive - beats home DVD players for sure!
6. The multimedia software - Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder, DVgate, Media Bar, Movie Shaker, PictureGear, Smart Capture, VisualFlow, SonicStage Premium - all worth the stretch price-wise.
Customer Support - excellent, to say the least! Had a problem on the very first day - resolved within a few minutes with 3 (three!) levels of escalation. Outstanding!
Summary: Don't consider Sony VAIO PCV-MXS10 a desktop with a good multimedia package, because it is not. You will be better off with a fifteen hundred dollars shy COMPAQ or HP. Spend the difference on additional software and hardware upgrades - makes perfect sense.
Do consider this wonderful machine (has its drawbacks - yes!) if you want to get a PC-centered all-in-one multimedia center connected to an outside high end audio and digital video (satellite, HDTV, DVD(-R(W)) player, etc.) components. Only then then this overpriced under-developed mis-marketed Sony PC becomes what it really is - a multimedia dream machine that is worth every penny!
Would I buy it again - given another choice? Definitely!

Processor
General comment: I have had a loaded Pentium 4 and have had nothing but problems with it as does everyone who is a heavy user! I've doubled the PC800 (Best Ram for it), added DSL and gone to Win XP and still it bogs down! I still use it as my primary PC, but I recently got a new complete system based on the Athlon XP 2000+ processor with 512 DDR Ram and it is at least twice as fast maybe 3 times!! And they're cheaper! Reminds me of AOL being rammed onto poor new users, I tried it (Version 7) for a month after 5 years online. It has a horrible email system and you don't see the real internet, plus you get spammed constantly through both the email and messenger! They were very impolite when I cancelled also!

reliability and warranty problems
A word to the wise on Sony's Vaio line: I purchased one of the Sony slimline computers a year ago and had a hard disk failure within the first 9 months. This was covered by the warranty, so Sony replaced the drive at their expense. The replacement drive failed in about 6 months (when it and the system were off warranty). When I replaced *that* drive I discovered that Sony had given me a used disk when it did the warranty work. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Especially well suited to home users who need a lot of processing power, the Sony Vaio PCV-RX730 desktop is a versatile system that's ready to handle many of the latest crop of internal and external PC applications and devices. Whether you're recording a CD, surfing the Internet, or filling a spreadsheet, the Vaio PCV-RX730 will help keep things humming along smoothly.

The unit offers a pleasant tradeoff between power and affordability. Rather than fitting the Vaio PCV-RX730 with a state-of-the-art processor that, in reality, may deliver more power than most users require, Sony has installed acost-effective yet powerful 1.7 GHz Intel Celeron processor with 256 KB of Level 2 cache. This capable chip is paired with a generous 256 MB of RAM and an integrated 32 MB SiS650 graphics processor. Although it won't set new speed benchmarks or efficiently handle the most demanding 3-D games, the VaioPCV-RX730 desktop will easily carve its way through most of today's popular entertainment and professional programs.

More than just an affordable workhorse, the unit is also exceedingly flexible. You'll find plenty of room to store your programs and files on its spacious 40 GB hard disk. You'll record and play audio CDs and back up your data on its integrated CD-RW drive, and load and move smaller files on its 3.5-inch floppy disk drive. And if you're looking for fast video data transfer solutions, the Vaio PCV-RX730 desktop is ready to oblige with two IEEE 1395 ports: one on the rear and another placed conveniently on the front of the case.

The unit features a variety of additional connections, including four USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, a parallel "printer" port and serial port, two PS/2 ports for keyboards and mice, and line-in and line-out audio jacks. An integrated V.90 data/fax modem delivers low-speed Internet connectivity, and a 10 Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet card affords high-speed e-mail access and surfing. A PS/2 wheel mouse, Vaio Smart keyboard, and a pair of full-range desktop speakers round out the system's hardware amenities. Sony has not included a monitor with the package, allowing you to select your favorite display from the many currently available or perhaps use one already on hand.

The Vaio PCV-RX730 desktop is loaded with a variety of practical and entertainment software, including pre-installed copies of Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Intuit Quicken 2002, and an assortment of Sony DVD, home movie, photo, and audio tools and utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Worst CPU, they say 1.7Ghz but it calculate to 1.2GHz P4
This is the worst CPU, worst that AMD Duron.
This CPU is not really running at 1.7Ghz, the cache on this CPU is only 128, comapring to P4 512.
They say 1.7 but really runs at 1.2 GHZ or less comparing to P4 or Athlon XP.

