Amazon.com Product Description

Targeting the multimedia fan with its built-in CD and DVD burning capabilities and generous audio-video software package, the Sony VAIO PCV-RS320 Desktop delivers strong processing power and solid general performance at a reasonable price. 3-D designers and serious gamers will either want to look elsewhere or perform after-purchase upgrades, but most users should find the VAIO PCV-RS320 more than satisfactory.

Anchoring the VAIO PCV-RS320 is a fast 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU with Hyper-Threading technology (Hyper-Threading is a new Intel-developed process that allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system -- thus boosting performance during key high-drain procedures such as multitasking) and a generous 512 MB PC-2100 266 MHz DDR RAM. Sony has equipped the unit with an entry-level video card, the Intel 845GV Integrated Graphics chipset with 64 MB shared (not dedicated memory). Accordingly, the VAIO PCV-RS320 is great for all 2-D and some 3-D tasks but won’t efficiently run the latest games or 3-D animation applications.

The system features several data storage options, including a massive 120 GB hard disk, a handy 3.5-inch diskette drive for smaller backups and older programs, and an extremely versatile DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters and turn your home movies into DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders and cameras, scanners and external drives, Sony has added six high-speed USB 2.0 ports and two i.Link (FireWire) ports, one on the rear and another at the front.

Other desirable amenities include a VGA monitor port, two PS/2 ports, a pair of small desktop speakers, a user-friendly VAIO keyboard, and a PS/2 wheel mouse. A display screen is not enclosed, thus allowing users to utilize their current monitor or select from the many alternatives currently available. Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 7.0, Intuit Quicken 2003, and oodles of Sony’s own multimedia utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great, Solid and overall complete
I'm a graphic artist who works with many applications open meanwhile listening to streaming music over a cable modem and this desktop doesn't even blink handling all that. The Hyperthreading technology is incredible while the Pentium 2.6 GHz just shoots everything at lightning speed. The only thing I'd change though is getting another video card because the one installed is a shared AGP and the graphics can get chunky and choppy when it's stretched thin.

Otherwise solid, solid performance by Sony.

Fast
This Computer Is A Fast one with a Intel Pentium 4 with Hyper Threading, 512mb RAM. You Can Perform Many things at one time.
GET THIS COMPUTER! ... 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-RX770 desktop computer is built to please. With a furiously fast processor, massive hard drive, and support for both CD playback and DVD recording, the Vaio PCV-RX770 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 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-RX770 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 listen to their favorite CDs on the included CD-ROM drive. They can even use the integrated TV tuner and MPEG2 real-time encoder/decoder to watch and record television broadcasts.

Fittingly, the Vaio PCV-RX770 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-RX770 desktop is a wise choice. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Missing video adapter on Vaio RX770
I am unable to change the video settings in this computer. It came with no video adapter. I have just one video setting 800x600 which is not good enough the play DVDs. Best Buy will not take it back nor is of any help. Sony telephone soupport was awful. My first and last Sony computer!

My SONY Nightmare
I bought a SONY VAIO RX-770 on July 6, 2002. On the first day the machine froze up on the internet. That was my first of over 20 calls to the SONY technical support group. After 3 shipments back and forth to SONY's repair service center in San Diego, my PC finally is in operating condition. My PC spent approximately 5 weeks in San Diego and had a better vacation than I did. They replaced the Modem, Motherboard and finally the CPU. It is now almost 3 months since my purchase, my PC is finally operating correctly. My e-mail inquires to SONY received no response, my phone inquires to management received no return calls and the phone center personnel broke their arms patting themselves on the back for doing such a great job (?). It became chillingly apparent to me that SONY was not interested in customers.

Firewire and Memory Stick have Become Quite Useful
When I purchased this Sony Vaio desktop computer, I bought it for its high speed and large storage capacity. I didn't think much about the Firewire connection or the Memory Stick reader which came included. I've since found both to be quite useful.

With the Memory Stick reader in my Vaio -- and by installing a Sony PC Card Memory Stick adapter in my laptops -- I now use Memory Sticks like floppy disks to save and transfer data, music and digital photo files easily among all of my computers. For storing or transferring data, Memory Sticks are much more convenient than using CD's (or e-mailing the information to myself from work-to-home and back again).

The Memory Stick reader also comes in handy if I want to download digital images to a Memory Stick -- in order to print them from my Sony Digital Photo Printer or my HP Photosmart printers (all of which read from Memory Sticks to print pictures); and the reader also comes in handy when downloading MP3 music files to play on my Sony Clie PDA (which uses Memory Sticks to store data beyond what its limited CPU can handle).

Like the Memory Stick reader, my utilization of the Vaio's Firewire connection has been slowly growing, the first use being my Creative Labs 20 GB Jukebox which feeds through a Firewire connection; the second being my Iomega Peerless 20 GB accessory disk drive (that I use to file and save digital photos); and the third being my Minolta Multiscan Pro film scanner which uploads 35 mm and 6 x 6 negative and slide film images (faster through a Firewire than a USB connection).

To tie them all together, I use a Belkin Firewire hub -- and Belkin Firewire cables (which look cool, and have the appearance of braided steel).

As my use of data, music and digital image files increases -- my Sony Vaio with its built-in Firewire and Memory Stick reader -- easily allows me to stay ahead of the curve!

A fine PC with some limitations.
I think the review may have been referring to another model (RX790) which is a different configuration. This computer uses PC2100 DDR RAM, a standard nowadays. The front side bus is 400MHz. The 120GB hard drive appears to spin at 7200RPM according to the Sony site, though another prominent retailer site list the 120GB drive at 5400RPM. It is best to inquire before buying if you like the higher rotation drives. A neat feature with this system is a DVD burner. Rip your video and make your own DVDs. DVD-RW is one of the popular DVD recording formats being juggled with DVD-R, DVD-RAM, and DVD+RW, with no clear-cut winner at this time. Checking compatibility with your home DVD player of choice is recommended. CD-RW burning is 8X maximum write, 4X rewrite. Shared video memory on a graphics card can affect gaming quality, but a fast CPU and large amounts of system memory help balance its drawbacks. A card like a GeForce4 will please the game lover more, however. If you are looking for the ultimate PC, this isn't it. The PC user with greater expectations in his/her hardware will be better served to explore custom built options from Sony. If you want a PC that offers good performance for a moderate price, and has the Sony name on it, this system should satisfy. Overall, a good computer built by a highly reputable electronics company.

... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's VAIO PCV-RS220 delivers high-end processing power and strong multimedia capabilities at a reasonable price. Packed with all the tools you need for making movies, music or videos, the VAIO PCV-RS2200 "Digital Studio" should warrant serious consideration from all desktop users but particularly home-based directors and producers.

Anchoring the VAIO PCV-RS220 is a 2.53 GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU. This is a fast processor, especially when running in conjunction with the system's generous allotment of 512 MB PC-2100 266 MHz DDR memory (upgradeable to 1 GB). Sony has skimped just a bit on the 3-D capabilities by installing an Intel 845GV Integrated Graphics chipset with 64 MB shared memory. Though the unit will handle all 2-D and some 3-D tasks, it will require a graphics card upgrade to plow through the latest and greatest 3-D games and apps.

