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Sony VAIO JS1 Series All-in-One is Audiophile Ready
Posted by Mark Wilson at 12:40 AM on October 3, 2008
Sony's latest JS1 all-in-one is really a nice looking machine, but it's packing a lot of interesting tech as well. Packing a 20.1" 1680x1050 display, the Core2Duo system holds 3GB of memory and 500GB of storage. Audio plays through Dolby-based virtual surround sound and Sony's integrated Sound Reality chip can record, edit and play back SA-CD music. You remember super audio CDs, right? The only slight disappointment was that the system has no optional Blu-ray integration, which would have been media overkill in the best way. No word on pricing or availability. Full specs:
VGN-JS1E/S
- Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E7200
- OS: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
- Memory: 3072MB (2048MB+1024MB)
- HDD: 500GB
- Others: WLAN 802.11b/g/Draft n & Camera
- Screen: 20.1" X-black LCD with multiple lamp technology, WSXGA+ (1680x1050)
- Optical: DVD±RW/±R DL/RAM
- Graphics: Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HDVAIO JS1-Series
The VAIO JS1-Series all-in-one PC seems to offer buyers the impossible: it has a large, high-resolution screen, yet it takes up less desk space than most notebooks. It achieves this apparent contradiction by virtue of its sleek and stylish design. The compact keyboard can be slotted underneath the main unit when not in use, leaving only a modest footprint on the desk. Even when the keyboard is out, the JS1-Series takes up remarkably little room.
Despite its modest space requirements, the JS1's main unit incorporates a generously sized 20.1-inch screen complete with multiple lamp technology for exceptional brightness. The display runs at 1680 x 1050 resolution, delivering a huge Windows workspace as well as an imposing widescreen presence when a movie is playing.
All this makes the VAIO JS1 an excellent choice for anyone wanting a rather special home PC. It looks good in almost any room, takes up surprisingly little space and offers an adventurous design a long way away from the standard desktop box. Internally there's raw power for audio-visual applications thanks to the Intel Core™ 2 Duo processor, plus a performance-enhancing 3GB of memory and a roomy 500GB hard disk providing plenty of space for music, pictures and video.
While the large screen is ideal for photo editing, the JS1 also scores well when it comes to the audio side of things. Movie soundtracks are enhanced by Dolby Home Theatre® technology which creates an impressive virtual surround sound effect, and audiophiles can take advantage of the special features offered by Sony's Sound Reality signal processor chip built into the system.
This can handle Super Audio CD (SA-CD), allowing the JS1 to record, edit and play music at SA-CD quality, and even upgrade older recordings to the new standard.
Sound Reality can up-convert conventional CD-quality music into uncompressed Direct Stream Digital (DSD) format. Using the pre-installed SonicStage Mastering Studio software, the DSD signal can be re-mastered into 5.1 Super Audio CD, revitalising the original.
As with the VAIO NS1-Series, JS1 comes with VAIO Movie Story and VAIO Music box for easy, largely automated slideshow and playlist creation. The software package also includes the popular and highly regarded Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 6 for powerful but easy to use photo editing tools plus Adobe Premiere® Elements 4 for video editing.
To round things off the VAIO JS1 has an integrated Motion Eye webcam, making it perfect for video chat or blogging. With its versatility, eye-catching design and big screen, the JS1-Series is the perfect blend of form and function.
"Sony" is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
snitch29
Posted 1:11 AM 3/10/08
People always complaint about Apple hardware being to expensive but i haven't come across any iMac look alike that is cheaper than a iMac, sure this one has blu ray but most of them don't, it sure looks sweet i have to say but knowing Sony this thing will be price way higher than the 24" imacs
snitch29
strider_mt2k
Posted 1:08 AM 3/10/08
Sony's been making nice looking hardware for ages.
This is no exception.
(Yes, graphics options would be nice)
strider_mt2k
Singlespeed
Posted 1:01 AM 3/10/08
Man, I swear Apple and Sony are secretly in cahoots. Look at that keyboard! Same with the laptop keyboards too.
Singlespeed
blackmage439
Posted 12:48 AM 3/10/08
Looks like a direct jab at Apple's 20" graphite iMac. I like the design and most of the specs. Boo on the integrated graphics, though.
blackmage439
sneaky
Posted 1:40 AM 3/10/08
No optional blu-ray?? the pictures show a blu-ray disc in the drive
sneaky
N@tedog
Posted 1:25 AM 3/10/08
"no optional Blu-ray integration, which would have been media overkill in the best way"
not to mention completely worthless on a 1680x1050 display. Bump the res to 1920x1080 and they may have a case
N@tedog
InfoMofo
Posted 1:23 AM 3/10/08
And if you're going to rip off the iMac, why not rip off the iMac's slot loaded cd/dvd drive? The one on this sony looks like it's from 1994.