Great Buy
I would reccommend any Sony computer. With built in Firewire(i.Link) and USB it is perfect for the digital lifestyle. And you can't beat the price for the performance. Also one thing to note. This computer comes with an open AGP port so that you can upgrade the video card. The on board video isnt that great so you may want to do that upgrade. The 740 series does not have the AGP port option so that is what makes this a great buy. Also check out the rebate... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As a business, multimedia, or game enthusiast's desktop, the Vaio PCV-RX580 is worth a look. Check out its features: a 40x CD-ROM drive, 512 MB of memory, an nVidia TNT2 M64 graphics card, and a zippy 1.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor. Its price is higher than average for desktops as a whole and higher than average among similarly rated products. The product also includes an 80 GB hard disk, 56K modem, and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network card. The installed operating system is Windows XP Home Edition, which combines the stability of Windows 2000 with better support for peripherals and games plus a new user interface. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Don't expect to make DVDs from digital videos
I bought this system with the intention of putting my videos on dvd. There is no support to do this with analog videos without extra hardware. The software programs they give won't allow you to do it for digital videos either. I streamed my digital videos onto the system and I can create digital videos, but not the kind the the dvd producing program likes. In order to produce video input for the DVD-it! program supplied, I need to by additional software. Why would Sony sell a system that supposedly is it be used as a "digital studio" without giving you the software to burn a dvd with the dvd burner provided?

Well beyond marginal
I have owned my PCV-RX580 for less than thirty days. The minute the computer arrived at my front door I removed the modem and installed two network cards. One network card is a standard CAT5 LAN card while the second is a telephone line network adapter. The installed Windows XP Home operating system quickly found the new adapters and allowed me to configure them while automatically setting up a bridge to my DSL service and a firewall. I must admit that although I am an experienced computer user, I am not well versed with using Windows XP at this time. I was very impressed with the installed OS. I did not buy this unit for the strengths of video or music composition for which it was designed but more for the known reliability and compatibility of my installed networked PC's. I was less impressed with the overall performance of the Pentium 4 1.8GHz processor and 512Mb PC133 SDRAM. I have a networked PC with an AMD 1.3GHz processor and 512Mb DDR RAM that seems much snappier with response to loading programs and running multiple tasks. I expected this Pentium 4 to respond equally as well or better than my AMD 1.3GHz, but that was more an anticipation than a factual conclusion. My PCV-RX580 system came very well optioned with software, much of which I will rarely or never use. As previously mentioned, this unit is my main link to the internet and host to seven networked computers making this computer the heart of my system. My Vaio is the only Sony product on my network resulting the trusted link for my remaining system. I think that says it all for my confidence in Sony's reliability. I have all the big names linked to my home network yet one Sony got the leadership responsibility as a file server and key link to the outside world twenty four hours a day seven days a week. I am very pleased with the installed hardware along with the added ability to burn a DVD should the need arise. The PCV-RX580 is partitioned and tuned for the video and music afficionados however it is also perfectly suited for my needs as well

reliability and warranty problems
A word to the wise on Sony's Vaio line: I purchased one of the Sony slimline computers a year ago and had a hard disk failure within the first 9 months. This was covered by the warranty, so Sony replaced the drive at their expense. The replacement drive failed in about 6 months (when it and the system were off warranty). When I replaced *that* drive I discovered that Sony had given me a used disk when it did the warranty work.

Computer Value
I think that the computer has good value for money and quality, pretty much all round but the only thing that dents this almost flawless design is that it doesn't have an internal modem! The PC is photo quality and it has the adobe photo shop which is fantastic but I think that it would be complete with an internal modem, age:12

Good value with a few limitations!
- uses cheaper PC133 SDRAM vs faster PC800 RDRAM, no memory expansion beyond 512K
- rather slow program starting
- low end video card options: I am using an NEC LCD1810x monitor which costs over $1500 and the video options provided with the RX580 show 2 low end 32MB cards, none with DVI. (To those who may not be familiar with DVI: The Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a display interface developed in response to the proliferation of digital flat-panel displays. For the most part, these displays are currently connected to an analog video graphics array (VGA) interface and, thus, require a double conversion. The digital signal from the computer must be converted to an analog signal for the analog VGA interface, then converted back to a digital signal for processing by the flat-panel display. This inherently inefficient process takes a toll on performance and video quality and adds cost. In contrast, when a flat-panel display is connected to a digital interface, no digital-to-analog conversion is required.)

