Product Description

Cutting-Edge Sony Style & Performance! Intel Pentium 4 3GHz HT Technology Processor! 512MB of DDR RAM, 200GB SATA HDD, DVD+/-RW Dual-Layer Burner! The Sony VAIO VGC-RB30 desktop is ready for your digital lifestyle. Loaded with exclusive Sony software, the VAIO VGC-RB30 will be able to support and grow with your expanding multimedia demands and essential computing needs. Versatile and empowering, the VGC-RB30 lets you create, manage, share and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies and music. The massive 200GB Serial-ATA hard drive and 512MB of DDR memory ensure you never run out of room to expand your collection of memories. It's also loaded with software and hardware to help you create professional quality DVDs and CDs with up to 8.5GB recording capacity using advanced DVD+/-RW Dual-Layer technology and Sony Click to DVD software. The sleek design of the VAIO VGC-RB30 will integrate easily into any room, adding style without clutter. Ready for your creativity. The Sony VAIO VGC-RB30 desktop comes loaded with the tools you need to create, manage, share and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies and music. Intuitive and versatile, the VGC-RB30 is ready for your digital lifestyle. The power to create professional-quality DVDs is at your fingertips with the Sony Click to DVD creation software. Create or record up to 8.5GB of home videos, movies, TV shows, music or digital photos – up to 4 hours of MPEG-2 video – on one Dual-Layer DVD disc. ... Read more

Product Description

Superior FeaturesUnbelievable Value

eMachines Internet Security Shield
Protect your new computer from the unknown with pre-installed Norton Internet Security 2005 (Anti-Virus, Anti-Spam, Firewalland Parental Control), McAfee Anti-Spyware, and eMachines BigFix® software to solve problems before they arise.

Burn, Rip, Backup
Easily create photo slide shows and burn CDs or DVDs with the pre-installed Nero 6 software. With the Double Layer 16x DVD+/-RW store up to 8.5GB of your favorite video, music, photos or data. Enjoy the smoothest and brightest playback of DVDs and a powerful audio experience with CyberLink’sPowerDVD™ software.

ProductivityRight Out of the Box
Read and edit Word and Excel documents and view PowerPointpresentations with Microsoft® Works 8 software. Your finances,your wayfast and hassle-free with Microsoft® Money 2005.

Optical Drive Speeds:
This model features one optical drive:

• a Dual Layer DVD+/-RW drive
  • Create a Double Layer DVD+R at a maximum 4X Write speed
  • Create a DVD-R at a maximum 16X Write speed or a maximum 6X Rewrite speed
  • Create a DVD+R at a maximum 16X Write speed or a maximum 8X Rewrite speed
  • Play a DVD at a maximum 16X Read speed
  • Create a CD-Rom at a maximum 40X Write speed
  • Create a CD-RW at a maximum 24X Rewrite speed
  • Play a CD-Rom at a maximum 40X Read speed

Reviews (1)

Missing critical information
The system is regular, normal I would say for any kid who is not looking for cutting edge games.
My biggest complain is that HP made this computer just for Windows XP Home edition. After installing Professional edition you will end up with no sound and may be some thing else. There are not drivers for this system if you change OS, basically you can not upgrade computer.
... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Ultra-affordable but lacking the power and perks of a mid- or high-level unit, the HP Pavilion a210n Desktop PC is built for folks who don't want or don't need to drop a lot of dough on state-of-the-art equipment. Distinct from the entry-level Pavilion a200n by virtue of its larger hard disk and DVD playing capabilities, the Pavilion a210n won't appease those who constantly strain their computer with processor-intensive applications or the latest 3-D games, but is otherwise a solid choice for the budget-conscious user.

At the heart of the Pavilion a210n lies a 2.5 GHz Intel Celeron processor. HP has matched this budget-conscious CPU with 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM, an integrated Intel Extreme graphics chipset with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) memory, and a surprisingly large 80 GB hard disk. Other data handling tools include a 3.5-inch diskette drive for older or smaller applications and backup needs, a CD-RW drive through which you can play and burn audio CDs and archive information, and a DVD-ROM drive for watching movies.

The Pavilion a210n package does not include a display or speakers, nor does it feature an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (normally used for fast data movement to and from external devices such as digital camcorders). It is equipped with a half dozen high-speed USB 2.0 ports for speedy interaction with plug and play peripherals, a two-button PS/2 scrolling mouse and a convenient HP Multimedia keyboard. Connectivity options include a low-speed 56K modem and a 10/100Base-T networking interface for high-speed e-communications.

The impressive bundled software package features such useful applications as WordPerfect Productivity Pack 2002, WordPerfect 10 and Quattro Pro 10, Intuit Quicken New Users Edition, InterVideo's WinDVD DVD player, and the Windows XP Home Edition operating system. ... Read more

Product Description

Take a good look at eMac. What's not to like? All-in-one design, plug-and-play simplicity, great performance and an affordable price tag: you get everything you need to work, learn and play, right out of the box.You will appreciate eMac with a Combo drive, which lets you read DVDs and read, write and burn CDs. And you'll find lots of ways to enjoy your all-in-one digital hub. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A good machine... with its share of small problems
Got this new 1.42 GHz eMac a week ago.I won't tell you all the advantages of switching from PC to Mac (stable OS, no viruses, free softwares...) as they are well known.Instead, I'll start with the little annoyances.Don't get me wrong : I really like my new eMac and wouldn't trade it for a cheap PC, but there are a few tiny problems here and there... And tiny problems are always what you notice first.Let's just see the small things Apple should change to make the PC to Mac transition less annoying.

