VAIO VGX-TP3LB

When I got a glimpse of the image of VAIO VGX-TP3LB, I got an image of Roomba, an automatic vacuum clean robot designed by "irobot" corp.. But, unique symbol of VAIO on the top of this funny-face-PC made me wake up from the instantaneous and ridiculous imagination. Yes, it is a PC, more specifically, a home pc, more technical, a media center pc.

It is a typical home pc, which is settled by TV on the living room table and controlled by remote control or wireless mini-keyboard. With easy UI for easy control making PC intuitively controllable multimedia machine, VAIO VGX-TP3LB is appealing to the curiosity of early adopters.

From now on, I'd like to introduce several general information about this Roomba-like PC and my unique comparison with Mac mini.


1. General Specification

• OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2 T8300, 2.4GHz w/ 800MHz FSB & 3MB Cache Memory
• RAM: 2GB DDR2
• HDD: 500GB S-ATA, 7200rpm
• VGA: GeForce 8400GT w/ 256MB (▶ I don't understand! So poor spec for VGA)
• Network: 10/100Base-T & IEEE 802.11a/b/g
• Accessary: Remote & Wireless Keyboard
• Size & Weight: 270x90x270/3.5Kg
• Price: 113,5000KRW(Lowest Price, $800 in USD)

Not only its design, but also its specification is improving this computer was born as a home PC. Large size storage for the space for movies, digital still image album files, etc.. and VGA appropriate to play PC games are targeting home media center.

On top of that, many kinds of VAIO designated software program used for editing photos, making movies are embedded in this PC, and make users do such an works in easier manner.

But, the spec of VGA is little bit poor. If VGX-TP3LB had more higher spec VGA, at least better than GeForce 9600, this PC could be good gaming PC expanding display by connecting to Full HD TV. Not only playing games, enjoying movie with large size display panels must need more powerful VGA source. Yes, absolutely! Of course GeForce 8400 is performing very well in playing movie files, but for HD or Full HD sources more usual within several years, which are ripped from a blue ray or binary file sources(directly downloaded from online stores), currently installed VGA card will be not enough.

2. Comparing with Mac mini

I am not what is called a "Apple Maniac". But, many PC makers or multimedia makers are following the trend APPLE Inc. is leading. Many MP3Ps or PMPs designed by other manufacturers are looked similar to iPod, or having features similar to iPod has, such as touch interface, accelerometer sensors, and simple but chic design. I think Sony is one of them. This is not kind of mimicking, but the strategy of marketing for survival in the battle field the most brutal ever. So, at a certain point, it is natural that VAIO VGX-TP3LB can be compared to Apple's pc, especially Mac mini.

Let me show the specification of Mac mini at this point.

(-): Not Comparable or Equal, (△): Superior, (▽): Inferior

• OS: Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard (-)
• CPU: 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 3MB shared L2 cache (▽)
• RAM: 2GB DDR3 (△)
• HDD: 320GB ATA, 5400rpm (▽)
• VGA: GeForce 9400 w/ 256MB (△)
• Network: 10/100/1000BASE-T & AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11n) (-)
• Accessary: Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (▽)
• Size & Weight: 2.0 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches(5.08 x 16.51 x 16.51 cm)/2.9 pound(1.31Kg) (-)
• Price: 1,250,000KRW(Lowest Price, $799 in USD) (-)

Besides VGA and mechanical spec, Sony VAIO VGX-TP3LB has more powerful spec than Mac mini does. But, for its design, Mac wins. Surely, minimalism must be today's global trend. Furthermore, Mac mini already has diverse fun and cool software in it. iLife, referred as the collection of media creator including Garage Band, iPhoto, and iMovie. On top of that, you can be taught a music lesson by Norah Jones. And it could be a portable desktop PC, which can be used as a portable music, photography, and movie workshop tool. Certainly, Mac mini is designed for minor but maniac users.

Oppositely, VAIO VGX series are designed as a family-friendly PC. PC is no more located in a private room. It could be used as wonderful movie player playing almost all kinds of media format, such as DivX, mp4, mp3, avi, mpeg, DVD , and whatever. And you can enjoy PC game or online game sitting on the sofa in your living room. On top of that, it also has diverse software for making and creating media by your self and even composing business documents. Never beaten by Mac mini in terms of the number of the embedded software.

3. Request for improvement

There are several improvement factors I request.

First of all, more powerful VGA card. It is necessary for the next generation medias or games. GeForce 8400 series is also good but not sufficient to keep enjoying multimedia with this PC for the next several years.

Secondary, blue tooth compatible. In the living room, do you wanna listening music or movie sound with a headphone with long cord? No sirree. Today's blue tooth headphone is showing surprising performance. I want to enjoy medias displayed on my Full HD TV, lying down on my cozy couch. not sitting up for many hours.

