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Sony VAIO RZ44 Desktop (2.80GHz Intel Pentium 4, 512MB, 160GB, CDRW/DVDRW, Windows XP Media Center - MPN: PCVRZ44G)
Description: You expect a lot from a desktop computer. It even has to have good sound. The RZ44G features a 2.1 Stereo Speaker System with Sub-Woofer that delivers a rich blend of low, mid, and high range audio that will simply enhance the quality of yo.... Read More Description: You expect a lot from a desktop computer. It even has to have good sound. The RZ44G features a 2.1 Stereo Speaker System with Sub-Woofer that delivers a rich blend of low, mid, and high range audio that will simply enhance the quality of your music, games, and movies. With the RZ44G, you can also burn CD's and DVD's with the built in DVD+-RW drive. The RZ44G also features Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition as its operating system. Now you can kick back anywhere in the room and watch DVD movies, listen to music, view slide shows, and even watch and digitally record live television. Experience the fun of digital entertainment with the RZ44G desktop computer. Monitor sold separately.
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| Date Reviewed: 11/30/2005 |
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 3 hard drives, 1 Motherboard, 1 Monitor Strengths: NONE
Weaknesses: SONY customer support and product quality
Summary: I am so angry about this machine and SONY REFUSED to admit it is a lemon. I have had it only 24 months. I beg you to Read on before you purchase a SONY.
I bought this machine due to the media center and all the percs, but mostly for the Sony name. Unfortunately Sony has dropped off my list of EVER buying anything from again. I had my hard drive go 1 month out of warranty, the recovery discs (I made 2 copies) did not work, had to beg and plead Sony to replace them, after going through 1.5 hours on the phone 2 separate occasions, and several layers of help, they finally agreed. The rep at Sony admitted it was probably a bad spot in the hard drive when I made them. OH REALLY, then why don't you realize it was a bad drive under warranty?. NO WAY!! 5 months after the 1st replacement hard drive was installed (which I had to purchase) the hard drive went bad again. 18 months after purchase the flatscreen monitor went out. Called, whew it was under warranty for 3 years. Boy, did I luck out, was told it would be at my home in a week. Two weeks later, sweating it out because we were moving to another place, not to mention a different country, I called Sony, they assured me it would be at my doorstep in 3 days. 3 days later, and 3 days before the packers came, I called Sony again, OH NOOOO... They didn't even have it at the monitor replacement center. Wait I was given a RML, I gave Sony the RML when they told me it would be at my doorstep in 3 days. I do have to admit, after all this I finally got a great individual. Not good statistics.. 15 bad, 1 good...99.4% incompetents, not good customer service..... Now, sitting here writing this opinion I am on a friends machine. My motherboard went out. Sony will not do a thing about it. I cannot believe this. $3000 for a computer and all the replacement items, and I am sitting with a machine that will have to have a motherboard replaced. Well, looks like the recycle bin for this. I cannot stand all the stress associated with Sony products. The moral of this story: if:anyone who is going to purchase a Sony Machine, DON'T, if you are hell bent on a Sony, buy the longest warranty offered, take a valium before you call Sony for help, and don't hold your breath for it to arrive at your door. Too bad I have a login name, but I will sign off saying Never going to be Sony Owner Again!!!!!!
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| Date Reviewed: 12/30/2003 |
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 Purchased from local retailer. Brought home and go ... Strengths: fast processor, easy to set up, reasonable price, ample memory and hard drive space, hard drive already partitioned
Weaknesses: quality control at factory obviously not a high priority, no documentation and only vendor software is sound card CD
Summary: Purchased from local retailer. Brought home and got everything connected without a problem. All of the hardware worked but when I tried to go online, I got nothing but error messages. Spent the day trying to get information from ISP, cable network, and Sony. Seemed to agree that there was a problem with pre-installed security program. Vendor suggested to uninstall the program and reinstall. This, however, was impossible since a CD of this software was not included.
Also one of the speakers was defective.
Took the computer back to the retailer (Best Buy) and after 4 hours of customer service circle jerk, they gave me another computer. (They couldn't figure out how to make the first one work either.)
Set everything up easily again and the internet service worked this time. Then tried to use DVD drive and it would not open. Will be back at retailer again tomorrow to try to get this resolved.
I wish I could give you more information about the performance of this computer, but so far I have spent most of my time setting it up, taking it apart, and travelling back and forth to the store.
What happened to Sony's reputation for quality?
86% of People (18/21) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 03/15/2004 |
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Strengths: Fast Processor, great sound and video quality, plenty of disk storage.
Weaknesses: Not much documentation. Unable to add a second hard drive without identification problems.
Summary: A great value. The installed software works fine......... but, no documentation. Don't rely on Sony for any help. Third-party software is a must for video and photo performance.
77% of People (10/13) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 09/22/2004 |
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Strengths: Completed all-in-one powerful system. Great performance and stability. Great for video editing task. A lot of USB slots (7 total).
Weaknesses: No printed documentation but they all available within the system itself under the VAIO HELP Utility program.
Summary: I've been selling more than 20 units of this SONY VAIO model and haven't receive any negative feedback from buyer yet. I own one of this VAIO for my video editing hobby also. Documentation for the unit and software installed can be found within the sytem itself under the VAIO HELP Utility. Highly recomended.
17% of People (1/6) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 04/11/2008 |
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Strengths: PACKED WITH EVERYTHING NEEDED AT THE TIME (4 YRS AGO)
Weaknesses: LOW RAM; HAD TO MAKE OWN RECOVERY DISKS; SMALL C: PARTITION
Summary: I've had my VAIO RZ44 since JAN 2004 and have been generally pleased with it's performance since. Added second HD, DL DVD Drive, and maxed out RAM to 2GB. Have added additional USB hub, several external HDs, local networking (wired/wireless) with no problems. Have had to use Recovery Disks in 2006 after returning from first deployment in Iraq to restore system due to kids' online (mis)use. Restored again after second deployment to war zone in 2007 due to "sluggishness" bogged down by initial small C: partition. After removing partition and in conjuction with cleaner additional HD (from 2005), system still purrs (all non-system files (music, videos, photos, etc.) stored on external HDs). Now looking to upgrade motherboard, CPU, and graphics card (I like the original tower case) in order to capitalize on new processing power. Will not upgrade to VISTA after seeing it's immature (i.e. new) performance on latest VAIO laptop. Recommend treating/handling HW with care and ensuring adequate SW to prevent system crashes - whether you have a VAIO or not.
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| Date Reviewed: 03/30/2006 |
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Strengths: Reliable, easy access to internals, multi-media and XP Media Center, multi device inputs on front. ALL but SD cards-which I use. It also have extra video inputs including S-video and USB on front.
Weaknesses: Some of the software could be better. The media center software does not have a 30 or 60 jump ahead feature to avoid commericals. No ext 3.5" bay-I'd rather lose the floppy drive and gain the bay.
Summary: I bought mine as an open box from Circuit City. It was the second open box I'd purchased--the first and HP was DOA. This one has worked great.
All I purchased was the CPU box, no externals. I'm a computer tech and like to modify and upgrade systems. So the low price ~$800 appealed to me.
I bought a logitack cordless keyboard and mouse, another GB of RAM, Harmon Kardon SoundStick II speakers--fabulous speakers, a USB HD for backing up data and archiving my music collection, and recently a Dell flat panel monitor.
I now want to do video editing. I think it will work, but perhaps a faster machine would be better. Perhaps it could use a a pair of 10,000 rpm SCSI Hard Drives.
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