Sony Vaio L

Visually impressive, ergonomically challenged. The new Sony Vaio desktop PC is definitely nice to look at and a welcome change to what we typically see for dektop PC form factors. Consisting of a keyboard that folds over a 15.4 inch screen, the Vaio screen basically changes from a large alarm clock in the closed position to a PC in the open position. Even though we like the look of this PC, we have played with an older yet identical form factor of the Vaio before and just can not see this as a design that would be usable as a dedicated home pc.

2007_04_13 sony_vaio_l open.jpg
With the keyboard folding down from the screen as it does, you are essentially provided with a laptop keyboard without a place to rest your hands while typing. For short periods this may be fine, but forget about using the keyboard for a long period of time. We do see potential for this design in other circumstances where your usage would be shorter and space was at a premium. Computer in the kitchen anyone?

Comments (5)

I have a workstation in my kitchen. I have my blueberry iBook there. Since it's a portable, it closes when not in use. I also have a speaker set up so that I can get better sound while listening to iTunes. I'll post a picture on Flickr this afternoon which will be a memorial picture as I'm giving this particular computer away.

posted by ebrown on April 13th 2007 at 11:10am
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Here's the linke to the kitchen workstation:

http://tinyurl.com/yuw489

posted by ebrown on April 13th 2007 at 1:37pm
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Can the problem be solved by just adding a wrist support pad?

posted by Sea on April 13th 2007 at 1:47pm
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I was always taught you shouldn't rest your hands on the base of the keyboard, anyhow. I actually prefer keyboards without a palm rest, as they take up much less desk space.

posted by sunspot42 on April 13th 2007 at 1:56pm
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I have a SONY VAIO from 2001 at home and I hate it beyond belief because its screen has over the years, beginning like 5 minutes after the warranty expired. I didn't think it would be all that hard to get another monitor, but the monitor on mine is very proprietary to that model of computer, not just to VAIO in general, and now there are so many burned-in horizontal black lines that I can barely read it.

And there is NO way to buy a new monitor for it now.

So, I probably wouldn't have a new one if they gave it to me for free.

Mine, by the way, was the "slim-top" which is kind of laptop-ish in scale, but with a flat screen. I also liked that it came loaded with PhotoShop, etc., but the thing with the screen is enough for me to swear off SONY anything forever. When it comes to kind of thing, I'm relentlessly unforgiving.

Do NOT get me started about the Mac Centris 660 AV I bought in Spring of 1994.

posted by Curtis on April 16th 2007 at 11:51am
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