Sony VAIO LT33E Desktop-VAIO LT33E T8100 2.1G 3GB 640GBSYSTDVDRW 22-WSXGA WL TV XBEH

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performance.
-----The 3X Models ship with Vista SP1, so you won't have to install it.

Wireless Connectivity--The computer connected immediately to my wireless router (D-Link DIR-655). This desktop computer has the same processor speed as my laptop (Sony SZ370), but the N-level connectivity speed makes the desktop significantly faster than the laptop in surfing the internet. For this feature alone, I would recommend getting one of the new 3X Models of this computer series, rather than buying a discounted older 1X or 2X Model, which would not have the N-level connectivity.

The only problem that I have had with the computer hardware is that the mouse stopped working after a month, but Sony sent me a replacement mouse quickly. In the meantime, I went back to my old keyboard and mouse: the Logitech Wave. These are easier to use and have more functionality than those supplied by Sony, so I am continuing to use the Wave.

The hard drive on the 33E model is specified as 640GB, but it is really 2 drives (C and D) of about 300 GB each. I decided to use the D drive to store my recorded TV programs, so I selected that drive when I initially set up the Media Center.

The Media Center is MicroSoft software that allows you to control the built-in TV as if you have a TIVO, but without the monthly service fee. Unfortunately it does not work consistently on this machine. Sometimes it does not record a scheduled program at all. Sometimes it records part of a scheduled program, and sometimes it does record the entire program. Of the Olympics recordings that I set up, none of them recorded the entire program. I reported this problem to Sony support two months ago, but they have not gotten back to me. Based on comments from Sony technicians, it seems that Sony has been aware of this problem for some time before I reported it. This is the reason that my rating is only 3 stars.

Media center files of TV programs are in .dvr/ms format, which uses a lot of disk space and cannot be edited. Your 300 GB D drive will start to fill up quickly. Although there are several pre-loaded programs that can write to a DVD, there apparently is no software on this computer that can convert the files into a more efficient format, so you may want to download a conversion program. After you convert and edit the files, then you can store them on the D drive or an external hard drive, or write them to DVDs. I will update this review after I learn more about that.