Other than these, machine is relatively cheap. For more flexibility, you might want to take a look at the Dell Dimension 8200 which is comparable in price and value. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

For those who require the ultimate in power and speed or anyone who simply enjoys being on the cutting edge of computer technology, the Sony Vaio PCV-RX750 de sktop computer is built to please. With a furiously fast processor, massive hard drive, and support for both CD and DVD playback and CD recording, the Vaio PCV-RX750 will handle most any business, multimedia, or entertainment application with plenty of room to spare. You'll pay a little more for this level of performance, and even then you'll have to furnish your own monitor, but very few pre-assembled computers on the market today are this well endowed.

At the heart of the system lies an Intel Pentium 4 processor. But not just any Pentium 4--this is a high-flying 2 GHz P4 chip with 512 KB of Level 2 cache. Sony has matched this extremely potent CPU with 256 MB of fast PC800-40 DDR RAM (upgradable to 1 full GB) and plopped the whole works on a new 533 MHz bus motherboard. A 32 MB SiS650 video card handles the graphics processing. Suffice to say that Sony's top-of-the-line desktop will efficiently run any program currently in release and quite probably any appearing in the near future.

But the Vaio PCV-RX750 offers far more than raw power. The system features an exceptional variety of data storage and media options, including a 60 GB hard disk. Users can play DVDs, record and play audio CDs, and archive massive quantities of data on the unit's combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive.

Fittingly, the Vaio PCV-RX750 is packed with advanced connectivity options, including an optical-out for Dolby Digital audio, two IEEE 1394 ports (one on the rear and one placed conveniently on the front of the system case) for high-speed uploads and downloads from DV- and disc-based camcorders and other video devices, and a Memory Stick media slot for fast transfers of digital photographs and large files. Other connections include four USB ports (two front, two rear), a serial printer port, parallel port, headphone and microphone jacks, oodles of standard audio ins and outs, and S-video support. A V.90 data/fax modem delivers low-speed Internet access and remote information movement, and a 10 Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet card affords high-speed e-mail and surfing. The system also features a handy PS/2 wheel mouse, a Vaio Smart keyboard, and a pair of speakers for accurate broadcast of stereo audio signals.

Sony has equipped this very proficient PC with a ton of pre-installed software, including Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Intuit Quicken 2002, and nearly a dozen useful photo, video, and audio tools and utilities.

If top-level performance, masterful speed, and support for the latest multimedia devices are critical attributes in your next computer, the Sony Vaio PCV-RX750 desktop is a wise choice. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Poor Customer Support
I purchased a Viao in fall if 1999. I didn't learn until I upgraded the OS to Windows XP that Sony hasn't provided a system update or any other software update for my model since Windows 98. More dismaying, Sony hasn't bothered to notify owners via its support site that there's a BIOS issue when upgrading to XP. Now, I can't turn off my computer and Sony has refused to help me repeatedly. Sony has terrible customer support service.

Needs a little tweaking.
This is a better PC than other Sony's I've reviewed, especially with regard to its value. The specs are good enough as shipped to make 95% of the PC market happy. The other 5% (myself included) would like to have a true gaming-capable machine, having 512 megs of system RAM, 64 megs of video RAM and USB 2.0-ready ports. All of this can be added, but of course that would add significantly (about 40% I reckon) to the price. In addition, there is no monitor included here, so that's another important expense, which along with the above-mentioned items would approximately double the asking price. Nonetheless, it's a quality machine with lots of great features and it's one I'd be happy to have for anything but interactive, Internet gaming.

Great price, good system
This is a great price for a system this feature rich and powerful. While it is not the fastest P4 system on the market is is easily one of the best low cost systems you will find. Sony's build quality is very high, and they include lots of extra features and software. Nothing is free and Sony has done a good job of making the right trade-offs to keep the price down on this system without selling you a bland box you can't use.

CPU: Intel P4 Nortwood 2GHz w/512k L2. A great CPU today, and with more software supporting its SSE2 features, the best investment for tomorrow. Sadly AMD has fallen far behind Intel and won't catch up until mid 2003 (based on their current CPU roadmaps).

Chipset: Sis650 a good chipset, not as fast as Intel's 845 or 850 series, but it cost a lot less.

