Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E/S Desktop PC Review
Very few companies can boast of competing with Apple’s iMac design team and the best of them would be Sony. Over the years, Sony has produced some gorgeous all in one desktop PCs and the latest to join the list is the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E. The concept looks familiar, but Sony’s execution of its version of an iMac is a high performance Desktop PC. The new product promises a huge improvement in the quality of its PCs and sets up standards for the desktop PC. The PC runs on a Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Processor bundled along with a 500GB hard drive, 3 GB of memory and an nVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS 1.5 Graphics card. The desktop performs well when it comes to tasks like creating videos, editing photos etc. The ample storage space means you will never have any problems with storing large amounts of data.
Like the Apple iMac, the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E has a glossy screen, an optical drive on the right and some useful ports on the left of the device’s front piece. Although the similarities do not end here, they are pretty distinct from each other. The Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E has its own list of features and performance to boast about.
Design:
Great Design:
The design seems to be inspired from Apple’s all in one PC and the model reminds you of a lunch box. It is a beautifully crafted device with a gorgeous metal finish and that makes it look classy. There are 2 versions of the PC available: Black with stainless steel finishes and another with a pink hue around the border. When you view the piece from a distance, you might assume that the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E is made up of metal. But when you view it from a closer design you would notice that it is actually plastic with ersatz alloy. There is a web camera and dual microphone located right above the system. There is a ventilation spot that is integrated with the power button and is located right above the power indicator. The Vaio VGC-JS2E has a flimsy tray that pops out from the right and reads DVDs/CDs.
Screen:
The Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E Desktop Computer has a marvelous 20.1 inch glossy screen that has a resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels which offers sharp and bright colours. The monitor is designed like a picture frame which is supported by a back leg on a hinge that allows a modicum of adjustment of screen angle.
Wired Keyboard and Mouse:
The VGC-JS2E/S all-in-one Desktop PC model has a wired mouse and keyboard provided along with it as well. Both the keyboard and mouse seem to be made of the same plastic construct used in the monitor. The optical mouse has a smooth silvery finish which matches with the colour of the system. But the mouse is smaller than an average one and is difficult to use. Another disadvantage is the fact that the mouse and keyboard are wired.
The keyboard is also slim, silvery and sleek and matches with the base unit. The keys feel plasticky and are easy to use. Function keys, Shortcut keys, Volume controls, Brightness controls are incorporated into one unit which is present on the left side of the keyboard. To zoom in and out of the screen, ejecting out a disc from the tray and altering speaker volume can be done even with the keyboard.
Ports:
Connectivity on the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E is good. The JS2E has 5 USB ports, a multi format memory reader and a digital audio Output. On the rear of the screen cum computer are present, three of the 5 USB drives, Ethernet, FireWire and a full size Toslink digital optical socket.
Features:
Inside the PC:
The Vaio VGC-JS2E/S runs on a relatively fast Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 processor that is clocked at 2.8HGz with a 3GB RAM. The nVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS GPU helped the J2SE to score well in the graphics segment. It is good enough to enjoy some hardcore gaming. The system has inbuilt wireless LAN capabilities that consist of 10Base – T/100 Base- TX/1000 Base T Ethernet Network Interface which supports 100m Interface. There is a dual layer DVD ±RW drive that allows you to read/write DVDs. It is rather flimsy when compared to the swish slot load mechanism of the iMac.
The System is capable of running a 32 bit Windows Vista Premium without any hassles. But perhaps the biggest disappointment here is the fact that Sony (the largest backer for Blu-ray discs) has not included a Blu-ray drive in the Vaio considering that the future of storage and graphics is in Blu-ray.
1.3 Megapixel Camera:
The Sony Vaio Desktop PC has a 1.3 Megapixel webcam present on the top border of the monitor. There are dual microphones present as well which ensure great audio and video streaming even while working online. This can be used with the inbuilt microphone for making video calls with software such as Skype.
Pre Installed Software:
The system comes with loads of pre-installed software from Sony including the popular VAIO Music Box, SonicStage Mastering Studio 2.5 for editing or playing audio, Windows Media Player 11, VAIO Content Importer/Exporter, WinDVD 8 for VAIO, DivX Player and VAIO Movie Story for enriching your viewing experience. If all this was not enough, Sony has also provided with photo editing software such as Picture Motion Browser, VAIO Movie Story etc. The Easy Media Creator 10 allows you to burn your CDs and DVDs. There are a host of Office applications such as Adobe Reader 8.1 version, Microsoft Office Trial. There are also security products such as the McAfee Internet Security and the VAIO Recovery Utility
Four LAMP Technology:
The LCD Monitor of the VAIO is perhaps its USP. It offers a rich contrast and vivid colours and all the colours blend smoothly with each other. The 20.1 inch monitor is built using the Four Lamp Technology and it houses the entire CPU making the system much lighter. The glossy coating on the screen interferes by reflecting lightings above the screen.
