A computer that does everything well for the home.

Author's Rating:

Pros: It is a capable computer that also does media well.

Cons: You will end up spending more to utilize its full media potential.

The Bottom Line: 
This Sony does most things well and can do quite a few things other computer cannot. You can record your favorite TV program even.

Author's Review
I already have 2 computers connected and one of them is getting really old. It was hardly used, it was running Windows 98. I had been eyeing an eMachines T6000 running AMD 64 bit processor. I know Microsoft have not come out with a 64 bits OS yet. Being a Geek, I wanted a 64 bits machine whether I need it or not. Things did not go as plan. I waited too long. eMachine was sold off to Gateway and eMachine T6000 was off the shelves. The T6000 was discounted. Other computers using this AMD 64 bit processor are a little more expensive. I could not find any T6000 than some refurbished ones on the net. It was still costing about $900.00 to $1,000.00. Then it just disappeared from the few stores that were carrying the refurbished ones.

I had some good experience buying refurbished computer hardware. My Acer notebook http://www.epinions.com/content_111972093572 and Toshiba PPC http://www.epinions.com/content_137787117188 were both refurbished and they both work very well and were great buys. I figure most electronic devices do not have too many moving parts. The PPC had none; the notebook has a few (hard drive and optical drive that are about all I can think of). That means the devices were returned to manufacturer for refurbish, the devices were checked again. Most likely, only one part of the devices was broken, that means the rest of the devices would have been checked twice. Most electronic device needs a burn in to function-test. Having a device checked twice meant the end product would probably have a less likelihood of going bad again (IMHO).

So I am off to a search for a desk top again. I set my price to about what it would have cost me to get the eMachine T6000. That meant that I was looking for a refurnished machine again. I came across this Sony VAIO PCV-RS530G at uBid. I checked the specification and it does not look bad at all. I had bought a Sony desk top and 2 notebooks before, and am generally please with them. Sony Computers are not known to be top performers but they always have quite a few bells and whistles. A quick check on the specification shows this PCV-RS530G has a P4 3.2 MHz processor, a 128 MB video RAM, 512MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive and a DVD R/W CD R/W drive with another DVD/CD R drive. There is a floppy drive and a Multi-Media Card Reader that reads Memory Stick™, Compact Flash™ Type I and Type II, IBM Micro Drive™, and Smart Media™ but not SD card. While none of these are the top or the best components but they are at the high end. There is a faster Processor P4 3.4 MHz, a 258 MB video card and hard drives that are larger than 160 GB but those computers with these components would cost a lot more. This Sony VAIO PCV-RS530G cost me $751.00 delivered. I really do not think I can do better with this purchase.

This computer does not include a monitor nor do I need one. I already have a Flat Panel display and it is working fine. I did not even bother to unpack the key board and mouse. I use my existing set up with first a Belkin 2-port KVM switch http://www.epinions.com/content_115250728580 and later changed to a Vastech 4-port KVM switch. http://www.epinions.com/pr-Vastech_Computer_KVM401-AU_Monitor_Keyboard_Mouse_Switch It came with 2 speakers and I did not bother to connect them as I have a better set up already. I have an Altec Lansing Surround Sound set up with a subwoofer which is quite large. Since I am using existing set up, it took me a just a few minutes to connect and power up the Sony. This got to be a record for me as it only took about four hours for me to load most of my programs, drivers, patches and updates. The Acer notebook took me at least 2 times longer to get it set up.

As usual I deleted most of the preloaded stuff that I do not need on the computer. The Microsoft Office (trail version), Norton (3 months trail version), Adobe, Quicken and other stuff like AOL offer. I uninstalled all the stuff and then defrag the disk in Safe Mode (much faster). I noticed that the hard drive was partitioned in a rather strange way. The D drive was about 120 GB and the C drive was about 20 something. I was wondering what happened to almost 15 GB of my hard drive? This does not add up, this is supposed to be a 160 GB hard drive. Why do I need such a large D drive? I need more room for my C drive. So before I load my software, I loaded Partition Magic and repartition my hard drive. I intended to partition my D drive to about 100 GB but I ended up with 97 GB (that is close enough). While I was doing the partition I discovered where my missing space on my hard drive is. There is a partition on the hard drive in front of the C which is not named. Sony had loaded some files in that partition (I later found out what those files were). I then reload my Office XP, Norton, Adobe 6 (Professional), Photo Shop etc.

