Sony VAIO PCV-RZ44G Media Center Desktop (2.8-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/CD-RW Drive) | List Price: $1,649.99
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Platform: Microsoft XP Media Center Edition
Brand: Sony
Binding: Personal Computers
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz Processor with HyperThreading Technology
- Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Operating System
- 512MB DDR RAM Memory
- 160GB Hard Disk Drive
- DVD-RW Optical Drive
Sony TV's can't be beat, but your computers UTTERLY suck [Posted on 2004-06-23]
I tend to avoid Sony Computers and External Burners like plague (The the Dream system (5.1DVD/CD player) is an incredible product for the price- and Sony's excellent camera's have the patended night-vision). I've had a alot of problems with my Vaio Tower. It does have every connection imaginable, but it won't run so many non-Sony programs like Stomp Music products, external burners and scanners, and at least 4 DVD importing programs that I tried, I did eventually get Sony's Vegas, but no DVD import, ridiculous. Vegas does work great for editing and other stuff. But alot of irritating things just "happen". I've seen a couple of strange failures in the laptops of people I work with, more so than others at least. There ARE people out there who swear by these, so that may be you too and I'm no guru, but I know a thing or two about computers and I don't like'em at all. Caveat.
Only 4 Stars because I've not yet tackled VHS tape to DVD [Posted on 2004-07-22]
I bought this unit after I read the other reviews, posted by those good people who took the time to share their opinions and helped me decide, as well as be informed as to what to expect. So now I want to share my experience in hopes that I might be helpful to the next person considering a similar unit.
I'm a writer/editor/web designer, and this one is my fourth Sony Vaio; it arrived only a few days ago, so am not yet finished testing. I bought it from an Amazon.com Marketplace vendor, www.garnetpc.com, an impressive, well-run outlet. The Sales Manager answered all my questions thoroughly, then the unit arrived in excellent condition. I opened the box, set it up in a jiffy, turned it on, connected to Road Runner, whooped when I saw its speed, virtually plug'n play use, and quiet operation.
On the down side, the bundled software is not impressive. On the pro side, the potential is there and will not bust your budget. After I tackle the scary task of transferring VHS to DVD, I shall return for an update. Cheers!
General overall usage [Posted on 2004-07-27]
I was a bit leary in regards to this PC after reading some of these reviews, however, I am just a "General" user, I'm not using this PC for a business, just to have nice, easy to create pictures and videos on discs. After toying around with this PC I found it extremely easy to use, loading programs was very fast and easy and the picture downloading time was very fast! For just an overall general usage of this computer, I am very impressed.
3 hard drives, 1 mother board, and 1 Monitor later [Posted on 2005-11-30]
I am so angry about this machine and SONY REFUSED to admit it is a lemon. I have had it only 24 months. I beg you to Read on before you purchase a SONY.
I bought this machine due to the media center and all the percs, but mostly for the Sony name. Unfortunately Sony has dropped off my list of EVER buying anything from again. I had my hard drive go 1 month out of warranty, the recovery discs (I made 2 copies) did not work, had to beg and plead Sony to replace them, after going through 1.5 hours on the phone 2 separate occasions, and several layers of help, they finally agreed. The rep at Sony admitted it was probably a bad spot in the hard drive when I made them. OH REALLY, then why don't you realize it was a bad drive under warranty?. NO WAY!! 5 months after the 1st replacement hard drive was installed (which I had to purchase) the hard drive went bad again. 18 months after purchase the flatscreen monitor went out. Called, whew it was under warranty for 3 years. Boy, did I luck out, was told it would be at my home in a week. Two weeks later, sweating it out because we were moving to another place, not to mention a different country, I called Sony, they assured me it would be at my doorstep in 3 days. 3 days later, and 3 days before the packers came, I called Sony again, OH NOOOO... They didn't even have it at the monitor replacement center. Wait I was given a RML, I gave Sony the RML when they told me it would be at my doorstep in 3 days. I do have to admit, after all this I finally got a great individual. Not good statistics.. 15 bad, 1 good...99.4% incompetents, not good customer service..... Now, sitting here writing this opinion I am on a friends machine. My motherboard went out. Sony will not do a thing about it. I cannot believe this. $3000 for a computer and all the replacement items, and I am sitting with a machine that will have to have a motherboard replaced. Well, looks like the recycle bin for this. I cannot stand all the stress associated with Sony products. The moral of this story: if:anyone who is going to purchase a Sony Machine, DON'T, if you are hell bent on a Sony, buy the longest warranty offered, take a valium before you call Sony for help, and don't hold your breath for it to arrive at your door. Too bad I have a login name, but I will sign off saying Never going to be Sony Owner Again!!!!!!
Good Platform to build on [Posted on 2006-04-02]
I've been a computer techie for 25 years. I bought one of these CPU boxes without the extras--no keyboard, mouse, monitor, or remote as an open box special thinking it would be a good base to build on--I have been happy with it. I pumped up the memory to 1.5 GB. I've also added a second external 160 gb USB2 drive, 24" Dell monitor, Harmon Kardon SoundStick II speaker (fabulous sound), and Canon camera.
I like the multi-media connections. I'm still learning how to get the best out of it. The computer runs HD 720i format on my 24" monitor--it is awesome. I highly recommend the larger DELL monitors. This does put the CPU to work--and will max it out if you pause, resize, or try to do other things at the same time--the video will pause, or jump--perhaps missing a beat or two. Still it does a credible job in straight play mode--no skips. Go load Quicktime 7 and pick a few HD videos at that site to test it out.
If you are interested in video, editing video, then only the best and fastest CPU is what you need. So this is not perfect. But it is a good value.
My Vaio has plenty of places to plug in just about anything on the back, it's own TV tuner, and it came with a decent video card--I upgraded mine to a 256mb nVidia 6600 to get 1900x1200 on the display. The 128MB card that comes in it is limited to 1600x1200 on a flat planel, although it will go higher on a CRT monitor--if you eyes can take it.
The combo CD and DVD-burner works great. I'm very happy with it.
I just tried my floppy drive for the first time ever and it didn't work--and I don't care because I never use it.
Regarding the hard drive--the partition concept is a bad idea--always. Never partition a drive. Other people have mentioned various solutions. My plan is to install a 500 GB drive internally and keep the original drive as a backup while I reinstall the software separately onto one huge C drive. One it is working 100% I'll copy over my data and reformat that drive and put it in my Tivo.
I find I run out of storage space fairly quickly with the two partitions. For many software packages, they want to install on C and want to put data on C and that just doesn't work. So I've ordered a copy of XP Home edition and MS multimedia software and I'll custom install this to make thing work they way I want it to. I don't care about any of the SONY software. I find I don't use it.
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