Sony VGL-XL100 series Viiv PCs

Sony launched the VAIO VGX-XL100 entertainment PC today which is based on Intel's new Viiv platform. The XL100 is the core of the digital home. Designed to be used in the living room with a TV as its display, it comes in a stylishly restrained black and brushed silver case which will harmonise with any décor. Ideally, the XL100 should be used with an HD-ready TV as it is the first VAIO system with HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and Component TV outputs. This means that unlike conventional entertainment PCs, it can output a true HD-quality signal. Setup is simple, and little cabling is required. A wireless keyboard with integrated touchpad and a remote controller are included as standard, so it’s easy to use wherever you are in the room.

The XL100’s powerful hybrid TV tuner lets you watch both analogue and digital TV rather than just analogue channels. The capacious 250GB hard disk means that the XL100 can act as a video recorder as well, not to mention as a music centre and DVD player. A potent Intel Pentium D Processor 920 and 128MB NVIDIA Geforce 6600 graphics provide the muscle for gaming. In other words, this is the complete entertainment system for the home, but a tap on the touchpad brings true PC functionality to the fore. In seconds you can be shopping online or catching up with your email. And there’s one last thing: despite its heavyweight credentials as a PC, painstaking engineering ensures that the XL100 is completely silent.

The XL100 is supplied with Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition for simplified access to media features as well as full PC functionality. In addition, it comes with VAIO Information Flow, a specially designed graphical interface for use at a distance from the screen. This makes interaction with the XL100 a very simple matter, and provides instant access to popular services including RSS feeds, a newsreader, podcasting, picture slideshows and the music player. XL100 also incorporates Intel Viiv technology, Intel’s new brand for the digital home, designed to enhance and help manage how consumers enjoy, manage and share digital entertainment in the home. “The XL100, based on Intel Viiv technology will be instrumental in delivering a great digital entertainment experience in the home,” said Herbert Weber, Director of Marketing Digital Home, Intel Europe, Middle East, Africa. “Intel looks forward to working with Sony on making digital entertainment effortless and more personal for consumers.”