Sony has equipped the VAIO PCV-RS220 with a massive 120 GB 7200 rpm ATA-100 hard disk, a 3.5-inch diskette drive, and a versatile DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters and create your own DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders and cameras, scanners and external drives, the system also features four high-speed USB 2.0 ports and two i.Link (FireWire) ports, one on the rear and another at the front.

The VAIO PCV-RS220 features numerous other amenities, including a VGA monitor port, two PS/2 ports, a pair of freestanding stereo speakers, a user-friendly VAIO Smart keyboard, and a PS/2 wheel mouse. Sony has not included a monitor, thus allowing you to utilize your current display or select from the many alternatives currently available. Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Intuit Quicken 2003, and a wide variety of Sony's own multimedia utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good value!
Only thing maybe a selling point is lack of AGP port (though 64M V ram should be enough for most). Mine came partitioned, first PC I ever received like that. I usually had to do it myself which of course involves reinstalling software if you have no backup. This system comes with software installed but little in the way of the original CD's which is kinda a bummer (make copies with the burner ASAP). Great, if overly simple,feature that partition though, 20M/100M... Love the DVD burner too. Best value I found with this. Plenty of good 19" monitors (CRT) out ther for less than or right at [$]. All the other systems with similar setup and "included" Monitor were [$] and up (only 17" or 15" too) so this is very worth it even wothout monitor. I like this since I can pick and choose my own monitor actually. I got the 19" Samsung955f and it works great. I haven't installed VisualStudio.NET yet !?? I hope the other reviewer problem is isolated or not related to the VAIO system for VS.NET!!?? That ordeal may drop my rating a star......

A Terrific Computer!!
It is very stable, quiet,and efficient!!
It is strongly recommended!!

Mind the quality & found odd problem
I bought this system at best buy at mid May of 2003. This system comes with a Windows XP Home edition CD. However, if you need system recovery CD, you would have to create one on your own.

From my point of view, the good of this system is:
- Nice case design. Seriously, it matters
- Intel 845 graphics card provides acceptable quality for the price you pay.
- Able to burn DVD
- When burning CD, the DVD burnner is faster than some of its peer. Yet still no compare to the high-speed CD burnners in the market nowadays.

However, I have some complains
- No recovery CD comes in with the package.
- Got weird software problem that doesn't happen elsewhere. See below
- After installed Windows XP Pro, Hardware manager detects unknown USB controler, this is not supposed to happen at all.
- Found difficulties installing some USB devices
- Burn DVD takes forever
- Crappy mouse

The weird software problem that bugged me is: I couldn't install Visual Studio.NET on this system no matter how hard I tried. It always fail to load setupdb.dll and this problem never happens elsewhere. I'm not sure if this problem only happens to me or applies to everybody.

In conclusion, I wouldn't recommend this system unless he or she is really a Sony fan. Yes it look great indeed, but the overall performance is moderate, if not poor. If looking cool is not the most important thing to you, I'd suggest to keep shopping around. ... 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-RX760 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-RX760 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 2.2 GHz P4 chip with 512 KB of Level 2 cache. Sony has matched this extremely potent CPU with 512 MB of fast PC800-40 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-RX760 offers far more than raw power. The system features an exceptional variety of data storage and media options, including a 80 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-RX760 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-RX760 desktop is a wise choice. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

System Overheats
This system runs HOT, make it unsatble.
Also the Overclocking is not working.
buyers look for diffrent Computer, AMD Athlon makes more stable computers.
Also the CD burner freezes once in a while, and makes the system to restart.
If you are a begiiner don't buy this computer.

Fantastic system
Man it's fast, fun, and no troubles so far. It is night and day over my old Pentium II. I bought a lot of new software to go with it and so far it hasn't blinked. It flies and is hassle free. I wish it came in some different colors, but I guess you can't have everything. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

An impressive mixture of power and versatility, the Sony Vaio PCV-RZ24G desktop has been developed for anyone who regularly drives their computer beyond the norm. Distinguished from the substantially costlier, top-of-the-line Vaio PCV-RZ26G in a number of performance-related areas, the luxurious Vaio PCV-RZ24G is nevertheless ready for many years of upgrade-free operation.

If speed is what you crave, the Vaio PCV-RZ24G delivers. Outfitted with a fast 2.66 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of premium PC-2700 333 MHz DDR memory (expandable to 1 GB), and a 533 MHz bus, it's ready to tackle anything you can throw its way. The only potentially suspect component is the graphics card, a 64 MB nVidia GeForce4 MX440. Although fully capable of handling the vast majority of applications, and equipped with a convenient TV tuner, it may have some problems smoothly rendering ultrahigh-end 3-D games and drawing or animation packages.

When it comes to data storage and movement, Sony has left nothing to chance. The system is fitted with a huge 120 GB 7,200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard disk for your frequently accessed programs and files, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive for older or smaller applications, and a combination DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest cinematic releases, and create your own DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders, scanners, and external drives, the system also features a half-dozen high-speed USB 2.0 ports and front- and rear-mounted IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors.

The Vaio PCV-RZ24G features 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, and a handy Vaio Smart keyboard. Sony has not included a monitor, allowing you to use your current display or select from the many available choices. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Computer
I bought this computer from a store a little less than a year ago. The computer runs very well (there were slight problems at the beginning when we paid the store to have a tech guy set it up to enhance and maximize performance, needless to say he wasn't very bright). Occassionally I have some problems with the DVD program PowerDVD that is installed, but mostly the computer runs fantastic. I have burned around 100 DVDs and CDs with the drive and it still runs. The programs that are provided by Sony for this computer are very good for beginners, but anyone that wants more out of them knows which programs they should be using anyway. All in all, I spent around $1200 for the tower and that is still a good price for a comparable computer. I would by another VAIO if I ever had to (which I doubt I will).

factory warranty
I have had my RZ24G desktop for 7 months and recently the dial up modem got a problem:it became so slow that it would take approx 15 min or much longer or sometimes wouldnot login due to 18kbps or under .My other PC works well using the same phone line(HP desktop).
I tried with all of my know-how but was unable to solve this problem,I called Sony and was shocked when The on line Agent told me that if I needed any warranteed work on my computer,I would have to somehow send it to San Diego,CA (I am not sure who would pay for shipping cost).I live in Bay Area,about 400 miles away fr San Diego.I am quite dissappointed after I found out how Sony warranties its products .
If I ever buy Sony Products again,I would certainly look into purchasing an In-store-warranty ,which I know this means an additional cost of 10 to 20% to the purchased price and this is probably good for 3 years. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As the junior member of Sony's new Vaio PCV-RZ2 series of "Digital Studio" PCs, the Vaio PCV-RZ22G desktop offers solid performance and exceptional multimedia capabilities at a considerably more affordable price point than that of its power-packed siblings, the state-of-the-art PCV-RZ26G or the PCV-RZ24G.

