Sony's 25.5-inch VAIO VGC-RT150Y all-in-one reviewed: pricey, but good

Sony's VAIO VGC-JS190J (you know, the little fellow of the bunch) managed to snag itself a pretty great review late last month, so it's no shock at all to see the bigger, sleeker and all-around better VGC-RT150Y land similar sentiments. The 25.5-inch unit was rolled out as part of a trio at CEDIA, and besides packing quite a bit of horsepower, this thing actually looks shockingly like a svelte LCD. Reviewers instantly fell in love with the expansive panel, beautiful array of ports, inbuilt HDTV tuner and Blu-ray burner, though reality began to set in when refocusing on the $3,999 list price. Sure, multimedia performance was above par, and it can easily be hung on a wall, but unless you've just got oodles of cash to burn (and have something against making donations), this one probably deserves a skip.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 8th 2008 8:17AM]

I have a Mac mini with 160 GB internal HD (500 Gig external), 4 Gigs DDR 2 RAM, 512 MB Graphic card, Intel Core2Duo @ 2.0Ghz. Connected to a 26" inch LG High-defination LCD TV and Altec Lancing FX5051 (5.1 surround sound) speakers.!!

Costs half the price than this !!!!!

[gaz_poole @ Oct 8th 2008 8:22AM]

a Mac Mini with a 512MB GPU???!

[ToTheioTragi @ Oct 8th 2008 8:29AM]

512 mb graphic card? on the mini?

[Patriks7 @ Oct 8th 2008 8:31AM]

Well evidently you dont get the point of this computer
First of all, your mini has an integrated graphics card, this has the 9xxx Nvidia
Second, this can have double your ram
Thirdly it has more than 6 times your hard drive space INSIDE of it
Last but not least it takes up way less space and has less cables

Oh and did I mention that it has a bluray burner? Which by the way your mini will never see

[jakem @ Oct 8th 2008 8:41AM]

In addition to all the comments above, this also comes with a monitor.

[noyp @ Oct 8th 2008 8:41AM]

Can you hang your mini on the wall?

[Kelmon @ Oct 8th 2008 8:44AM]

@noyp

Yes. 6-Inch nails are wonderful things...

[Kelmon @ Oct 8th 2008 8:49AM]

@Jash Sayani

Stupid question (perhaps in response to a stupid comment), but why did you choose to compare this with a Mac Mini? Surely the logical comparison is the Apple iMac or even that XPS thing that Dell makes. I realise that the Mini itself doesn't take up much space but the whole point of an all-in-one PC is that it's (wait for it) All-In-One, which a Mac Mini clearly isn't. I mean, are you going to compare this with a Dell Hybrid next?

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 8th 2008 10:50AM]

@Kelmon

This is a 25.5" inch computer, so its mainly for multimedia use and not for work. And a Mac mini is also a multimedia computer that is intentionally for connection to large LCD TVs and displays. And my mini has a better config than this one....

@Patriks7

My Macs config is very good for a multimedia computer. You dont need 8 Gig RAM for watch movies and playing Music and you dont need 1 Terrabyte of storage for all your multimedia. Besides, the 5.1 surround sound of the Altec Lansing FX5051 speakers make the multimedia computer more effective, rather than more RAM and storage !!!

[happy_penguin @ Oct 8th 2008 10:54AM]

Hmm, a little duct tape and you're set...


The linked article calls this "a professional-grade system—with a price to match". Of course you can do better with a non all-in-one system. But that isn't the point. This has a Blu-Ray drive, dual 500 GB hard disks, 8 gigs of RAM and enough processor and GPU power for video editing. Couple that to a monitor which they spoke very highly of and the value of this machine starts to become evident.

Read the article. This is for professionals who want the form factor of an all-in-one. It's not the average toy.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 8th 2008 11:21AM]

@ Jash Sayani
Well my point was that you were comparing two completely different types of computers.
Also a Mac mini can't have a 512 MB video card.
And you say 4 GB RAM and 1000 GB storage isn't enough?
Well I would have to disagree with you.
My MacBook has 4 GB and when I run real programs I get pretty close to using it all up.
Second I currently have a 320 GB internal drive which is full of data.
Then I have a second 320 GB portable external drive which has 20 GB left.
I also have a 1 TB drive sitting on my desk for Time Machine and all the other programs/movies/music that I can't fit onto my two hard drives.
So yah maybe for you 160 GB isn't enough but as you can see for some people over 1.5 TB isn't enough

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 8th 2008 1:54PM]

@Patriks7

Yeah, well, thats true. Everyone has different needs and different uses... But I am happy with my Mac mini setup...

