The ultimate in desktop computing, the RZ46G desktop PC features a massive hard drive and a 2.1 Stereo Speaker System with Sub-Woofer that delivers a rich blend of low, mid, and high range audio that will simply enhance the quality of your music, games, and movies. And that's just the beginning! You can also burn CDs and DVDs with the built in DVD?RW drive. Now you can kick back anywhere in the room and watch DVD movies, listen to music, view slide shows, and even watch and digitally record live television. Experience the ultimate in digital entertainment with the RZ46G desktop computer.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #3652 in Personal ComputersBrand: SonyModel: PCV-RZ46GPlatform: Microsoft XP Media Center EditionCPU: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHzMemory: 1GB DDR SDRAMHard Disk: 200GBGraphics: nVIDIA GeForce FX5600 w/TV-Out 128MBProcessors: 1Networking: TX/100Base-TX Ethernet (RJ-45)Included Software: Click to DVD (DVD Creation), PictureGear Studio (Digital Photo), DVgate Plus (Digital Video), SonicStage (Digital Music), VAIO Media (Network File Sharing), Microsoft Works 7.0, Mircosoft Age of Empires II, MoodLogic 2.5, Intuit Quicken 2004 New User Edition, Microsoft Money 2004, Microsoft Encarta Online, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple QuickTime, RealNetworks RealOne Player, Norton Internet Security (90 Day Trial), VAIO Recovery Wizard, VAIO Support Agent, America Online
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
As the new crowning jewel of Sony's "Digital Studio" line of PCs, the VAIO PCV-RZ46G Media Center Desktop is one of the fastest and most versatile pre-configured computers currently on the market. Powerful enough for any business environment but perhaps better suited to an upscale home setting where its wealth of entertainment-related amenities may be fully exploited, Sony's top-of-the-line multimedia PC and most luxurious Digital Studio to date is ready for years of upgrade-free computing.
If speed is what you crave, the VAIO PCV-RZ46G delivers. Outfitted with one of the fastest processors currently on the planet, a stunning 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology (Hyper-Threading allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system -- thereby boosting performance during key high-drain procedures such as multitasking), and a whopping 1 GB of premium PC-2700 333 MHz DDR memory, the system is perfect for those who drive their computers beyond reasonable expectations. Sony has even addressed the Achilles Heel of most out-of-the-box desktops by enclosing a 128 MB nVidia GeForce FX5600 graphics card with w/TV-out and DVI-out to handle high-end 3-D games and applications and provide a purely digital link to the new breed of LCD flat-panel monitors.
When it comes to the storage and movement of data, Sony has left nothing to chance. The VAIO PCV-RZ46G is fitted with a monstrous 200 GB hard disk, a 3.5-inch diskette drive for older or smaller applications, and a DVD-RW/+RW/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and play audio CDs, archive information, watch the latest cinematic releases and create your own DVDs. For fast interaction with peripherals such as digital camcorders, scanners and external drives, the system also features seven high-speed USB 2.0 ports and two IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors (mounted front and back).
The VAIO PCV-RZ46G is packed with numerous other desirable perks, including an S/PDIF out, a coaxial input, a 2.1 Sony speaker system with subwoofer, and a handy VAIO Smart keyboard. The impressive software package features a variety of business applications such as Microsoft Money 2003 and Intuit Quicken 2002, as well as an impressive array of Sony-exclusive multimedia titles, including several high-end music, video and image editing utilities.
Sony has not enclosed a monitor, thus allowing you to use your current display or select from the many alternatives currently on the market.
More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center
What sets this PC apart is that it is powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, which offers the features, reliability, and power of Windows XP Professional, plus advanced digital entertainment capabilities. The Media Center interface offers you more types of entertainment to enjoy: TV, Personal Video Recording (PVR), Movies, Music, Photos, Videos, Radio, and DVD. Use the remote control to enjoy from anywhere in your room.