If speed is what you crave, the Vaio PCV-RZ22G delivers. Outfitted with a fast 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of premium PC-2700 333 MHz DDR memory (expandable to 1 GB), and a 533 MHz bus, it's ready to blast through all but the most demanding applications. The system's graphics card, a TV tuner-equipped 64 MB nVidia GeForce4 MX440, will handle the vast majority of applications but may have some problems smoothly rendering ultrahigh-end 3-D games and drawing or animation packages.

When it comes to data storage and movement, Sony has left nothing to chance. The Vaio PCV-RZ22G is fitted with a large 80 GB 7,200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard disk for your frequently accessed programs and files, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive for older or smaller applications, and a combination DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play 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 also features a half-dozen high-speed USB 2.0 ports and front- and rear-mounted IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors.

The Vaio PCV-RZ22G features 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, and a handy Vaio Smart keyboard. Sony has not included a monitor, allowing you to use your current display or select from the many available alternatives. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great "Household" System
Have had for 6 months with no problems. Networked with 2 other home based PC (Compaq and home made). Can hook your TV cable onto back of Sony and watch all cable channels on your Flatscreen!
This system is a very good deal. Everything you would ever need , all in one packet!

Nice Machine - Sony Has No Customer Service Skills!
The Sony Vaio RZ22G is a nice system - with lots of software - DVD-RW/+RW / lots of ports / just about everything you might need. Except - hmmmm - the video software ... - Call Sony about a problem with it during the support period - and after an automated survey of questions - then someone that doesn't even know anything about the computer gets on the phone to help you - need I say more - you ask for a supervisor - they put an "expert" on the phone - and still nothing. SONY HAS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! If they did - with their nice machines - they would be good competition for the big guys - e.g. DELL -but - SONY HAS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE !!!

Solid machine, good performance, lots of ports
The P4 2.4B processor is really a 2.0Ghz processor in disguise. Because of the improved chipset, Intel sells it as a "2.4 Ghz" processor, I guess kind of like how AMD names their processors (i.e., "1800+", "2400+", etc.)

The RZ22G is designed to be a digital A/V (audio video) powerhorse, and it shines. The Sony DVD-R/RW/+R/RW burner (manufactured in Malaysia) is well integrated into the system, and you can use the Click-to-DVD program to burn your home-made DVDs quickly and painlessly. It also comes with Adobe Premiere LE which allows you to edit video clips. BTW, you can hook up MiniDV camcorders *as well as* RCA-connector analog devices, like 8mm camcorders, VCRs, etc. The included capture board can digitize the analog video.

[Sidenote: Most Sony MiniDV camcorders come with built-in digitizers so you can always use them as a conduit to capture videos from analog devices.]

The number of included ports is impressive. There are six USB 2.0 high-speed ports, with two in the front and four in the back. There are two IEEE 1394 ports, one 4-pin i.Link in the front and one 6-in regular IEEE 1394 in the back. You also get PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports as well as serial and parallel ports. Pretty much everything you need! The inclusion of MemoryStick slot and floppy drive (take note, Dell!) makes this a very complete system in terms of inputting information.

I always thought Sony was expensive, but they've been aggressively pricing their VAIO computers and they now represent pretty good values. You can get a Dell for cheaper, but not when you consider what Sony gives you: IEEE 1394, tons and tons of software, a large hard drive, a dual-format ("minus" and "plus") fast DVD burner. I've done a lot of configuration comparisons, and I think the RZ-series totally beats Dell and HP in terms of overall value.

Very pleased (so far)
I'm very pleased so far with this computer. You could easily spend a few hundred dollars more outfitting a stripped down Compaq or HP with the hardware and software extras that this one comes with. The features I like the most are the built-in cable TV tuner (a real space saver), and the ability to hook up to my analog camcorder (I haven't gone digital yet + I have tons of 8 mm tapes that I need to save before they crumble to oblivion). I've tried putting together a simple DVD from one of my tapes using Sony's Click to DVD software and everything's worked flawlessly. Although it is true that Click to DVD feature set is very basic, you do have an option to jazz up your video clips beforehand in Adobe Premier, the LE version of which comes preloaded on the machine .... ...

Sony should stick to TV's
I have been very disappointed with my new Sony Vaio. They advertise it as a media machine, however, it doesn't come with much of the software I needed. i.e. There is no Audio Capture software. The CD/DVD burning software is limited as to the number of formats it will burn.
However, most of my frustration has come from trying to get phone support from Sony. After a few hundred questions from the automated phone attendant and 30-40 minutes on hold, their support people seem to be less than knowledgeable and very disinterested in helping.
Bottom line: Buy a Dell! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio PCV-RZ54G 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 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 processor (with Hyper Threading technology), extra-large 200 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of installed memory. For an even more powerful Media Center, you can step up to the Sony Vaio PCV-RZ56G with a 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 processor, a 250 GB hard drive, and 1 GB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The massive 200 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 3.2 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-RZ54G comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB DDR SDRAM, 400 MHz)--a decent amount for starters, but you'll want to add more to take full advantage of the capabilities of Windows XP Media Center. The motherboard has a maximum memory expansion of 2 GB.
• CD/DVD Drive: The PCV-RZ54G 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. You can record and rewrite CDs at 24x speed (and read them at 32x). It also features a 16x DVD-ROM drive.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and mouse (with PS/2 connector).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The PCV-RZ54G 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 readerthat is compatible with CompactFlash (Type I/II), MicroDrive, Memory Stick, and Smaredia 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-RZ54G 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. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

As the high-end model in Sony’s "RS" series of Digital Studio Desktops, the Sony VAIO PCV-RS430G delivers everything a multimedia fan could want, including CD and DVD burning capabilities, television recording, and enough power for virtually any application. Gamers playing the most recent and most demanding 3-D titles may want to upgrade the graphics card, but most users should find the VAIO PCV-RS420 more than satisfactory.

Anchoring the unit is a powerful 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU with Hyper-Threading technology (Hyper-Threading is a new Intel-developed process that allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system -- thus boosting performance during key high-drain procedures such as multitasking). Sony has added 512 MB of fast PC2700 333 MHz DDR RAM and an ATI Radeon 9200 graphics card with 64 MB dedicated video memory and a DVI output for optimum connection with flat-panel LCD displays.

The VAIO PCV-RS430G features several data storage options, including a massive 120 GB 7200 RPM hard disk, a handy 3.5-inch diskette drive for smaller backups and older programs, and an extremely versatile DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters and turn your home movies into DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders, scanners and external drives, Sony has added seven high-speed USB 2.0 ports and two i.Link FireWire ports.

The unit also incorporates Sony’s proprietary Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder, an VCR-like application that converts television picture signals into MPEG2 data and thus allows users to record and later watch standard broadcast programming via the computer. Other desirable amenities include a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet connection for fast networking and Internet speeds, a low-speed v.90 modem, a pair of small desktop speakers, a user-friendly VAIO keyboard, and a PS/2 wheel mouse. A display screen is not enclosed, thus allowing you to utilize your current monitor or select from the many alternatives currently available. Bundled software includes Microsoft Works 7.0, Intuit Quicken 2003, and oodles of Sony multimedia utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great RS430G
Great Computer.

Giga Pocket is nice for recording right out of Cable outlet
(co-ax). Multiple recording modes/speeds (LP/SP/AVI).

