Dr Gadget - Sony VAIO VGX-TP20E/B TP Living Room PC (Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Blu Ray Drive, Vista Premium) Black

	List Price: $1,649.99 Our Price: $1,508.65 Your Save: $ 141.34 ( 9% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: Sony
Average Customer Rating:
Batteries Included: 1 Binding: Personal Computers Brand: Sony Color: Black CPU Manufacturer: Intel CPU Speed: 2.1 CPU Type: Intel Core Duo EAN: 0027242737754 Feature: Futuristically styled round, white multimedia PC for use in your living room/entertainment center Hard Disk Size: 500 Label: Sony Manufacturer: Sony Model: VGX-TP20E/B Processor Count: 2 Publisher: Sony Release Date: 2008-03-25 Studio: Sony System Memory Size: 2000 System Memory Type: DDR2 SDRAM Variation Description: Black
Features Futuristically styled round, white multimedia PC for use in your living room/entertainment center 2.10 GHz "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, 500 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM (4 GB max), Blu-Ray Disc playback (as well as DVD and CD burning) Integrated NTSC (standard) and ATSC (digital) TV tuners, HDMI audio/video output 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics with up to 1023 MB of available memory Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities); includes wireless keyboard and remote
Accessories Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 Quicken Deluxe 2009 Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 Norton Internet Security 2009
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Great design, BUT... Comment: Ok, I loved the design/form factor of this PC, among other things but you can see that on the pictures and the product specs so I'll focus on the things you CAN'T tell from the product description. The included external tuner and antenna is in fact ATSC and NTSC, which means it supports digital and analog signals over the air. However, the VHF/UHF input port supports only analog signals, so you can't say good-bye to your set-top box. Another thing, it does not include recovery discs for the operating system or device drivers. Instead there's a VAIO application that creates those discs BUT it does not support Dual Layer (DL) DVD's. The application gives you the option to use a DL DVD or 2 single-layer DVD's. Trust me, DL is not supported, at least not by the recovery application. Also, it does include a slot for a security cable lock, a must-have in laptops and very nice to have on a small desktop like this one. However, it's located on the back of the unit in a position that makes it impossible to place the lock and connect the pc to a monitor at the same time, making it useless. One other thing, just so you know, the wireles LAN antenna is screwed in counterclockwise, unlike every other connector on the pc (or any other connector in the world, for that matter). I hope you find this review helpful, I don't regret the purchase, I do like this pc... a lot! But I think it's important to let everyone know of these details before they go ahead and get it. Customer Rating: Summary: Requires some tech-proficiency, but awesome product Comment: If you know a little about computers, particularly audio and video drivers, then you will love this product! Customer Rating: Summary: really a 3.5 rating Comment: I'm still in the process of trying to hook it up to my InFocus projector and Sony surround sound system ... but I'm an amature so hooking it up should be possible, but so far I've not be able to get sound through it yet ... but I'm persistent, so will keep trying different combinations till it works. There are no instructions on how to hook it up to a projector (but I guess that is normal). What isn't normal though is it not coming with ANY instruction manuel or operating system back up disks. All it had was a small pamphlet on tv hook up and labeling some of the parts. Why no OS Back Up disks? Was this just an oversite, or does this not come with them? Customer Rating: Summary: Info comment about previous review Comment: I just checked the specs at the Sony website. The TP25 is described: TV Tuner : High Definition digital cable tuner with CableCARD(tm)8, ATSC and NTSC support And the price is $3000 Customer Rating: Summary: Very Cool Device -- But No Digital Cable Support Comment: I really like this product in every way but one. I bought it to aggregate all of my digital music, pictures, and video with my television in my living room. It does all that and more (e.g. supports internet radio, internet TV, gives up to date sports scores, etc) with one important exception -- it is not "digital cable ready". What that means is that you will not be able to get this thing to work with a digital cable tuner with a cableCARD. In otherwords, if you are getting digital cable with HD programming, and you plan to replace your set top box with this thing and a cableCARD, it won't fit the bill. It comes with an antenna that will enable you to receive the standard HD channels over the air (e.g. NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, PBS...). You can also get regular cable through it. But not cableCARD based digital cable. I believe that in order to get cableCARD support, you have to upgrade to the TP25, which is a whopping $3000 (though I'm not 100% sure about that). Oddly, nowhere on the web have I seen this called out--I had to learn it for myself, after ordering a $300 digital cable tuner from Sony, havnig the cable company install a cableCARD in it, only to have the computer tell me "Your computer is not digital cable ready. You will not be able to set it up for use with acableCARD." So, if you can't live without digital cable, look elsewhere. Otherwise, I highly recommend this product. More Reviews
Editorial Reviews: The well-rounded VAIO(R) TP20 Home Theater PC with Blu-ray Disc technology is a super-powerful entertainment PC for your TV. Featuring analog and digital TV tuners and DVR capabilities, the VAIO(R) TP20 Home Theater PC with a massive 500GB hard drive lets you store up to 50 hours of HD programming for on-demand enjoyment. View pictures, DVDs and stunning Blu-ray Disc HD videos on your TV. Backed by the next-generation Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, the VAIO(R) TP20 Home Theater PC is packed with all the power you need to surf the web, watch viral video and view and record HD programming on your big screen TV. Browse the web and e-mail from your sofa using the built-in 802.11b/g WiFi, Wireless Keyboard and Remote Control. Pre-installed with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium with a spectacular new look, instant Search, built-in Windows Media Center, and automated PC security features. NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT with 256MB dedicated Video Memory with up to 1023MB shared TV Tuner with NTSC and ATSC support Blu-Ray Disc Read BD-R/-RE/-ROM/DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer Intel High Definition Audio 802.11b/g Wireless 10/100Base-TX Ethernet Built-in Memory Stick(R) Pro and Memory Stick(R) Duo with MagicGate(TM) Card Reader Built-in Secure Digital (SD) media slot Back ports - 4 x USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, Headphone, Microphone, S/PDIF Output, IR Outputs, VGA, HDMI, RJ-45 Expansion slots - 2 x PCI (one available), PCI Express x16 (occupied) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 10.63? Diameter x 3.58? Height Approximate Unit Weight - 8.16 Pounds Monitor is not included