R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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I no longer need a laptop and fancy getting a Media Centre for all my PC needs.
Am I right in saying that its virtually a base unit that you hook up to your TV? and thats it?
I've seen this and it looks quite funky...
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/655/862/-/1130105/Sony-Vaio-VGX-XL100-Media-Centre/Product.html?searchtype=genre
Any recommendations?
[Edited on 01-08-2007 by Richard Lee]
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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build your own, all u need is a shuttle pc case, cheap pci-e motherboard, TV out card (digital one) a psu and a hard drive. could do it with all your peripherals probly for less than half that
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ssj_kakarot
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Registered: 29th Apr 03
Location: hartlepool
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yeah i built mine for 150 odd win.
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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I'm no good with building my own computers.
I'd rather buy something straight out of the box, ready to hook up.
Plus i need a warranty, just in case 
I found these...
Overkill?
http://www.hushtechnologies.eu/?gclid=CLHa8caS1Y0CFQ6IMAod1TB1Yw
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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are u looking for something cheap to receive digital telly and to record it (so u need lots of HD space) or are u looking for an all round pc system (internet, gaming, office features etc)?
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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Its just a all rounder really. Don't really need it to record TV, but I don't really need it to play loads of games etc.
I want one that will be capable of doing any jobs if I ever need to.
This Alienware one looks nice. http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/general/general/alienwares_media_master
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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I think I want this one
Sony VGX-XL302
http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=VGX-XL302&site=voe_en_GB_cons&pageType=Overview&category=VD+XL+Series
Anybody know where I can find the cheapest place to get one?
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Bart
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Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
User status: Offline
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build your own as above, doesnt have to be a particurly good spec.
Only thing ive found is the TV function is poop, takes a second or 2 to buffer and tends to stutter occasionally. not sure if its my tv signal or not.
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee
I think I want this one
Sony VGX-XL302
http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=VGX-XL302&site=voe_en_GB_cons&pageType=Overview&category=VD+XL+Series
Anybody know where I can find the cheapest place to get one?
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Dav
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Registered: 23rd Jul 02
Location: Falkirk, Scotland
User status: Offline
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I'll not pretend to know much about these computers, that Vaio is nice but surely you could build you own for a lot less than 1,800 quid?
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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I'm not clued up about computers.
Yes, we all know that getting a computer is cheaper but, who am I going to get to build me one, with the reliability and sexiness of the Sony?
I need it to be totally reliable with a warranty, incase anything actually goes Kaputt. After reading countless gadget magazines, T3, Stuff etc... the VAOI is on top
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
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Oh, and £1600 is the cheapest i can find so far 
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Andrew
Member
Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
User status: Offline
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Sony one is loverly. If you have the pennies and don't mind spending it then i'd go for that. There's one on the PC Worlds website for under a grand. Seen them in store and look mint, also have a Packard Bell one there too. Not as nice on the eye but still a decent system.
I'm looking at buying a second hand small desktop PC off eBay and then upgrading it with more RAM, better video card and a larger hard drive. Could do one of those for no more than £350. There's hp ones that they had at work. There driver set up was weird on them but sored that out and the systems were not bad, only had one out of 7 that the psu went on.
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Aaron
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Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew
Sony one is loverly. If you have the pennies and don't mind spending it then i'd go for that. There's one on the PC Worlds website for under a grand. Seen them in store and look mint, also have a Packard Bell one there too. Not as nice on the eye but still a decent system.
I'm looking at buying a second hand small desktop PC off eBay and then upgrading it with more RAM, better video card and a larger hard drive. Could do one of those for no more than £350. There's hp ones that they had at work. There driver set up was weird on them but sored that out and the systems were not bad, only had one out of 7 that the psu went on.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120148145390&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=002
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Bart
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Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
User status: Offline
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or Overclockers
quote:
- Dual Freeview & Analogue TV tuners
- Electronic Programme Guide for easy recording of TV programmes
- Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
- 3.0GHz Intel Pentium 4 Processor (2MB L2 Cache)
- 512MB DDR400
- Intel 915G chipset
- 250 GB Hard Disk Drive
- 16x Dual Layer DVD Writer
- Multi Card Reader/Writer
- 10/100 Ethernet
£749
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R Lee
Member
Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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how is this spec?
Spec Below For £505
UPDATE * We have added more Cases below to choose from*
Windows Vista™ Home Premium & Media Center
Intel ® Core 2 Duo Dual-Core Processor E4400 (Upgrades Below)
Asus P5ND2SE Motherboard
1024 MB DDR 677 MHz Memory
320 GB Serial ATA 2 Hard Drive
MSI Nvidia NV7300GS, HDMI & DVI Output. (Silent)
Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro PCI TV Tuner & Remote Control - Freeview & Sky etc
20 x DVDRW & 40 x CD Writer With Lightscribe Technology
Thermaltake Bach Series PC Case - With LCD Display & Neon Lights 700 WATT
7.1 Digital Soundcard
Rear Audio Ports & 4-6 USB 2.0
Front Audio Ports & 2 USB 2.0
10/000 Ethernet
5 Year Warranty - 3 Years Parts & Remaining 2 Years Free Labour
Extra Bundled Software - See Below
Many Upgrades Available Below
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1.2-Ls-Corsa
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Registered: 13th Jul 02
Location: BEDFORDSHIRE
User status: Offline
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I just finished building one for just under 300 notes and it does well against Vista I feel. Was alot of hassle to get everything working and upgraded but worth it in the end.
But that Alienware one LOOKS THE GOD DAMN NUTS!!!!!!!!! SO prefer that one to the Sony one. And its cheaper aswell. ALIENWARE ALIENWARE ALIENWARE lol makes mine look POOP lol
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R Lee
Member
Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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Bought the Sony
£1615 delivered next day.
Its so cool... I can now use my computer sat on my bed on my TV.
Shame my TV doesn't support 1080 though, its only 720 
New TV time
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drunkenfool
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Expensive way of doing it, but a very good bit of kit!
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