Sony's All-In-One Desktop Now Has All-In-One Entertainment Features

July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For style conscious technophiles looking for a PC that draws double-takes and does it all, Sony today unleashed its VAIO PCV-W500GN1 desktop.

The latest entry in Sony's desktop PC family multiplies entertainment options in any room with a 17.5-inch wide format bright LCD, integrated DVD/CD-RW drive and Giga Pocket personal video recorder. It has a small footprint and breathtaking design highlighted by a white aluminum finish and acrylic accents.

"This is big screen entertainment for a small space," said Hideyuki Furumi, director of VAIO desktop marketing for Sony Electronics. "Time-shift your TV viewing; edit your own photos, music or video; and output your creative projects to CD or DVD -- all in the fraction of the space needed for an old 15-inch CRT."

The new W model adjusts to the needs of the user and the environment with several operating modes.

-- When the attached keyboard is open, the PC is ready for computing -- anything from standard productivity functions to any of Sony's included multimedia applications, such as Click to DVD and PictureGear Studio software.

-- Folding the keyboard all the way up creates an intensely thin profile. This audio mode position leaves exposed the integrated speakers for CD and digital music playback pleasure. It also reveals a portion of the LCD, which transforms into a clock that adjusts its color and lighting according to the time of day.

-- The jointed hinge keyboard can also be folded in half for TV mode. In this position the entire display is viewable and several television viewing enhancements automatically activate: The LCD adjusts to maximum brightness; The Natural Color Control Circuit boosts color to more vivid levels, similar to TV displays; The SRS WOW circuit also automatically engages for virtual surround sound; and The Giga Pocket function starts up, for a full-screen TV experience.

Ports, Slots, Connections
The latest VAIO W model also comes with a PC card slot for wireless Internet connections and other expansion possibilities. Sony's own VAIO Media software allows users to share images, music and video content between PCs over a wired or wireless home network. The PC also has a Memory Stick slot that is compatible with both Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO media, as well as 4 USB 2.0 ports and an i.LINK (IEEE 1394) port to connect compatible multimedia devices.

The VAIO W500GN1 desktop, which is expected to sell for about $2,000, will be available beginning next month at select retailers and online at www.sonystyle.com .

Source: Sony Electronics Inc.

Web site: http://www.sony.com/vaio
Web site: http://www.sonystyle.com