Redefining the PC - Active Home

Think the home PC is a workhorse for email, documents and storage? Think again…

As recently as five years ago, the home PC was something that usually sat in the corner gathering dust until a letter needed to be written or information was required from something called the internet. Today's computers are multimedia powerhouses, boasting a vast array of versatile features.

With bigger hard disks, more powerful processors and support for HD, the role of the family PC has been redefined, transforming from a utilitarian tool into a home-entertainment hub using Windows XP Media Center and other software. And it’s not only desktop computers that benefit; notebook computers are now just as powerful as their desk-bound brethren.

To cap the benefits offered, all the PCs we’re about to mention are capable of handling the Premium Home version of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system when it is released next year, making a Sony PC a sound investment for the future.

Sony has been pushing the notion of the home-entertainment computer for many years and now has a dedicated range in the form of its VAIO LA-Series and VAIO XL200-Series desktops plus VAIO VGN-AR21S/M notebooks. So which is the right choice for you?

VAIO LA-Series
For those looking for a computer that embraces the digital home concept, the VAIO LA-Series is an all-in-one entertainment PC that gives a thumbs up to TV, DVDs, music and photos.

Running the Microsoft Windows Media Center 2005 operating system, the VGC-LA1 (£1,499) will suit home offices, student bedrooms and studies. The 19in LCD screen is framed with a transparent border, which gives it a floating effect. The mouse and keyboard are wireless and a folding cover protects the keyboard when not in use.

It sports one of Intel’s latest Core 2 Duo processors, the T5600 (1.83GHz) and has 1GB of fast memory to push along system-hungry software such as the bundled Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 image editor.

When not used as a computer, the LA1 transforms into a TV. With a hybrid tuner that can support both analogue and digital terrestrial (Freeview) channels and Media Center’s ability to pause, record and rewind live TV, the LA1 becomes a personal video recorder (PVR).

The whopping 300GB hard disk provides ample storage space for recorded TV shows, music and photos, and the slot-loading DVD writer will play movies and archive up to 8.5GB of data on one disc. You also get Wifi wireless networking.

Its final nod in the direction of the digital home are its discretely integrated Motion Eye Webcam, speakers and microphone that features echo-cancelling technology, making it top notch for internet telephony and videoconferencing.

VAIO XL200-Series
Designed to be the centre of your home-entertainment suite, the VAIO XL200-Series is the first Sony desktop computer with an HDMI output for connecting to compatible displays.

At the heart of this modern-day computer is Intel’s brand new Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Backed by a 256MB Nvidia Geforce 7600 graphics card and 1GB of memory, it can process HD content super-fast, resulting in smooth playback.

The VGX-XL202 (£1,799) pushes the HD boundary further by incorporating a Blu-ray drive. It is also able to store up to 50GB of pictures, music and video. Owners of the VGX-XL202 will also be among the first to watch the forthcoming wave of Blu-ray movies.

The living-room PC needs not only to be powerful but also quiet in operation. Thankfully the XL200-Series boasts an impressive sub-25dB (decibel) noise level, which means no distracting whirring when on the edge of your seat watching HD films.

Like the LA1, the XL200-Series has a hybrid TV tuner for both Freeview and analogue channels. With Microsoft Media Center 2005 taking care of PVR duties and a choice of either 250GB or 500GB hard disks, it makes for a very attractive proposition.

A wireless keyboard and mouse and an impressive media-friendly software bundle rounds off this entertainment-savvy computer package.

VAIO VGN-AR-Series
It’s not just big and brash desktop computers that are getting in on the act. Leading the pack, and proving that notebook computers can be home-entertainment hubs too, is the VGN-AR21S (£1,999).

At the heart of this portable powerhouse is the latest in processor technology, the Intel Core 2 Duo T7200, which runs at 2GHz. Add to that 2GB of high-performance memory, a 200GB hard disk, a 17in X-black screen capable of displaying 1,920x1,200 resolutions and a recordable Blu-ray drive and you’ve got one of the most impressive HD-ready notebooks. You can throw in Wifi (wireless networking) too.

There’s HDMI (which supports HDCP) and optical audio outputs for hooking up to compatible audio-visual equipment, plus a digital TV tuner and the Windows Media Center operating system for PVR functionality.

Equally impressive is the Sony VGN-AR21M (£1,399). Still a desktop replacement in its own right, this Windows Media Center 2005 notebook is, like all the PCs discussed here, Vista Capable and Premium Ready. With the 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5600, 1GB of memory and a 160GB hard disk pushing things along, the VGN-AR21M will suit those who are looking to break away from the desk and join the portable brigade without compromise.

The 17in X-black screen has a maximum resolution of 1,440x900 and the multiformat DVD writer will play movies and back up files. It even comes with a digital TV tuner and HDMI output.

Make your own HD film
With all the Hollywood hype over HD movies, we shouldn’t lose sight of the home-movie maker. Home video is an integral part of family holidays and special occasions so why not capture those moments in HD? With the right editing software and a computer such as the VGX-XL202, taking home movies to the next dimension is now a reality.

The HDR-SR1E is Sony’s new HD camcorder with an integrated 30GB hard disk, which means no tapes or removable discs. Its 10x optical zoom will get you close up and personal without sacrificing image quality, and the 3.5in screen allows you to review your handiwork straight after capture. It has a built-in flash for taking 4-megapixel stills in the dark and an HDMI port for playing back footage on a compatible HD-ready television, such as the Sony Bravia W-Series.

The HDR-UX1E is another Sony HD camcorder but this one records video straight to disc. It also has a 10x optical zoom, 3.5in LCD screen and 4-megapixel still shooting mode, plus an HDMI output.

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