Product Description

Cutting-Edge Sony Media Center! Intel P4 3.4EGHz HT Technology CPU! 1GB DDR, 320GB SATA HDD, DVD Burner! The Sony VAIO VGC-RA830G Digital Studio Media Center was developed with your lifestyle in mind. Providing the multimedia muscle for your next-generation A/V demands, the VAIO VGC-RA830G gives you the power to edit high-definition camcorder video, master your own music recordings, and turn your home movies into high-quality DVDs. The unique liquid-cooling system and advanced noise-reduction technology deliver powerful, reliable performance from an incredibly cool, quiet system. The wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control eliminate cable clutter, and allow you to work from your easy chair. The VAIO VGC-RA830G Digital Studio Media Center lets you turn your living room into a home theater. Bring Sony’s professional audio, video and broadcast expertise directly to your desktop. Now you can create, manage, edit and archive video, music and photos just like a Pro. Capture and edit high-definition camcorder video. Turn your old VHS and 8mm videos into professional-quality DVDs. Watch and record high-quality TV. Master your own audio recordings, or digitize your old records and tapes, with Sony’s original SonicStage Mastering Studio software. The power you need for the most demanding A/V applications. Sony has truly outdone themselves with 320GBs of unimaginably massive hard drive space as a result of two 160GB Serial-ATA 7200RPM hard drives combine ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nice package
The RA8xxx Series from Sony is very nice.Big plus is the cooling system.The machine is super quiet.The integrated Home Media support is a nice bonus.I don't think I'd want to use one of these as a TiVo replacement but for a home machine it's tough to beat from a combination of style, power, features and performance.

Negatives are the crappy mouse and keyboard and having to burn your own Recovery software.

buyer beware!!
Just bought this yesterday at compusa. Will be taking it back tomorrow morning. This is the 5th computer I have owned and the worse I have ever seen. Sony has allot of wonderful software on this system and impressive 5.1 speakers that come with it. But you are screwed if you have to do a system recovery. Followed the directions and spent 2 hours making recovery disks before putting any of my software on it, only to find out that when it tries to recover your system it prompts you to insert disk #1 and press ok. Guess what? You can't press ok because your wireless mouse and keyboard are no longer functional. And turning off the computer wiped out ALL my system restore checkpoints. So I couldn't even restore to a earlier time. When I tried it again I then got a message that it couldn't locate the recovery partion. And forget about any type of help from the website or the non-existant user manual. The only help they had was to change the batteries in the mouse and keyboard (they already had brand new batteries). ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The VAIO W Series pioneers new territory in desktop PCs. The all-in-one design makes it ideal when space is hard to find. It covers your computing needs and knows how to entertain, with three different modes to choose from. You can be checking stock quotes on-line one minute, and be digitally recording a football game the next.

  The W700G comes with a 17.5-inch LCD WXGA screen in a compact, all-in-one design.

The Basics Sporting a distinctive style that liberates valuable desktop real estate from annoying cables and wires and clunky computer boxes, the Sony VAIO PCV-V700G is far removed from a typical PC. If space is an issue or you merely need a computer that doubles as a television recorder and multimedia center, you need look no further than this sleek and very unique machine. Unlike standard desktop computers, the VAIO PCV-V700G features an elegant all-in-one design that mates a large 17.5-inch DVD-friendly widescreen display, speakers, and internal components inside a single futuristic module. The system also includes a foldaway keyboard, thereby freeing your work surface from even more clutter. Whether used in the office or in other environments where its massive 200 GB hard disk, DVD burner, and built-in TV tuner might just make your home entertainment center dispensable, the VAIO PCV-V700G is ready for the job. Sound The VAIO PCV-W700G produces sound via an audio chip integrated on the motherboard and two speakers mounted on either side of its display. The system takes advantage of Sony's SRS WOW technology to simulate surround sound. However, if big, room-rattling audio and true surround sound is a requisite, you'll need to purchase a separate amplified speaker system.

Video CPUs are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the screen. This is the duty of the video card (or video controller). The VAIO PCV-W700G features an SIS 651 graphics controller--a chipset that's integrated onto the unit's motherboard and shares 32 MB of the system's main memory. This is not an ideal setup for gamers, video artists, or anyone who needs smooth 3-D graphics. If you require top-level 3-D graphics support, you may be best served by investigating other Sony computers, such as the Media Center series. The built-in 17.5-inch display sports a comparatively large viewing area and a widescreen format well suited to the aspect ratio favored by Hollywood. As such, it's not only great for displaying standard computing tasks, but also for watching DVD movies. Performance The VAIO W Series is quite powerful. With an Intel Pentium 4 2.80 GHz processor and up to 512 MB of RAM, it's more than capable of handling the demands of digital video and Internet downloads. A large 160 GB hard drive comes standard and provides plenty of space for storing digital music and video files or working with multiple applications. This series was created to provide everything needed for home computing and entertainment.