Waiting to get a Macbook this christmas....

[Murphy Mac @ Oct 8th 2008 8:30AM]

Aesthetically pleasing, if they'd lose the Intel stickers ala 1994.

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Oct 8th 2008 8:48AM]

The mouse is making me nostalgic, too. And nauseous.

[Shinigami @ Oct 8th 2008 8:36AM]

Guess what? I don't have a Mac Mini. I have a great gaming rig and 30-inch monitor, and together I spent less than $4000 on it.
Verdict: overpriced.

[noyp @ Oct 8th 2008 8:44AM]

But is it pretty? This was designed to be more of an expensive decoration that happens to be a (rather well spec'd, but not for the price) computer than a hardcore gaming system.

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Oct 8th 2008 9:22AM]

Guess what? No one gives a shit what type of computer you have.

[Kelmon @ Oct 8th 2008 8:44AM]

I can only suggest that the designer had a fetish for sharp angles when designing this computer. Usually that isn't a problem but the mouse just looks painful. That said, if you can afford to spend 4 grand on a computer, you can probably find enough spare change to pay for a new mouse down the back of your sofa.

[ok_01 @ Oct 8th 2008 9:02AM]

That's a blatent rip-off of the Sinclair QL! ;)

http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/ql/ql.htm

[daaper @ Oct 8th 2008 11:29AM]

I must be missing something, because I don't see the similarity at all...are you being sarcastic?

[Cybergypsy @ Oct 8th 2008 9:17AM]

Its ugly like the last model better.....

[scoob @ Oct 8th 2008 9:33AM]

iMac > This.

End of.

[3dpenguin @ Oct 8th 2008 9:37AM]

This is OVER PRICED. For the same price you could have built a Dual QuadCore system with all the same components included and then went out and spent a few dollars more for a larger HDTV (which most people who would be looking at one of these probably already has) and got a far better computer. With Sony's recent track rating in CE and current profit margins they have some nerve charging for their tainted moniker.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 8th 2008 9:52AM]

Well evidently people buy these because like you said, they DON'T have to build them and they look really nice. This will probably a computer you would want a secretary to have on her table..

[Mp3 @ Oct 8th 2008 10:17AM]

By the way, you CAN'T get a TV with the resolution of the built in monitor on this PC. No matter how much you want to spend.

[3dpenguin @ Oct 8th 2008 12:27PM]

What 1920 x 1200?I think I'll take a 32" 1920 x 1080 (a true HD resolution) HDTV and a more powerful computer over this thing any day of the week.

[Cwild @ Oct 8th 2008 9:38AM]

it's a good thing so much work went into developing an aesthetically pleasing mouse.

[DssTrainer @ Oct 8th 2008 9:51AM]

hmm no touchscreen? That would complete the package... multitouch even.

[tim marshall @ Oct 8th 2008 10:35AM]

saw this in my local shop. as overpriced as it is damn i was tempted... u can get them with a 9600gt graphics card here in japan... thats plenty... oh and there is no chin... it looks just like a monitor with a slight bit of depth! Who needs a tv! or pvr! or blue ray player!

[g2ok @ Oct 8th 2008 11:04AM]

Why ??

It looks so 2003. Good luck with the BD burner...

For this price ($4k) you could get an iMac and a nice HDTV.
Sony has terrible support on PCs - Stay away from Sony.

[Abbey @ Oct 8th 2008 11:21AM]

Nice job Sony, continue the price gouging. Why wouldn't anyone just get a macmini, iMac and stream via AppleTV?

[Chaz_UK @ Oct 8th 2008 11:23AM]

How long till the obligatory "OSX Hacked onto VAIO VGC-RT150Y" story hits engadget like its some kind of miracle?

[Hdgmansurinter Workerjustice @ Oct 8th 2008 11:34AM]

Whoo..!! Ouch..$$

[G @ Oct 8th 2008 11:47AM]

Am I the only mofo around here that actually likes the mouse?

[jay @ Oct 8th 2008 12:30PM]

Yet people still harp on about Macs being pricey, and that you can comparable systems for way less.

Well here's an ACTUALLY comparable system (Bar the BluRay) and it costs a flipping packet. Mac options are far more attractive and better integrated and don't rely on Sony Software/hardware integration (Usually awful) or Windows (Always awful)!

A better effort from Sony but still no cigar!

Tim marshall - No Chin but bloody big cheeks. I'm a chin man!

Bring on the flames...!

[charles @ Oct 9th 2008 4:38PM]

I've been looking for a wireless keyboard/trackpad combo like that for a while. That's all I would buy myself.