Sony Vaio VGC-LA1 review

All-in-one PCs, where the computer and monitor are combined in a single unit, aren't common.

However, they're a good choice if you want a compact, space-saving PC that's more powerful than a notebook. Sony's Vaio VGC-LA1 isn't much thicker than a standard 19" monitor, but it manages to squeeze a Core 2 Duo processor into its attractive silver case.

The LA1's Core 2 Duo T5600 processor is a notebook processor, but it did well in our benchmarks, especially our video-encoding and multitasking tests. It should have no trouble handling most computing tasks. The GeForce Go 7400 graphics chip is fine for playing older games and has its own memory rather than sharing system memory, but you'll have to lower the detail settings or resolution to get playable frame rates in more modern games such as Doom 3.

The integrated 19" widescreen monitor is bright and evenly lit with rich colours and deep blacks, but the reflective glossy finish can be distracting and there's little height adjustment. There are no video outputs, so you can't hook up another monitor, TV or projector, but you can record analogue video, from devices such as VCRs, via the S-video and composite video-in ports. You can record favourite TV shows using the built-in TV tuner, remote and Windows XP Media Center. The 300GB hard disk provides plenty of space for storing programmes as well as the rest of your data, but we'd have preferred a bigger disk in a PC at this price.

You can't record one programme while watching another, but you can add another tuner via one of the four USB2 ports, ExpressCard/54 or CardBus slots. The ExpressCard and CardBus slots are more usually found in notebooks, but are useful given the absence of PCI slots. There's no need to invest in a wireless networking adaptor or separate memory card reader as both are built in. The memory card reader supports only Secure Digital, MultiMedia Card and Memory Stick, but these are among the most common formats.

The built-in speakers sound muddy and distort badly at high volume, so you should invest in a separate set if you listen to lots of music or watch loads of movies. The cordless keyboard feels responsive but the odd layout, which squeezes the cursor keys under the right Shift key, will annoy touch-typists. The teardrop-shaped mouse won't suit everyone. Most PCs have lacklustre software bundles, but Sony has generously included Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 and Premiere Elements 2 as well as its own audio- and video-editing software.

The VGC-LA1 is an attravailable, well-specified PC, but it's expensive and its slow graphics card and lack of video outputs won't suit everyone. If you need an all-in-one PC, consider Apple's similarly priced 24" iMac. The iMac lacks the Vaio's expansion slots, TV tuner and memory card reader, but it has a faster 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo processor and a video output, and its 1,920x1,200-resolution monitor dwarfs the Vaio's 1,680x1,050. The iMac is also a bit cheaper. If you fancy a compact, space-saving PC but want a separate monitor, Evesham's Style PC is a better choice.