Nice chip speed (2.8 ghz). Nice HD size (120 gb).
Great Sony added tools: Click to DVD, PictureGear Studio,
DVgate Plus, SonicStage & VAIO Media. Have not even begun to
use all yet, nor max out their capabilities.

DVD-RW/CD-RW...Superb.

512 Ram (exp to 2 gb).

ATI Radeon™ 9200 Video Card - 128MB Video Memory (128-bit DDR)
really rocks. Using for high-end Cadd softwares. Max'd it with
really large complex multi-featured assembly & it blew away
the high-end graphics card on my work desktop.

Nothing left to say. I am currently looking for a laptop now.

I will only look for Sony.

Extreme Disappointment
If you buy Sony Giga Pocket hoping to back up your "home video tapes" like the advertizing suggests, then you are in for an unpleasant surprise. This WILL NOT record anything that has copyright protection! So even if you own your VHS tapes, you are out of luck and may have wasted over a grand on the Sony computer. Sony doesn't make this clear, and they don't have the courtesy of acknowledging problems or comments on their help site. I have to be careful about the strength of my comments, or AMAZON will censure them! But this is a waste of money and much time!

Extremely pleased
I have 3 weeks with this computer and so far it has been awesome, no problems at all. Fast and quiet, you burn cd's very fast and acurate.It comes with lots of software.
After doing a lot of research I can proudly say I made the right choice. Only thing you may want to change are the speakers, and maybe a wireless mouse.
Giga pocket is amazing! I definitely recommend this desktop computer.

Best of all
This is the best computer I ever had. The Giga Pocket Technology rocks. No more VCR or second TV, DVD Player etc. in your bedroom. I think this is right direction for the convergence. You can watch cable tv, record and burn dvd. You can set the timer to record the TV programs and watch whenever you want. It comes with good software.

I am a proud owner of this computer.

Two thumbs up.

So far so good
Pros: I have been using this for a week with the default configuration and everything seems to work flawlessly. DVD burning is easy (though slow). Giga pocket recorder works good ( have not tried that remote yet, don't need it :)). All my software installed without problems. Speed is accpetable ( I am not a gamer). Speed is good enough to do video editing and photo manipulation and such. After owining a cheap compaq before; it seems like sony is more refined and has a lot less bugs. DVDs/CDs written with sony software play well on other devices.

Cons: 1. I have not tried it, but looks like it not intuitive to upgrade it ( Most of the reviewers bashing it have tried to install new graphics card or Xp professional or something like that.) 2. The included remote might be flaky based on reviews, so I am so far staying clear from it. 3. Does not ship with recovery CDs. You can burn one once you get it running which is what I did. But it would have been nice to have one shipped with it. It shouldn't cost sony that much! ( Not a big minus in my opinion)
4. It is best to lighten the load on the CPU while using Giga pocket explorer. Sometimes doing lot of things together with Giga can cause the system to freeze ( very infrequent so far) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sporting a distinctive style and color scheme and a design that liberates valuable desktop real estate from annoying cables and wires and clunky computer boxes, the Sony VAIO PCV-V200G is far removed from the typical PC. If space is an issue or if you merely need a computer that doubles as a television recorder and multimedia center, you may need look no further than the sleek VAIO PCV-V200G.

Unlike typical desktop computers, the VAIO PCV-V200G features an elegant all-in-one design that mates a 15-inch flat-panel LCD viewing screen, speakers and all internal components inside a single futuristic module. The system also includes a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, thereby freeing your working surface from even more clutter. Whether used in the office or in other rooms where its large 120 GB hard disk, DVD burner and convenient television recording software and facilities will quickly take the place of your VCR, the VAIO PCV-V200G is ready for the job.

Driven by a 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor and 512 MB of fast PC-2700 DDR RAM (expandable to 1 GB), the system offers lots of power for most any standard home, home office or business task. Its 3-D graphics controller, an integrated SiS 651 with 32 MB or shared (not dedicated) memory, will need to be upgraded or replaced if you have a serious gamer or 3-D designer in the household.

Included inside the VAIO PCV-V200G is a combination CD-RW/DVD-RW drive through which users can burn and play music compilations, archive data, enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters, and write recorded television programs or home videos to durable DVD media. The long list of connectivity amenities includes a 56K dial-up data/fax modem for low-speed e-communication, a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet interface for high-speed LAN and Internet access, four lightning quick USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, an IEEE 1394 FireWire interface for downloading data from devices such as DV camcorders, and a wide selection of state-of-the-art audio and video ports.

The exclusive bundled software package features Microsoft's ubiquitous Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft's Works 7.0 productivity suite, Intuit's Quicken 2004 financial center, and a very impressive array of near-professional-quality music, video and image creation and editing utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Nice machine for small spaces.
Everyone that sees my Vaio V-200G is immediately impressed with the stylish design. They're even more impressed when they learn that the compact monitor is ALL THERE IS to the entire system. Me and my friends stopped fighting over the television when I hooked this one up to cable. I also recorded my favorite shows and didn't worry about missing them due to work. The display is sharp and vivid. Hook up a surround sound speaker system to this and you'll have a nice theatre presentation while watching DVD movies.

Elegant, space saving solution
Our workstation area didn't allow a traditional pc setup with separate monitor & cpu. Our first thought for an upgrade from our aging laptop was an iMac, but we didn't want to deal with the change in operating system. This model very nicely filled our needs without taking up a ton of space. The wireless keyboard & mouse also go in a drawer when not in use, so the system takes up next to no space. Great little performer...

AVOID THIS SONY!
The product rating should be less than zero!

Have had two of this model in the last two months and both failed miserable. The motherboard developed serious problems on the first one very soon after bringing it home and the second lasted a few hours before the DVD/CD stopped operating. We bought the brand name, Sony. Now that name is one we will avoid. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Packed with power and bristling with state-of-the-art amenities, the Sony Vaio PCV-RZ14G desktop is one of the fastest and most capable preassembled, preconfigured computers currently available. This is a hot-rod machine all the way, from its muscular 2.53 GHz Pentium 4 processor to its massive 512 MB allotment of PC-2100 DDR RAM (expandable to 1 GB). If you’re in the market for a PC that’ll handle anything the immediate future might bring, the Vaio PCV-RZ14G is sure to please.

Sony has geared the unit to carve through even the most demanding multimedia and entertainment applications as easily as it handles day-to-day home office and business tasks. For the home movie, DVD, and music fan, the Vaio PCV-RZ14G is equipped with a combination DVD-RW/CD-RW drive rated at speeds of 24x/8x/4x (CD) and 4x/2x/1x (DVD). This handy single-bay drive will allow you to record and play music CDs, archive data, burn home movies onto digital media, and enjoy the latest cinematic releases. Gamers will love the smooth frame rates they’ll experience with the system’s 64 MB nVidia GeForce 4 graphics card, and MP3 aficionados will find the huge 7,200 rpm 120 GB hard drive big enough for even the most monstrous collection. A 3.5-inch floppy disk drive is also included for older or smaller programs and files.

