Sony Vaio VGX-XL100 Viiv media PC
By Marc Perton 
posted Jan 13th 2006 10:40AM
posted Jan 13th 2006 10:40AM
If
you've been curious about whether Intel's new Viiv platform really
makes for better media PCs, you won't have to wait too much longer to find out. Sony has announced one of the first
Viiv-based PCs, the Vaio VGX-XL100. The low-profile PC comes with a Pentium D 920 at 2.8 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 250GB drive,
dual-layer burner and HDMI out. (Most specs -- along with the case -- appear to be very similar to the current VGX-XL1,
which is powered by a Pentium D 820 and comes with just 512MB RAM.) The VGX-XL100 is available for preorder in the UK
for £999 (about $1,760) without a display. No word on a US release date or pricing.
You know, you can build this thing for under $1000 on newegg.com. Not impressed.
Ok jfox let's see the parts list you've constructed from newegg.
Point less with out the 200 disc changer. Also this system has an HDMI out video card, last time I checked ATI had a couple at CES that aren't for sale yet. There is a ton of video out puts on the thing, get a close look at it up and personal, a case as nice as this will cost you alone $300 on new egg. As for VIIV, its just marketing placement startegy like Centrino. AMD had alot of chips in Media Center PCs. VIIV is just trying to target Media Center segment and keep AMD out.
I love you Sony, but those dimensions are off. H (129mm) x D (400mm) x W (430mm) is equal to a box that is HxDxW 8" x 25" x 27", that's huge, more than 2 feet deep, and 2 feet wide. Doesn't make sense. Am I missing something here?
Gimmick, the words Sony and pc = lots of cash
Wow, my bad. I thought there were 16 mm in 1 inch, don't know where I learned that. so it's really W x D x H 17" x 16" x 5". Good Size.
hmurchison,
Here are the specs from the Sony website:
-------------------------------------------
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 920 (2.80GHz and 800 MHz FSB) and Intel® Pro/Wireless 802.11bg
Genuine Microsoft® Windows® Media Center Edition 2005 (English version)
250 GB (S ATA / 7200rpm) hard disk drive
1 GB DDR2-533 SDRAM (2*512 MB), maximum 2 GB DDR2-533 SDRAM
NVIDIA® Geforce™ 6600 graphics card with 128 MB DDR SDRAM
Sound and Video Mastering Platform fully supporting the DSD Audio and HD Video standards
Super Multi Double layer DVD±RW drive
Wireless keyboard (QWERTY) with integrated touchpad and remote control bundled
From Newegg;
MS MCE 2005 - $130
NEC DVD-DL -$40
Intel CPU - $269
RAM(2x512DDR2) - $65
HD(250GB SATA) - $90
945P motherboard - ~$100
6600 video card(with HDTV out) - ~$150
Adds up to $844, that leaves ~$150 for a case, PSU and wireless keyboard. Maybe not exactly $1K, but pretty close.
One has to remember that $1760 is the price in the UK with VAT. Prices in the US are usually considerably lower, probably $1500 or less here.
Sony Laptop/PCs/ YadaYada are overpriced, and frankly, I wouldn't even touch one from 100 miles away, just because of the company lack of respect toward their custommers.
Horizontal is the new vertical.
Does anyone still buy Sony?
I've had too many of their overpriced products fail on me to ever give them another cent.
Will this have the specs to run the right version of Vista? Viiv feels pretty empty until the CableCard and D* HD tuners start to get integrated.
I've seen two of the older models hooked up to a Qualia 06 and a KDE-61XBR both running windows media high def movies. HD out from HDMI running 1080P is nicer than some half ass HD out from a dongle. The case to this machine is better than any $200 case I've seen for a component style ATX case. I just wish it had a second PCI-E slot.
The next generation of this VAIO will have Blu-Ray and maybe 2 ATSC tuners, so I would wait... The DVD box does look huge, when I saw it in person. The Japanese model of this VAIO still rocks with 7 TV tuners!
I will give free xxx to whoever can tell me where to buy just that keyboard...it is sexy...!