Sony VAIO PCV-RS720G Desktop PC (Intel Pentium 4 Processor 530, 512 MB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW Dbl Layer, DVD-ROM Drive)

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointed with Sony!
Review: Bought this computer 2 weeks ago from Best Buy directly. Although the computer is pretty easy to use in most cases, we found there was no user guide or any warranty information that came with it. Talked to the store manager & he claimed Sony does not give much information of their products any more. What?? So, I called Sony to inquire about this but got no satisfaction. Looks like the support is lacking too! The main purpose why we picked the more expensive Sony over all rest is because we have had great luck with 3 different Sony products in the past. Well, no more! This may be the last Sony I will ever buy!

Rating:
Summary: Sony Over Promises and Under Delivers -- WARNING!!!
Review: Can't Play Half Life 2 and many other popular games due to poor design! -- Graphics capabilites are sub-par.-- Too much marketing hype and not enough substance!

I bought this computer primarily due to the belief that it was somewhat future-proofed. I spent a little extra upfront because it had some neat bells and whistles (DVR), lots of ports (USB and Firewire), good speed (3GHz), good memory (512MB+), and the purported ability to handle the demanding graphics of today's applications and "most 3D" requirements. WORST CASE: I could always upgrade video capabilities using the new PCI-Express expansion slot.

Well...don't I have egg on my face!

I immediately wanted to try some of the latest games on the market (e.g., Half Life 2). I bought the game, loaded it, and quickly found out the computer wouldn't play it. After many painful and unhelpful "run-arounds" with Sony and Intel non-support, I learned that many of today's games require a technology built into the hardware of the graphics controller. The PCV-RS720G computer with its "integrated graphics" doesn't support that hardware technology. So the games won't run. (NOTE: For those that care, it is called Hardware Transform and Lighting. The 720G's integrated solution performs T&L in software, which many games do not support.)

But never fear...I am a clever guy...I bought the PC because it had the ability to expand video capabilities via the PCI-E slot. RIGHT?...Well, this is only partly true. Sure, there is a slot for an upgraded video card that will support the new games. BUT (and this is a big BUT) PCI-E cards require at least 300W power and typically 350-450W. Low-and-behold, the SONY only comes with 295W power supply (PSU).

Well, I just need to swap out the PSU, right? Wrong! It turns out, to my great chagrin, that not only will replacing the PSU void my warranty but also no 350W PSU exists on the market that will fit into the case. Turns out (and this is not a Sony-Only thing) that Sony had a PSU specially built so it fit snuggly in their VAIO cases. The PSUs are completely different dimensions than standard PSUs. Due to the space in the case, you can't even rig a standard PSU to fit. Frickin' Fantastic!

They give you a PCI-E slot that you can't use because they didn't have the forethought to provide a PSU with enough power. Kind of like being half pregnant!

The only way I have surmised to be able to use the PCI-E slot is to buy a new case (with proper PSU) and move all the components from the VAIO into the new case. Simple for some, but a challenging, not to mention risky, endeavor for me.

So here I am with a computer that I thought would allow me to dip my toe into gaming. In fact what I got was an over-priced (albeit pretty) run-of-the-mill desktop computer.

MORAL OF THIS STORY! Don't be fooled by the hype. If future-proofed is what you are looking for, find a different PC. If run-of-the-mill is what you need save your money and buy a different vendors machine. The SONY Desktop brand comes with gotchas around every corner, minimal documentation, ineffective support, and a non-standard set of components all at a premium price.

I wish I had chosen differently.

Rating:
Summary: Gmans review
Review: I see that this got some bad reviews from people. However for the first bad review if your system is not what it should be i'd say sending it back would be the smart thing to do. For the second bad thing said yes I know it won't play all the new games. I have 1 game I got that didn't work on my old windows 98 computer and it is star wars episode 1 pod racer. I have a ps2, Xbox, Game cube, Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS so im good with games. I have had 2 computers in my life im only 19. The first one my grandparents bought me in september 1998 and I just bought this one. If you want to be able to play games with no problem check out alienware http://www.alienware.com or dell http://www.dell.com. The companys both have systems that will play any game. If you want a computer for school or work or video editing or just to search the net and do everything else this computer is great. Everything about it is setup very well. I would however say allways go out and try any computer before you buy it and don't be to shy to ask the people that work there what the computer will do.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I've had a Sony Viao desktop for six months, and it's amazing. Yes it has a cheap mouse, speaker, keyboard, etc, but that's all easily replaced. If you're buying this computer it's for the recording ability. This is the best Media PC on the market in my opinion. The front analog inputs makes for very simple VHS tape transfer (although don't expect it to copy copyrighted movies to DVD...it won't). I have my satellite TV hooked up to it, and it works great. The DVD burning software is also a breeze. If you're looking for a Media PC, then definitely consider this one and not the HP, which lacks many of the standard features of the Sony.

Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware
Review: The computer shown is not what you will get from Amazon - it is completely different. No DVI monitor port, optical mouse, the box is not the same etc. no manual and support is thin.