Memory: The Amazon review has this wrong. This system comes with 256M PC2100 DDR running at 266MHz. Without boring you with a long explanation lets just say that it is not quite as fast as PC800 RDRAM (Rambus) but still much faster than what came on older systems. 256M is plenty for all but the most serious power users. If you want to upgrade later you can for about $50-$100 and a little time.

Grapics: Sis Integrated "Real256" - Not a Nvidia chip (despite what the Amazon review says) this was developed in-house by Sis as a DirectX 7 compliant graphics chip. The latest games coming out now are DirectX 8 (and beyond). They will work fine on this graphics chip, but not at the highest quality settings. The good news is it comes with a AGP slot so in when you want to step up you can buy a new video card. I suggest ATI cards over Nvidia cards for overall quality if you do this. Matrox is also coming out with a good card (their current cards are too slow).

OS: Windows XP, which is far superior to Win98SE or Windows ME. As much as I hate the 'activation' feature, it is the best thing going for most people.

Features: Sony is the best at adding in lots of useful things like, Firewire/I-link ports (for hooking all kinds of stuff like a digital video camera to adding an external DVD-RW drive), built in ethernet, modem, and sound. Also a CDRW and DVD drive. One down side: no USB 2.0 ports.

Software: Comes with Corel WordPerfect Office, PC-Cillin anti-virus software, and Sony's in house video software. Good bundle that comes a lot cheaper than MS Office and Norton Anti-virus.

... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Especially well suited to multimedia mavens, the Sony Vaio PCV-RX740 desktop is a versatile system that's ready to handle virtually all the latest crop of internal and external PC applications and devices. Whether you're watching a Hollywood blockbuster, uploading and editing a home movie, recording a CD, or filling a spreadsheet, the Vaio PCV-RX740 will help keep things humming along smoothly.

The unit offers a pleasant tradeoff between power and affordability. Rather than fitting the Vaio PCV-RX740 with a state-of-the-art processor that, in reality, may deliver more power than most users require, Sony has installed acost-effective yet powerful 1.53 GHz AMD Athlon XP 1800+ with 128 KB of Level 1 cache and 256 KB of Level 2 cache. This capable chip is paired with a generous 256 MB of RAM and an integrated 32 MB SiS740 graphics processor. Although it won't set new speed benchmarks or efficiently handle the most demanding 3-D games, the Vaio PCV-RX740 desktop will easily carve its way through most of today's popular entertainment and professional programs.

More than just an affordable workhorse, the unit is also exceedingly flexible. You'll find plenty of room to store your programs and files on its spacious 60 GB hard disk. You'll record and play audio CDs and back up your data on its integrated 40x/24x/10x CD-RW drive, load and move smaller files on its 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, and play DVD movies on its 16x DVD-ROM drive. And if you're looking for fast video data transfer solutions, the Vaio PCV-RX740 desktop is ready to oblige with two IEEE 1395 ports: one on the rear and another placed conveniently on the front of the case.

The unit features a variety of additional connections, including four USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, a parallel "printer" port and serial port, two PS/2 ports for keyboards and mice, and line-in and line-out audio jacks. An integrated V.90 data/fax modem delivers low-speed Internet connectivity, and a 10 Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet card affords high-speed e-mail access and surfing. A PS/2 wheel mouse, Vaio Smart keyboard, and a pair of full-range desktop speakers round out the system's hardware amenities. Sony has not included a monitor with the package, allowing you to select your favorite display from the many currently available or perhaps use one already on hand.

The Vaio PCV-RX740 desktop is loaded with a variety of practical and entertainment software, including pre-installed copies of Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Intuit Quicken 2002, and an assortment of Sony DVD, home movie, photo, and audio tools and utilities. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

For those who require the ultimate in power and speed or anyone who simply enjoys being on the cutting edge of computer technology, the Sony Vaio PCV-RX780G desktop computer is built to please. With a furiously fast processor, massive hard drive, and support for both CD and DVD playback and recording, the Vaio PCV-RX780G will handle practically any business, multimedia, or entertainment application with plenty of room to spare. You'll pay a little more for this level of performance, and even then you'll have to furnish your own monitor, but very few pre-assembled computers on the market today are this well endowed.