The Vaio PCV-RZ14G sports a wealth of connection interfaces and devices, including a VGA/DVI monitor port, digital audio optical port, headphone-in, S-video ins and outs, proprietary Memory Stick Media Slot, a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet connection and integrated V.90 modem, and various analog audio jacks. Anyone who transfers particularly large amounts of data (such as DV camcorder footage) will appreciate the unit’s half-dozen high-speed USB 2.0 ports and dual IEEE 1394 interfaces. Sony has not packaged the impressive Vaio PCV-RZ14G with a viewing screen, allowing users to make their own selection from the numerous choices currently available.

To help get you started, Sony has included Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Intuit Quicken 2002, Adobe Premiere LE, Sony’s own Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder, and an assortment of music, video, and photo applications. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Sony Did its Name Justice
This is the top of the top of the line. It is a rather impressive machine. The features are nothing short of top shelf. Go down the list; optical sound output, DVD-R/RW drive, TV capture ability (forget about Tivo), video editing, it goes on and on.

You can do just about anything you want with this machine. Almost anything you would ever need is on board. I do wish that they used the "TI" video card series from NVIDIA as opposed to the "MX," but that would add at least another hundred dollars to the price tag (Oh well). The included software is pretty nice; Adobe Premier and Giga Pocket are both pretty sweet. The DVD creation features and software are easy and rather nice. You can edit home movies right on the PC. You can even digitize you favorite TV show and save it to the huge 120 gigabyte hard drive, or you can save a couple episodes of whatever show and then burn them to a DVD. It is remarkably slow at rewriting DVDs when you have a RW in the drive. But, there are few DVD-RW that rewrite at more than 1x or 2x.

You might have some sound-related bugs, XP is notorious for sound related issues. There are needed XP patches, and perhaps some Sony patches too (I can't remember, I had a coworker deal with the minor bugs). All are free from the respective manufacturers.

For the Sony buffs out there with Sony digital cameras or Clie palm organizers, this machine has a memory stick reader right on the front to make your lives a bit easier. It is nice for all things that use Sony Memory Stick. You can save a battery cycle in your camera if you use the reader as opposed to the USB.
There is USB 2.0, Firewire (1394), and multiple other ways to get information to and from this machine. It is, in my opinion, one of the finest pieces of equipment that Sony has ever released in its Vaio series. It is a pricey computer, but realize, you are getting the top of the line kind of machine.

epc

A complete video/graphic package!
The RZ14G system is my latest computer system in my networked home. I've been home-brewing PCs for years and got tired of the headache side of the support equation. It was fun, but enough is enough. So I bought this one as my first OEM system in years. Fantastic! Why did I select this one? P4 2.53GHz. 120GB drive. 512MB fast RAM. Lots of software included for just what I will using it for, digital video editing (ballroom dance videos, family stories, etc.) A good, complete solution to my current home computer wants (and needs...sheesh!)

After setting up the system and connecting my network, it worked right away. Fast and to the point, great! After downloading a few updates to current software, I ran some benchmarks (graphics, RAM speed, etc.) This machine is ranking very high on every scale.

The GeForce4 MX card looks great with digital video, Tribes2 and Unreal Tournament, with nice FPS performance. The internal sound card is a Yamaha device, so it'll do for awhile until I upgrade to a Creative Audigy card. As for the PC's own speed when doing video capturing and graphics, this PC has all the gozintas and gozoutas I need! I shoot using miniDV, so the iLink ports are great and fast. I added another 80GB HDD to acccommodate my video capturing, saving the D: 95GB partition for production copies. As for the included software with this system, MS Office would've been nice, but the Wordperfect Suite is very complete and fully functional. Sony included Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 and Premiere 6.0 LE, a great compliment to what I bought this system for, to edit videos and make DVDs! I added Premiere 6.5 to the mix and it is now very fast and very functional.

When I saw this system at a local store, I pondered buying another Sony. My other Sony, their older TRV9 miniDV camera, -never- gave me problems. Would their computer systems do the same? After going online for reviews, I found -very- few negatives. Great!

If I had only one problem, it would be the lack of technical information on their Giga Pocket personal video recorder system. It covers a lot of ground and having the docs online only just makes it that much more difficult to "put it all together" and use all of it. But the docs online are good and the system DOES work!

Am I happy with this system? Yes! Is there room to grow with it? Yes!

terrible.
man i thought this computer was good times when my father first bought one... for about 4 months. then i became technicaly competent and discovered that the power supply is a TURD, the graphics card was an easy replacement (on the grounds that it blows), and the dvd-rw is god awful. save a few hundred and buy sonys 21" crt and make a custom from tigerdirect...

i wish i could rate 0.

FIRE!!!!!!!!
This computer started burning out of the power box! After that It crashed and would not turn back on. Good thing I was home at the time. It could have set my house on FIRE. I sent it back to sony and they sent it back to me in a short time with a free hand held computer(that I never use). The computer has never ran the same since. Anytime I work on large programs It crashes. I sent It back and they did some work on it. But, it wasn't long after that I was having more crashing and burning odors. I would like Sony to just give ME A NEW COMPUTER!!!!

OK, I Fell in Love with Its Look but Great Customer Service
I bought this computer on impulse-- stupid, huh? But I thought it looked really sharp on display so I got the last one on the shelf and toted it home.

Two months later the power source died. I went to the Sony website in a far from concilatory mood. By the time I finished with the CS rep I was almost happy. Ok, I was a lot less unhappy. It was a known problem. They sent me a box to mail it back in (postage paid). I had my computer back in four days. They extended the warranty for two years and I got a free handheld in the mail about a week later. (Oh, yeah, and I could have got a refund of the total price.)

Nice job, Sony. ... 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-RX752 desktop computer is built to please. With a furiously fast processor, massive hard drive, and support for both CD playback and DVD recording, the Vaio PCV-RX752 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 GHz P4 chip with 512 KB of Level 2 cache. Sony has matched this extremely potent CPU with 512 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-RX752 offers far more than raw power. The system features an exceptional variety of data storage and media options, including a large 80 GB hard disk. Users can burn and play DVDs, play audio CDs, and archive massive quantities of data on the unit's combination DVD-RW/CD-ROM drive. They may even use the integrated TV tuner and MPEG2 real-time encoder/decoder to watch and record television broadcasts.

Fittingly, the Vaio PCV-RX752 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-RX752 desktop is a wise choice. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good balance of price, performance, and features
This is a fair price for a system this feature rich and powerful, but I would suggest looking at the cheaper 750 if you value price a little more than performance. If you are a major performance nut then Sony is probably not your brand. It is more a balance of performance, price and lots of cool extras. Dell or Gateway are better values for performance junkies but they don't have the extras that Sony does so well at.

This is not the fastest P4 system on the market but it is one of the better mid-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 decent 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. AMD has fallen about a year behind Intel and is desperately trying to catch up, so I would mark them off my list till mid 2003.

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

Memory: The ... review has this wrong. This system comes with 512M 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.

FSB: 400Mhz not 533MHz (ignore what the ... review state). ... seems to have trouble with getting a few facts right on this line of Sonys. 533 would be great but 400 is fine and cost less. This is a concern only for power users.

Grapics: Sis Integrated "Real256" - Not a Nvidia chip (despite what the ... 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 (something I find disappointing in this price range). 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.