With Giga Pocket software you can record, manage, and play your favorite TV shows anytime.

Hard Drive
The built-in 200 GB hard drive is considered generous in any price range, sporting enough storage space for a massive allotment of files and applications and a huge music or multimedia collection too. Most users will have a hard time ever filling this hard drive.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today’s computing environment. 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 back up 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 and archive files to durable DVDs, which boast more than seven times the storage capacity of CDs.

The VAIO PCV-W700G features a DVD+RW/-RW/CD-ROM drive that's ready for virtually any form of CD or DVD recording or playing.

Operating System and Software
The VAIO PCV-W700G features an impressive software package headed by Microsoft’s Windows XP Home Edition operating system. Sony will also preinstall Microsoft’s Works 7.0 word processing and productivity suite, Adobe's Photoshop Elements 2.0 photo- and graphic-editing application, Sony's Giga Pocket personal video recorder, and an array of multimedia utilities.

Accessories The VAIO PCV-W700G is wonderfully easy to operate via the foldaway VAIO keyboard, optical wired mouse and ultra-convenient infrared remote control. Connectivity and Expansion With four high-speed USB 2.0 ports at your disposal, you’ll have sufficient room for a small batch of plug-and-play gadgets such as printers, scanners, and joysticks. The system also includes an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for fast data transfer from digital camcorders), a variety of high-end audio and video connections, and a convenient television tuner. Communication options include an integrated networking interface for Internet and network communication, a V.92 data/fax modem for low-speed dialup connections, and a Sony VAIO 802.11 a/b/g wireless card for wireless networking.

The W700G provides a number of ports for all your expansion and interface needs.

... Read more

Product Description

Sony VAIO RA834G Desktop PC The VAIO® RA834G Digital Studio Desktop Computer was developed with your lifestyle in mind. Providing the multimedia muscle for your next-generation A/V demands, the RA834G gives you more power to edit high-definition camcorder video, master your own music recordings, and turn your home movies into high-quality DVDs1. The unique liquid-cooling system and advanced noise-reduction technology deliver powerful, reliable performance from an incredibly cool, quiet system. The wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control eliminate cable clutter, and allow you to work from your easy chair. ... 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-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

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

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

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

Amazon Product Description

The BasicsTargeting multimedia enthusiasts who relish the thought of manipulating photos, editing home movies, burning and playing digital music and building a library of all of the above, the Sony VAIO VGC-RB42G Desktop PC is in reality a capable and versatile machine ideal for most computing environments. Though it isn't adorned with a top-notch 3D graphics card, the unit does feature a solid processor, excellent optical drive facilities and oodles of data storage space. Serious gameplayers and 3D animators will probably want to add a dedicated graphics card but the VAIO VGC-RB42G is otherwise a strong yet cost-effective choice for those who know they can't quite afford state-of-the-art computing but don't want to settle for middle-of-the-road.

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 VGC-RB42G, Sony balances power with affordability by incorporating an Intel Pentium 4 630. This is one of Intel's recently upgraded Pentium 4 chips, featuring two full megabytes (MB) of Level 2 cache for even faster real world operation than last year's model, which sported an already impressive one MB Level 2 cache. Operating at a snappy but not top-of-the-line 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 enough raw horsepower for most any home, home office, business and entertainment purpose.

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. Currently, 512 MB of RAM is considered sufficient for most applications and multitasking situations, though demanding users will want more. Fitted with a full one gigabyte (1034 MB) of high-speed PC3200 400 MHz RAM, the VAIO VGC-RB42G will deliver instant response even when you're running several programs simultaneously.

Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output -- particularly the demanding 3D visual output of games and 3D animation packages -- 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 motherboard and "shares" the system's main memory, as it will better handle complex procedures and display a more sophisticated, smoother image.

The VAIO VGC-RB42G features a relatively 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 fitted to the motherboard but features more refined components than older integrated controllers. It also commandeers more of the system's main memory -- up to 224 MB -- than traditional integrated controllers. Accordingly, the system's huge 1 GB allotment of main memory really comes in handy.

