Sony’s desktop VAIO series brings the best of performance computing and useful extras at a fair price. As far as mid-range “living room” computers go, the Sony VAIO LV180J stands taller than the competition in terms of engineering and style. The Dell XPS One boasts a similar feature set, but given the sleek exterior and convenient extras, the Sony VAIO LV180J is our preferred choice.

Standout Features

• 24-inch display
• Blu-ray optical drive
• 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS video card
• HDMI input
• TV tuner
• Wall mountable

Features

If you didn’t know better, you’d think the Sony VAIO LV180J were just an LCD TV. Like the iMac, HP TouchSmart and other all-in-ones, the Sony VAIO LV180J conceals a mix of full size and compact laptop hardware in its chassis. With the Sony VAIO LV180J, you won’t be bothered by any unsightly wires or a hulking CPU tower.

The Sony VAIO LV180J ships with a standard desktop monitor stand, but our favorite place for it is on the wall in the living room. The stand is easy to remove and replace with an arm, or if you prefer, you can affix the Sony VAIO LV180J directly to the wall for a stylish TV substitute.

Thanks to one of our favorite features, an HDMI in port, watching TV on the Sony VAIO LV180J is easier than on your run-of-the-mill media center PC too. Unlike any other media center PCs, the Sony VAIO LV180J functions as a full HDTV. Plug in the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, or cable box straight into the HDMI port and it’s ready to go—just like on a TV. The Sony VAIO LV180J has a Blu-ray drive and a huge 24-inch display, so you’ll be able to bask in the glorious detail of full HD media. Did we mention the TV tuner? Yes, you can store your favorite programs on the 500GB hard drive because the Sony VAIO LV180J also does double duty as a DVR.

Just because the Sony VAIO LV180J does such a great job as a TV, doesn’t mean it falters as a PC. The 3 GHz dual-core Intel E8400 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and GeForce 9300M GS video card constitute an acceptably powerful home PC. On the off chance that the Sony VAIO LV180J is missing an essential component you need, it does have a single Express Card slot for any extra USB ports or inputs you’d like.

Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet

Skypers love video chatting from the comfort of the sofa with the onboard webcam.

The Sony VAIO LV180J is a great all-around performer, but media editors and gamers find the 256MB video card and more modest hardware to be underwhelming.

Summary

Paying bills online with the wireless keyboard, watching the Dark Knight on Blu-ray, syncing up an MP3 library with the living room entertainment center and enjoying an HD session on the Xbox 360 are all possibilities the Sony VAIO LV180J is ready for. Media aficionados in the market for a do-everything TV replacement computer will be more than satisfied with the Sony VAIO LV180J hanging on the living room wall.

How does the Sony VAIO LV180J look when compared to other leading media center PCs? Take a look at our side-by-side comparisons for more information.

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