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

Targeting multimedia fans, the Sony VAIO PCV-RS310 Desktop with its built-in CD and DVD burning capabilities and generous audio-video software package, delivers strong processing power and solid general performance at a reasonable price. Businesspeople and serious gamers will either want to look elsewhere or perform after-purchase upgrades, but most home users with a penchant for music, movies, and photos should find the VAIO PCV-RS310 quite satisfactory.

Anchoring the unit is a 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU. This is a relatively fast desktop processor, but Sony has opted to moderate the end price by pairing it with a minimal allotment of 256 MB PC-2100 266 MHz DDR RAM (upgradeable to 1 GB) and an Intel 845GV Integrated Graphics chipset with 64 MB shared (not dedicated) memory. Though the unit will handle all 2-D and some 3-D tasks, it won't do the latest games or breeze through instances of heavy multitasking.

Sony has equipped the VAIO PCV-RS310 with an adequate 80 GB 7200 hard disk, a 3.5-inch diskette drive, and an extremely versatile DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters and turn your home movies into DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders and cameras, scanners and external drives, the system also features four high-speed USB 2.0 ports and two i.Link (FireWire) ports, one on the rear and another at the front.

The VAIO PCV-RS310 features numerous other amenities, including a VGA monitor port, two PS/2 ports, a pair of entry-level speakers, a user-friendly VAIO keyboard, and a PS/2 wheel mouse. Sony has not included a monitor, thus allowing you to utilize your current display or select from the many alternatives currently available.

Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 7.0, Intuit Quicken 2003, and oodles of Sony's own multimedia utilities. ... Read more

Product Description

No messy wires, no large box to hide - the entire V310P takes up about the same space as a 15" monitor. Combined with great computing performance, the V310P is the height of versatility and style. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

One of the most trusted names in electronics, Sony is into computers in a very big way. Its lineup consists of a broad range of desktop systems, each geared to slightly different needs and budgets. With the Vaio PCV-RX860 desktop, Sony offers near-cutting-edge performance at a slightly more affordable price than its top-of-the-line models.

Built to suit all but the most demanding computer users, the Vaio PCV-RX860 features a fast 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of PC-2100 DDR RAM (upgradable to 1.5 GB!), and a speedy 533 MHz front-side bus. In plain English, this capable computer will make quick work of virtually any task except for the most intensive 3-D games. Hard-core gamers should look at either upgrading the system’s graphics processor or purchasing a more appropriate Vaio, such as the PCV-RZ16G.

The Vaio PCV-RX860 offers a variety of data storage, backup, and transfer options. Apart from its large 80 GB hard drive and 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, the unit features a handy DVD-RW/CD-R drive for recording and playing music CDs, archiving files, burning home movies onto digital video media, and enjoying the latest Hollywood blockbusters. To make all these operations even easier, Sony has included a PS2 wheel mouse and a Vaio Smart keyboard, the latter of which incorporates numerous convenient multimedia and Internet hotkeys.

The system bristles with connectivity options, including six high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug-and-play peripherals such as joysticks and external CD burners, an IEEE 1394 interface for out-board devices such as DV camcorders, a proprietary Memory Stick Media Slot, a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet interface, and an integrated V.90 modem. Sony has not included a viewing screen, allowing users to make their own selection from the numerous traditional and ultrathin LCD models on the market. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Horrible modem problems - 2nd machine, five reloads -broken!
Horrible problems. Can't use the modem to get to the internet.
Not with MSN, not with AOL... Customer support said
reload/rebuild, still didn't work. Comp USA gave us a replacement, which had the identical problem. A few rebuilds later, I'm still wondering if I'll ever get to the internet.

Decent, not the best though
The RX860 and RX850 are the two latest desktops in Sony's "digital studio" lineup. The RX860 actually has a 2A GHz CPU, which coupled with the 533MHz frontside bus, is marketed as a 2.4 GHz machine. A marketing ploy? Misleading claim (and worthy of a class action suit)?

Of course, I doubt a real-world user would actually notice the speed difference, esp. since this machine is under-powered compared to similar offerings from competitors such as Gateway and Dell. Sure, it has USB 2 and IEEE 1394 ports, but the 80GB (1GB=1000MB) hard disk feels slow and sounds noisy at times. The video as shipped is built-in and uses memory shared from the main RAM (up to 64MB). There is one AGP slot, but only 3 PCI slots, one of which is already taken up by the modem. The CD-RW part of the DVD-RW/CD-RW drive is only 8/4/24, excruciatingly slow compared to today's common 20-24/8-16/40-48 drives that cost no more than $[money] (internal versions).

In short, this is a solid machine for home users, and it does have a few nice multimedia features such as Sony's own "Click to DVD" DVD-authoring software. Having owned 6 Sony computers (not all by choice, though), I don't have much high esteem for their software. And this computer comes with Wordperfect suite... a total joke. I recommend you take a look at solid offerings from Dell, Gateway and also HP before you decide.

Just great.
This is the best Sony I've reviewed, again gaining high marks for its value. Doubling its predecessor's DDRAM to 512 megs and adding 6 2.0 USB ports makes this machine's specs good enough as shipped to make 95% of the PC market happy. The other 5% (myself included) would like to have a true game-ready, 64 megs (or higher!) of video RAM. Perhaps most appealing is the included DVD recorder drive, which allows you to take your home movies, downloaded movies, pictures, or even photos you've taken and make your own movie collections on disc. Unfortunately, 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 I'd be happy to have "as is" for anything but interactive Internet gaming or CAD.

Great machine for a great price
I just bought this computer two weeks ago (an upgrade from a 5yr old Aptiva), and I could not be happier. I did a lot of research and the Sony Vaio came up as the number one computer on my list.

It come bundled with a whole bunch of software for editing video and audio, and for creating music CD's and DVD's - and it all works so well together. Now I can transfer home movies to DVD - so easy and the quality is much better then VHS. Especially if you have a Digital camcorder - like a MiniDV.

Plus, other Sony equipment (MiniDV cameras, Clie PDA's, digital cameras, etc.) can be plugged directly in to the computer using the i.Link (IEEE 1394) cable or the Memory Stick Media Slot for seamless transfer of data (pictures and movies).

The only downside is that some video games may not look all that great with the included graphics card (32MB SIS651 Integrated Graphics with Real256), they will all play fine but not at the highest game graphics settings. So for the avid gamer I would suggest buying a graphics card (there are 2 PCI and 1 AGP slots available).

Again, high marks for Sony on a well made computer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Whether you’re into movies, graphics, 3-D animation, DVD video recording, the latest computer games, or all of the above, Sony’s ultrapowerful Vaio PCV-RZ16G desktop has you covered, with plenty of room to spare.

Built to suit even the most demanding computer users, the Vaio PCV-RZ16G sports one of the very fastest CPUs currently available, the 2.66 GHz Pentium 4. Sony has paired this scorching processor with a whopping 1 GB of PC-2100 DDR RAM (upgradable to 1.5 GB), a speedy 533 MHz system bus, and a 64 MB nVidia GeForce 4MX400 graphics card. Factor in the unit’s half-dozen high-speed USB 2.0 ports and dual IEEE 1394 interfaces and you have a seriously capable machine ready to blaze through business and entertainment applications just as easy as it downloads, uploads, and manipulates footage from your DV camcorder.

