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Sony Merges HDTV With Blu-ray PC

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

August 27, 2007, 12:24 PM

Sony debuted its first combination HDTV/PC including Blu-ray technology on Monday, although the price tag still remains rather high.

The Vaio LT HD PC/TV is a 22-inch widescreen "all-in-one" display. The system supports CableCARD technology that allows the user to view digital cable channels without the need for a separate cable box.

An Intel Core 2 Duo processor powers the LT HD PC/TV, with 2GB of RAM and a DVD burner. Users may also connect to their home networks wirelessly via built in 802.11b/g. Windows Vista Ultimate comes factory installed.

Other features include a digital video recorder, built in 1.3-megapixel camera and echo-canceling microphone, VESA-compatible mounting, and fast switching between the PC and TV functions.

"The LT model has everything you need- it's a PC and HDTV set in one breathtaking device," VAIO product marketing chief Mike Abary said in a statement.

Two major product models would be available; one without the Blu-ray drive starting at $1,900 USD, while models including the drive would start at $2,900 USD.

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By ZenWarrior

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 8:58 AM

Sony clearly seems to have lost touch with its consumer markets--from this dead-end device to *another* root kit. It's time they hired a head of marketing that lives in the 21st century.

The problem in a nutshell? Sony doesn't know if it's a company that produces products for the clueless masses or products for some high-end customer base Sony long ago eroded with shoddy products and despicable behaviors.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Aug 29, 2007 - 1:16 PM

What they need, are consumers who aren't clueless drones, and don't believe everything the Sony haters tell them.

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence can see the latest "rootkit" is nosuch thing. Even the original article no longer makes those claims.

Score: 0

By Latz !

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 12:07 AM

I wonder if it will have a rootkit too? Before anyone says the rootkit thing is old, guess what...they've done it again!

http://www.infoworld.com...charges-F-Secure_1.html

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 5:00 AM

Damm. You gotta be stoopid to still be buying Sony products.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 8:37 AM

Damn, you have to be stupid to believe those reports about rootkits.

They have all been retracted, and anyone still reporting them, is an idiot, or a fanboy.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 6:01 PM

His post is still accurate you have to be a moron to by something from Sony these days.

Score: 0

By Latz !

edited Aug 28, 2007 - 1:20 PM

This news just came out Einstein. Show me where it has been retracted, I DARE you.

Score: 0

By SGD

edited Aug 28, 2007 - 9:52 AM

Sony owns secureRom and that has totally scr*wed BioShock for the PC. A program is installed that is said to not be a rootkit yet it acts just like one. Hum. Sony owning a company like that go figure, leave it to them.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 8:00 PM

22 HDTV?

why?

Score: 0

By athome

edited Aug 28, 2007 - 1:11 AM

It is the feeling that bigger is better. We have progressed from the 13, then 15 and 17, 19, and now they believe the 22 will be the next monitor size that will appeal to the masses. The HD is logical as well considering.

Content will be delivered to the computer digitally in 2009, and in some cases even now if you are willing to pay the price. Cameras, photo, movies, TV etc, all making the move to HD. Most computer video cards are digital in some form today and can bet that gameplay will follow much quicker. Whether we want it or need it, HD is going to be pushed in our face.

I may be missing something and know that you are a smart person. If you are referring to something else, I apologize that I missed it.

EDIT: What I find funny is that Sony is looking for as many avenues as possible to shove that Blue-disc down consumers throats.

Their PCs will only be available to those that find the blue-disc more appealing than that of HD-dvd. As MS move on with HD-dvd, will there be 100% compatibility, or will we see some major problems? Though MS will accomodate for the Blue-disc, I can bet that Sony will not make them for HD-dvd.(opinion)

Score: 0

By pitdingo

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 3:44 PM

Is this supposed to line up against the iMac? i don't get it.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 8:00 PM

My first thought. Expensive iMac. And most people complain Macs are expensive. :P

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 3:33 PM

*sigh* Yet more overpriced crap from $ony. What a surprise.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

edited Aug 27, 2007 - 7:33 PM

Don't worry, one day will get a promotion to chief stacker in aisle A, and you may be able to eventually afford Sony kit.

