Sony VAIO L630 is great
Written: May 16 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: form, color, LCD monitor
Cons: expandability OS support
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| pwaite's Full Review: Sony VAIO PCV-L620 PC Desktop |
I had been in the market for a new computer for a very long time. My previous machine (Compaq Deskpro 6000) was dating itself and tiring under the weight of new larger apps. I started looking at the VAIO slimtop line back when it was an L600 @ 500Mhz. The price and lack of CPU oomph kept me out of the market until the 630 hit the streets and I was glad I waited.
This machine is preloaded with Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) plus a large number of bundled software packages that are detailed on Sony's website. The funny thing is that I actually use a lot of them however I did load up Office 2000 and Money 2000. All packages are zippy and well performing on this machine, even the demanding video editing packages.
The physical design of the machine is superior. I have not seen another machine that comes close to form and function. The front of the unit tucks all of the connections under a flip down lid, making it a snap and ease to plug in my USB joystick, PC Card or iLink device, unplug and clear the clutter. That was one of the major WOW's when I set this up. I went from a power strip full with 6 devices to one plug into the wall. The clutter and look of this machine is crisp.
The monitor is also very nice. One of the attractive pieces of this unit is the LCD monitor. Combined with the form and design of the slimtop, the LCD monitor and the bundled software the price point on this although high did have value. I acknowledge I spent more money but don't feel guilty for the expense.
It looks good, runs good, very stable, I have abused the setup a lot and the factory reload apps and software perform well. They have only been used to address abuse I have inflicted on the machine. Out of the factory it is a very nice load. I tend to be particular about partitioning and I viewed the out of the box scheme a little deficient I have not changed it.
The change in footprint, entrance into the LCD market and multimedia capabilities of this machine make it an excellent choice. It is for those looking for a nice well rounded machine with all of the latest technologies. It is not for those that have a lot of legacy PCI devices (this unit has 2 available slots) or for those that like to pull their machine apart and tinker. I suspect it will take a Windows 2000 load but haven't tested it. Sony doesn't provide any drivers but most of the devices are on the HCL. Windows 4.0 would just cripple some of the best features iLink/USB so I would not recommend this machine if you need NT 4.0. Linux users should be able to find appropriate drivers for the machine but again I have not tested nor do I have a desire to tinker to that level with this machine.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pwaite
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Member: Peter Waite
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 1 member
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