The first thing I noticed once the (heavy) computer was out of the box is the cable Apple is giving to plug your modem to your phone line.It's about one foot long, too short to ever use it.Why are they giving this useless thing ? Give a proper one (at least a few feet long) or just give nothing.It's not very important, but this little copper wire is a fine example of the "cutting around the edges" method Apple is unfortunately using more and more.

One of the reasons I chose a Mac is GarageBand, part of the ILife line of softwares included with every Apple computer.I took a cheap microphone to test this award-winning application, plugged it in the line in jack... and nothing happened.The reason : the line in is not powered (it doesn't give the electricity the microphone needs to work), so the mike wasn't working.What does it mean ? It means that you'll have to buy something like an Imic, a device using an electrified USB entry as a "real" line in or mic in on your computer.The line in works great with any electrified (or pre-amplified) machine (as a walkman to transfer your songs from tape to CD, etc.) but still, a fully working line/mike in is available on any PCs and should be there.And what's the difference in the manufacturing cost Apple ? 50 cents ? But if you're a serious musician, or if you just wanna record a few songs in your spare time, you'll need to get some USB devices anyway, whatever the system you're using.

Talknig about sound, the Harman Kardon speakers previously used on the eMac are now gone.The speakers Apple is now putting instead are not very good.Not very loud neither.Even a cheap PC has better sounding ones, or at least louder sounding ones, so it tells a lot.As said, the volume is not very loud (in fact, it seems to vary from an application to another), and if you crank it to the (very ridiculous) max, you'll see waves in your screen, resulting from the interference produced by the speakers on the very near screen. Only positive point : there's a bit more bass on these speakers than you'll get on most free PC speakers.

A strange one.I was thinking about getting an IPod Shuffle, both as a MP3 player and memory device.But guess what ? You can't plug the Shuffle on an eMac without a USB extension cable! There's not enough space to plug the shuffle in a USB 2.0 port on the Mac (the USB 1 ports on the keyboard are not sufficently electrified).Two Apple products! I know, the Shuffle wasn't existing when they designed the eMac, but still...

All these things (and a few others) are very minor problems on an overall very nice computer... except for the one button mouse... Very reliable, lots of options and configuration possibilities, strange but cool Space Odyssey design, excellent line of softwares included, more than sufficient G4 processor, nice 16 inches viewable flat screen. real graphic card (64 MB), adware-spyware and viruses free, firewall included (activate it!) and an overall excellent machine for the price (considering that it's an always more expensive than it should be Apple product).If you're a student with a small budget (like I am) and/or you doesn't need the G5's muscle, this is the way to go.The small problems described above keeps the eMac out of perfection, but still, I give it a very strong four stars. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The BasicsHardcore gamers and people who absolutely must have the most power and finest state-of-the-art amenities that money can buy will want to check out other PCs such as the Sony VAIO VGC-RA826G Digital Studio PC, but everyone else should find the Sony VAIO PCV-RS720G Desktop PC is all the computer they need. Featuring such desirable perks as double-layer DVD burning, built-in TV and video recording and a spacious 200 GB hard drive, the system is especially ideal as the centerpiece of a home entertainment center -- merely add a set of surround sound speakers and a viewing screen and you're good to go. If multimedia is in your future, the VAIO PCV-RS720G is a superb midlevel alternative.

Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. For the VAIO PCV-RS720G, Sony balanced speed with affordability by installing an Intel Pentium 4 530. New for 2004, this is one of the recently upgraded series of Pentium 4 chips -- nicknamed "Prescott" -- featuring one full MB of Level 2 cache and a more generous data "pipeline" than prior models. Operating at a speedy but not record-breaking 3.0 GHz and of course sporting Intel's Hyper-Threading technology (Hyper-Threading allows a single CPU system to behave at times as a dual CPU system, thus adding substantially more speed to some high-end applications), this CPU delivers more than enough power for most applications and environments.

Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. Though some of Sony's pricier units feature a whopping 1 GB of RAM and are therefore ready for anything the future may bring, the VAIO PCV-RS720G sports half that amount, 512 MB. Still, this is a typical allotment for most midlevel and high-end computers, and is certainly enough for most multitasking situations and/or complex applications. Moreover, it's fast PC3200 400 MHz DDR memory, and can be upgraded to a whopping 2 GB.

Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A graphics controller with "dedicated" video memory is preferable to a controller that's integrated on the mainboard and "shares" the system's main memory, as it will better handle complex procedures.

The VAIO PCV-RS720G features a new style of video controller -- a hybrid of sorts between high-end standalone "dedicated memory" cards and less capable integrated "shared memory" controllers. It's called the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, a module that is indeed integrated on the motherboard but features more refined components. It also commandeers more of the system's main memory -- up to 224 MB -- than traditional integrated controllers. Ultimately, this controller is sufficient for all 2D and most 3D tasks (including most 3D games) and is far superior to a standard integrated controller, though a dedicated video card with 256 MB or more of built-in memory would deliver smoother imaging and more realistic textures in super-high-end applications such as the latest 3D games and 3D animation packages.

Display:
Sony has not included a display screen, thus allowing you to continue using your current monitor or select from today's many alternatives.