Finally, blue-ray disk drive. Full HD TV demands are dramatically increasing. And Sony's another cool gadget, Playstation 3 has already been famous for its blue ray disk playback performance. But, what it's called, this living room pc does not support the next generation media at all. I am so sorry that Sony takes away blue-ray option from its new Vaio, the living room edition.

Xperia X1: Revival of Old Master Designer

Today, people on the earth are enthusiastic about the cool gadgets designed by APPLE INC.
Apple = Design, Design = Apple. This is almost standard formular when we think about design of digital gadgets. Few days ago, they introduced new, tiny, and "talking" iPod shuffle to global market on the same day. It finally became accessary put on your suits, shirts, even your bags in naturall manner.

But, even a decades ago, the title - the design leader & master of digital goods - was grabbed by Sony. At that time, people were expecting what new sony gadgets looked like. Everyone was exciting at so called as " Sony Style". Yes, I did, either. From when I was firstly contacted to the rendering image of PSP in the end of 2005, I had almost waited 5 months until I got one in my hand.

However, "Sony Style" has been becoming "not different style". Even, today, I cannot choose which has better look between Dell's or HP's notebooks and Sony's VAIO. Yes, there's no more unique design philosophy we can see through Sony's products.

But, when I was contacted to a TV commercial, I could feel the similar excitement I've got from sony's goods long time ago. That is the very 'Xperia X1', which is coming out in Korean mobile market cooperated with SK Telecom, one of the biggest telecommunication company.

Now, through several paragraphs, I'd like to put a high & low light on Xperia X1.


1. Design

Highlight: Looking strong and experienced.

It's design make me think of the dark knight from the battle of medieval era. It looks very strong, rigid, and even noble, like having dark karisma. This kind of image is very important to business men. Having many chances to meet their clients or buyers, business men must be looked like very professional , and actually they always want to. For these worrior in the biz-battle ground, the image come out of the outfit of Xperia X1 must be helpful.

Lowlight: Thick and not attractive to women.

Can you imagine that your right or left pocket looks like a belly of frog? It's horrible scene, even worse if you're putting on Armani suit, totally unbalance. Thick mobile phone easily let you be the man of this scene. OK, although you can bear swollen pocket, can you bear watching swollen pocket of your girl friends' pants? No, I don't think so. On top of that, it has too strong design for woman to love it. Can you imagine that Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex & City prefers a looking strong and professional, having multiple fuctions mobile phone to a thin and beautiful, looking like barbie dolls mobile phone? Yeah, you have an answer for this question.

2. Functions

Highlight: multi-functional = web-smart-DMB-gaming-camera-semi navigator phone.

Yeah, it has the most of functions that modern mobile phone users wanna have in their mobile phone. DMB TV( at least in Korea, DMB(Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) became essential function of mobile phone), Gaming, Camera, Web Browsing, Semi-Navigating Software, MP3, Movie Player, Smart Phone... almost all kinds of functions are realized in one mobile phone. And also, it has a perfect QWERTY key pads hidden below LCD panel.

Yes, I know these functions are no more new. But, for many Korean users, there's no chance to get such an ubiquitous mobile phone, ever. Of course, Korea has two global top ranked mobile phone makers - LGE, SAMSUNG - , on top of that, they have several models of smart phone, very similar to Xperia X1 in many cases. But, that was the story of territory out of Korea, in actual Korean users were hard to get a chance to use such phones. So, Xperia X1 would be sensational in Korean mobile phone market.

Lowlight: What is different from or better than " iPhone 3G"? Nothing new.

But, it has lowlight. That's the very " iPhone", which would be regularly introduced in Korean mobile market from April by SK Telecom and KTF(2nd biggest telecommunication company). There's no more additional comment to the reputation of iPhone. It is becoming the standard of current and futuristic smart phone. And it is evolving now. Excepting for DMB function, all kinds of functions Xperia X1 has belongs to iPhone. Panel UI of Xperia X1 is not new to us, who have been already tasting similar switchable UI from iPhone or HTC's phone.

Most critically, iPhone is free from Windows CE. Many software application developers are thinking OS X is more comfortable and efficient flatform than Windows CE is. Appstore is proving that. Microsoft is following steps of Apples, but OS X has an image less closing than Windows CE does.

So, before April, Xperia X1 will be the killer item in the mobile phone market, but after that, the title would be awarded to iPhone.

3. Closing

I'd like to recommend Xperia X1 to people who prefer the dynamic transformation of hardware, the touch feeling from pressing hardward keypad instead of LCD touch panel, and the design creating solid, rigid, professional, and grave image.

If I have money in abundant, I will buy Xperia X1 even though I have been waiting for the launching of iPhone in Korea because it is enough attractive to make me have one. I wonder what it looks like and how it works. But, if I have money just enough to buy one between them, I will wait for April.

But, choice is yours while enjoying the TV CM of Xperia X1.