"The screen itself is large but not obscene, and the fantastic resolution of 1920 x 1080is supported by potent in-built Sony speakers"
Matthias Scherer
PCs these days have to compete on three fronts: netbooks, laptops and tablets all develop at the speed of light, with new processors and higher screen resolutions being developed almost every month. To stand their ground, all-in-one computers have to both reflect the demand for smaller devices and the appetite for ever-higher specs. We have a look at whether the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B all-in-one succeeds.
What we like best
Clunky computers that take up a lot of space will not get far in today’s competitive market: Accordingly, the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B comes across as minimalistic without appearing spartan or limited in its functions. The display is supported by a skinny but solid kind of kickstand, and there is a clever little resting space underneath the display for the keyboard when it is not being used.
The Sony VPCJ12LOE/B all-in-one’s keyboard itself feels a bit leightweight, and is very thin. The keys protrude only slightly out of the matt, flat surface, but are responsive enough to ensure comfortable and quick movement across the different keys.
To reflect the way tablets have impacted on the computing habits of thousands of users, the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B’s screen is multi-touch – all applications can be accessed and managed via the user’s fingertips. Users who want to install this computer as the family desktop might want to advise the kids to wash their hands before use, as the screen does stain fairly easily.
The screen itself is large but not obscene, and the fantastic resolution of 1920 x 1080 (movies and TV shows will look great – even in HD) is supported by potent in-built Sony speakers.
There are five USB slots and wireless and Bluetooth connections to round off an affordable and good-looking computer.
What we like least
As far as entertainment such as gaming and video playback is concerned, the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B all-in-one is average rather than spectacular. The Intel HD Graphics card is acceptable but will not really match up to Nvidia chipsets available on other all-in-one computers.
500Gb of memory storage is no longer particularly impressive on desktop computers, and neither is 3Gb RAM – they’ll do for average computing tasks, but don’t expect the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B to be an entertainment machine or workhorse.
Visually and performance-wise, the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B is perfectly acceptable. Its edges are round, smooth and held in glossy black, the graphics are strong albeit not spectacular, and users will have little trouble using the Windows 7 Premium application thanks to the Intel Core i3 370 processor. This would make a decent option for a family computer, individual users who want multimedia editing and gaming to be the main features of their work station might have to look elsewhere.
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Processor Speed
2.4 GHz
Processor
Core i3
RAM
Up to 3 Gb
Screen Size
20.1 inch
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce GT 330M
Hard Drive Storage
Up to 500 Gb
Multimedia
Webcam
Speakers
Headphone jack
Microphone
DVD
Ports
5 x USB
1 x HDMI
Firewire
Multi-card reader
Weight & Size
(W) 525 x (H) 400 x (D) 185 mm
2.7 Kg
Connectivity
Ethernet
WLAN
Bluetooth
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
With the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B All-in-One, sony prove there is just as much room for innovation with desktop computers as with tablets or netbooks. Multi-touch technology and reduced weight and dimensions, combined with stylish design, make the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B All-in-One a very worthy contender for the attention of users on the lookout for new computers.
Sony VPCJ12LOE/B All-in-One
The Sony VPCJ12LOE/B All-in-One comes with a typically minimalistic keyboard rest integrated into the display’s frame, five USB 2.0 ports and a DVD reader and burner. The keyboard is kept in a dark, matte tone and features flat yet responsive keys. The Sony VPCJ12LOE/B All-in-One’s 20.1 inch screen has a great resolution, which lets it display videos in high quality. To go along with the impressive visuals, the in-built Sony speakers provide ample support in the audio department.
The Sony VPCJ12LOE/B All-in-One also supports multi-touch screen technology: the interface and all applications can be accessed and maneuvred by finger movements along the screen.
To read more about the Sony VPCJ12LOE/B All-in-One and its features, read our review here.
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