Sony's VAIO Desktop is a Winner
Written: Nov 07 '02
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Pros: Beautiful design, easy access to motherboard, includes DVD-ROM and CD-RW drives, FireWire
Cons: Only one expansion bay (hard drive), should have more RAM for the price
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a PC with a tight combination of design and function, a VAIO should be on top of your list.
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| rsantos's Full Review: Sony VAIO Digital Studio PCV-RX750 PC Desktop |
Users of PCs with Windows operating systems have it better than Mac users. Systems are cheaper, and there are more readily available applications and peripherals. But one thing these boxes are not is beautiful. They don't make the kind of buzz and splash that Apple's computers do when they launch.
Sony may partly cure a case of Mac envy. Its beautifully designed VAIO desktops finally fulfill the needs of design-hungry users while providing a form factor that can make power users happy. The premium you pay is not that much compared to unpretty systems and you even get a well-configured desktop to boot.
The system comes with a Windows XP Home OS, but I replaced mine with Windows 2000. You won't find much support on the Sony site if you do this. It merely outlines the steps for moving to the Windows 2000 OS and, for now, provides only drivers for its Memory Stick slot. You will have to go to the original equipment manufacturer's sites to find the correct drivers. For example, you can download Windows 2000 drivers for the integrated graphics card from the web site of Sis, the manufacturer of most of the chips on the motherboard.
This system, and many systems I looked at during the shopping comparison phase, is equipped with faster, but more expensive DDR (double data rate) RAM. It was disappointing that it only came with 256 MB of RAM, because I knew I would spend about $100 for an extra 256. However, this VAIO was accompanied by a $100 rebate (bringing down the price to $800) and, fortunately, I found some DDR RAM on sale and spent about $95 for 512 MB more. If you can spare the cash, get at least 256 MB more--the system will thank you for it in the form of uninterruptible multitasking and applications that launch fast.
Despite some minor details, everything has worked like it should, close to flawless. This VAIO model comes with an integrated graphics adapter, which means that it will reserve some of your precious RAM for itself. I installed a separate graphics card in the AGP slot for better performance. Not only was the case easy to open (pull a lever in the back and one side of the case pops out), but the slot was easy to access. Unlike in my previous system, an HP Pavilion, there were no screws to pull and no jumpers to configure. More importantly, there were no stickers on the case that warn me that the warranty is void if I opened the case. Hooray for Sony for avoiding that ridiculous practice.
One thing I may never use is the Memory Stick slot built in to the PC, but I envision a time when I can use the FireWire port for either a camera or a FireWire hard drive.
So far, so good with my Sony VAIO PCV-RX750. I've been a Dell and HP user in the past few years, but I think I'm switching my loyalties to Sony, as long as I could find good deals on their systems.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 900.00
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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rsantos
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