Sound
The VAIO PCV-RS720G generates stereo and surround sound via an Intel High Definition Audio chipset.

Hard Drive
The unit's large 200 GB internal hard drive is spacious enough for a massive allotment of files and applications and a comprehensive music, video/photo and multimedia library too. Furthermore, this particular hard drive is exceptionally quick -- sporting a fast 7200-RPM speed, an 8 MB buffer, and a futuristic Serial ATA connection. These are all comparatively recent innovations, each increasing the overall speed and performance of the system.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing world. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can enjoy all of the above plus watch the same big budget DVD movies you watch on your home entertainment system. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can also "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of CDs).

This unit features two optical drives -- a DVD-ROM drive for playing music and data CDs and DVD movies, and a DVD +/- RW Double Layer Multi-Format drive through which you can not only do everything above but also take advantage of new double layer DVDs (twice the capacity of traditional DVDs). Moreover, this two-drive setup allows you to create extremely fast CD or DVD copies.

Connectivity and Expansion
With no less than seven high-speed USB 2.0 ports, you'll have lots of room for plug and play gadgets such as digital cameras and printers. Sony has also installed an IEEE 1394 "FireWire" port (often used for fast data transfer from digital camcorders), an S/PDIF jack for crystal clear digital audio, two S-Video inputs for lossless digital video, and a memory card reader for uploading data from today's most popular memory cards from devices such as digital cameras, PDAs and more. Communication options include a standard Ethernet LAN interface for fast network and Internet access and a 56K data/fax modem for low-speed dial-up connections

Operating System and Software
The VAIO PCV-RS720G features a software package headed by today's most accepted and commonplace operating system, Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition. Also bundled with the system is Microsoft's Works 8.0 productivity pack, Intuit's Quicken 2005 New User's Edition financial suite, a half dozen of Sony's own top notch multimedia tools, and several time-limited trial editions of popular security and Internet utilities.

Control
The system includes a VAIO Keyboard and a no hassle PS/2 optical mouse. To help you better operate your system when you can't or don't want to hover over the keyboard, Sony will also enclose a convenient wireless remote control. ... Read more

Product Description

VAIO RB38G Minitower, Intel Pentium 4 Processor 550, 3.4GHz, with Hyper-Threading Technology, 1GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, 16X DVD+/-RW and 16X DVD Drives, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Ease of use is finally affordable
I'm used both Wintel and Mac my whole life, I always kept a PC around because for basic stuff because they are soo cheap and the mac around for my high end work.

I finally ditched that idea with the new emac.

don't let the Mhz fool you, 1.25Ghz G4 is a fast machine, certainly faster than any Celeron at *any* Mhz. The addition of the 512kb backside cache, better video card and hack to allow video spanning makes the new $799.99 emac a great first computer or 2nd addition to the family. It's all-in-one but the USB 2.0, Firewire 400 and up to 1GB of memory will keep you busy adding accessories to entend it's use for years to come.

Just TRY getting him off it!
My 10-year-old, that is, off the eMac, which sits alongside a Windows PC.

Recently, my household has undergone a revolution, a computer revolution. This spring, I realized that I had not purchased a new computer for myself since the 80s (!). Oh, we had (and still have) plenty of computers around, as I work with and on them, but I had purchased none of them for myself.

It was time. Though I have more than 20 years of experience, professional and personal, in the PC world, I changed religions and bought Apple computers, one iBook and one eMac, and of course related products.

The iBook came first; happy with that, I started looking seriously at iMacs and eMacs. The iMac is a beautiful machine, but the eMac, configured as I would want the iMac to be, was $750 less, and there's a lot this single mom can do with $750. I love great and beautiful design, but in this case, I loved that $750 more, so decided on the eMac over the iMac.

I ordered the eMac with 1 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive, SuperDrive, and an AirPort Extreme card. I also got AppleCare for the eMac. As the product information above mentions, set up was easy: unpack, plug in, turn on.

My 10-year-old son was skeptical at first, as he is well-versed with all flavors of Windows. It took him about 30 seconds to come around, when he saw that he could surf the Web on the eMac while I surfed on the iBook, thanks to the AirPort Extreme network in the house. If that hadn't convinced him, other opportunities abounded.

The eMac comes nicely configured with all the software one would need straight off: AppleWorks for word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and painting, and database functions, Quicken for personal finance, Apple's Safari browser (with Microsoft's IE also available), an email package, encyclopedia, games, and iLife, Apple's suite of software for photos, movies, music, and more.

One big hit, for at least two days, was the speech recognition software which comes with the eMac. Like other programs on the eMac, the included chess game can be controlled with voice commands; this is fun to play with, but has not become the method of choice over these weeks we've had the eMac. (You can tell the computer "Tell me a joke" to have it tell you a knock-knock joke, but the performance of the speech recognition software is pretty spotty. Still, a cute diversion!)

Another big (and continuing) hit is iMovie. With some of that $750 I saved getting the eMac instead of the iMac, I bought a digital video camera. iMovie is totally slick; I plug the camera into the firewire port, and iMovie takes over, allowing me to control the camera for rewinding, forwarding, and playback. Pulling the information from the camera into the computer is a snap: click "Play" and "Capture," and that's it. Each clip from the camera is pulled into iMovie as an individual clip, the software watching the timestamp to detect when you stopped shooting one clip and started shooting another.

iMovie lets you sequence the clips, add photos, music and other sounds, text (including titles and credits), transition from one clip to another in a variety of ways, and add effects such as rain and fog to clips... as I said, totally slick. With Brood X cicadas abounding a few weeks ago, my tall child shot and edited a short documentary about them in just a couple of hours, complete with sound effects, music, interesting transitions between clips, titles, and credits.

