Sony's VAIO VGX-TP1DT media PC stack: streams and records HDTV over your home network
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jan 16th 2007 8:45AM
posted Jan 16th 2007 8:45AM
If Sony's latest living room PC lineup is just a bit too big and boxy for your tastes then check their VAIO "Television Side PC" and digital tuner stack. Collectively known as the VGX-TP1DT, it consists of the already announced VGX-TP1 PC and a new VGX-DT1 (bottom cylinder) digital tuner. The TP1 PC loads Vista Home Premium and packs a 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB (up to 2GB max) memory, 160GB (up to 500GB) disk, super multi-drive DVD, and terrestrial tuner at its core with HDMI, analog RGB and optical digital outputs, 4x USB and 1x Firewire, memory stick and SD slot, 802.11b/g WiFi, and wireless keyboard. The DT1 digital tuner features the ability to stream hi-def, broadcast television over Ethernet or WiFi for viewing or recording on the TP1 or any up-to-spec PC on your home network. 1080i video is recorded at either 1920×1080 pixels / 24Mbps or 1440×1080 pixels / 10Mbps for half the storage requirements. We imagine they'll add a matching Blu-ray burner to the stack just as soon as they can squeeze the drive into that same 270-mm (10.6-inch) diameter footprint. The whole kit should go up for sale in Japan in the next few days for about ¥200,000 or right around $1,661.
Ohforfucksake... Why must electronics manufacturers make their new products white? I know, I know, millions of you people own (white) iPods, but still, where is the "Television Side PC" going to reside? Next To The Television. How many people have white televisions, with matching white components? I'd take a "bit too big and boxy" black media center PC over a bright white oversized aspirin tablet...
yeah, but where's the "wow factor" with a black box? no one notices my totally awesome htpc in my rack, but i bet if i had this sucker everyone would immediately look at it and say... wait for it... "WOW!" apple's been whoring this concept for years. mediocre product + pretty = "sweet, dude..."
fuggggggly
wow thats Sony innovation for you... so lets make a Mac mini and Apple TV....but make them round. and Ugly
jesus christ. the apple tv has been out a week and now things are already being compared to it by jobs' ball garglers. so is my htpc now "like the mac mini and apple tv, but bigger, faster, CAPABLE OF TUNING DIGITAL TELEVISION, and black"? geez, i don't even want this damn sony thing, but i hate you apple fanboys so much, i feel like i have to defend it.
Yeah, having the Guggenheim in the middle of my AV rack is going to look great.
That is the best response to a fanboy comment I have ever heard.
Thanks Philip, I'm glad someone hasn't been guzzling the Apple-ade.
The beige pc of 1983 was better looking than this thing.
Screw what it looks like. It's a kickass product and beats the hell out of the computer I'm using now, even without the media functions.
I like the shout-out to the case inspiration in it's name... it really looks like a roll of institutional size toilet paper
Some of us actually prefer white electronic devices.
Yay! Finally I can make fruit rollups and beef jerky on my PC!
I love how people think appleTV is somehow a new and revolutionary product. I've been doing the same things it does (but frankly better) with my modded Xbox for the past 3 years. It is nothing new, and since Sony and MS have had products for years capable of the same thing only a fanboy would believe that this is a "copy" of appleTV.
Ghey. I love mac's design, and the MacOS. Too bad that it inspires a cult of turtlenecked sycophants. It's a bit like my comments in a motorcycle post here: I love motorcycles, but generally cannot stand motorcyclists.
My three year would try to pee on this.
i dont know what all the fuss i about, i think it looks damn good, and as one of the poster at the top said, it does have that wow factor, more so than appletv. personally i would just hide a regular comp somewhere behind or under but this is a personal top choice if you have the money to burn. apple fanboys and sony haters can stop. its a fucking company, its not your relative you dont have to defend or shit on everything they do. geez.
Whenever a company 1-ups Apple in design its not surprising to see apple psychos with hurt pride come and bash something. My first thought when seeing this article was that there would be some stupid unprovoked Apple fanboy comments.
I very much looking forward to having this thing vaccuum my living room whilst burning bootleg DVD's. My only question is, which level cooks the rice? And can I sync the rice-cooking with my Blackberry to ensure my broccoli is perfectly steamed every time?
...and what about Waffles? Will my kids have to use Windows Vista or is this thing backwards-compatible?
But I don't room for another end table?!!?
Sony makes wedding cakes now!?
I mean come on Sony, people HAVE CABINETS FOR FRICK SAKE!!! How can a two tier layered cake or hat box FIT IN A RECTANGULAR CABINET!?!? Fricking morons, I swear Sony is very quickly becoming a tired out lesser quality Bang and Olufsen with overpriced niche items for those very few individuals.
coming to japan in 3-4 days , i saw this thing in selfridges the otherday at the sony stand.
@TWilly: My thoughts exactly