Good Connectivity:
The J2SE has a Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/Draft-n) and a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port. It also supports Bluetooth and has a multi format memory card reader.
Speakers:
The Speakers has in built Dolby’s Home Theatre virtual surround system. This itself tells you about the great movie experience you can enjoy with the Vaio considering its audio capabilities.
Performance:
Not Really a Multimedia Powerhouse:
Despite being designed to suit the needs of users who want a home PC, the J2SE is not really a multimedia powerhouse. It produces wonderful colours and allows you to watch DVDs of high capacities up to 8.5 GB. But it struggles with blu-ray decoding and lacks an inbuilt tuner which means you cannot use it to record and watch TV.
Lacks the “Blu-ray” Definition:
The future of gaming lies in Blu-ray and the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E lacks a blu-ray drive and hence does not really deliver a great performance when it comes to gaming. You are limited to watching videos on standard DVDs.
Fairly Impressive Otherwise:
The Intel Core 2 Duo Processor at 2.8GHz and the 3GB of RAM make sure that Windows Vista Home Premium runs without a problem. The PC scored well in one of our tests – the PCMark 05 Test and the nVIDIA GeForce also helped the PC to propel to a respectable score in our 3DMark 06 test. So, what do these scores indicate? The PC allows you to enjoy reasonable amount of graphics, some 3D shooter action as long as you would not turn all the high settings.
Fast Processor:
Our tests on the processor recorded an impressive score in the WorldBench 6 test which secured the speedy desktop’s position when it comes to image and video editing for instance.
Wired vs. Wireless:
It is not really a huge issue, but the PC would have been better off with a wireless keyboard and mouse. One can get a combo of wireless keyboard and mouse for the PC, though finding one that would blend well is not really easy.
Good Speakers:
The Sony speakers work perfect at lower volumes and manage to pack a punch at higher limits. Their articulate sound exceeds that of many standalone monitors. However, we noticed that the sound quality was getting distorted when the bass was increased.
Warranty:
There is a warranty of 12 months provided on Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E from the date of purchase.
Verdict:
Sony has come up with a mind blowing design for the Vaio. This beautifully designed piece will look great in a living room or a study. As an all in one PC to satisfy users when it comes to performance and price, the Sony Vaio delivers well. It has great components in its ultra small chassis and stays quiet while working. It has a pretty decent audio. Sure, there are models that offer better graphics performance, but what it delivers is good enough for an average PC user. It would have been a mind boggling piece had a Tuner and a blu-ray drive been present. Nevertheless, a great model from Sony.
Check other Sony Desktop PC Reviews, Specs, Ratings in this website.
Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E/S Desktop Computer PC – Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Model Name | VGC-JS2E/S |
| Colour/Finish | Silver Grey |
| Display | LCD |
| Display screen size | 20.1 inches |
| Dimensions ( H x W x D) | 487 x 408 x 157 mm |
| Weight | 8.5 Kgs |
| Hard drive Capacity | Up to 500GB |
| Optical drive | DVD-RW (+R double layer) |
| Graphics hardware | nVidia GeForce 9300M GS graphics Card |
| Memory | Installed RAM: 3GB expandable up to 4GB with DDR2-800 SDRAM with 1066 MHz memory speed |
| Processor | Intel® Core™2 Duo processor E7400 with Dual-Core Technology |
| Processor speed | 2.8 GHz |
| Audio | Sound card integrated |
| Operating system | Windows Vista® Home Premium |
| Mouse | USB Optical Mouse |
| Keyboard | Function Keyboard (Standby, Zoom, Disc Eject & more) |
| Other Features | Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Built In Web Camera |
| Hard Drive Interface | Serial ATA |
| OS Certified | Windows Vista Home Premium |
| Hard Drive Rotation Speed | 7200 rpm |
| I/O ports | 5 x Hi-Speed USB – 4 PIN USB Type A 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) – 4 PIN FireWire 1 x headphones – output – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 2 x microphone – input – mini-phone 3.5mm 1 x network – Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T – RJ-45 1 x audio – SPDIF output 1 x Toslink Optical output |
| Software | Windows Media Player 11, SonicStage Mastering Studio 2.5, VAIO Music Box, VAIO Movie Story, VAIO Content Importer / Exporter WinDVD 8 for VAIO, DivX Player & Converter, VAIO Movie Story Click to Disc/Editor, VAIO Media Plus, Picture Motion Browser, Easy Media creator 10, Click to Disc/Editor, Adobe® Reader® 8.1, Microsoft® Office Trial 2007, McAfee® Internet Security Suite and VAIO Recovery Utility |
| Warranty | 12 Months |
April 24th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
This is a really cool device. I tried it out when it was on display locally, but it is not deserving the price in my view. It runs Windows XP without a snag just the keyboard was a bit awkward to use.
May 7th, 2011 at 2:00 am
There are no dual microphones on the screen. One of the holes is for the webcam led. Both microphone and webcam quality sucks. Speakers are only for low volume. Volume control in the keyboard also sucks.