With iDVD part of iLife and a SuperDrive on the eMac, another choice for distributing your work is available. iDVD lets you combine movies, iPhoto slide shows, music, and other files into one cool DVD. It comes with a number of templates to give your final DVD a very professional look; you WILL amaze friends and family with your final product, even with just a slide show of still photos (set to music, of course!). iPhoto and iDVD are *that* cool.

One thing which the eMac (and iBook) did not come with that would have been useful is a Web page development tool. It's possible to create a Web page with AppleWorks, but a simple WYSIWYG tool, such as that the Mozilla browser comes with (Composer), would have been a nice addition. (This may well be available with .Mac, which I did not spring for.) With Mozilla a free download, this omission was readily corrected.

Another recommended addition, especially for those making the move from Windows to PC, is the book "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition." We've used it a lot as we've explored the eMac and its software.

In the weeks we've had the eMac, it has become the computer of choice. Though the Windows PC right next to it on the desk has tons of software on it, including lots (and lots) of kid-friendly games and standard productivity tools, it just cannot hold a candle to the software that came with the eMac.

Good thing I have an iBook so I don't need to tell the tot to shove over and let me have my turn at the eMac.... more than once or twice a day, anyway.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants a fast, useful, well-engineered computer at a very reasonable price.

A great machine for the price.
I just bought this to replace an aging iMac and what a great computer. At hundreds less than the iMac, this is a Mac that everyone can love...and at 800 bucks you're not going to bust the bank to get it. The perfect machine for the home user, this machine is a great box at a really competative price. One suggestion, upgrade the ram...you won't regret the extra cost and the performance difference is amazing.

Faster but still very user friendly computer.
A recent user survey in PC magazine identified Apple computers as the most reliable and easiest to use computers currently available. Yes, most people use Windows-based PCs, but do you want to be just another member of the PC herd -- with all of the problems and frustrations presented by Windows-based PCs -- or are you looking for a computer which is user friendly and seldom crashes? If ease of use and reliability are more important to you than being one of the crowd, please seriously consider buying an Apple. The eMac is Apple's least expensive computer, so it's a terrific way to enter the user friendly world of Apple computers at a very reasonable price. Furthermore, this new eMac is a very fast computer; faster than the previous eMac because it now uses a 1.25 GHz G4 processor which is equivalent in processor speed to a 2.4 GHz Pentium 4. If you're looking for a fast, easy to use computer and are willing to try something off the beaten path, you'll love this new eMac.

suits anyone!
This computer is simply amazing for its price. Mac OS X Panther and iLife '04 make it worth maybe three hundred dollars more than sells for. It's much more for your money than a PC. The 1.25 GHz G4 model has been benchmarked and is comparative in speed to a 2.4 GHz Pentium 4. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great introduction model for switchers with a limited budget
I recently purchased the 1.25 ghz eMac SuperDrive model in May and it's a great all-in-one machine. If you want to switch to Apple but not pay two or even three months worth of your well-earned paycheck for a G5 or G4 Powermac then the eMac is the model to go for. I also upgraded the memory to its maximum 1 gig and got the very cool JBL Creature II 2.1 speakers. I have everything that I need right on the eMac: burn dvd's or cd's, download music & more, play games, surf the web, print or scan with no problems, have a bluetooth connection with my 6600 nokia or connect to my olympus digi cam with ease.

The only negative things I have to say is the loudness of the machine which can be really annoying especially when watching a dvd or listening to music. If you can't stand a loud fan then go for another model. I also wish Apple products or programs weren't so overpriced.

Overall I'm very happy with the eMac and Mac OS X Panther, now all I need to get is an iBook and an iPod.

Very good machine but noisy
Very fast. My only complain is the noise of the fans at the back. When i work at night its really annoying. Try listening music with itunes when you always hearing those big fans in background... Also the screen lack sharpeness. At night again its become very hard for the eyes to read words at the screen specially when you're doing desktop publishing. So im planning to buy an other flat screen (a PC one, bigger and scrisper) later. i find a patch on the internet where i can go in dual mode with 2 monitors. It works perfectly and make me really happy, i can't understand why apple did not included it in the machine.
Yes the noise is really the big annoying thing.

An Incredible Value!
I just bought one of these to use at home as a multimedia creation station. All I can say is, "Wow!" The performance and the feature set of this computer is just an amazing value for the price. It performs noticeably faster than the brand new Dell Dimension 2400 w/2.8 Ghz Pentium 4 I use at work! Don't let the "1.25 Ghz" processor speed scare you. This is a speedy machine. The screen is very bright and colors display quite well - which was a relief for me. I was tempted to buy the 17" flat-panel iMac instead, but the idea of keeping an extra $800.00 in my pocket won out. The iMac's flat panel *is* truly gorgeous, and I liked the desk space-saving aspect of the iMac, but with the money I saved buying this eMac I can buy a leftover or refurbished iBook and have both a desktop *and* a laptop! The only negative things I have to say about this computer is that the fan noise is somewhat loud (not ear-splitting LOUD! but a somewhat forceful "whoosh" sound that is definitely noticeable and can be distracting/annoying), and the speakers are pretty unimpressive. "Thunderous sound system" - yeah right! The speakers *sound* good enough but the bass frequencies start sounding like a paper bag way before the sound is turned up to full volume. Don't try to attempt to impress your friends by bumping your Snoop Dogg CDs unless you get some external speakers.

