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Sony VAIO XL3 Digital Living System VGX

Sony VAIO XL3 Digital Living System VGX

15 reviews

May, 2013

General overview
Price comparison
Product Specifications

We have collected and analyzed 6 expert reviews and 9 user reviews from international sources. Experts rate this product 65/100 and users rate it 56/100. The average review date is Sep 24, 2007. We have compared these reviews to 153136 reviews from other Desktops. The alaScore™ for this product is 82/100 = Very good. Last update: May 21, 2013.

Review analysis

(Based on 15 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Showing 1 - 10 of 11 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (4)

Expert review by: Alan Stafford (pcworld.com)

VAIO VGX-XL3 Home Theater PC

This Windows Vista-based Media Center PC is one of the first to support CableCards for decrypting and recording scrambled programming, but it does so with some severe limitations.

Fully loaded system, including Blu-ray recorder, First PC to record scrambled cable content

Can't record TV to Blu-ray with CableCard, Doesn't support 1080p playback

Which reminds me: The Digital Living System is a PC. And based on my experience with it, PCs still don't belong in the living room

Aug, 2007

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Expert review by: Alan Stafford (pcworld.com)

Sony VAIO VGX-XL3 Digital Living System

Sony says its VAIO VGX-XL3 Digital Living System gives you "TV on your terms." But I found that my terms differ substantially from what this Windows Vista-based Media Center PC can deliver.

Fully loaded system, including Blu-ray recorder ; First PC to record scrambled cable content

Can't record TV to Blu-ray with CableCard ; Doesn't support 1080p playback

This Windows Vista-based Media Center PC is one of the first to support CableCards for decrypting and recording scrambled programming, but it does so with some severe limitations.

Aug, 2007

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Expert review by: (pcmag.com)

Sony VAIO VGX

Light up your living room with the flush, understated design of the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System. Designed to integrate with your living room entertainment system, the VAIO XL3 is a full HD 1080 Media Center PC with Blu-ray Disc technology and DVR...

Not yet reviewed.

Feb, 2007

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Consumer review by: K. Horton (amazon.com)

Big Dissappointment

This unit has been difficult from the start. Setting up Media Center with our Comcast Cable box was not without difficulties. Once up, the system worked moderately well as a computer, but totally unacceptible as a media center. Television viewed...

Nov, 2007

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Consumer review by: K. Horton (amazon.com)

Big Dissappointment

Nov, 2007

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Consumer review by: roseteb (pricegrabber.com)

Sony Vaio VGX-XL3 Home Theater PC

This is a compact and relatively quiet Home Theater PC that still needs many improvements. Fan noise is low, but hard drive can be heard from the sofa. The only resolutions available for Sony HDTV are 1176x664 for 720p format and 1768x992 for 1080i...

Blu-ray disc recorder compatible with DVD and CD formats. HDMI connection supports use of Home Theater receiver/amplifier. Quiet cooling system fan.

Graphics card does not support Sony HDTV native resolutions. CableCard not implemented for On Demand and interactive programming. No Bluetooth connection available.

Jul, 2007

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Consumer review by: Shervin Farivar (amazon.com)

A great start but room for improvement

I originally had the XL2 Digital Living System. I'd been waiting for the XL3 to come out for a while. The XL2 was great, but the lack of cable card compatability was a sore point for me, so when the XL3 showed up, I had to get it. It's kind of...

Jun, 2007

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Consumer review by: Shervin Farivar (amazon.com)

A great start but room for improvement

Jun, 2007

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Expert review by: Alan Stafford (pcadvisor.co.uk)

Sony VAIO VGX-XL3 Digital Living System

Sony says its VAIO VGX-XL3 Digital Living System media-centre PC gives you "TV on your terms". But your terms may differ substantially from what this Windows Vista-based PC can deliver.

The Sony VAIO VGX-XL3 Digital Living System is a PC. And based on our experience with it, PCs still don't belong in the living room.

Aug, 2007

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Expert review by: Patrick Wignall (cnet.co.uk)

Sony Vaio VGX-XL302 review

The Sony Vaio XL302 is a hugely impressive Media Center PC. It packs everything you could want into its large frame, including dual TV tuners and a Blu-ray drive. But for £700 less you can get the very similar, Blu-ray-less Sony Vaio VGX-XL301

Nearly silent ; Blu-ray burner ; Dual tuners ; Good overall spec

Blu-ray not fully integrated into Media Center software ; Dual tuner arrangement could be neater ; High price

If you're not fussed about Blu-ray, you can opt for the VGX-XL301, which costs £700 less and comes with a DVD re-writer. The hard drive is smaller, and the processor slower, but you can always buy an external drive with the money, and the slower...

Jul, 2007

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Product Specifications

Energize your living room with the flush, understated design of the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System. About the size of a traditional stereo receiver, this rack-style multimedia PC bridges the gap between your computing and entertainment worlds, adding an exciting new PC dimension to your home theater experience. With its sleek brushed aluminum and smoked acrylic front and optimized cooling for near-silent operation, the VAIO XL3 blends neatly and quietly into living room entertainment centers and home theaters.Enjoy high-quality TV with the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System. It's TV on your terms. With built-in NTSC and ATSC TV tuners and CableCARD support, you can watch and record analog and digital TV directly to the hard drive for on-demand viewing (includes premium and over-the-air HD content).The VAIO XL3 Digital Living System is digital cable ready. It features an OCUR receiver, which is a digital cable receiver and interface that accepts a TV CableCARD. The CableCARD removable security module, which must be obtained from your local service provider, allows you to access the digital cable channels to which you subscribe without the need for a set-top-box. Windows Vista Home Premium with Media Center functionality acts as your DVR, letting you record and catalog your favorite TV programs to the hard drive. These innovative tools let you consolidate your entertainment center by replacing your HD DVR and digital cable set-top-box with the VAIO XL3, the ultimate entertainment PC for your living room.Watch movies in the best high-definition picture quality available today. Whether you're watching a Hollywood title in HD or enjoying crystal clear video captured from your compatible HDV camcorder, the VAIO XL3 Digital Living System is capable of playing high-definition Blu-ray Disc movies in stunning clarity and incredible full HD 1080 resolution. And since the Blu-ray Disc optical drive is backwards compatible with the format of your CDs and DVD collection, you can still enjoy your existing entertainment library on the VAIO XL3.Designed to integrate with your living room entertainment system, the Sony VAIO XL3 Digital Living System is a full HD 1080 Media Center PC with Blu-ray Disc technology and DVR capabilities. Supporting CableCARD technology, the VAIO XL3 lets you watch and record cable TV, including high-definition and premium channels.