First there was the PC, which took over our desks with the box that contained the central processing unit (CPU) plus a separate monitor. An octopus of cables and cords linked the keyboard and mouse to the CPU and the monitor. One power cord juiced the CPU. Another one fed the monitor. Clever neatniks installed the CPU underneath the desk, but then it just got in the way of the vacuum cleaner. Then the giant laptop had its day in the sun as users realized that it would save desk space and reduce cord clutter. But the giant laptop as desktop computer substitute was handicapped because there was a physical limit to the size of the monitor. And users soon noticed that the ergonomics of a laptop are not as comfortable as a desktop because the relationship between the laptop keyboard and the monitor is immovable. For desktop computer users who want to save space without sacrificing screen size, all-in-one computers are the solution.
The Sony VAIO L is an excellent and beautiful all-in-one PC. It is a good choice for business users or home users who need a beautiful and powerful all-in-one PC loaded with useful features. It has the small desktop footprint of a laptop and the full-sized monitor and comfortable ergonomics of a traditional desktop machine.
System Features
The entry level Sony VAIO L series has an Intel Pentium B940 running at 2GHz. There are six CPU options including the Intel Core i7-2820QM quad core running at 2.3GHz.
You can configure RAM at 4, 6 or 8GB. Hard disk memory capacity options are 500GB, 1TB, 2TB or 3TB.
The VAIO operating system options are Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit or Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.
On the green scale, this is one of the better all-in-one computers. Not only is it ENERGY STAR qualified and compliant with the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive (RoHS), it is EPEAT Silver registered. EPEAT maintains a global registry for green electronics.
Input and Output Features
The simplicity of the all-in-one PC design is maintained by Sony's decision to provide a wireless keyboard and mouse for a clean desktop uncluttered by cords. You can’t get something for nothing, so the inconvenience of occasionally replacing the batteries in the wireless keyboard and mouse is the price that you pay to rid yourself of cords. The display is a 24-inch touch screen with a full high-definition resolution. A microphone is integrated, as well as a camera that can track faces. Speakers are built in.
A multimedia card reader accommodates most of the many different memory card standards. There are three USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports. A gigabit local area network connection is included. It is Bluetooth ready, and it supports Wi-Fi 802.11n, the latest standard.
Help & Support
Sony provides a one-year warranty for this all-in-one PC. Technical support is via chat, telephone or email.
The Sony VAIO L series are all-in-one PCs that are well designed and full of rich features. To its credit, Sony conforms to a variety of environmental standards that allow these all-in-one PCs to have a small carbon footprint. They run the 64-bit version of Windows 7 with fast central processing units and oodles of random access memory. The touch screen is large, with high-definition resolution, good speakers and a web cam. A wireless keyboard and mouse keeps the clutter down. The Wi-Fi client built into the system is the latest version of the wireless networking standard. The warranty lasts for one year, and you can access technical support by chat, email or telephone. If you are tempted to ditch your traditional desktop computer or you want your laptop to be just for mobile or commuter use, check out one of the Sony VAIO L series.
