Sony quietly launches VAIO TP1 Living Room PC

If you can force your brain to remember back to January, you may recall Sony's curiously designed TP1 HTPC. Interestingly enough, it seems that Sony has indeed launched the device and didn't even bother to tell anyone, but that doesn't mean you can't be brought up to speed. Be warned, however, that Living Room PC does not equate to high-end AV center, as this modestly-spec'd machine lacks an HD optical drive and CableCARD option. Internally, you'll find a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo chip, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 300GB 7,200RPM SATA hard drive, dual-layer DVD writer, ATSC / NTSC TV tuner, GMA 950 integrated graphics set, and HDMI / DVI / VGA outputs. Moreover, Sony included a 4-pin FireWire connector, audio in / out, four USB 2.0 ports, Memory Stick / SD slots, 802.11b/g, and Vista Home Premium to run the show. So if you're still intrigued by this ho hum (albeit Viiv-certified!) PC, you can snag it right now starting at $1,599.99.

[Via CNET]

[Homeboy @ Jul 26th 2007 6:31PM]

Looks very nice but I wished it was 500 bucks cheaper.

Since Sony hasn't bothered to put a blu-ray drive inside it, I would hook it up with Xbox HD-DVD player which has just been lowered to $179.

[Blackstar @ Jul 26th 2007 6:50PM]

So... Sony invented a Mac Mini that costs even more... and put a tuner in it?

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooook. Oh, I see... it's round instead of square. I see, I get it. That's why this is news.

[Poom @ Jul 27th 2007 4:04AM]

Oh my god... Blackstar, can I slap you? Please? Stop it with the "EVERYBODY COPIES APPLE!!!" attitude... seriously... I'm referring to the other posts down here too.

Anything in pure white come out -> "This is a copy of Apple !!!"

Anything with better spec than Apple something come out -> "This is just with some redundant crap! Look at the price! Apple's price is more reasonable!"

Apple adds any small detail to its next generation product -> "Wow! Apple, you really know how to improve your products"

-_-"

[Blackstar @ Jul 27th 2007 5:06PM]

Ok, Poom... your an idiot. That being said, no, you can't slap me. You can however slap yourself, hard. Maybe that will reset your brain so you can comprehend my post.

No where in it was there anything mentioned even remotely like what you are spewing verbal diarrhea over. I think someone is a bit oversensitive and needs hug. If you want to comment about what other people have posted, direct it to them. Don't pick me out of a group to spray your hate at.

What does 'being white' have anything to do with it? I did not even mention the computer's color, so that makes no sense right there.

It is redundant when you make the same device that someone else came out with a year ago but no where did I call anything 'crap'.

I think you need to step away from the keyboard until you get your reality check, grow up or both.

[kingofwale @ Jul 26th 2007 6:36PM]

for that price, You better put in a Blu-Ray driver.

[Milan @ Jul 26th 2007 6:43PM]

Is it just me or does this look a little like another small computer this other company makes?

[RedBull Runner @ Jul 26th 2007 10:18PM]

wow dan... where in that post did he say apple?

Why are people so fucking sensitive about this stuff. WHO CARES

STOP THINKING ANYONE CARES ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK

[Nick @ Jul 26th 2007 10:19PM]

@ Dan

#1 take a deep breath.. it's okay..
#2 unfortunately, yes if its white and is a small form factor people think it is a wanna be mac mini. Though a mac mini is much smaller than this.
#3 looks are subjective and some people, I am one of them, enjoy the look of the mac mini over this sony.

[Lor @ Jul 30th 2007 2:59PM]

"Anything using the exact same processor, ram and dedicated graphics chip specs I would say is making the exact same machine that Apple already sells for less"

wow... when apple moved to the x86 architecture they are copying the gazillion other OEM PCs in the world? according to your logic they are.

[Dan @ Jul 26th 2007 8:29PM]

So anything that's white and has a small form factor is suddenly considered to be copying Apple? Sony's computer looks a lot better than Apple's ugly Mac Mini.

[Blackstar @ Jul 27th 2007 3:18PM]

Lol... um, no. Anything using the exact same processor, ram and dedicated graphics chip specs I would say is making the exact same machine that Apple already sells for less. It has nothing to do with copying and everything to do with the achieving the same results. But if you want to spend 300-500 bucks more on an aesthetically pleasing computer case and tuner card, by all means do so.

[Samo @ Jul 26th 2007 6:51PM]

Y''know, I like the look/shape/feel of this computer... It's very curvy (d'uh! it's a circle!), and small, and it would look nice in my living room, (better if it was in black though).

