It's a good value, all the way around
Written: Jul 18 '02 (Updated Jul 18 '02)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Quality of Tech Support: |
 |
|
|
Pros: If you need to do video, this is your machine--everything built-in.
Cons: Maybe a little too application-specific. How could you not include MS Office?
The Bottom Line: Outstanding technical support (great if you aren't sure about something), lots of features, easy to use and reasonably priced. What else is there?
|
|
|
| scientist232's Full Review: Sony VAIO Digital Studio PCV-RX540 PC Desktop |
I've been designing web sites on my old 486 PC running at 433 MHz (a real screamer just a few years back). I wanted to get into video production without spending any bodily appendages and found the Sony VAIO PCV-RX540 on an auction site, factory refurbished and warranted, for under $500.00.
When the box arrived I quickly opened it to find a rather hefty set of speakers (by comparison to the little squeakers to which I'd been listening), keyboard, mouse, documentation and restore CD's and the computer itself. I don't know why but a computer that weighs in the neighborhood of 40 pounds gives me a feeling of sturdy, well-built construction. It didn't feel cheap.
Once set up I noticed a problem with the sound--it didn't have any. After wading through registration and several levels of phone rerouting I spoke with a technical representative named Curt who was patient, technically competent and very thorough. Curt stayed on the line for at least an hour while we walked through every possible setup and/or software issue that might have caused the sound to malfunction. Turned out the computer had to be sent back to Sony's service center (FedEx both ways at Sony's expense) but they replaced the motherboard and zipped it back to me. I knew the computer was a refurb and the chances of something needing work was significant but Sony's tech and repair people are golden.
When looking to buy a new computer my son insisted we find one with a DVD player (a RW might have been nice, but it wouldn't have been in my budget). The speakers did, in fact, have excellent sound--so good that we had to hook up a Y-connector so my son could use them with the old computer.
The CD-RW drive was a real treat. It's a breeze to use, just drag the files onto the drive's icon and click on "write these files..." I like to keep tasks a simple as possible with as little learning curve as possible. This computer was made for me.
The operating system was Windows XP home edition. This took some getting used to but that's an issue for MS--not Sony. I don't like the idea that the computer knows more about what I want to do than I do but that seems to be the premise upon which the operating system was built. Oh, well, this apparently constitutes progress.
When I get ready to capture and edit video I'll make use of the two firewire ports that come standard (a four-pin connection on the front and a six-pin on the back). Also included are USB ports (2), serial and parallel ports. The 60 Mb HDD is partioned into two drives, a 16 Gb drive with most of the applications and the boot up stuff and a 44 Gb drive to store the large video files I'll capture.
What I found a little annoying was the lack of non-media related software. Whatever you might think of Bill Gates and his empire MS Office is pretty standard software and you're "just getting by" without it. Yes, I know StarOffice or it's recent incarnation are freeware and do many of the same tasks but it's just not the same. My solution was to use the built-in 10/100 ethernet NIC to make the new computer be friends with the old one and share data and programs. It works but I have to believe Sony could have sprung for the extra software.
Bottom line, at least for what I paid, it's an excellent value: fast enough to capture and edit video, big enough and fast enough to store the enormous video files, inexpensive enough that I parted with the cash, connected enough to talk nice with my old computer. Most importantly, unlike other computer companies I've had the displeasure of working with, Sony has earned my business with their technical support people. I know they must want my business.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 495
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Celeron
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
scientist232
|
|
Member: David
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Reviews written: 59
Trusted by: 16 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.