Derrick
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- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
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- 5,085
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This PC system is best suited to an auxiliary role, or for the user who has no specialised usage in mind. It handles video well, and is strong on network connectivity.
Convenience and simplicity – top keywords in lifestyle technology. It has been quite a while since PCs were last solely the province of tech-geeks – these days, they are pretty much indispensable whoever you are. However, not all of us have any interest in fiddling and tinkering, and even connecting cables can be an unnecessary hassle. Furthermore, from an aesthetic point of view, integrated products are neater and more attractive-looking. After all, who wants a monster of parts and wires hulking in the lounge?
Yet, media centre PCs are increasingly a key element in the digital home. Also, with the Internet becoming ever more accessible, it is desirable to have an online-capable system to enjoy the information superhighway. As a result, a category of “all-in-one PCs” has developed, largely by expanding on the concept of the laptop computer, but making it more ergonomic while sacrificing mobility.
Such is this particular system. While it is no longer portable in the sense that a notebook is (it has no internal battery, and is certainly too bulky to lug around casually on a daily basis), it retains the small footprint characteristic of notebooks, consuming little desktop space, yet delivers a full-size widescreen display, and a ‘proper‘ keyboard. This keyboard is of an unusual design, but comfortable to use, and includes some features that are a legacy of notebook technology – specifically, an ’Fn‘ key that grants access to functions such as screen brightness, volume, and ejecting the optical drive. The latter, oddly, is a DVD drive, and not a Blu-ray drive, which is surprising considering that this is a Sony product.
The system’s overall styling is rather attractive. In terms of functionality, things get a bit ‘confusing’ – in fact, it’s as if this product has an identity crisis. It would make a perfect LAN-gaming rig, given that it’s a lot easier to carry around than a full desktop system, except that its GeForce 9300M graphics card is too weak for that. It would make a good media centre PC, except that it lacks any video outputs (no VGA, no DVI, no HDMI). It is ideal as an office desktop system, though is a tad over-styled and overpriced for that role, except perhaps in a home office.
Any of these roles it fills adequately, but not exceptionally. It does boast multimedia card readers, several USB ports, and both gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi, so in terms of connectivity it does well. In fact, this perhaps defines this system’s role as being an Internet PC and media-handling PC. Also, if its screen is sufficient for video enjoyment (say, for example, in the bedroom, rather than in the lounge), then it can be a credible media and general-purpose PC.
Convenience and simplicity – top keywords in lifestyle technology. It has been quite a while since PCs were last solely the province of tech-geeks – these days, they are pretty much indispensable whoever you are. However, not all of us have any interest in fiddling and tinkering, and even connecting cables can be an unnecessary hassle. Furthermore, from an aesthetic point of view, integrated products are neater and more attractive-looking. After all, who wants a monster of parts and wires hulking in the lounge?
Yet, media centre PCs are increasingly a key element in the digital home. Also, with the Internet becoming ever more accessible, it is desirable to have an online-capable system to enjoy the information superhighway. As a result, a category of “all-in-one PCs” has developed, largely by expanding on the concept of the laptop computer, but making it more ergonomic while sacrificing mobility.
Such is this particular system. While it is no longer portable in the sense that a notebook is (it has no internal battery, and is certainly too bulky to lug around casually on a daily basis), it retains the small footprint characteristic of notebooks, consuming little desktop space, yet delivers a full-size widescreen display, and a ‘proper‘ keyboard. This keyboard is of an unusual design, but comfortable to use, and includes some features that are a legacy of notebook technology – specifically, an ’Fn‘ key that grants access to functions such as screen brightness, volume, and ejecting the optical drive. The latter, oddly, is a DVD drive, and not a Blu-ray drive, which is surprising considering that this is a Sony product.
The system’s overall styling is rather attractive. In terms of functionality, things get a bit ‘confusing’ – in fact, it’s as if this product has an identity crisis. It would make a perfect LAN-gaming rig, given that it’s a lot easier to carry around than a full desktop system, except that its GeForce 9300M graphics card is too weak for that. It would make a good media centre PC, except that it lacks any video outputs (no VGA, no DVI, no HDMI). It is ideal as an office desktop system, though is a tad over-styled and overpriced for that role, except perhaps in a home office.
Any of these roles it fills adequately, but not exceptionally. It does boast multimedia card readers, several USB ports, and both gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi, so in terms of connectivity it does well. In fact, this perhaps defines this system’s role as being an Internet PC and media-handling PC. Also, if its screen is sufficient for video enjoyment (say, for example, in the bedroom, rather than in the lounge), then it can be a credible media and general-purpose PC.