Sony Vaio VGX-XL301 review

We've reviewed many expensive Sony PCs, but at £1,050 the VGX-XL301 media centre PC is competitively priced.

It looks smart, feels sturdy and is very quiet, so you won't be distracted by loud cooling fans when watching movies or listening to music. That said, it isn't much smaller than a regular midi-tower PC, so it's more obtrusive than some other media centre PCs we've reviewed.

Unusually, this computer has two hybrid TV tuners, each capable of receiving analogue or digital broadcasts. You can use them to record one channel while you watch another. The PC comes with Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes Media Center. Using the supplied remote control you can browse your library of recorded shows, as well as music and photos. A cordless keyboard with a built-in touch pad is also included. While the keyboard keys and the touch pad feel responsive, the small touch pad and its buttons feel cramped.

The 250GB hard disk provides enough space for a sizable collection of media files, but if you plan to use the VGX-XL301 as your main PC, you may find you need more room for programs and documents. You can add another internal SATA disk, although the cramped interior makes this tricky. Alternatively, an external disk can be added to one of the four USB2 or three FireWire ports.

With an Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor and 2GB of RAM, the VGX-XL301 is capable of handling demanding tasks such as video and photo editing. It's also capable of playing 3D games, such as Prey or Call of Duty 2, but you'll have to lower the graphical detail settings or the resolution for a smooth frame rate. You could replace the 7600GTL graphics card with a more powerful model, but there isn't much room inside the cramped case for a card with a large fan.

There are plenty of ports for your audio and video equipment, including an HDMI socket and a component video output for connecting high-definition TVs. You can connect a surround-sound amplifier to the optical or coaxial S/PDIF ports, while S-video and composite video inputs allow you to record footage from sources such as a VCR. The VGX-XL301 doesn't come with a monitor, though, and there's no DVI or D-sub port so you'll need an HDMI to DVI cable to connect one.

The computer's smart case lacks any free PCI slots or 51/4in drive bays, but its plentiful extras mean you're unlikely to need either. A memory card reader, wireless networking and the receivers from the remote and cordless keyboard are built in. Sony's generous software bundle includes useful titles such as Adobe Premiere Elements and Photoshop Elements.

Sony's VGX-XL301 is a great media centre PC with quick Windows performance, dual hybrid TV tuners and an extensive set of features and software. With a bigger hard disk, it would be perfect.