Sony VAIO VPCJ114FX/B: Wait for the Price to Drop

Sony's VAIO VPCJ114FX/B all-in-one desktop Laptop sits in a crowded group. The competitors is simply way too strong for that technique to make headway when burdened with a $1050 (as of January 19, 2011) asking price.

The VAIO's one.86GHz Intel Pentium P6000 processor and 4GB of DDR3-1066 memory assisted the system to attain a score of 86 on our WorldBench 6 suite of tests--about regular for your group. But we have reviewed devices in the two the Price range All-in-One and Big-Screen All-in-One classes that did greater. The 23-inch Acer AZ5700-U2112, as an illustration, beats the VAIO on cost and efficiency, with a WorldBench 6 score of 119. And also the Gateway ZX6951-53--a striking, 23-inch $999 all-in-one--posted a score of 121.

We query Sony's selection to incorporate a meager (and nonupgradable) 500GB challenging drive. Acer's technique delivers a generate with two times that capacity (1TB). And also the ZX6951-53 gives 640GB of space for storing (twenty p.c over the VAIO), while matching the VAIO's Blu-ray combo generate and native 1080p display.

We have been also dissatisfied by the VAIO's paltry selection of connections for external gadgets. As an alternative to a multiformat card reader within the system's side--a normal feature of most all-in-one desktops--you get an SD Card reader as well as a Memory Stick reader situated previously mentioned a FireWire 400 port and two USB ports.

About the system's rear, Sony materials two USB ports and a gigabit ethernet port; the VAIO supports Wireless-N networking too. This collection of possibilities isn't the load-out we predicted to determine on the thousand-dollar all-in-one. You do not obtain a Tv tuner, exterior audio connections, HDMI, or eSATA.

The only upgradable component of this VAIO is its memory. But a minimum of you won't must spend significantly time getting rid of useless software program within the rig. Sony's proprietary VAIO computer software is pleasant to play around with; an integrated Management Middle ambigu as being a prettier edition of Windows' default; and Sony's VAIO Treatment instruments offer you one-touch use of various examination and Laptop tune-up utilities. Bravo.

Sony offers a wireless mouse alongside a skinny but boring wired keyboard. The keyboard drops the entire variety of available USB ports on the VAIO to a few.

Sony's VAIO VPCJ114FX/B is desirable, and it can be no slouch at efficiency. However the all-in-one's value is just too higher for that which you get in return. In case you are not definitely thrilled from the chassis, preserve some cash on the greater, more capable device.