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August 27, 2007 4:20 PM PDT

Sony's new Vaio LT19U: some all-in-one firsts

by Rich Brown
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Update: It took us a minute to figure out that the Blu-ray region hadn't been set in the software. That and the sheer length of this review mean you should look for it tomorrow. Almost done.

Sony's sleek new all-in-one does a few things the iMac can't.

(Credit: CNET)

Apple's new iMac remains the all-purpose all-in-one to beat, but Sony's just-announced Vaio LT19U has three features we've never seen in a PC/monitor combo before. This $2,899 model (an update to last year's Vaio LS1) has a Blu-ray burner, a pull-out sled for adding a second hard drive, and a VESA-standard wall mount input. It also comes with an external (boo) ATI Digital Cable Tuner (i.e. CableCard), as well as a host of other features. As follows:

  • 22-inch widescreen LCD (1,680x1,050)
  • 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 CPU
  • 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
  • 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive
  • 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8400 GT graphics chip
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • 802.11n wireless networking
  • Built-in ATSC and NTSC TV tuner
  • Built-in 1.3-megapixel Webcam
  • 3-watt stereo speakers, and built in 5-watt subwoofer
  • Various USB, Ethernet, removable media and audio ports

Pop off the back panel to reveal a removable drive cage for adding a second hard drive.

(Credit: CNET)

Sony also announced the Vaio LT15E, an $1,899 model with a standard-def DVD drive, a slower CPU and other reduced specs. We're not sure how that one will fare against Apple's cheaper, better-looking (although less wall-mountable) 24-inch iMac. But if you have money to blow and like the idea of a Blu-ray-capable PC on the wall of your office or bedroom, the $2,899 model might turn a lot of expensively groomed heads. We'll have our review up by the end of the day, so stay tuned for the full story.

Rich Brown reviews desktops and various other components and peripherals for CNET. E-mail Rich.
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Blue-ray but not HD?
by insightman August 27, 2007 9:05 AM PDT
What's the good of having Blue-ray and not 1080p resolution? (Don't bother me by saying I won't notice it with a small screen.) It should have a 24" panel like the iMac.
Reply to this comment
Ponder this...
by genotypewriter August 27, 2007 9:07 PM PDT
Yes, it's always better to have more but you're complaining about 1680x1050 on a 22" screen... even the 100"+ LCDs and plasmas have only 1920x1080.
Blue-ray but not HD?
by insightman August 27, 2007 9:05 AM PDT
What's the good of having Blue-ray and not 1080p resolution? (Don't bother me by saying I won't notice it with a small screen.) It should have a 24" panel like the iMac.
Reply to this comment
Ponder this...
by genotypewriter August 27, 2007 9:07 PM PDT
Yes, it's always better to have more but you're complaining about 1680x1050 on a 22" screen... even the 100"+ LCDs and plasmas have only 1920x1080.
Lets Be Real Here CNet (aka Apple Fanboys)
by TheRealTech August 27, 2007 1:27 PM PDT
Why is everybody comparing this to an iMac? It's nothing close to it...yeah, maybe its an all-in-one, but that's it.

Lets get this straight, I have a Vaio laptop and I just bought the new iMac, but im not a fanboy of either. Im as un-bias as there is. But having these 'geek' blogs being 90% Apple fanboys is appalling.

Let's do some real ccomparison between a PC+monitor (iMac) to a PC+TV+entertainment center (Vaio LT) if its even comparable. Now what does one have that the other doesnt??

Apple iMac ($3,548.00 WITH options)
-24 inch
-2.8 Intel Core 2 Extreme
*option for bluetooth keyboard WITHOUT numberpad
*option for wireless mouse
*option 1TB harddrive
*option for dial-up modem

Vaio LT19U ($2,899 WITHOUT options)
-style (i gotta give it to Vaio, no doubt)
-XBRITE-HiColor monitor (Bravia?)
-bluray
-bluray burner (this alone is worth it)
-a real remote control
-wireless keyboard
-wireless mouse
-VESA-standard wall mount input
-ATI Digital Cable Tuner
-dial-up modem lol
-3-watt stereo speakers, and built in 5-watt subwoofer
-Various USB, Ethernet, removable media and audio ports

*option for extra harddrive
*option for 4GB memory
Reply to this comment
Lets Be Real Here CNet (aka Apple Fanboys)
by TheRealTech August 27, 2007 1:27 PM PDT
Why is everybody comparing this to an iMac? It's nothing close to it...yeah, maybe its an all-in-one, but that's it.

Lets get this straight, I have a Vaio laptop and I just bought the new iMac, but im not a fanboy of either. Im as un-bias as there is. But having these 'geek' blogs being 90% Apple fanboys is appalling.

Let's do some real ccomparison between a PC+monitor (iMac) to a PC+TV+entertainment center (Vaio LT) if its even comparable. Now what does one have that the other doesnt??

Apple iMac ($3,548.00 WITH options)
-24 inch
-2.8 Intel Core 2 Extreme
*option for bluetooth keyboard WITHOUT numberpad
*option for wireless mouse
*option 1TB harddrive
*option for dial-up modem

Vaio LT19U ($2,899 WITHOUT options)
-style (i gotta give it to Vaio, no doubt)
-XBRITE-HiColor monitor (Bravia?)
-bluray
-bluray burner (this alone is worth it)
-a real remote control
-wireless keyboard
-wireless mouse
-VESA-standard wall mount input
-ATI Digital Cable Tuner
-dial-up modem lol
-3-watt stereo speakers, and built in 5-watt subwoofer
-Various USB, Ethernet, removable media and audio ports

*option for extra harddrive
*option for 4GB memory
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