Sony VAIO VPC-L111FX/B 24-inch All-In-One Desktop PC

This machine has slightly different specs than the VPC-L111FX/B in that the HD is 500 gig. Probably they are selling slightly different models in the US and UK than Australia. Nevetheless I read everything I could about it before I bought it, realizing it was limited by not being able to connect to a second monitor through lack of a HDMI connection. I also noted and agree it can be annoyingly shiny so you need to light the room carefully. It is also one of those screens where you can't see it properly from some angles so if you want to use it as a TV you need to set up the position carefully. As a touchscreen, it collects fingerprints very easily. I had thought I may use it a bit like a smartboard for my tuition business so the touch option appealed to me. I noted that it doesn't have dual TV tuners and thought I didn't really need that but the reviewers are right, once you've used that feature you want it so you can watch something and record something else. I have a Sony Handy Camera and the Adobe Elements Software can't handle the codec for it so that is ridiculous. Much of the bundled software is trial stuff that you would pay more on line for the unlock keys than you would if you bought it off the shelf. I don't get it. Why do they bother? Are people really that stupid? I bought Pinnacle Studio (for video) and it seems to run fine. But if you are hoping to have something that runs straight out of the box you may be dissappointed. Mine broke down within 10 days with a faulty drive, but not before I had spent countless hours loading software. Sony Australia was not great, gave me the wrong phone number of their repair service! However the store was fantastic and checked it quickly and sent it back to Sony. They gave me a choice to refund, exchange for something else or replace. I replaced it and went through all the same but with a little more care to save and back-up and set restore points before I loaded anything new. It did crash and maybe due to loading Skype. It took some number of restarts but the restore eventually worked and I haven't added anything new since. It has been quite stable.( For about 6 weeks.) The web cam seems to work quite well and the sound is quite acceptable though I go out through bigger speakers anyway. It worked out the wireless connections (Belkin Router) and network printer (Brother MFC series) quickly and easily. The Bluetooth works straight up too which is more than I can say about my last computer. (expensive Toshiba Qosmio more like a heater than a computer) I've used it with Word, Print Shop (Broderbund), Browsing, E-mail, the supplied web cam stuff (Arcsoft) and Virtual Mechanics Site Spinner Webpage software. I got errors with that program but managed a work around anyway. I am hoping it will work well with Cakewalk Producer but I haven't got to that yet. I've burnt a few discs from files and I don't like it when you have the windows software and some other bundled program competing with each other. Ejected a lot of blank discs telling me to put in a blank disc. It's not streamlined seamless operation. I read someone had trouble getting theirs to sleep and mine seems to be similar. If you have to close every program before that works properly it seems like a fairly pointless thing. It goes to sleep but seems to wake up regularly on its own. (Too much coffee?) I figure this machine will do most of what I want it to do and I am not unhappy with it because I am a patient man, but only just. I am glad I got extra warranty with it and you shouldn't consider anything without a long warranty at this stage. Chances are you will need it. In fact, there isn't a lot of competition for a large screen all in one with touch capability. HP (slow processer), Dell (only19 inch is no competition) and ACER which still doesn't have all the features. It's a bit annoying these days that they never give you a written manual and not even a picture with labels for each part. I missed the button on the back which you have to push to synchronise the mouse and you can't find anything about this in the on-line PDF info. I called Sony and they were clueless. They said they'd call me back and they never did so support here in Australia doesn't have their act together. Sad to say. You would and should expect better from Sony. I would buy this machine again but only just and the Mac is calling my name as they do give you some useful software such as web publishing stuff. Next update might see me cross the platform finally. Would I recommend this machine ? Gee it's hard but I'd have to say wait till they give you the extra tuner, larger drive,think about if you care about touchscreen functions (and I'd think most people at this point don't) and blueray (I haven't ever used it). And if you really can wait a bit longer, you will get better. Myself I needed an update and Windows 7 is substantially better for people like me who have been hanging on to XP as at least it was reasonable rather than going through the other terrible versions between. The big tax break was an influence on my timing. So I think if you don't really need a machine right now wait. Sony is fair but not brilliant.

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