At the heart of the system lies an Intel Pentium 4 processor. But not just any Pentium 4--this is a high-flying 2.2 GHz P4 chip with 512 KB of Level 2 cache. Sony has matched this extremely potent CPU with 512 MB of fast PC800-40 RDRAM (upgradable to 1 full GB) and plopped the whole works on a new 533 MHz bus motherboard. A 64 MB nVidia GeForce4 MX 440 video card handles the graphics processing. Suffice to say that Sony's top-of-the-line desktop will efficiently run any program currently in release and quite probably any appearing in the near future.

But the Vaio PCV-RX780G offers far more than raw power. The system features an exceptional variety of data storage and media options, including a monstrous 120 GB hard disk. Users can burn DVDs, record and play audio CDs, and archive massive quantities of data on the unit's combination DVD-RW/CD-RW drive, and view the latest Hollywood releases on the 16x DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive. They can create home movie DVDs, send information from one removable disc to another, or use the system's 3.5-inch floppy disk drive to back up or transfer smaller amounts of data. They can even use the integrated TV tuner and MPEG2 real-time encoder/decoder to watch and record television broadcasts.

Fittingly, the Vaio PCV-RX780G is packed with advanced connectivity options, including an optical-out for Dolby Digital audio, two IEEE 1394 ports (one on the rear and one placed conveniently on the front of the system case) forhigh-speed uploads and downloads from DV- and disc-based camcorders and other video devices, and a Memory Stick media slot for fast transfers of digital photographs and large files. Other connections include four USB ports (two front, two rear), a serial printer port, parallel port, headphone and microphone jacks, oodles of standard audio ins and outs, and S-video support. A V.90 data/fax modem delivers low-speed Internet access and remote information movement, and a 10 Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet card affords high-speede-mail and surfing. The system also features a handy PS/2 wheel mouse, a Vaio Smart keyboard, and a pair of speakers for accurate broadcast of stereo audio signals.

Sony has equipped this very proficient PC with a ton of pre-installed software, including Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Intuit Quicken 2002, and nearly a dozen useful photo, video, and audio tools and utilities.

If top-level performance, masterful speed, and support for the latest multimedia devices are critical attributes in your next computer, the Sony Vaio PCV-RX780G desktop is a wise choice. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The pinnacle of Sony style, the Vaio PCV-J200 all-in-one desktop personal computer features a glossy black profile that's not much thicker than a flat-panel monitor. Behind the 15-inch flat panel LCD, the PCV-J200 offers a wealth of computing and entertainment options--from a DVD-RW drive to Sony's Giga Pocket personal video recorder for archiving your favorite TV programs. It also features a wireless keyboard and mouse (to help keep your desk uncluttered), 120 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and Memory Stick slot.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 120 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) offers more than enough storage for all your documents, digital photos, and MP3 collection.
• Processor: The 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor is fast will come in handy for tasks such as digital photo or video editing--but it is in the upper middle range for this processor. It also has a 533 MHz FSB (front-side bus).
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD-RW/CD-RW drive (which is not compatible with DVD+R/RW discs). The CD-RW drive has 16x write, 8x rewrite, and 24x read speeds. The DVD-RW has an 8x playback speed and a 1x write/rewrite speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and mouse (with PS/2 connector).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get a decent amount of computer and video connectivity options for the PCV-V200G's size, including::

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 4-pin) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II)
• 1 VHF/UHF line in
• 1 S-Video line in
• 1 Composite Video line in
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 Memory Stick card slot (compatible with Memory Stick Pro)

Preloaded System and Software
The PCV-J200 comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents) as well as a 60-day trial for Microsoft Office 2003. Record and watch your TV programs with the Personal Video Recorder powered by Giga Pocket Engine.

Other preloaded Sony software includes Click to DVD (DVD creation), PictureGear Studio (digital photo), DVgate Plus (digital video), SonicStage (digital music), and Vaio Media (Network file sharing). Other preloaded software includes InterVideo WinDVD, MoodLogic 2.5 Trial, Intuit Quicken 2004 New User Edition, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple QuickTime, RealNetworks RealOne Player, Photoshop Elements, Norton Internet Security (90-day trial).

Dimensions and Weight
This amazingly small desktop PC measures 15 x 13 x 7 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 16.8 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCV-V200G all-in-one desktop PC, stereo speakers (built into the unit), Vaio wireless RF keyboard and mouse, and IR remote control. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As part of Sony's "Digital Studio" line of PCs, the VAIO PCV-RZ34G Desktop offers high-end performance, exceptional multimedia capabilities and oodles of connectivity options. If you use your computer for state-of-the-art entertainment as well as productivity, the VAIO PCV-RZ34G could be just the ticket.