I want a PC linked to my TV in my living room, so no need to super specs (lower resolutions), but I agree with Homeboy, it's a tad pricey for this spec; Doesn't a Shuttle cost less for a same-ish spec?

BTW, if anyone can point me to a e-retailer selling cheapo components for a small PC sans monitor (that can ship to the UK!), please let me know :D

[dj-kenpo @ Jul 27th 2007 12:54AM]

why not just pick up an xbox1 and put a 320gb drive + xbmc inside? they're cheap these days.

[narco @ Jul 26th 2007 6:52PM]

I just wish Sony would sell that keyboard separately. That'd work great for hooking up my powerbook to my projector.

[ilh @ Jul 26th 2007 11:50PM]

Get 1 of those half keyboards. They're pretty simple to use.

[Samo @ Jul 26th 2007 6:53PM]

Y''know, I like the look/shape/feel of this computer... It's very curvy (d'uh! it's a circle!), and small, and it would look nice in my living room, (better if it was in black though).

I want a PC linked to my TV in my living room, so no need to super specs (lower resolutions), but I agree with Homeboy, it's a tad pricey for this spec; Doesn't a Shuttle cost less for a same-ish spec?

BTW, if anyone can point me to a e-retailer selling cheapo components for a small PC sans monitor (that can ship to the UK!), please let me know :D

[Alex @ Jul 26th 2007 6:55PM]

So because it's white, it must look like an Apple? Didn't know that Apple copyrighted the color as well...

[Ryan Wagner @ Jul 26th 2007 6:57PM]

I think it looks pretty sweet, and the specs are nice too. I just don't see myself spending $1600 on the thing.

[anthony @ Jul 26th 2007 6:59PM]

you guys are hilarious. when/if a mac were to come out with the exact specs you guys would be like ...

"holy sh*t, mac has reinvented the media center! check it out, this majestic art piece of a computer has an ample 2048 mb of ram - enough for all your entire iLife suite of creative, world-altering applications. (which we hear will be releasing a new version sometime this year - more on that tomorrow, the next day, and the next day.)"

instead you label it as "ho hum". i agree, it is not some earth shattering specimen of a PC, that is why Sony did not have a parade to announce it
- but seriously, to deny that you would spend $2500 for this computer if it was branded differently would be to deny that Steve Jobs is your God.
- you should really be nicer with your "ho hums" if it is so ho hum, why did you even bother to post something about it on the blog. Could it be because it is Sony?

[adamgrounds @ Jul 27th 2007 7:00PM]

does it vacuum the floor?

[Aaron @ Jul 27th 2007 8:24AM]

It's ho-hum because, case included, that is not worth over $750 in parts.

[RedBull Runner @ Jul 26th 2007 10:26PM]

Look, I think what they were referring to as "ho hum" is the computer as a HTPC... look at the other commercial HTPC options out there. there are a LOT more, much better options available. Also, there are a lot of other gadget news sites around... maybe you should see what they have to say and stay away from engadget since you hate them so much. who gives a shit if they like apple computers.

Also, where in that article did they say ANYTHING about Apple?
Please, shut your mouth. You are attracting flies.


fucking trolls... -.-

[Craig @ Jul 26th 2007 7:30PM]

what i really want is a pc that costs around $1,000 with enough power to handle HD. i wouldn't expect such a pc to include an HD optical drive or cable card support, but i would want the ability to eventually upgrade to those components when it's cost effective to do so.

either that, or give the xbox 360 or ps3 the ability to stream HD video and music in a wide variety of formats... maybe then i wouldn't have to invest in a separate media pc

[Michael Knutson @ Jul 26th 2007 7:34PM]

Funny, the first thing that I thought of was that "roomba" vacuum cleaner. Imagine, if you will a computer that follows you around the house, *and* cleans!

[Aaron @ Jul 26th 2007 7:54PM]

Michael, that was FUNNY!

But I also agree with other posters. I think it would have been better in black to match the color of the PS3. They'd make a nice pair. And if you had a PS3, you wouldn't need the Blu-Ray which bring me to - why does the computer cost so much???????????????

It should be cheaper. Sony is still trying to be the Apple of the PC world by packaging average stuff in a pretty white case and charging 2x as much as they should.

There, I said it.

[darkzero63 @ Jul 27th 2007 2:27AM]

I was thinking the same thing! LOL.. Guess great minds think alike.

[hassan @ Jul 26th 2007 8:04PM]

I think the price difference to a Apple's MacMini is minimal. You pay for the MacMini (1.83GHz and 2GB with SuperDrive; about $870) with external 300GB FW-HD ($270) and external AV-capture solution (about $100) and Logitech Bluetooth keyboard with mousepad (about $250) around $1500, too.