Until then, carry on buying your cheap and nasty crud, and telling yourself Sony gear is crap, because YOU can't afford it.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 9:18 AM

Afford a Sony kit as you say is that rootkit? No thank you I'll pass.

Score: 0

By SlapShot

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 7:15 AM

typical dave

he can't win with the facts, so he resorts to personal attacks

wouldn't expect anything less from a $ony troll

Score: 0

By joolz

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 10:46 PM

Haha. Sony does not equal quality. You should do stand-up comedy. Even if you run out of jokes I could still laugh at you for getting conned by Sony.

Score: 0

By siryak

edited Aug 27, 2007 - 7:59 PM

Lol! You keep telling yourself you are actually getting something for that extra money. While I will be paying less for a product of greater quality. Too bad there is not enough suckers like you out there paying $ony's premium prices for a average products packaged in a shiny plastic cover to keep them alive much longer.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 8:38 AM

What quality will that be then?

A 360 that is guarenteed to fail

Or a HD DVD player that takes 2 minutes to boot up, another minute before the movie plays, has a Pentium 4 inside cranking out more heat than the sun...

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 1:35 PM

Backed into a corner so you resort to your old FUD again I see.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 3:06 PM

I think you are confusing FUD and FACT.

FACT: Microsoft have admitted all 11 million 360's produced todate are faulty, and will fail prematurely, they have put aside 1.1 Billion to fix them

FACT: All current Toshiba HD DVD drives take over a miniute to boot and another minute from putting in the disc to when the movies starts.

Quality... NOT....

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Aug 28, 2007 - 4:35 PM

And the blo-ray players don't, wrong. Fact.

And Microsoft is fixing the problem more than $ony has ever done. FACT

Score: 0

By Latz !

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 1:56 PM

When I first glanced over the headlines I thought that said "Sony Merges HDDVD with Blu-Ray PC". I was very frightened and thought the world was coming to an end.

Score: 0

By joolz

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 10:49 PM

I thought I saw that too... but I actually thought that would be a good thing.

Score: 0

By AaronDobbins

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 3:58 PM

That is funny because I swear I saw the same thing. I had to reread it a couple of times to make sure I got it right.

Score: 0

By Neoprimal

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 3:18 PM

lol...

that would be a pretty big sign wouldn't it?

Score: 0

By Neoprimal

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 1:20 PM

"The LT model has everything you need- it's a PC and HDTV set in one breathtaking device,"

Yes...the |price| IS rather breathtaking. While the unit itself is a great idea - the $1900 pricetag ALONE overdoes it by a bunch, and feels like it's trying to compete with the IMac which is similarly quite clearly overpriced. For $1900 I could get a 36 inch widescreen HDTV for about $600 and a computer with about the same stats for about $1000 (maybe even one of the tiny ones) then get myself a Tivo or other DVR for about 150-200.
Sure, my PC isn't 'all in one' but would someone REALLY waste money like that just to own 1 device vs. 3?

There's no part of this machine that warrants any kind of good feeling.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 1:12 PM

Sony's VAIO makes MacBook look cheap, very cheap.

Score: 0

By joolz

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 10:50 PM

do you mean cheap as in, good value? or cheap as in, poor quality cheap.

Score: 0

By yountmj

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 12:49 PM

Their Vaio series have consistently been extremely too expensive for what you get. Not only that, but they actually expect most people to believe that an extra $1000 is a good deal for a Blu-ray drive? What in the world are they thinking?

Exorbitant price tag aside, the concept is rather intriguing.

Score: 0

By AkumaKuruma

edited Aug 28, 2007 - 11:18 AM

Score: 0

By tankist

edited Aug 27, 2007 - 1:15 PM

well, someone very wealthy, not really technology oriented, who believes blindly in "you get what you pay for" dogma and remembers that last decade sony was making good products might get it and be very very happy with it (even without really using it) as in his mind he got a real good product.
this is clealry not positioned for middle class peps though... but that would be sony's marketing vision.

Score: 0

By joolz

posted Aug 27, 2007 - 10:51 PM

so true Tankist.

"Costs a lot... must be good."

Not.

Score: 0

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