Any experiences with SONY VAIO? (1 Viewer)

[Michael Boyd]

I really like what these come loaded with. Especially if you configure your own system online. Frys had a $2500 model P4 2ghz 512rdram I sorta fooled around with yesterday. The thing could capture video by s-vid, composite and SONY's version of firewire (I know about the compatibility issues using non SONY DV sources). The TIVO-like video recorder seemed interesting. I don't even have cable though so I dont know how worthwhile that would be for me, but it seems that unless you get that feature you dont get the analog inputs. Oh and it even had a digital out for Dolby Digital!

i've seen a lot of customer service complaints about SONY as well as different upgrade issues. I guess I'm not real worried about upgrading. XP should be around awhile right? I'm still running the original 98.

I also know about SONY's refusal to upgrade the editing software, but if I run Premiere 6.0 I guess I'm not too concerned about that either.

So any comments about the VAIO line? These things really seem to come a long way. I've looked at a few review boards so far . . . but HTF members are just the best when it comes to anything like this. Thanks!

 

[Darren Lewis]

I've got a VAIO PCG-FX205K laptop. Pentium3-850, 128Mb RAM, 20Gb drive, LAN, Firewire, USB, Win2000, 15" screen.
Very pleased with it

 

[Michael D. Bunting]

I have a Sony...it's the PCV-RX580........and it's awesome!

Here are some of the specs:

Pentium 4 1.8Mhz

512MB PC133 SDRAM

80GB HD (Ultra ATA)

DVD-R/RW DRIVE!!!!! (awesome)

CD-R/RW Drive

Memory Stick slot

i.LINK (IEEE 1394)

56K modem

Ethernet/network card

Windows XP pre-installed

Very stable - and it looks great....

I also purchased the 19" Sony Monitor (sweeeeeeet!!!!)

Lots of great software included also....I'm very happy with it to say the least!

I hope to add a 2nd one down the road even (as this one is SUPPOSSED to be for my wife....hahaha) to replace my recently built Thunderbird 2 Athlon 1.2MHz system.

*****The one you are describing sounds alot like the PCV-RX590 (one step up from mine)...I wish I would have just gone ahead and gotten that one now!!! Good luck!

 

[Michael Boyd]

Sounds good Michael. I'd go for the one you have but Im just interested in getting those S vid and composite inputs. Maybe I'll just save the bucks and go with it anyway. I think the 19 inch monitor is the way to go too. Costco has a bundle of what sounds like your PC and a 15inch flat screen, but after using a laptop for 3 years Im ready to get back to a normal monitor.

Have you seen the SONY widescreen monitor? $2000!!!! looks pretty awesome, but its hard to justify the price when and HDready TV which I dont even have would cost that much and TVs that same size are about $500 in Europe.

 

[Ken Chan]

But the Sony widescreen is like an HD-ready TV. Of course it doesn't have speakers or any of the other amenities you might associate with a TV, but it will show an HD picture; maybe even better than with a "real" HDTV, because it's really a computer monitor, so you get every pixel and they're rock-solid. All you need is a HDTV tuner card (another $400 ). Also, comparing prices to European widescreen sets is not fair, because those are not HD.
As for the computer, I have no direct experience with VAIOs, but if the video inputs are a primary concern, you can always get an add-in card. Pinnacle makes a few around $100 -- you can go with the 580 (which seems like a decent bundle) and add the card if you're not interested in the Tivo and Giga Pocket stuff in the 590.
//Ken