All in all, this machine should meet or exceed the needs of just about *any* consumer/"average joe" computer usage and also excels at video, photo, and music editing! A great value for the money!

Darned Apple!
I just bought my eMac in December for $$$ more! But with that aside, this is the first computer I bought that I've been thoroughly satisfied with since I bought my FIRST computer (a Windows 95-based PII)--and let me say that my computer savvy has grown a whole lot since then, so for me to be satisfied now is saying a lot.

And there's a lot to like about the eMac. First off, is price. You're paying less for more! The eMac is basically the iMac in a different shell, but it's several hundreds less. If you can live without a flat-panel LCD (and most people can), then get this computer!

With a 1.25 GHz G4, this beauty is as fast as a 2.4 GHz P4! And combined with the wonderful iLife suite, it makes multimedia work simple. From making movies and DVDs (iMovie + iDVD), digital photo slideshows (iPhoto) and playing music (iPhoto) everything is simple to use and fast, too. And with the new iLife '04, you can MAKE music, too, using GarageBand!

Heck, at this price, it's cheaper than any quality PC with similar specs: 17" flat screen monitor (16" viewable), 256 MB RAM, 1.25GHz G4 (2.4GHz P4 equiv.), 80 GB HD, 32 MB ATI Radeon graphics card, 8x DVD burner (w/32x CDR write), 2 USB + 2 Firewire and a great bundle of software in the iLife suite!

I was a long-time Windows user and worked rebuilding old PCs, but I just got so sick of the Windows clutter and the inherent problems with the OS that I decided to go with Apple and I have never been happier.

If you're thinking that you don't want to go Mac because you don't want to have to relearn how to use a computer, don't worry. Mac OS X is easy to use, as it uses almost the same GUI as Windows (although Apple came up with it first), and the only differences are that icons line up on the right on Macs and you can't just click on the button on the window to close the app--you have to select "Quit..." to close it. If you can make those adjustments, you can use a Mac! And, if you have any problems with the OS (eg. a "kernel panic"), you can restore the OS without deleting precious information on your HD! How convenient! Try doing that with Windows XP! Sure, XP can restore to a previous point, but that rarely works (I've had to do that about 30 times in two years until I went Mac)--I've had to restore Mac OS X once (four months ago--it was my fault for downloading the wrong version of a program), and everything was like brand-new again and I haven't had another problem since. Wonderful!

But, I can't only spout about the good. Some problems with Mac are that it can't natively play AVI files--a fairly common video file format. Software is expensive--up to as much as twice that of Windows. Sudden price changes/model releases--like when I bought my eMac in December, they released the new iLife in January--so I didn't get a free upgrade (I missed the cutoff date by a week), but had to BUY iLife for $$, even though I hadn't had my computer for a month! Had I known, I'd have waited the extra week and saved myself some money! Oh, and I also would've gotten Final Cut Express 2.0 for $$ instead of FCE 1.1!! Now if I want FCE 2.0, I'll have to shell out another $$!!! What a pain!

But that's more problems with Apple the company, rather than the computer. Hence, my giving this computer 5 stars. No computer I've owned up until now deserved it, but you won't find more bang for your buck.

Fast, versatile, and very user friendly computer.
A recent user survey in PC magazine identified Apple computers as the most reliable and easiest to use computers currently available. Yes, most people use Windows-based PCs, but do you want to be just another member of the PC herd -- with all of the problems and frustrations presented by Windows-based PCs -- or are you looking for a computer which is user friendly and seldom crashes? If ease of use and reliability are more important to you than being one of the crowd, please seriously consider buying an Apple. The eMac is Apple's least expensive computer, so it's a terrific way to enter the user friendly world of Apple computers at a very reasonable price. Furthermore, this new eMac is a very fast computer; faster than the previous eMac because it now uses a 1.25 GHz G4 processor which is equivalent in processor speed to a 2.4 GHz Pentium 4. This version of the eMac comes with a DVD burner plus a terrific software package for downloading, organizing and recording (on CDs and DVDs) music, photos, and movies. If you're looking for a fast, versatile, easy to use computer and are willing to try something off the beaten path, you'll love this new eMac. ... Read more

Product Description

Cutting-Edge Sony Media Center! Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz HT Technology Processor! 512MB of DDR RAM, 200GB SATA HDD, DVD+/-RW Dual-Layer Burner! The Sony VAIO VGC-RB34G Media Center can handle your professional needs and cater to your digital lifestyle. It comes loaded with exclusive Sony software that allows you to easily create, manage, share and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies and music. Convert old VHS and 8mm videos to DVD with Click to DVD software and create an extensive digital library for your personal viewing entertainment. The massive 200GB Serial-ATA hard drive and 512MB of DDR memory ensure you never run out of room to expand your collection of memories. The tools you need for your expanding multimedia demands and everyday computing needs are centralized in one powerful media center machine. The expanded hard drive space and improved memory give you the power to do more, save more, create more. The Sony VAIO VGC-RB34G Media Center comes loaded with the tools you need to create, manage, share and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies and music. Intuitive. Versatile. Empowering. Ready for your digital lifestyle. The power to create professional-quality DVDs is at your fingertips. With the Sony Click to DVD creation software and the Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW drive, it’s just one click away. Create or record up to 8.5GB of home videos, movies, TV shows, music or digital photos – up to 4 hours of MPEG-2 video – on one Dual-Layer DVD disc. ... Read more

