Sony VAIO VGC-LT15E Desktop PC/TV All-In-One (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5250, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)

Let me first tell a little about me so that you can put my review in perspective.

I am not from computer field & am not very strong on hardware. However, I like 2 play with technology & my expertise is a little more than average user. Also, I have used Vaio laptop before, so I am more used 2 sony products. The most imp thing - I got this desktop 4 less than $1000 from a friend (who needed 2 get rid of it), so my value-for-money is much more than most people discussing here (I assume it is available 4 >$1700 at most stores).

Having said that, this is an amazing machine. I had my eyes set on it 4 quite a while. This is not the fastest of the lot (1.6GHz core 2 duo), so if you are a hardcore gamer, you might want 2 look into Dell XPS etc.

This is an absolute beauty made keeping 'most' people in mind. I assume most of us do office work, check mails, basic media work & TV. if these are your needs, this computer is a gem. keyboard & mouse are breeze 2 set up. screen is the best i have ever seen on any machine. this includes most TVs you get now-a-days. i am soon planning 2 retire my bedroom TV & replace it with this one. DVD, music, photos run seamlessly & I don't expect any glitches.

My cons-
sony made this full of crapware. i have always hated it. the first thing i did was 2 get rid of all their crap softwares keeping drivers only.

a little 'louder' than usual. now, i realize i am being too harsh. however, i think when u spend close 2 $[...] you should get a perfect desktop. this machine is a little louder than some Dells i have used (i have the same problem with my vaio laptop). since this is a pretty powerful machine packed in very very compact area, this is understandable

i would love 2 have a mousepad on the keyboard itself, but this is no way a big deal.

I am still figuring some stuff out (esp live TV) & will update this review as it goes.

hope this helps you in making your decision.

Excellent product & idea. It is so wonderful 2 take the entire computer anywhere in my home without disconnecting cords. I love this product. I unplug the unit from the outlet & away we go... In addition, I purchased it at an excellent price. Best Buy, Circuit City, Sony or Sears could not beat Amazon price. Thank you Amazon.

I've had this computer 4 about two weeks now. The machine is sleek, has a beautiful display & is everything I expected from Sony. On the other hand, Windows Vista is a disaster. Having worked with XP 4 a number of years I can only say that XP is a far superior OS than Vista. Vista has way too many functions that always seem 2 interfere with user's easy manipulation of the computer. It took me several days 2 figure out how 2 disable some of the unnecessary & quirky functions. I suppose that with time I will get comfortable with Vista but the learning curve is steep. The only thing Sony could do 2 improve this machine is 2 not overload it with sample software that many will probably not want.

I admit it; I was skeptical. Now that I've been using the computer 4 about a month, I can honestly say that this is the easiest 2 set-up, fastest-booting computer I have ever used. I deleted MS WORKS & added MS OFFICE PROFESSIONAL & set up WebShots as my wallpaper/screensaver, & I am very pleased with everything about this computer. The initial purchase price is a bit steep, but the ease of set-up alone justifies the higher price.

This product is not only asthetically pleasing, but the qaulity & performance is amazing. I have had it 4 2 months now, & LOVE IT! You will be very happy. The keyboard is great, mouse good size. The T.V. is a not as clear, but that is probably b/c i am still using the old cable, & not the tv digital box. The computer screen itself is amazing. BUY IT!!! :)

Enjoy incredibly crisp, live & recorded TV on a 22" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) widescreen flat panel display. Backup your media & store data 2 CD or DVD with the integrated CD/DVD burner. The framed display with transparent border produces a stunning, floating effect. This gorgeous widescreen LCD display complements any office or reception desk while curbing clutter with elegance & style. Mount it onto your bedroom, kitchen or office wall 4 a chic, space-saving computing experience. The VAIO(R) LT PC/TV comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 2 make it easier & more enjoyable 2 do just about anything on your PC. 320GB 7200rpm Speed, Serial ATA(TM) Interface Hard Drive 2GB (1GBx2) DDR2 PC2-5300, 667MHz Speed SDRAM, Max 4GB Ethernet Protocol - 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T Modem Type - V.92/V.90 compatible data/fax modem (RJ-11) Inputs & Outputs - 1x 4-pin iLink interface, 1x S-Video Input, 5x USB Ports, 1x Audio Line In, 1x Headphone Jack, 1x Microphone Input, 1x Modem Jack, 1x Optical Audio Output, 1x Ethernet Port, 1x DC-In, 1x Composite Audio/Video Input & 2x RF Connection Inputs Operating System - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Dimensions - Width 25.3 x Height 16.5 x Depth 7 (CPU & Display only) Weight - 21.4 pounds

When space is at a premium, the Sony VAIO VGC-LT15E all-in-one desktop PC offers a slender, space-saving design that will complement your living space while also providing a powerful home computing platform with an integrated widescreen LCD display. Reminiscent of a classic glass picture frame, this remarkably thin All-in-One PC is enclosed in a transparent polycarbonate frame, giving it a stunning, floating effect. Wired connections are minimized (with the integrated Wi-Fi LAN & included wireless keyboard & mouse) 2 enhance its clutter-free design, & it can be wall-mounted 4 a chic presentation.