So... "advantage" of the MacMini solution would just be the internal 80GB HD, which the MacMini has, but you do have unfortunately a little tower (about 5 inches high) of stacked technology from different vendors to do the same thing like the Sony VAIO.

But... at the end of the day, it is mostly a question of religion (Mac or PC? Apple or Sony?) and how many cables do I want to connect to the back of the solution. I have the described Apple solution for that price since 6 month at home and happy with it, it looks better in my living room than something round, anyway, but I definitely think it is a nice solution from Sony.

[michael @ Jul 26th 2007 9:06PM]

"it is mostly a question of religion (Mac or PC? Apple or Sony?)"

I wasn't aware that Apple or Sony was a religion.

That aside, I still wouldn't buy this. It's just too expensive. Like typical Apple and Sony stuff, it's always expensive to get high quality.

Maybe for around $1,000 would seem like a better price.

But for now, I'll continue to use my Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center. It works great, and it's awesome.

[Dan Katz @ Jul 26th 2007 8:09PM]

At first I couldn't figure out why there was a keyboard, because I thought it was a toilet seat.

[Michael @ Jul 26th 2007 9:55PM]

Well it is called the TP1 (Toilet Paper 1) and it's shaped like a round white roll of toilet paper. So...

Honestly though I do like the design, keyboard is pretty cool too. Thumbs up for design, poor choice for a same though and I would never buy it for that price.

[PS3waaah @ Jul 26th 2007 8:21PM]

@alex
change your diapers you fucking child.

[i luv nose candy @ Jul 26th 2007 8:38PM]

Holy Crap! It's a computer? Oh oh, I just lifted the lid and took a dump in it!
All kidding aside, it does look like a toilet with a lift up lid for use on camping trips...

[Jason @ Jul 26th 2007 8:41PM]

It is a little pricey and the round white look was probably not the best design option for a living room, but it does a have a wireless laptop style keyboard with built in trackpad. I would much rather surf the web from my sofa with this keyboard /trackpad versus a wireless mouse and keyboard.

[dav @ Jul 26th 2007 8:43PM]

I also wish that the keyboard was available separately. I like the integrated touchpad. I would get one!

As for cheap and HD-capable hardware... a low end Core processor and an 8600GT graphics card can handle 1080p without a problem. Not expensive at all.

[RedBull Runner @ Jul 26th 2007 10:32PM]

If you are looking for a bluetooth keyboard with an integrated touchpad, check out the Logitech DiNovo. Its an awesome keyboard, with a great recharging stand.

[Stan @ Jul 26th 2007 9:15PM]

Sony actually launched it back in mid June, so it's been available for a while, there was a press release too at some point....
I was actually quite surprised it was not priced too high, and if it had a Blu-ray drive (Japanese model of that computer has it plus a digital tuner add on) it would cost over $2500...

[kombizz @ Jul 27th 2007 12:02AM]

nice rounded shape which remind me those

[dap1mp13 @ Jul 27th 2007 12:13AM]

um, I saw this at J&R in NYC about a month ago....

[oki @ Jul 27th 2007 1:32AM]

I saw this in japan last month while i was out there. Kinda wandered why i didn't see it on engadget before. since im a nerdy reader that knows everything on engadget every 2 mins lol

[TowerTone @ Jul 27th 2007 9:57PM]

Actually, if this had a CableCard slot for a PVR function, it would be exactly what I am looking for in my living room. Minimalistic.

As far as the Mini, if it to be used a s a HTPC, you can do without a large hard drive if you are networking off of your main Mac. You can also use your Blutooth mouse and keyboard from that same computer to set it up, and then use the included remote after that. And no need for the DVD burning model, because if it is on a network, you can do that on the main Mac. So, all you need is the least expensive Mini, the extra RAM, and the extended warranty.

And to be uber-minimal,get the new Elgato dual tuner for networks.

[Martin Carlsson @ Jul 28th 2007 4:28AM]

I kind of like it. Since everyone is comparing it to the mini (which I have and love) I see a few improvements.

There is a HDMI port... That we like!
The keyboard is pretty neat with the touchpad on it... No more keyboard + mouse.
Mouseboard!

And yeah, kinda looks like those robotic vacuum cleaners! :) Roomba?

Still its a bit modest specced for that price, I would still go for a mini ;)

Flame me!

[Diddle @ Jul 28th 2007 5:06PM]

This is perfect! A cylindrical HTPC to go with all my other ... cylindrical ... home theatre ... WTF was Sony thinking?!!?

[Yami @ Aug 15th 2007 6:58PM]

Damn, that keyboard looks yummy.