Sony VAIO PCV-RZ46G Media Center Desktop (3.20-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/CD-RW Drive)Platform: Microsoft XP Media Center Edition
Brand: Sony
Binding: Personal Computers
Warranty: 1 year warranty
I was skeptical, but Sony came through! [Posted on 2004-03-04]
Initially, I was worried about going with Sony for a computer as they aren't one of the traditional brands that I have owned in the past (Dell, IBM, and Compaq). This computer is awesome! It rips through all of my design and multi-media work and I couldn't be happier. I kept my 21" CRT monitor though...was a tough choice.
Everything you could want [Posted on 2004-03-20]
Bought mine on a pre-order in November. It's very fast, multi-tasking is a non-issue; the built-in TIVO is a great toy. Once you read email and watch TV at the same time, you'll never go back. Click to DVD is very easy to use. Comes w/ a multitude of video, photo and jukebox software so you can pick your favorite.
Using a remote to control your music, view photos & video is WONDERFUL!
Sound quality is very good w/ supplied speakers - volume goes very high. Cons:
Even tied to a great monitor, do not expect the TV picture to be as good as your set in the den. My DirectTV receiver doesn't mesh perfectly w/ the TV tuner so that on some channels I have to hit a button on the Cable TV remote to remove the menu screen. More fiddling needed there. The built-in mem stick port shows up as a CF port - strange. Pluses greatly outweigh the minuses. A new version has the whole thing built into the monitor, so no box. Would be even better.
Down market speakers and noisy disk drive detract [Posted on 2004-04-09]
I'm shocked no one seems to care that the 200GB hard drive that comes standard with this model whistles like a tea kettle. I called in the problem and the Sony authorized representative replaced the drive with another identical one. That one whistles, too. There simply isn't enough sound insulation. This is a problem when you are NOT watching loud DVDs obviously. I'm thinking of replacing the drive with something quieter--on my own nickel, of course. The other joke is the cheap speakers that aren't as good as my 5 year old Monsoon speakers. Plus they are definitely unaesthetic looking. They really are a disappointment. Mine are available for anyone who wants them.
Absolutely the best off the shelf computer I've seen ! [Posted on 2007-03-01]
My VAIO PCV-RZ46G has lived up to all expectations and then some. This is a great computer right out of the box. Like another reviewer said, the speakers are not the quality you would want for such a fine media center computer. But hey, I didn't buy it for the speakers.....right? Another reviewer said his/her HDD "whistles" I have no problems with mine whistling,(too much partying maybe?) The 200 gig hard drive gives you a lot of storage, but I record and save a LOT of movies and other videos, so I added a 300 gig hard drive in addition to the 200 gigs already in my fine computer. That gives me what................half a terrabyte? Yep that's right! A HUGE half terrabyte. I don't remember if there's room for an additional hard drive, but if there is, I'm adding another 300 gigs soon. If not, I'll add an external HDD. All I can say is KUDOS to Sony!
Good Hardware, Bad Software [Posted on 2008-02-05]
System or Application Recovery Disks are not provided with this PC.
What this means is that you are placing you data (your life's work) in the hands of SONY's Recovery software that is hardware dependent.
Sony has a habit of not providing Operating Sytems disks. Which is stupid beyond belief. It saves them money, and allows them to force a bunch of useless garbage software down your throat if you are successful in using their Recovery Software.
But you may not be successful. Their "Recovery Center" is your only means of recovery when things turn sour. But, say for example you want a bigger hard drive. Install it and, even if you carefully clone your software from one drive to the other, the Recovery Center WILL NOT WORK. This is unlike installing any other software which is not hardware dependent.
What this means is you will have to purchase the operating system all over again. If you purchase an OEM copy, you will have to install on a bare "empty" drive, and lose all the other software SONY provided. Otherwise you will have to purchase the full version of windows. Factor that cost--an extra $300+ into your purchase decision.
Any other software that SONY provided that you might use like DVD burning software will have to be re-purchased. You can't pick and chose what you want to reinstall off the recovery disk. It is set up so that it is all or nothing, and if it's nothing, as it was in my case, you basically bought SONY hardware, and everything software will have to be replaced and paid for again.
My advice is to buy an iMac. It is the same amount of money and you get a reliable computer. And you won't find yourself furious at SONY when you realize the recovery software was a time-bomb waiting to blow up after your warantee has expired.
I'll never buy another SONY computer. I'm in the market for a laptop. I would not even consider SONY. I'll look at HP and Apple.
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