If it works...
Customer Rating: 
So I purchased this beautiful machine from the Sony Style store. ITB HD, Blue ray drive, HDMI input, TV tuner. It seemed like I could buy this one computer and never need another piece of electronic. Until it went hobbibly wrong. First the USB ports stopped working, then the HDMI board died. It has had a total of 4 repairs so far and Sony refuses to take it back. They say it can only be returned if it is not fixable. Will fixable it is but workable it is not.
The worst part of this whole story is not the computer itself, it was the customer service. Long waits, uninformed tech support, rude tech support.
Over the years I have purchased many Sony products but never needed help from customer service, the one time I needed them they let me down. Never buying another Sony product.
Back to the computer, if it works, it is fantastic. Best for a library.
Sony has Done a Bang Up Job
Customer Rating: Okay, I'm a Mac person. In my living room I have a Sony Bravia TV controlled by a Mac Mini. These two devices play so well together, it's almost like they were made to be a team. I don't watch much TV, CNN now and then, but I'm kind of into movies right now and you can stream them from a number of sites. You can even stream brand new, still in the theater ones from China, illegal probably and you have to either understand Chinese or be able to get by by looking at the pictures. I'm not saying I do that, but I could.
So, since I've been doing more TV watching then I should, I thought about maybe getting an iMac for upstairs to put on my bureau, so I could watch in bed, if I wanted. But a friend of mine insisted I look at this first. It's a bit less than the iMac would have been, but that's not why I went with this. I was blown away, really blown away by the picture. Sony knows how to do TV.
Yes, it has Windows 7 on it, but so what, I'm starting to get used to Windows and their 7 version is head and hands better than Vista. I don't do much computing on this anyway, hardly any, other than to use Firefox to navigate to those various streaming sites.
And I have to admit, having a tuner right in the machine, so that I can switch to Larry King with the remote, that's way cool. And the sound, I should mention that, because it's pretty great. I'd considered buying a second Bose Wave Radio for sound before I bought the machine, but I'm glad I didn't, because this machine delivers booming base and crystal clear trebles.
The wireless keyboard and mouse work from my bedside, gotta love that. The machine looks cool too, way better than an iMac, sorry Mr. Jobs. In fact, if I didn't have a small fortune invested in Mac software, I'd consider switching my work iMac for one of these. Sony has done a bang up job with this hybrid.
Awesome!
Customer Rating: FAST FAST FAST! This thing is awesome! Don't let a little thing like Vista scare you away. It is barely different. I tried (unsuccessfully) to find something similar or better but couldn't. Wasted time going to Best Buy etc. This is my second Sony all-in-one. I did not like that this model does not have a swivel base but I bought a heavy duty lazy susan base (cheap)and we are cranking!
Good stuff costs good money. Excellent vendor (DataVision) too! Cheaper than Amazon and Sony plus one day shipping to me from their location-also free (at the time)
9/2/09 Update. The computer has been crashing (Blue Screen) for about a week now-maybe 20 or more times. I tried backing out a few suspected programs to no avail. I called Sony support. They answered the phone immediately and helped me solve the problem which was identified as a windows update that was not compatable with the 64 bit vista version this machine runs. Fixed and running in no time. Excellent customer service by Sony! I was pleasantly surprised!
Finally got around to experimenting with the built in camera. Lot's of cool software but a crappy (low megapixel) camera! Luckily a good Logitech web cam (or other) are cheap and better resolution. Free Windows 7 update October 22 but I will have to pay the freight! WTF Microsoft?
End.