Product Description

Take a good look at eMac. What's not to like? All-in-one design, plug-and-play simplicity, great performance and an affordable price tag: you get everything you need to work, learn and play, right out of the box.SuperDrive-equipped eMac gives you double-layer DVD burning support - doubling the disc storage capacity to 8.5GB over traditional, 4.7GB single-layer discs. And you'll find lots of ways to enjoy your all-in-one digital hub. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Sony VAIO PCV-RS530G offers the next step in the home digital media hub with its personal video recording capabilities and built-in DVD+/-RW writer. It also sports tremendous power for high-end multimedia software and PC games. Featuring a fast Hyper-Threaded 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 processor, the PCV-RS530G also offers 512 MB installed RAM, a very generous 160 GB hard drive, and a wealth of digital audio, photo, and video software. With Sony's Giga Pocket, you can record TV programs to the hard drive and save them for later viewing. With Click to DVD, you can import your camcorder's digital video and burn directly to DVD. For a step down in price, the Sony Vaio PCV-RS520 subtracts the personal video recording functions of the PCV-RS530G.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though it's not the largest on the market, the large 160 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 also has a 512 KB L2 cache.
• Memory: The installed 512 MB of RAM (400 MHz DDR SDRAM) is sufficient for starting out, but you'll want to add more memory power to take full advantage of the PCV-RS530G's multimedia capabilities (it's expandable to 2.0 GB). It also has an FSB (front-side bus) speed of 800 MHz.
• CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 4x write/2x rewrite/2x read speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 4x write/2.4x rewrite/2.4x read speed. For CDs, it has a 16x write/10x rewrite/32x read speed.
• 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-RS530G (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:

• 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 RGB monitor port
• 2 TV-out (S-Video) (1 front, 1 rear)
• 2 composite video/audio inputs (1 front, 1 rear)
• Stereo (RCA jack) input/output
• Coaxial input
• Multi-format memory card reader that is compatible with CompactFlash (Type I/II), MicroDrive, Memory Stick, and SmartMedia cards.
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The PCV-RS530G 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. Preloaded Sony software includes Giga Pocket (Personal Video Recorder), 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, Norton Internet Security (90-day trial).

Dimensions and Weight
It measures 7.2 x 15.6 x 14.9 (W x H x D) and weighs 26.5 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCV-RS530G Digital Studio PC, keyboard, mouse, IR remote control and receiver, and set of two speakers.

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

Reviews (2)

A hidden Gem!
This really is an excellent system. Let me say it again this is a great system when you get it home and see the sum of all its parts. This system has a fast processor,lots of memory,a huge hard drive and tons of goodies that you just wont find on alot of other brand name computers. I really wanted a dell like alot of you. I heard only great things about dell computers. My computer recently died(moment of silence)and I needed a replacement in a hurry for our home business. The dell just took to much time to get, and now that I compare the two I find that I have alot more computer for a much cheaper price. I went to Best Buy and bought the PCV-RS530G and have been on cloud nine ever since. Now I know that I sound like a Sony employee, which I am not,but this system really grows on you as you spend more time with it. The first reviewer got a bad apple, and they are upset but this happen to someone no matter what brand you buy, there will be that one person you hear about that had a terrible time. I felt compelled to write this review because I really feel this is one of the best computers that you can buy for around $1300.00 Its has tons of software for editing photos,making DVD movies,recording tv programs (kinda like a tivo only cheaper)and many other useful programs which I still am exploring. Sony may not be the first brand that you consider when looking for a new PC, but you know what, they always make sound products that last a long time. I am writing this review on my Sony laptop which I have had for 6 years now and you know what? It still works like the day I first bought it. Now the one feature that really make this computer stand out from all the others is the Giga Pocket software. I really like being able to record my favorite TV programs and watching them whenever I am able. I can even archive them to a DVD should I wish. There also is an application included so that you can click on a menu and the software will automatically record the program of your choice from start to finish, with just one click. The video card is a ATI Radeon 9200 which is a good card for most of us, however you die hard gamers will probably want to upgrade to a top of the line card. This system has a DVD+/- Rewritable Drive and a DVD drive for watching your favorite movies and loading software. I could go on and on but please just trust me and go to your favorite computer store (best buy) and play with the system for a few minutes. I am sure that you will be as impressed as I was with my hidden gem. I say this because this system is so new that reviews are unfortunately hard to come by and this system deserves an honest review. Dont believe me? Try to find a system with as much as this system has, and compare prices. I think you will come to the same conclusion I did.