With the Vaio PCV-RZ16G, data storage and movement ceases to be a problem. In addition to its massive 120 GB 7,200 rpm hard drive, the unit features a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive. To make all these operations even easier, Sony has included a PS2 wheel mouse and a Vaio Smart keyboard, the latter of which includes numerous convenient multimedia and Internet hotkeys. They’ve also included a CD-RW/DVD-R combo drive, through which you can record and play music CDs, archive data, burn home movies onto digital video media, and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

The Vaio PCV-RZ16G sports a wealth of connection interfaces and devices, including a VGA/DVI monitor port, digital audio optical port, headphone-in, S-video ins and outs, proprietary Memory Stick Media Slot, a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet connection and integrated V.90 modem, and various analog audio jacks. Sony has not included a viewing screen, allowing users to make their own selection from the numerous choices available. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If your budget dictates an entry-level PC but you want more power, versatility and reliability than you might find in a no-name bargain basement unit, check out Sony's VAIO PCV-RX755 Desktop. Though it won't burn DVDs or efficiently play 3-D games in its stock configuration, the VAIO PCV-RX755 will easily handle most day-to-day home and home office computing and won't force you to pay for more power than you may ever need.

Rather than fitting the VAIO PCV-RX755 with a pricey state-of-the-art processor, Sony has selected a cost-effective yet relatively powerful 2.0 GHz Pentium 4. This capable CPU delivers plenty of raw muscle for general tasks such as word processing, finances and Internet browsing. Sony has added a generous alloent of 512 MB memory to assure strong performance during complex procedures such as multitasking. The system's 3-D graphics engine, an SIS650 chipset with 32 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory, simply doesn't have enough oomph for the latest 3-D games or animation, but should suffice for less demanding 3-D tasks. It should also be noted that this machine, like most desktops, is upgradeable.

The VAIO PCV-RX755 features several data storage options, including a midsize 60 GB hard disk, a handy 3.5-inch diskette drive for smaller backups and older programs, and a multipurpose DVD/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. The system does not permit DVD burning. Nor does it include an IEEE 1394 port (normally used for fast data transfer from devices such as digital camcorders) or high-speed USB 2.0 facilities. Instead, Sony has furnished three USB 1.1 ports for slower but dependable data movement to and from most plug and play peripherals.

Other desirable amenities include a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet connection for fast Internet and network communication, a low-speed dial-up 56K modem, a user-friendly VAIO Smart keyboard, a PS/2 mouse with convenient scroll wheel, and a pair of small desktop speakers. A display screen is not enclosed, thus allowing you to utilize your current monitor or select from the many alternatives currently available.

Bundled software includes the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Intuit's Quicken 2002 Basic financial center, and a wide range of Sony's own multimedia utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pretty good
This is a great computer. I got mine for christmas, and I am very happy with it. The hard drive is a great size, processor is pretty good, and the memory is great (512) I have only 3 complaints. The first is the partition. The factory settings give the C: drive only 15 gigs, and the rest is given to the partition. This isn't a problem yet, but the usable size of C: is about 11 gigs. A few newer games will fill this shortly. The only way to change this setup is to reformat the hard drive. The second is the video card, which although solid, isn't that great. The third is Corel Wordperfect. I am simply not a fan of this software, but some may not mind. Overal this system delivers great bang for the buck

A Good Buy
I was looking to upgrade my PC to a new one that featured cutting edge technology, at a reasonable price. I would say this Sony definitely fits the bill. The 2.0 Ghz Pentium 4 performs considerably fast, you have 512 DDR RAM at your disposal, and the 60GB hard drive is more than enough space to last me a while. The entire system is solid, I just wish it included USB 2.0 slots, but that probably won't be a problem for most users. Also, the graphics card is nothing spectacular, but only hardcore gamers wil probably notice/care. Sony makes a good product, all in all it is a good value and I highly recommend it.

Value for Money
Its an excellent value for money. Excellent performance, good memory both storage and runtime. Its has got all one needs for personal use . I think its a good buy ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Along with its slightly less powerful siblings, the VAIO PCV-W10 and PCV-W20, Sony's inventive VAIO PCV-W30 represents a bright new look for desktop PCs. In contrast to the bulky multi-component setup of traditional PCs, the VAIO PCV-W30 sports a sleek all-in-one fold-open design that more closely resembles a notebook. Fashionable, futuristic and very easy to setup and use, Sony's latest PC will appeal to those with limited space and an eye for style.

It won't, however, set any speed records. Driven by a 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor and 512 MB of fast PC-2100 DDR RAM (expandable to 1 full GB), the VAIO PCV-W30 offers solid but unspectacular performance. The unit's graphics chipset, a 32 MB SiS 651, will handle most common tasks but is not recommended for anyone who deals primarily with 3-D graphics or dabbles in 3-D games.

Included inside the VAIO PCV-W30 is a combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive through which users can burn and play music compilations and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Movie buffs in particular will appreciate the integrated 15.3-inch LCD display, especially for its DVD-friendly 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. Music aficionados can store MP3s on the large 80 GB hard drive and play CDs through the integrated stereo speakers even when the unit is closed.

Sony has enhanced the VAIO PCV-W30 with a variety of welcome amenities, including a V.90 data/fax modem for low-speed e-communication, a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet interface for high-speed LAN and Internet access, three lightning quick USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, dual IEEE 1394 FireWire interfaces for outboard devices such as DV camcorders, and a hassle-free optical mouse. The keyboard is of particular interest, as it quickly folds up and out of the way to keep your desk free of clutter.

Pre-installed software includes Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 7.0, Microsoft Age of Empire 2, and an impressive array of music, video and image editing utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Right out of the box
This Sony PC worked right out of the box. I just plugged it in and started using it. The ports are easy to find and use, although it does not support older legacy (non-USB) peripherals. It is a very elegant looking machine, and the screen resolution is superb. My only complaints are a smallish keyboard and weak sounding speakers. You can connect aftermarket speakers and keyboard, of course.

Excellent for college
Well, I was debating whether to get a laptop or a desktop for college, and then I came across this computer. It's sort of a hybrid between the two and came with many nice features at a decent price. This computer has given me no problems and has been very convient and easy to use. I recommend it for people with little space or who just want a computer that looks cool.