Outfitted with a fast 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of premium PC-2700 333 MHz DDR memory (expandable to a whopping 2 GB), and a blazing 800 MHz bus, the VAIO PVC-RZ34G is ready to blast through all but the most demanding chores. Sony has even addressed the Achilles Heel of most out-of-the-box desktops by enclosing a 128 MB nVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics card with w/TV-Out to handle high-end 3-D games and applications.

When it comes to storing and transferring your valuable data, the VAIO PCV-RZ34G has you covered. The system is fitted with a huge 120 GB hard disk for your frequently accessed programs and files, a 3.5-inch diskette drive for older or smaller applications, a 40-speed CD-ROM drive for listening to audio CDs and installing programs, and a DVD-RW/CD-RW drive that allows you to burn audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters and create your own DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders, scanners and external drives, the system features a total of eight high-speed USB 2.0 ports and a pair of IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors -- one each on the front and rear.

The VAIO PCV-RZ34G sports numerous other amenities, including a VGA/DVI port for flat-panel displays, an S/PDIF out, two PS/2 ports, a pair of freestanding stereo speakers, a handy VAIO Smart keyboard, and a thorough package of business, leisure and entertainment software. A monitor is not included with this computer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Though slightly less than ideal for fans of 3-D gaming or video recording, Sony’s new Vaio PCV-RXA842 is otherwise a powerful yet affordable desktop solution that offers plenty of bang for the buck.

For the PCV-RXA842, Sony has incorporated a cost-effective 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400+ processor, 512 MB of PC-2100 DDR RAM (expandable to 1 full GB), and an integrated 32 MB nVidia nForce 220 IGP graphics accelerator. The system’s 80 GB hard drive is big enough for even the most extensive MP3 collection, and its internal CD-RW drive will burn best-of music compilations, backup and archive discs, and traditional audio CDs. Although the PCV-RXA842 won’t record DVD-format video discs unless you add a DVD burner, its built-in DVD player will allow you to watch your favorite movies.

The PCV-RXA842 offers numerous conveniences to enhance and simplify your day-to-day computing, including a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, a PS2 wheel mouse, four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug-and-play peripherals such as external CD drives and joysticks, and front and rear IEEE 1394 interfaces for easy DV camcorder connectivity. The included Vaio Smart keyboard features several handy one-touch multimedia and Internet buttons for instant access to common functions.

Sony asserts that the Vaio PCV-RXA842 will serve as a capable central hub for many years to come. Aside from its state-of-the-art USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 ports, the system features headphone and microphone ports, a line-in jack, parallel port, proprietary Memory Stick Media Slot, V.90 modem for low-speed Internet and e-mail, and a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet interface for high-speed Web surfing and LAN access. Sony has included a pair of stereo speakers but has not packaged the PCV-RXA842 with a viewing screen, allowing users to make their own selection from the numerous VGA and ultrathin LCD models on the market. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Poor quality graphics
The built in nVidia nForce 220IGP grahpics are very low quality and are not suitible for gaming or business grahpics (such as CAD). Of course for a hundred or two more you can buy a new video card and get good graphics. But then for that much money you could buy a faster system with better grahpics already installed and you don't have to deal with opening up your computer, installing a new card and messing with the graphics drivers. So the low price is deceptive. This system will cost you a lot more in the end.

Excellent value.
This is another excellent entry from Sony CE, again gaining high marks for its value. It features an Athalon (AMD) XP processor running at 2.0 GHz and offers 512 megs of very fast DDRAM. It also has 4 2.0-ready USB ports, a large 80 gig hard drive and a very good CD-R/W + DVD player. My only complaint is the lack of a true game-ready, 64 megs (or higher!) of video RAM. The included 32 meg Sony in-house, on-chip setup here just won't cut the mustard. There is, however, an open 4x AGP slot, so an upgrade can be bought and slid into place in 10 minutes without any fuss. In addition, there is no monitor included here, so that's another important expense to add. Nonetheless, it's a quality machine with lots of great features and it's one you'll probably be happy with for years to come. Having said that, I'd take the upgraded 850 model, which features a much better Intel Pentium 4 processor (running at 2.4 Ghz) for just a little bit more money. ... Read more