In addition 2 its computing prowess, this all-in-one desktop also doubles as a 22-inch LCD HDTV, with built-in NTSC (standard) & ATSC (high-definition) tuners. It also features Sony's XBRITE-HiColor panel technology 4 brighter imagery & more vibrant colors. It has a built-in DVD burner & Sony's Click 2 DVD software so you can create a digital entertainment library 4 personal viewing at your convenience. Video conferencing has never been easier, thanks 2 the integrated 1.3-megapixel Motion Eye webcam.

Under the hood, VGC-LT15E is powered by the 1.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture 4 improved gaming & multitasking performance. It also includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect 2 draft 802.11n routers & offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. It also features a huge 320 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics card with up 2 895 MB of available video RAM, multi-format Memory Stick reader, a Secure Digital memory card slot, & Gigabit Ethernet wired networking.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities 4 turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition 2 easily playing your DVD movies & managing your digital audio library, you'll be able 2 record & watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, & offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor has a 1.5 GHz processor speed, fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), & large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; & a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU & RAM, & a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized 4 multitasking & is ready 2 support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth 2 provide data 2 the processor when & where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed 4 instructions used widely in multimedia & graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology & idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core 2 help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data 2 system memory during periods of inactivity 2 lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The extra large 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect 4 storing a vast multimedia collection or 4 editing digital video. This SATA hard drive has a 3Gb/s interface speed that enables up 2 300MB/s data transfer rates (double the speed of the current SATA interface of 1.5Gb/s).

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1024 MB DDR2) will satisfy many users, but this PC's two DIMM slots have a maximum 4 GB RAM capacity--perfect 4 high-end video editing & 3-D gaming. The additional capacity helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card.

• DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW & DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, & dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up 2 8.5 GB of data--great 4 backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x 4 DVD+R DL, 4x 4 DVD-R DL, 8x 4 both single layer DVD+R/-R, 8x 4 single layer DVD+RW, 6x 4 single layer DVD-RW, 5x 4 DVD-RAM, & 24x 4 CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x & CD-ROMs at 24x.

• Keyboard & Mouse: The included wireless keyboard & mouse have a matching aluminum style. It also comes with a full-featured remote control 4 controlling both PC & TV functions.

Screen, Video & Audio
The 22-inch LCD panel has an amazing 1680 x 1050-pixel resolution. And thanks 2 Sony's XBRITE-HiColor panel technology, the flat-panel screen will deliver dazzling colors & sharp images whether displaying a DVD movie, television show, or web content. It delivers deep blacks & bright whites, true-to-life color, & razor-sharp detail. And with a glare filter & anti-reflective coating 2 minimize reflection, you'll experience a beautifully clear image.

Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics card, which provides up 2 895 MB of available RAM/video memory (128 MB dedicated video RAM) 4 unmatched HD video performance on a notebook PC. With support 4 Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 & High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), the 8400M lets you rip through all of today's most advanced & cutting-edge games & applications.

You can connect a standard antenna or cable/satellite set-top box 2 this All-in-One via either RF, composite A/V, or S-Video connections. This desktop includes integrated NTSC (standard broadcast) & ATSC (digital, HD) TV tuners. It also includes stereo speakers (3 watts apiece 4 6 watts of total power) & an internal 5-watt subwoofer. The audio card includes Sony Sound Reality technology with DSD (Direct Stream Digital) support.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready 4 the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Intel Wireless 4965AGN Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up 2 five times the performance & twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers & Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great 4 closed office environments). You also get super-fast wired connectivity, with a Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000).

This All-in-One PC has one internal 3.5-inch expansion bay that is 1x SATA compatible. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (in addition 2 a PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, & lighter expansion cards 4 even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, & security features. Here's the full list of connectivity options:

• 5 USB 2.0 ports 4 connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras 2 MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port 4 connecting digital video camcorders & other peripherals
• Video input: 1 composite AV, 1 S-Video, 1 RF
• Video output: none
• Audio input: 1 line-in, 1 microphone
• Audio output: 1 optical digital audio, 1 headphone
• 1 ExpressCard/34 slot
• 1 PCMCIA slot (Type I/II with CardBus support)
• Memory Stick/Memory Stick DUO slot (with MagicGate functionality)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards)
• 56K modem (V.90)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system 4 users with advanced computer needs, & it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities 4 turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center 4 watching DVD movies & accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center 2 record & watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) & 2 access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium & an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you 2 access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever 2 share files between other PCs in your household & 2 manage your laptop computer settings 2 more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools & technologies 2 help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting 2 a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you 2 manage & monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, & other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Sony Click 2 DVD (for easy DVD creation), Microsoft Works SE 9.0, Microsoft Office 2007 (60-day trial), Symantec Norton 360 All-In-One Security (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This All-in-One measures 23.5 x 16.5 x 7 inches (WxHxD) & weighs21.4 pounds.

Power
It has a power consumption rating of 150 watts (+10 percent).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Sony VAIO VGC-LT15E all-in-one desktop PC/TV, wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, & 8cm disc adapter. It's backed by a 1-year warranty with onsite service, & 1 year of toll-free technical phone assistance.