Great Computer, Great Value
I just picked my Vaio W30 up a few days ago and it is great. I think it is being marketed as a PC for people who don't know much about computers but as someone who is familiar with computers and technology, I really loved the size, the look, the functionality and the price. At 1600 dollars this is a gerat deal. Only drawback is that it does not come packaged with Office or anything which kind of sucks if you don't own Office already and have to pay another 400 bucks for it (like I do). Basically I use my personal computer for music, movies, iPod, digital camera, internet, Word and Excel. This is ample computer for that. 512 MB of RAM...as an average computer user you can't possibly need more than that. 2GHz processor, there are faster computers out there but really ask yourself if you need it. You probably don't unless you're doing graphic design or lots of intense digital movie editing. The screen is gorgeous and I am very pleasantly surprised by the speaker quality. Although I am hooking mine up to different speakers, these speakers are more than sufficient for a casual user. This is, as advertised, easy to set up. Plug in the mouse, plug in the computer and you're all set. My favorite aspect is the fact that on the side you have 2 USB 2.0 ports (there is a separate mouse port), 2 FireWire connections, a digital memory stick...this computer is made for the person with lots of gadgets.
I'd say the pros are all listed above (price, small size, functionality) and the cons are: inability to upgrade this (although for a casual user or a college student, etc. this will last for several years) and the lack of quality bundled software.
I truly recommend this for different types of people. It is great for young people who want a hip looking multi-media capable computer. It is great for first-time PC users b/c of it's simple design and streamlined approach. Sony is a good company (I'd buy from them directly though rather than here and get the 2 year warranty) and they've made a great computer. Buy it knowing you are getting a wonderful computer for a tremendous price. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio PCV-RS100 desktop is not the fastest PC on the market. It is, however, a strong multimedia performer. Packed with all the tools you need for making movies, music, or videos, the Vaio PCV-RS100 "Digital Studio" should warrant serious consideration from budget-conscious, home-based directors and producers.

Driven by a 2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 256 MB of PC-100 DDR memory, and an integrated 64 MB Intel 845GL Extreme Graphics chipset, the system delivers satisfactory power. It is not recommended for heavy-duty multitasking or high-end 3-D games and drawing packages, but should quite easily handle most typical desktop applications, including multimedia.

In this regard, Sony has equipped the Vaio PCV-RS100 with a sizable 60 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard disk and a convenient DVD-RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters, and create your own DVDs. To ensure fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders and cameras, scanners, and external drives, the system also features four high-speed USB 2.0 ports and front- and rear-mounted IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors.

The Vaio PCV-RS100 features numerous other amenities, including a VGA monitor port, two PS/2 ports, a pair of freestanding stereo speakers, a user-friendly Vaio Smart keyboard, and a PS/2 wheel mouse. Sony has not included a monitor, allowing you to use your current display or select from the many available alternatives. Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, Intuit Quicken 2003, and a small assortment of midlevel multimedia utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Got a better deal !!
...The computer is fast enough for most things, but I added 256K more RAM and the performance has improved tremendously, so much so that I am planning to add another 512K for a total of 1G.

I do not like the fact that the second drive is only a CD-ROM. I am thinking of taking it out and putting in a 40X CD-R drive, since the write speeds on the DVD-R/CD-R r hopelessly slow, being, 1X and 8X respectively. This is most inexcusable !!

But aside from these issues, the model is very well built and designed with quality written all over it. And the price is very hard to beat.

I got it Cheaper
I bought this pc yesterday from Circuit City and am not disapointed. I was a little disapointed with Circuit City's customer service, I had to go to three stores to get all the items I purchased, but the pc is awesome. It was pretty much plug-n-play right out of the box. The click to DVD software is mostly automatic with very little effort to hook up my video camera to the PC (the cables do not come with the PC). You won't be let down by its performance. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Vaio Slimtop is a largely unremarkable system. Its price is higher than average for desktops as a whole. The product also includes a 1 GHz Pentium III chip, 128 MB of RAM (expandable to 512 MB), a 40 GB hard disk, a 32x (read), 8x (write), 4x (rewrite) CD-RW drive, a SIS 630 hardware acceleration graphics card, 56K modem, and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network card. The system comes with Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) installed, making it suitable for home and consumer users but less than optimal for technical and professional users who might want the superior security and reliability of Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Microsoft Word 2000 word-processing software is included as well. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Beware of product
You will enjoy it, but not for long. I know at least a dozen of stories (mine included of course) of users who had problems either with black lines or lots of dead pixels on the monitor and also with their hard drives.
If you want to draw digital style, you better get a professional pen tablet for a quarter of the cost of this computer that Sony just pretends never existed and ignores buyers complains.

Reliability and service problems
I would echo the words to the wise from another reviewer here. I too bought a Slimtop. After 10 months the CDRW started acting up. I rang the Sony helpline, and from the voice prompt entered the model id, whereupon the voice system told me that it was out of warranty. Note - not just my machine, about which this voice system knew nothing (unless Sony are cleverer than their consumer products of course ;-), but the *entire model* was deemed out of warranty. And there was no way I could get through the system to a human being to discuss my problem. So I wrote them an e-mail describing this voice system weirdness, and my actual hardware problem. That was six months agho. Of course, I am still waiting for a response. So, my word to the wise is : if reliability or service are criteria in your purchasing decision, avoid Sony like the plague, because you will be on your own.

not a good buy
This computer was obviously meant to appeal to those who are completely clueless about computers. My mom bought this computer i think because it looked nice. The parts are of poor quality, especially the video card, and you could buy a system with similar specifications without the LCD for about one third of the price. I have found no way to upgrade most of the parts, because they are non-standard, and I have not been able to get through to tech support. When i phone the line goes dead and when I e-mail i get an error. It's obvious Sony doesn't put much care or attention into their tech support.

reliability & 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.

Sony VIAO Pen Tablet
This computer is really good judging but it's average Pentium 3 processor. It can be a fun computer with it's Pent Tablet feature. This computer is very compact so you dont have to use up a whole desk. I like this computers features too (Memory Stick, CDRW/DVD combo, 40GB Hard Drive, and Mmovie Shaker) It's just a good computer for your money. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony Vaio PCV-RZ30GN2 Digital Studio desktop PC has the power and technology to become the centerpiece of your home entertainment setup. Featuring Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder, you can watch live TV and record shows for playback when you want it--you even get a remote control. It also features a 2.4 GHz Hyper-Threaded Pentium 4 processor, combo DVD-RW/CD-RW drive, a bevy of external connectors (including USB 2.0 and FireWire), an 80 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB Ultra DMA hard drive offers a decent amount of storage for all your documents, digital photos, and MP3 collection, but it is smaller than what is offered with the latest PCs.
• Processor: A 2.4 GHz Intel 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) powers the PCV-RZ30GN2 which offers more than enough speed for gaming and multimedia creation. It also has an 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 1 MB L2 cache.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (333 MHz, 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 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: This desktop PC comes with a combo CD-RW and DVD-RW drive (for writing data and video files from your camcorder to discs). The CD-RW has 8x write, 4x rewrite, and 32x read speeds. The DVD-RW drive has 2x write, 1x rewrite, and 12x read speeds. It is not compatible with DVD+RW discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and mouse (with PS/2 connector).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get a wide range of connectivity options with the PCV-RZ30GN2 (including a floppy disk drive), such as three PCI expansion slots (one available), one 8x AGP (accelerated graphics port, occupied) slot and the following external ports:

• 8 USB 2.0 ports (4 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 RGB monitor port
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 line-in jack

Preloaded System and Software
The PCV-RZ30GN2 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
It measures 7.7 x 15.4 x 15 (W x H x D) and weighs 26.5 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCV-RZ30GN2 desktop PC, power cable, keyboard, and mouse. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase.

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. ... Read more