Sony readies mainstream all-in-one media PC
Sony readies mainstream all-in-one media PC
Sony this week took the wraps off its latest all-in-one entertainment PC, the Vaio VA1, follow-on to the consumer electronics giant’s V3 machine.
The star of the show is the integrated 20in 16:9 aspect ratio display with Sony’s X-black colour-enhancing technology. The 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Pentium D 820 processor isn’t quite top-of-the-range, however, and neither is the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 graphics chip, so we suspect Sony is pitching the VA1 toward more mainstream buyers.
The Sony VAIO VGC-VA11G is a prime example of how to combine a PC and a TV. Despite a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out, this is one of the more appealing all-in-one Media Center PCs we’ve seen.
As a TV and DVR combo, the system is superb. It comes with two 160GB SATA hard drives, for a total of 320GB, so it can record enough programming for an avid TV fan and hold tons of pictures, music, and the like. The 20-inch, 16:9 widescreen is bright and clear for watching DVDs and TV programs and playing the occasional 3D game.
The remote is a standard Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition model, but its IR receiver is an external USB device that stands out from the system’s otherwise sleek design.
Like its predecessor, the VA1 requires just a single cable, for power. The keyboard, mouse and TV-style remote control are all wireless, as is the the unit’s network connection, though there are Ethernet, USB and Firewire ports present for those who can’t yet live without wires.
The PC runs Windows XP Media Center Edition and contains a 250GB hard drive for storage and a dual-layer DVD±RW drive for archiving content recorded from the integrated digital and analogue TV tuner. Sony claims the box not only has room for a second hard drive, but also that adding one is easy.
Once set up, the PC displays and records stutter-free TV programming. With Sony’s Click-to-DVD integration and MCE Update Rollup 2 enhancements, you can easily get programming off your Media Center to display on other devices. There’s even a utility that will help transfer video, music, and pictures to a Sony PlayStation Portable.
The VA11G’s USB, Fire-Wire/i.LINK, and cable TV ports are well situated on the sides of the case, easily accessible and barely visible from the front.
However, the VA11G’s most irritating feature is that it forces you to use the remote or wireless keyboard/mouse to change channels or raise and lower the volume.
The system has a sufficient spec to warrant Intel’s Viiv branding, but Sony didn’t say today whether the VA1 will ship as a Viiv box or not.