Sony VAIO XL3
The Sony VAIO XL3 is a multimedia desktop PC with high-definition video output from cable TV and the Blu-ray Disc player/recorder. The device features 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 processor, 2 GB RAM, dual 250 GB hard drives (for 500 GB total), Integrated NTSC (standard) and ATSC (digital) TV tuners, HDMI audio/video output, Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, and Nvidia GeForce 7600 GTL graphics card.
REVIEWS
CNET reviews the Sony VAIO XL3 (rating: 7.3/10) and writes;
“The good: Sleek, quiet home theater PC; wide variety of input and output options; smooth Blu-ray playback; well-thought-out remote control. The bad: Questionable bang for the buck from the core hardware; single CableCard tuner means reduced PVR capability; wireless keyboard needs some refining. The bottom line: If you’re inclined to spend a lot for silence and slim design, Sony’s new XL3 Digital Living System delivers better than any other full-size home theater PC we’ve seen. If you’re looking for customizability and the most bang for your buck, other vendors have this system beat.”
FEATURES
At The Center Of Your Entertainment Center
Light up your living room with the flush, understated design of the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System. Designed to integrate with your living room entertainment system, the VAIO XL3 is a full HD 1080 Media Center PC with Blu-ray Disc technology and DVR functionality. Watch Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning high definition (HD) clarity and record content to a single 25GB or 50GB Blu-ray Disc (MP2 format only). Supporting CableCARD technology, the VAIO XL3 also lets you watch and record live TV, including high definition and premium channels. And, it’s easy to use with a wireless keyboard and remote control, HDMI for single-cable connectivity and Windows Vista Home Premium with Media Center functionality for easy management of your pictures, music and videos.
Looking Good In Your Home Theater
Energize your living room with the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System. About the size of a traditional stereo receiver, this rack-style multimedia PC bridges the gap between your computing and entertainment worlds, adding an exciting new PC dimension to your home theater experience. With its sleek brushed aluminum and smoked acrylic front and optimized cooling for near-silent operation, the VAIO XL3 blends neatly and quietly into living room entertainment centers and home theaters.
Watch TV How And When You Want
Enjoy high-quality TV with the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System. It’s TV on your terms. With built-in NTSC and ATSC TV tuners and CableCARD support, you can watch and record Analog and Digital TV directly to the hard drive for on-demand viewing (includes premium and over-the-air HD content). The VAIO XL3 Digital Living System is also Digital cable ready. It features an OCUR receiver, which is a Digital cable receiver and interface that accepts a TV CableCARD. The CableCARD removable security module, which must be obtained from your local service provider, allows you to access the Digital cable channels to which you subscribe without the need for a set-top-box. Windows Vista Home Premium with Media Center functionality acts as your DVR, letting you record and catalog your favorite TV programs to the hard drive. These innovative tools let you consolidate your entertainment center by replacing your HD DVR and Digital cable set-top-box with the VAIO XL3, the ultimate entertainment PC for your living room.
An Amazing Capacity For Entertainment
The VAIO XL3 Digital Living System isn’t just for watching TV or movies. You can connect it to the optional VGP-XL1B3 (sold separately) 200 disc CD/DVD Changer/Recorder for a new, interactive entertainment experience. Load up to 200 CDs and rip them all to your XL3. Or load up to 200 DVDs and watch them all from your XL3. Discs inserted into the XL1B3 Changer/Recorder are automatically detected by your PC, which downloads metadata for each disc, including box art and artist information, making browsing your CD/DVD collection easy and fun. And with multi-DVD burning, you can conserve PC hard drive space by automatically archiving your favorite TV programs to DVD. Got more than 200 discs to load? Never fear, just get another XL1B3 and daisy chain it together via Firewire link. You can connect as many as you need to store your discs. How’s that for simple?
Video Playback Beyond High Definition
Whether you’re watching a Hollywood title in HD or enjoying Crystal Clear video captured from your compatible HDV camcorder, the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System is capable of playing high definition Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning clarity and incredible full HD 1080 Resolution. And since the Blu-ray Disc optical drive is backwards-compatible with the format of your CDs and DVD collection, you can still enjoy your existing entertainment library on the VAIO XL3.
Intuitive Content Management
The VGXXL3 Digital Living System makes it easy and intuitive to manage and enjoy your content. With the included wireless remote control and keyboard, you can opt to interface with the unit the way you do with a traditional PC or choose the experience of controlling your files and discs from the comfort of your couch. And the optimized Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium system makes content management a breeze. The VGXXL3 can access meta data, so you can view the contents of your entertainment library with cover art, liner notes and track listings.
Traditional PC Functionality
In addition to being the ultimate A/V entertainment center, the VGXXL3 Digital Living System is an incredibly powerful PC, delivering robust performance for running multiple demanding applications simultaneously. Sure, you can browse the Web and check your e-mail. But with its Intel Core 2 Duo processor, ample DDR 2 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce graphics, and SATA hard drives (RAID 0 ready), the VAIO XL3 is well-equipped to power through your most demanding tasks.
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