InfoMofo
snitch29
Posted 1:20 AM 3/10/08
Ok is price almost the same as the imac but without firewire 400 & 800 ports and bluetooth which the cheapest imac has, sure not to many people use firewire but any motherboard with firewire 400 & 800 cost way, way more money
snitch29
Mark Wilson
Posted 2:04 AM 3/10/08
@sneaky: Yeah, yet it's not listed in the spec sheet. Could be an error on either the photographer or the press release writer.
Mark Wilson
apitel
Posted 1:56 AM 3/10/08
Hold the computer, I want the keyboard.
apitel
Spaz6to8
Posted 1:54 AM 3/10/08
haahaha yeah. what the hell?
Spaz6to8
VideoVampire
Posted 1:54 AM 3/10/08
OK, I am ready to sign over my first born, where do I get one?
VideoVampire
Phenostar
Posted 1:52 AM 3/10/08
Gimp-tastic!
Nice laptop.
Better luck next time.
Phenostar
daftrok
Posted 1:51 AM 3/10/08
@Singlespeed:
Never forget that Apple isn't as original as one thinks. They copied IBM keyboards:
[www.gadgetsonthego.net]
[upload.wikimedia.org]
daftrok
stokessd
Posted 2:27 AM 3/10/08
>Using the pre-installed SonicStage Mastering Studio software, the DSD signal
>can be re-mastered into 5.1 Super Audio CD
Ohhh hold me back. It's synthesized stereo all over again. Can we please have ridiculous effects too. I'd like all the frequencies below 100hz in the back...
Audiophile, hardly. But at least they are thinking about sound a little bit. So how to the built in $0.25 speakers sound?
Sheldon
stokessd
Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E
Posted 2:18 AM 3/10/08
Eh, I still say the iMac is better, but this is by far the best looking non-iMac AIO around. The Dell, Gateway and previous Vaios were all fugly monsters that didn't provide anything particularly compelling.
Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E
Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E
Posted 2:14 AM 3/10/08
@Singlespeed: Sony designs products for many different firms. Sony's chiclet keyboard came first, however it was improved when it was released on the Macbook. The ones on the older Sony laptops were not as clickalicious. The Vaios now do have great keys though, at least the examples I've tried.
@daftrok: Oh c'mon now. Those keyboards are so basic it's not funny. Besides, the keyboard is exactly the same as the ones on the Macbooks, and are also similar if not near identical to the old Sony keyboards.
Kaiser-Machead's LEGO WALL-E
Omnianimaphobia
Posted 3:05 AM 3/10/08
@stokessd: I was going to say, since when is Dolby and some Sony chip worthy of being deemed audiophile, what the speakers are also Bang & Olufsen, most likely not, I can shanigans on you Sony!
Omnianimaphobia
The Chad
Posted 3:40 AM 3/10/08
@snitch29: article says no blu-ray
The Chad
internetzlol
Posted 3:27 AM 3/10/08
@snitch29: Sony Style says starting at $1099.
internetzlol
internetzlol
Posted 3:27 AM 3/10/08
@sneaky: Like any Sony computer they have many options. Some of them come with a BD drive.
internetzlol
internetzlol
Posted 3:25 AM 3/10/08
Here is what CNET Said:
"The bottom line:
By virtue of its price, its desktop processor, and its Blu-ray drive, the Sony Vaio JS190J makes a case for itself as the new king of the all-in-ones. Its screen might be a bit smaller than some, but no other all-in-one, including Apple's iMac, can do as much, as fast, for the same price."
[reviews.cnet.com]
internetzlol
Shikestarr
Posted 3:47 AM 3/10/08
There is NOTHING audiophile about anybody's virtual surround garbage.
In other news, SACD = Do Do Bird.
Shikestarr
krazyphaze
Posted 4:16 AM 3/10/08
Haven't we learned that SONY sucks at making computers yet? They always trick you with the looks. then it's, HA HA gotcha bith!!
krazyphaze
utube2007
Posted 5:23 AM 3/10/08
@InfoMofo: some people have mini cd's & mini dvds
utube2007
Con Seannery
Posted 5:09 AM 3/10/08
Okay, so, it's like a Mac, except it still has SOME functionality in it?
Con Seannery
Metkis
Posted 6:38 AM 3/10/08
@Aardvaarkman: Enjoy your iMac!
Metkis
Aardvaarkman
Posted 6:24 AM 3/10/08
WTF? They put a tray-loading optical drive mounted vertically? Why not just use a slot-loading drive like the iMac?
Anybody who has used this style of drive knows how annoying they are. It's like the drive in the PS2 slimline version. You actually have to push the disc onto that little hub. Not only is it a pain in the ass to load, it has a tendency to damage discs.
And WTF is up with Gizmodo calling this a "really nice looking machine"? It's butt-ugly, like a cheap TV set with handles attached.
And - "audiophile-ready"? Please. Does that translate to "made for clueless wankers"?
Aardvaarkman
jannikolaas
Posted 7:56 AM 3/10/08
The JS1 is already available in Europe.
Most countries only have the Silver model (JS1E/S), UK also has the pink and black version (JS1E/P and JS1E/B).
Priced at: £699/€999
jannikolaas