TV & Movies  |  |
| Watch TV when and how you want, and never miss a moment of your favorite programs. Pause and rewind live TV. Record a TV episode, series, or category. Automatically record a personalized selection of TV programs using Keyword Record. Media Center downloads the latest program listings for you and even wakes up from power-saving standby mode to record programs, so you can watch shows on your schedule. |
| | |
 |  Photos & Video |
| Easily edit your digital pictures and digital videos, and then launch a dynamic slideshow complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. While viewing a picture, zoom in to see more detail. You can rotate, correct red-eye, and print your pictures using the remote. Play slide-shows straight from digital storage devices. |
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| Music & Radio |  |
| All your music is stored in one digital jukebox and using the remote, shuffle your entire music collection according to artist or genre or listen to your tunes through playlists that learn what you like. Tune in FM stations and pause live radio. Full-screen visualizations pulse to the beat of the music. Cool on-screen effects show music information, such as track title, track time, and artist. |
Customer Reviews
Good Hardware, Bad Software
System or Application Recovery Disks are not provided with this PC.
What this means is that you are placing you data (your life's work) in the hands of SONY's Recovery software that is hardware dependent.
Sony has a habit of not providing Operating Sytems disks. Which is stupid beyond belief. It saves them money, and allows them to force a bunch of useless garbage software down your throat if you are successful in using their Recovery Software.
But you may not be successful. Their "Recovery Center" is your only means of recovery when things turn sour. But, say for example you want a bigger hard drive. Install it and, even if you carefully clone your software from one drive to the other, the Recovery Center WILL NOT WORK. This is unlike installing any other software which is not hardware dependent.
What this means is you will have to purchase the operating system all over again. If you purchase an OEM copy, you will have to install on a bare "empty" drive, and lose all the other software SONY provided. Otherwise you will have to purchase the full version of windows. Factor that cost--an extra $300+ into your purchase decision.
Any other software that SONY provided that you might use like DVD burning software will have to be re-purchased. You can't pick and chose what you want to reinstall off the recovery disk. It is set up so that it is all or nothing, and if it's nothing, as it was in my case, you basically bought SONY hardware, and everything software will have to be replaced and paid for again.
My advice is to buy an iMac. It is the same amount of money and you get a reliable computer. And you won't find yourself furious at SONY when you realize the recovery software was a time-bomb waiting to blow up after your warantee has expired.
I'll never buy another SONY computer. I'm in the market for a laptop. I would not even consider SONY. I'll look at HP and Apple.
Absolutely the best off the shelf computer I've seen !
My VAIO PCV-RZ46G has lived up to all expectations and then some. This is a great computer right out of the box. Like another reviewer said, the speakers are not the quality you would want for such a fine media center computer. But hey, I didn't buy it for the speakers.....right? Another reviewer said his/her HDD "whistles" I have no problems with mine whistling,(too much partying maybe?) The 200 gig hard drive gives you a lot of storage, but I record and save a LOT of movies and other videos, so I added a 300 gig hard drive in addition to the 200 gigs already in my fine computer. That gives me what................half a terrabyte? Yep that's right! A HUGE half terrabyte. I don't remember if there's room for an additional hard drive, but if there is, I'm adding another 300 gigs soon. If not, I'll add an external HDD. All I can say is KUDOS to Sony!
Down market speakers and noisy disk drive detract
I'm shocked no one seems to care that the 200GB hard drive that comes standard with this model whistles like a tea kettle. I called in the problem and the Sony authorized representative replaced the drive with another identical one. That one whistles, too. There simply isn't enough sound insulation. This is a problem when you are NOT watching loud DVDs obviously. I'm thinking of replacing the drive with something quieter--on my own nickel, of course.
The other joke is the cheap speakers that aren't as good as my 5 year old Monsoon speakers. Plus they are definitely unaesthetic looking. They really are a disappointment. Mine are available for anyone who wants them.
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