I preformed a regedit and get rid of some of the stuff I do not like to see when I boot my computer. I was going to edit out a reminder and then I realized that it was a reminder for me to back up my computer. I have been booting up and shutting the computer on and off during the loading and updating of the software. This annoying flags was going to be edited out. This reminded me to check my recovery disks. To my horrors, there was not any. There was a license for the Window XP but no disk. A paper explained that this Sony does not come with any disk; the software was preloaded in the hard drive. I then realized that the unnamed partition on my drive was the backup files for my computer. I promptly backup my computer. The backing up is quite easy and takes less than an hour. It requests a DVD-R disk and a CD-R disk. DVD-R/W and CD R/W disks do not work. The DVD-R back up all the system and the CD-R is the boot disk. While this is an easy operation, Sony should have included the System disk with this computer. If you are going to get a Sony, make sure you check the package and see if you have System disks. If you do not have it, back up your computer first before you start messing with it. Once I backed up my computer, I am fine and quite like the idea of having the system files in that hidden partition. It always bugs me that Windows keeps asking for a system disk when I added features or updating patches. With the system disks on the hard drive, I never have to load the Windows System disk. May be that is one of the reasons that I was able to load all the updates and patches relatively fast.

After I backed up my computer, I was ready to play with it. I noticed that there are a lot of connections at the back of the computer. There is an S-video connection, fire wire, the normal audio/video (composite) in, 4 USB ports and a DVI port. The front panel has 3 more USB ports, a firewire, another S-video and audio/video ports. The Multi-Media Card Reader is located there also. There is a coaxial connection for a TV in at the back. So I plug my cable box in. I did not bother to look for the instructions, which is probably buried somewhere in the computer. I noticed that there was a remote control and an IR sensor. So I put 2 AA batteries into the remote and connected the IR sensor via one of the USB port. I turned on my cable box, pressed the TV button on the remote. A window came up and guided me through some simple set up and within a few minutes I was watching TV on my computer. There was another program that I could have program it just like a VCR to record TV program onto my computer. I then realized why my Sony was partitioned with a large Drive D. The Drive D is used to record the TV programs. I then disconnected the cable box and connected the cable directly to the Sony. The Sony has a built in tuner and it functions just like a VCR or TV and it automatically added all the channels. With this Sony, I would not need to get a TiVo. Watching TV on my computer is not what I want but the ability is there. There is a Roomlink device made by Sony that list for about $200.00. This device would only work with some Sony Computers, mine was one of them. This Roomlink would connect the computer to home entertainment center/TV/stereo systems. That means that your favorite MP3’s or digital picture could be display on a big screen instead of the relatively small computer monitor. Of course the TV programs that you recorded with this computer could be played in a big screen also. The Roomlink could also be connected using WiFi. Pair a Sony VAIO 5GHz 54Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point PCWA-A500 (listed $250.00) and Sony VAIO 802.11a Ethernet Converter PCWA-DE50 (listed $200.00), the whole system goes wireless with minimum effort. As long as you choose Sony products, it is a very simple affair to get everything set up. The Sony VAIO Visual Communication Camera PCGA-UVC11 (listed $90.00) that I purchased for my Acer notebook works better with this Sony. I loaded the program and everything works without any hiccups. As you can see, this Sony is packed with a lot of media capabilities. To make everything work you have to invest and get all the other hardware.

As a computer, this Sony does as good as any Dell, HP or IBM. Since there are 2 optical drives that both read DVD and CD with one that can write also. Backing up (copying) CD or DVD is a breeze. It is very fast, much better than doing it with just a DVD/CD Read and Write. The Material could be directly written to the other drive without writing to the hard drive first. The ATI Radeon™ 9200 128MB Video Memory Graphics card performs well. While it is not the best around it is more than adequate for all but the hard core gamers. I do not have anyway to measuring how fast this computer is but it is the fastest computer I have as this is the newest one with the fastest processor. My Spreadsheets and PowerPoints load very fast. I have no idea what kind of sound card that Sony uses but the sound coming out is of very high quality. I did not use the included tiny Sony Speaks but the sound coming out of my Altec rocks. One tip, if you have a subwoofer in your system and you have carpet in the room. Place a hard wood board under the subwoofer. Placing a subwoofer on carpet will not work.

Sony included quite a lot of media software with this model. That means you can video editing your video from you camcorder. Watch and record TV programs. Play audio or video files through your home entertainment center and watch you holiday pictures you took on a digital camera on you big screen TV. On top of this, you can do this all wirelessly.

I was just looking for a replacement for my old Dell but I ended with a pleasant surprise. This Sony is more than just a computer; it can do a lot more. Those Sony people are sneaky, now I am considering getting a Roomlink and getting those higher speed WiFi hardware. I would not have considered Sony WiFi equipment but I know if I get them, it would work with minimum effort on my part. Sony hardwares are seldom cheap but they are usually very well made. I guess you get what you paid for.

If you are looking for just a normal computer stay away from this Sony or you end up buying more and more from Sony, trying to explore all the potentials. If you don’t mind spending the extra money and like gadgets. Go ahead and get this Sony. This Sony will not disappoint.