Where do you want to go today? Parts or customer service?
Buying a PC off the shelf is never ideal, but I was stuck, so I bought the best they had, a Sony PCV-RS530G. I like Sony; I keep saying that, not sure why anymore. It has a great processor, adequate RAM, and a so-so video card. The power supply is underpowered and not a standard size. The big problem is the hard drive, it's so slow! It's a Seagate, which makes a very quiet drive, quiet because it barely moves, and Sony makes it all worse with a really odd partition scheme. The drive also features an obsolete 2mb cache and no acoustic management tools; it can't be speeded up. The high end processor and the RAM spend all their time playing solitaire waiting for the hard drive to produce data, it's terrible. No big deal, I bought a new fast hard drive. Before cloning I went to use the back-up utility, and it wouldn't burn the discs: that's right $1,500.00 and you don't get a back-up disc, you have to purchase one, and the onboard Vaio back-up software is useless. I went ahead with the clone, but something went wrong and now I have a brand new $1,500 rectangle; joy. To get a recovery disc I had to go to Sony's parts department, which is a very slow moving place (U.S. based; somehow Sony Japan gets things to me in Maryland, USA within 3 days, Sony U.S. takes weeks), and I ordered what may, or may not be the right one for my dead machine, it only said RS500 series on the site and even that took a lot of searching to find. I'm having it overnighted, it won't speed things up much though. So here I sit, with a ton of work to do and no new PC. The discs have not shipped and nobody has answered my inquiry as to whether I had ordered the right recovery kit. I have had similar experiences with other Sony products recently - it took a long time, but they have finally earned my contempt.
UPDATE 4/29/04: I still hate it. The display drivers keep going south on me. Multiple system wipes, updates, new monitor, new video card, nothing helps. I use my computer to run a business and don't have time for this mess. I have owned PC's made by Gatewy, eMachines, HP, and Acer; this one is the worst. I am giving up and will be buying a new PC from a different company this week. What a complete waste of time and money. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
Brandishing top level accoutrements, awesome power and all the connectivity you'll need for the hottest electronic gadgetry, the Sony VAIO VGC-RA828G Desktop PC is the brightest star in the entire Sony computer lineup and one of the most capable desktop PCs available. Designed to efficiently handle anything you can throw at it, the system is a superb hub for a business, personal, home office, entertainment or gaming environment. It even features an innovative liquid heat pipe cooling system to squelch excess heat and minimize noise, but that's just one of many impressive innovations you'll find in this stunning example of high-tech wizardry.

Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. The VAIO VGC-RA828G incorporates one of the fastest CPUs currently in existence, an Intel Pentium 4 560. New for 2004, this is an upgraded version -- nicknamed "Prescott" -- of the venerable Pentium 4 chip, featuring one full MB of Level 2 cache and a more generous data "pipeline" than prior models. Operating at an astounding 3.6 GHz and of course sporting Intel's Hyper-Threading technology (Hyper-Threading allows a single CPU system to behave at times as a dual CPU system, thus adding substantially more speed to some high-end applications), this pricey but ultra-potent CPU delivers more than enough power for any environment or situation.

Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. For the VAIO VGC-RA828G, Sony has installed a whopping 1024 MB (1 GB) of fast PC3200 400 MHz DDR SDRAM memory. This is a ton of memory even for a high-end machine, and its rated speed is comparatively quick. As such, it is easily sufficient for any multitasking situation or complex application. Moreover, the system's mainboard is constructed to support RAM upgrades to a whopping 2 GB.

Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A graphics controller with "dedicated" video memory is preferable to a controller that's integrated on the mainboard and "shares" the system's main memory, as it will better handle complex procedures.

One of the problems with many high-end PCs is that they simply aren't equipped with a graphics card on par with the rest of the system. Not so with the VAIO VGC-RA828G, which features an ATI Radeon X600 XT with 256 MB of video memory. Not only will this card efficiently operate all your 2D and 3D apps (including the vast majority of demanding 3D games), but it also includes a television tuner and a Giga Pocket MPEG2 Realtime Encoder/Decoder to pause, rewind and replay live TV. Furthermore, Sony will package the system with a handy remote control to make TV and movie viewing even easier.

Display:
Sony has not included a display screen, thus allowing you to continue using your current monitor or select from today's many alternatives.

Sound
The VAIO VGC-RA828G produces stereo and surround sound via an Intel High Definition Audio chipset that supports for five distinct audio channels and a dedicated subwoofer. Sony will also enclose a 2.1 speaker system featuring two desktop satellites for clean middle and high frequencies and a subwoofer for added bass support.

Hard Drive
With an incredible storage capacity of 400 GB, the unit's internal hard drive is one of the largest ever manufactured and double the size of the hard drives found in many high-end PCs. It is thusly roomy enough for a massive allotment of files and applications and a comprehensive music, video/photo and multimedia library too. Indeed, even the most avid collectors of digital data will have a tough time filling this hard drive. Furthermore, it's exceptionally quick -- sporting a fast 7200-RPM speed, an 8 MB buffer, and a futuristic Serial ATA connection. These are all comparatively recent innovations, each increasing the overall speed and performance of the system.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing world. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can enjoy all of the above plus watch the same big budget DVD movies you watch on your home entertainment system. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can also "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of CDs).

This unit features two optical drives -- a DVD-ROM drive for playing music and data CDs and DVD movies, and a DVD +/- RW Double Layer Multi-Format drive through which you can not only do everything above but also take advantage of new double layer DVDs (twice the capacity of traditional DVDs and capable of four hours of DVD-quality video). Moreover, this two-drive setup allows you to make extremely fast CD or DVD copies.

