Sony VAIO PCV-RS420 Desktop (2.80-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD+RW/CD-RW Drive ) Review

Clarification of how this product was rated...
+ One star for gamers or heavy media users
+ Four stars for home office applications
I usually start out with the pro's, but given the seriousness (or even worse, silliness) of the cons, I am going to start with those...
Cons...
1) Virtually no software *of value* is delivered with this machine.Except those items that are automatically bundled with Windows XP (MS Works, Explorer, Windows Media Player, etc), you're on your own when it comes to software.As a matter of fact, there was so little software, I originally thought someone forgot to load it.A brief call to the Sony help line (22 minute wait for a rep) quickly cleared this up.
2) The cabling for the mouse, speakers, and keyboard is uncommonly short.Fully eighteen inches shorter than the cables that came with the PC that the Sony is replacing.I really have to question the decision making process that Sony used here.
3) The speakers that came with the machine are not even worth plugging in.The thin sound delivered is accompanied by noticeable crackles (on new CDs) and they even distort the music.This is especially disappointing given Sony's heritage of excellence in audio products.
4) The issue with the sound, coupled with a weak video card, is why I suggest gamers stay away.Although for a little more money, you can pick up some decent speakers and a video card that would make this PC rock
Pros...
1) The tightest boxing and packaging of a PC that I have ever seen (this is my 7th or 8th PC).Gives me a warm and fuzzy that this thing is built to last.
2) When I checked under the hood, with the exception of the weak video card, everything looked to be of very high quality.
3) Great form factor -- the box looks great and they have packed a lot of power into a surprisingly small space -- great for those with limited desk space
4) USB slots to spare (I have found 6, the documentation suggests there are 8)
5) I am unfortunately still only able to get dial-up service, but the v.92 compatible modem coupled with the 512 MB of RAM and 2.8 Ghz CPU clock speed (with hyperthreading) make it seem like the internet is loading much, much faster
6) Easy set-up (important if you're a first time buyer!)
7) Buttery smooth operation for both the DVD recorder and CD-RW drives -- and both are wicked fast
8) Lightening fast handling of word processor and spreadsheet applications
Net/net: questionable cost savings decisions by Sony turned what could have been an awesome PC-for-the-home product into a sometimes silly, sometimes smoking solution for all but gamers.

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Product Description:
The Sony VAIO RS Series desktop is a dream come true for professionals in the office. The DVD burning capability makes viewing your images or delivering memorable presentations easier than ever. The fastest Intel Pentium 4 processor provides all the speed you'll ever need. You'll have plenty of options to choose from. The RS Series: one look and the benefits are clear.PRODUCT FEATURES:DVD?RW/CD-RW Drive - with Click to DVD Software;ATI Radeon 9200 64MB with VGA, DVI, and TV-out;Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.80C GHz with HT Technology;512MB PC-2700 DDR (expandable to 2.0GB);120GB 7200rpm ATA-100 hard drive;Front and rear accessible i.LINK (IEEE 1394) interfaces and USB 2.0 connections;High-speed Internet ready with 10 Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet.

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