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

You can also use the included NTSC (standard) and ATSC (digital) TV tuners in conjunction with Windows Vista Home Premium's Media Center capabilities to record programming (even in HDTV) directly to the VGX-TP20E/B's 500 GB hard drive. Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics card, with 256 MB of dedicated video memory, which will help you enjoy high-definition Blu-ray Disc playback capability, with support for 1080p HD video as well as up to 5.1 discrete channels of uncompressed digital audio. The Blu-ray system is backwards-compatible with standard DVDs and CDs, enabling you to enjoy your digital library for years to come. The optical drive can also write a full range of disc formats, including dual-layer DVD discs.

Frequently accessed features such as the optical drive, USB ports and multi-card reader are located on the front of the unit, hidden behind a curved slide-away panel, while constantly-connected terminals are hidden from sight on the back of the unit. For optimized video output to your LCD or plasma HDTV, it provides an HDMI connection that can transmit uncompressed 1080p video and 5.1-channel surround sound via a single cable.

Optimal cooling design and insulated hard drive keeps the unit whisper-quiet and cool, making it ideal for the living room. Under the hood, VGX-TP20E/B is powered by the 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which offers a super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed and extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed and reduces power requirements. It also features 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), 54g wireless networking (802.11b/g), multi-format Memory Stick reader, and a Secure Digital memory card slot.

The Basics

• Processor: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 45nm Penryn series Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which has a 2.10 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. And you'll be able to encode video on-the-go and watch HD movies with Intel HD Boost.

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The ginormous 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM) provides more than enough capacity for storing a large audio and video library, as well as extra space required for video editing. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1024 MB DDR2) will satisfy many users, but this PC's two DIMM slots have a maximum 4 GB RAM capacity--perfect for high-end video editing and 3D gaming. The additional capacity helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card.

• DVD/CD Drive: This Sony Living Room PC is capable of playing back Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning clarity, as well as playing your current library of purchased and burned disc content. This notebook can also write standard DVD and CD media. The BD drive offers a 2x speed for reading BD-R/RE discs and a 1.6x BD-R/RE DL (dual layer) read speed. It also offers the following write speeds for standard DVD and CD discs: 2.4x DVD+R DL, 2x DVD-R DL, 8x for single-layer DVD R, 4x DVD RW, 8x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, and 5x for DVD-RAM.

• Keyboard & Mouse: Ergonomically designed to fit comfortably on your lap, the lightweight wireless keyboard with built-in touchpad also boasts a series of hot buttons including a web browser launch key, zoom in/out buttons and two additional programmable keys.

It also includes a high-definition digital cable tuner with NTSC (standard) and ATSC (HD) support. The integrated audio card is compatible with Intel High Definition Audio, and an S/PDIF digital audio output is included. And the BraviaSync function integrates your Sony Bravia HDTV with this Living Room PC for one-touch control of both components.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This desktop has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks, enabling you to access the Internet and other computers on your home LAN without having to connect via Ethernet (though a 10/100 Ethernet port is also provided). For upgrading, this Living Room PC offers two PCI slots (1 available) and one x16 PCI Express slot (occupied by the graphics card). It offers the following multimedia and I/O ports:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals (4-pin connector on front)
• 1 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
• 1 VGA monitor out
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF digital audio out (for connecting to a home theater receiver for 5.1-channel surround sound)
• Memory Stick slot (supports optional Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, and Memory Stick DUO media)
• Secure Digital memory card slot (also compatible with MMC cards)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Sony Click to DVD (for easy DVD creation)

Dimensions & Weight
This PC measures 10.63 inches in diameter and 3.58 inches high, and it weighs 8.16 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the VGX-TP20E/B Living Room PC, remote control (with batteries), wireless keyboard, HDMI cable, HDMI-DVI adapter, wireless antenna, AV cable adapter, RF cable, AC adapter, USB external ATSC TV tuner, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty, and Sony offers 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance.