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THE MOVE TO MAKE desktop computers friendlier and more appliance-like is well under way. Apple’s iMac range has seen the rise of single-component computers you can simply unpack and plug in without a mess of cables to worry about. Acer, Lenovo and HP have followed suit with an array of friendly home computers. And Sony’s Vaio J is the latest in the Japanese giant’s foray into the home computer sector.
An interesting niche in this market is what’s becoming known as the “kitchen computer”. The idea is that there’s a central computer in the home used as a television, family message board, gaming centre or recipe book – the list goes on.
The Vaio J – with its bright, large touchscreen, powerful Core i5 processor and decent graphics capabilities – fits the description of kitchen computer nicely. It’ll handle work, video, school assignments and even demanding video games competently.
The screen is a mixed bag. Having touch functionality is useful, although the screen doesn’t quite live up to the multi-touch mastery we’ve seen on devices such as the iPad. Still, it’s great for accessing info on the fly and kids love the bundled touch games on the Vaio J, which are mostly from Microsoft’s collection of included software. One game is like a giant colouring-in book and another has you building machines on a chalkboard to guide objects around the screen.
The Vaio J runs 64-bit Windows 7 and comes with default RAM and graphics processing abilities that will cover the needs of most home applications. To test it for gaming I fired up Starcraft 2 that ran well with medium-level settings. The included wireless keyboard and mouse with the Vaio J are further testament to Sony’s industrial design capabilities and I was especially impressed with its keyboard, which has comfortably spaced keys.
While pricey, the Sony Vaio J is a great home computer option for Windows users who don’t want an iMac. It’s dead simple to set up and install and will keep everyone – from toddlers to teenagers and mom and dad – happy.
REVIEW
VERDICT: A capable home computer
COMPLEXITY: Plug in and power up with minimal cabling
PRICE: R15 000
Also consider: Apple iMac
VALUE RATING: 7/10
An interesting niche in this market is what’s becoming known as the “kitchen computer”. The idea is that there’s a central computer in the home used as a television, family message board, gaming centre or recipe book – the list goes on.
The Vaio J – with its bright, large touchscreen, powerful Core i5 processor and decent graphics capabilities – fits the description of kitchen computer nicely. It’ll handle work, video, school assignments and even demanding video games competently.
The screen is a mixed bag. Having touch functionality is useful, although the screen doesn’t quite live up to the multi-touch mastery we’ve seen on devices such as the iPad. Still, it’s great for accessing info on the fly and kids love the bundled touch games on the Vaio J, which are mostly from Microsoft’s collection of included software. One game is like a giant colouring-in book and another has you building machines on a chalkboard to guide objects around the screen.
The Vaio J runs 64-bit Windows 7 and comes with default RAM and graphics processing abilities that will cover the needs of most home applications. To test it for gaming I fired up Starcraft 2 that ran well with medium-level settings. The included wireless keyboard and mouse with the Vaio J are further testament to Sony’s industrial design capabilities and I was especially impressed with its keyboard, which has comfortably spaced keys.
While pricey, the Sony Vaio J is a great home computer option for Windows users who don’t want an iMac. It’s dead simple to set up and install and will keep everyone – from toddlers to teenagers and mom and dad – happy.
REVIEW
VERDICT: A capable home computer
COMPLEXITY: Plug in and power up with minimal cabling
PRICE: R15 000
Also consider: Apple iMac
VALUE RATING: 7/10