Connectivity and Expansion
With no less than seven high-speed USB 2.0 ports, you'll have lots of room for plug and play gadgets such as joysticks and printers. Sony has also installed two IEEE 1394 "FireWire" ports (often used for fast data transfer from digital camcorders), an S/PDIF jack for crystal clear digital audio, two S-Video inputs for lossless digital video, a DVI monitor port for the highest quality flat-panel display images, and a memory card reader for reading today's most popular memory cards from devices such as digital cameras, PDAs and more. Communication options include an integrated Gigabit Ethernet LAN interface for substantially faster network and Internet access than traditional 100Mbps and 10Mbps Ethernet, and a 56K data/fax modem for low-speed dial-up connections

Operating System and Software
The VAIO VGC-RA828G features a software package clearly aimed at fans of multimedia. Headed by Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition 2005 operating system and Microsoft's Works 8.0 productivity pack, the bundle also features Adobe's Photoshop Elements 2.0 photo editing suite, Adobe's Premier Standard video editing solution, and a half dozen of Sony's respected audio, video and photo utilites.

Control
Apart from the aforementioned remote control, the system includes a convenient VAIO Keyboard and a no hassle PS/2 optical mouse. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Get more for less with the eMachines T2824 desktop PC. Just right for students or home use, it features a 2.53 GHz Celeron processor, a 40 GB hard drive to store all your digital media files, 256 MB of RAM, and a combo DVD/CD-RW drive to accommodate all your multimedia needs. It comes with Windows XP Home Edition installed, along with all the software and utilities you'll need to get up and running fast.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: With a 40 GB hard drive you'll have more than enough room for everything you need to store, including digital photos, audio files, and digital videos.
• Processor: The 2.53 GHz Intel Celeron D 325 processor has a 256 KB L2 cache and is fast enough to handle demanding applications.
• Memory: There is 256 MB RAM in one slot, and is expandable to 1 GB for future upgrades.
• CD/DVD Drive: The CD-RW/DVD combo drive reads CDs at 40x and DVDs at 16x. It also writes to CD media at 16x and rewrite at speeds of 10x, so you can play audio CDs, access CD-ROMs, watch DVDs, make your own mix CDs, or backup files on CD-R or CD-RW media.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a standard multimedia keyboard and 2-button wheel mouse.

Sound and Graphics
With an integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 3D card with 64 MB shared memory, you can play 3D games with realistic graphics and watch DVDs with movie-quality color and resolution. It also comes with amplified stereo speakers,and AC '97 audio for true Plug and Play audio so you can start listening to music right out of the box.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
It features a built-in 56K ITU v.92 ready fax/modem and Intel PRO 10/100 Mbps built-in Ethernet so you can get online easily whether you choose to use dial up or a high speed Internet connection or connect your computer to a network. Also included is an 8-in-1 Digital Media Manager to read USB 2.0, Secure Digital (SD), Smart Media, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Micro Drive, and Multimedia Card. It also features the following external ports:

• 5 USB 2.0 ports (1 in Media Manager, 4 in back) for connecting to a wide range of peripherals, from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 serial port for connecting to older electronics like modems or mice
• 1 parallel port for connecting to printers or cameras based on older technologies
• 2 PS/2 ports for the keyboard and mouse
• Audio in and audio out ports for connecting headphones, microphone, or speakers

Preloaded System and Software
The eMachines T2824 is powered by Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. Windows XP Home Edition is packed with multimedia features to help you get your creative juices flowing. Windows Media Player lets you burn and play CDs, in addition to playing and organizing digital audio files. Windows MovieMaker is a basic video editing tool that helps you capture and edit digital video to save your memories and share them with others.

It also comes packed with the following software: Microsoft Works 7.0, Microsoft Money 2004, Encarta Online, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Real Player, PowerDVD, Internet Explorer, CompuServe, AOL (with 3 month membership included), Norton AntiVirus 2004 (90 day complimentary subscription), and BigFix.

Dimensions and Weight
The tower PC measures 7.25 x 14.12 x 16.0 inches (W x H x D).

What's in the Box
eMachines T2824 desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, amplified stereo speakers, power cable, user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Product Description

Cutting-Edge Sony Style & Performance! Intel Pentium 4 3GHz HT Technology Processor! 512MB of DDR RAM, 200GB SATA HDD, DVD+/-RW Dual-Layer Burner! The Sony VAIO VGC-RB31P desktop can handle your professional needs and cater to your digital lifestyle. Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition gives you the power to create and manage all your data and documents, while the exclusive Sony software will support and grow with your expanding multimedia demands. Versatile and empowering, the VGC-RB31P lets you create, manage, share and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies and music. It's also loaded with software and hardware to help you create professional quality DVDs and CDs with up to 8.5GB recording capacity using advanced DVD+R Double Layer technology and Click to DVD software. This powerful tool is housed in the sleek VAIO tower and will integrate easily into any room, adding style without clutter. Ready for your creativity. The VAIO VGC-RB31P desktop comes loaded with the tools you need to create, manage, share and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies and music. Intuitive and versatile, the VGC-RB31P is ready for your digital lifestyle. The power to create professional-quality DVDs is at your fingertips with Click to DVD creation software. Create or record up to 8.5GB of home videos, movies, TV shows, music or digital photos – up to 4 hours of MPEG-2 video – on one Double Layer DVD disc. Give new life to great memories by converting your VHS ... Read more