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. However, a dedicated video card with 256 MB or more of built-in memory is a smart upgrade if you want to experience a truly smooth frame rate and all the high-end visual effects of the latest, greatest 3D games.

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-RB42G generates stereo and surround sound via an audio chip integrated on the motherboard. This arrangement doesn't offer the power or the sophistication of a dedicated sound card, but it's more than sufficient for the enclosed set of stereo desktop speakers.

Hard Drive
Hard drives have experienced a real growth spurt in the last year. As such, current mid-priced drives are significantly more spacious than they were even twelve months ago. This system's 250 GB drive is one of the largest currently available and offers more than enough room for a massive allotment of files and applications and a comprehensive music, video/photo and multimedia library too. Furthermore, this particular hard drive is quick -- sporting a fast 7200-RPM speed, an 8 MB buffer, and a cutting-edge 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 CD-ROM drive for playing music and data CDs, and a DVD+R Double Layer/ DVD±RW 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 make extremely fast CD copies.

Connectivity and Expansion
Featuring an S-Video input, VGA output, composite audio-video inputs and a coaxial input, the VAIO VGC-RB42G offers all the connectivity you'll need to integrate your PC into your home entertainment world. The system also sports all the latest data connections, including six high-speed USB 2.0 ports (two on the front, two on the rear) for plug and play gadgets such as digital cameras and printers, two IEEE 1394 "FireWire" ports (commonly used for fast data transfer from digital camcorders), and a multimedia card reader for uploading data from today's most popular memory cards. 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
Sony will equip the VAIO VGC-RB42G with today's most multimedia-savvy operating system, Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. Also enclosed are Corel's WordPerfect word processor, Corel's Quattro Pro spreadsheet program, Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 image editing utility, and several of Sony's own top notch multimedia tools.

Control
You'll control your system with a VAIO Keyboard and a standard PS/2 mouse. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

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

The Basics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

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

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

... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

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

The Basics

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon Product Description

The BasicsAs one of the most affordable members of Sony's distinctly upscale "R" series of desktop computers, the VAIO VGC-RA826G Digital Studio PC brandishes many of the same features Sony incorporates into its pricier R models but falls just short of state-of-the-art and does not include a viewing screen. Thusly, the unit is ideal for those who want high-end computing without paying top dollar. Designed to efficiently handle virtually anything you can throw at it, the VAIO VGC-RA826G is a great fit as the hub of 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.

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-RA826G incorporates one of the fastest CPUs currently in existence (at the time of this writing), an Intel Pentium 4 550. 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 3.4 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 any application or environment.

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-RA826G, 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-RA826G, 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 16x PCI Express 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-RA826G produces stereo and surround sound via an Intel High Definition Audio chipset with support for six distinct audio channels. Sony will also enclose a 2.1 speaker system with two desktop satellites for clean middle and high frequencies and a subwoofer for added bass support.

Hard Drive
At 250 GB, the unit's internal hard drive is one of the largest on the market and thusly 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 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 digital cameras 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-RA826G features a software package that's clearly aimed at fans of multimedia. Headed by Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition operating system and Microsoft's Works 8.0 productivity pack, the bundle also features Adobe Premier LE video editing suite, Adobe Photoshop Elements digital imaging utility, and a half dozen of Sony's own top notch audio, video and photo tools.

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

The Sony Vaio PCV-RS610 proves that PCs aren't just for spreadsheets any more. A multimedia powerhouse, the RS610 comes complete with a DVD+/-RW drive and a variety of Sony digital media software that makes it easy to burn your home movies and digital audio collections to disc. It also offers a huge 160 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a hyper-threaded 2.8 GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though it's not the largest on the market, the 160 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) is still quite huge, and it offers a wealth of storage for your media library as well as necessary space for editing digital video.
• Processor: The 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system) is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market. It also has a 1 MB L2 cache and a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed.

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

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

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get a good range of connectivity options with the PCV-RS610, such as three PCI expansion slots (two available), one 8x AGP (accelerated graphics port, available) slot, two 5.25" half-height bays (both occupied), one external 3.5" bay (occupied), two internal 3.5" bays (one occupied), and the following external ports:

• 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 VGA monitor port
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) digital optical connector
• 1 line in

Preloaded System and Software
This PCV-RS610 comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works 7.0 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

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

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCV-RS610 desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, and set of two speakers. ... Read more