Sony's Computerized VAIO XL1 Digital Living System

Sony, world leader in home electronics, has introduced the new Sony VAIO XL1 Digital Living system, an advanced home entertainment system which brings all your entertainment needs right in your living room, all manageable via a remote control.

Sony's Digital Living is composed of a high-end VAIO multimedia PC and a 200 disc changer/recorder. The Digital Living system's silver and black casing is sleek and elegantly designed and would complement any homeowner's home entertainment system. An HDMI cable connects the PC to the television that would ensure a high-definition video output and multi-channel digital audio in one connection.

Mike Abary, Vice President of VAIO product marketing for Sony Electronics says that once again Sony has innovated by introducing a product that is a huge step forwards in defining the way consumers enjoy digital entertainment. Consumers will be able to manage all their entertainment content like downloaded music, home movies and personal photos in an easily organized and accessible packaged content which in the past would have been relegated to a bookshelf.

Sony has closely collaborated with Microsoft to integrate the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system into the Digital Living system, this allows a unique functionality when the XL1 system's disc changer is used. When a disc is inserted into the changer, it is automatically detected by the PC which then downloads available data about the disc like CD covers and artist information. When a movie disc is inserted, the PC can download a detailed synopsis as well as star, director and producer details. You can access the information using the system's wireless keyboard or remote control.

Joe Belfiore, general manager of Windows eHome Division of Microsoft Corp., said that, "The Sony VAIO XL1 Digital Living System combines an innovative and cost-effective CD/DVD changer with a state-of-the-art Windows Media Center Edition PC, offering consumers a very cool, high-quality living room entertainment experience. The XL1 is a result of close collaboration between Sony and Microsoft, and our two companies will continue to work together on future products that extend the Windows Media Center platform."

The powerful PC included in the system has an Intel Pentium D dual core processor, DDR2 memory, PCI-E Graphics, and you can add up to three SATA hard drives.

Some of the features of the XL1 Digital Living system include; the ability to back up your music library to the hard drive, record up to 200 audio CDs from the media changer, and record your favorite TV shows to the hard drive and transfer them to DVDs. The system also incorporates Sony's Sound Reality technology to improve audio performance for the highest quality sound possible.