Sony VAIO VGC-RA710G Desktop PC (3.2 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/DVD Drives) | List Price: $1,699.99
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Platform: Microsoft XP Media Center Edition
Brand: Sony
Binding: Personal Computers
Warranty: 1 year warranty
OVERPRICED and UNDERVALUED [Posted on 2004-11-18]
this particular model only gives you the sony name and nothing more for the value. they don't offer the new 2005 upgrade and the tv tuner doesn't even have the built-in fm tuner like hp/gateway. 4 months with the vgc-ra710g; it gave up and won't start-up... they had to send somebody to fix it (which was good). i might have been the <10% of the unlucky customer who gets the defective one. just hope it doesn't break again after the warranty. warning: don't be taken by the cool looks of the case. you will still hear the "quiet" pc when it's idling; more like a regular overpriced computer with a "cool" looking cooling system and case.
I Love This Computer [Posted on 2004-12-01]
I love this computer. I have owned it about 5 months now and I am still learning all it can do. It is easy to operate, and expand. It was up and running right out of the box. Windows XP Media Center is great (like have a built in digital recorder or TVO.) I would definely buy a Sony again.
Media Ctr. 2005 Upgrade for $10! [Posted on 2005-06-06]
This is a great PC! Have had it for about a year, now, and have not had a problem with any of the unique software and hardware features. If it is anything like a previous VAIO I owned, a Pentium II, it will long outlive the rapid advancements in computer hardware technology.
Just to set the record straight regarding Media Center 2005, I have no idea what previous reviewers are referring to, but I suspect that they must be talking to un/mis-informed sales clerks. Living in Japan, I ordered and received the $9.95 Media Center 2005 upgrade from the Sony Web site in less than 2 weeks, which is great response time!
May 2006 - quiet, good PC [Posted on 2006-05-04]
For months Sony was not supporting an upgrade to MCE 2005. I was shocked, complained, ignored by Sony and MS, and then - Sony changed its mind and for $10 the upgrade was on its way. In the last few months I've added a 1GB RAM, 400GB drive and an ATA HDTV tuner card, all have worked well. For a monitor I use a 21 inch CRT and Sony WEGA TV. I really, really appreciate the liquid cooling. The lack of fan noise - Priceless! The SD and other card readers, and firewire ports work well - I'd almost give it a five stars, but a Mac G5 does video editing and Linux live-CD iso burning better, so when an equally powerful and quiet PC shows up, it will get the five star rating.
It Just Doesn't get Any Better Than This! [Posted on 2006-08-08]
I have owned this system for about 2 years. I purchased it in Aug of 2004. I have since performed some minor upgrades: I have bumped the RAM to 2 GIG, I have replaced the weak Nividia 5200 Graphics card (IMHO this was the only weak link in the system) twice - First with the ATI 9600 XT with 256 VRAM - The card currently installed is a [...] kicker - The ATI X1600 with 512 VRAM! I have also added an internal 500 GIG hard drive bringing my total Hard Drive space to over 750 GIG. This system has run flawlessly since purchase. I don't know what everyone is complaining about regarding the MCE 2005 upgrade. I got mine from Sony about 1 months after MS released it. I paid $10.00 for shipping and this was a quick deal. Only problem, hiccup, if you will was due to MS not getting the copies out as quickly as demand ordered them, surprise, surprise right. How many times has MS done that in the past. Again, NO fault to Sony, its hard to deliver what you don't have. I did notice upon purchase that they did not include the recovery disc's, but instead you had to create them. Well I don;t know about you, but I like those important disc's too be from Sony. So I called them (about 2 weeks after purchase) and they did not even have them created yet since system was so new. However, the rep said he would mail me a copy once in stock. About 2 weeks later I received a Sony package via overnight mail (NO cost to me) with the two SONY System Recovery Disc's included! Now that is customer service! I have the Sony SDM-HX73 Digital 17" LCD. I am using the DVI connection and it is sweet! I am also using the Logitech G15 (Keyboard illuminated with a nice blue light) Keyboard, perfect for those night time games where you don;t want to bother anyone while your kicking done the doors in COD 2! So, in summation, with the upgrades, this system will kick the stuffing out of the best retail system (In stores inventory) out today. Two years old and performing like a NEW System! Bye one and don;t look back, you'll love it!!
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