PCV-L
This page is currently WIP!!
Overview
The Sony VAIO PCV-L was a slim desktop PC component system released by Sony in 1999 with new models being launched until 2000. It came with a keyboard, mouse, PC and monitor which was available in 14.1" (1024x768) and 15" (1280x960 or 1024x768) sizes varying on model. It was marketed as a "smart desktop that allows you to interact in your own style" by Sony, which probably referred to its CD-RW, and in some models DVD-ROM drive, Memory Stick drives and Floppy Disk Drives.
The unit was pretty well priced, considering that in 1999, a decent LCD monitor would have cost a big chunk of the PC alone, and Sony included one in the package. It is quite small, especially for its time and wouldve been one of the smallest options in the day.
As with a lot of other VAIOs of the time, the wallpaper on the unit is changed by a script to represent the different times of day: Morning, Midday, Sunset, Night.
Detailed Specs
Processor: Celeron 600MHz - Pentium III 650/700MHz
Graphics: ATI RAGE 128PRO 4XL
Chipset: 440BX AGPset
Memory: 64/128MB (Standard) - 512MB (Maximum)
Display: 15" TFT LCD 1280x960 or 1024x768 - 14.1" 1024x768
Storage: 6.4-30GB IDE HDD
Weight: 5.5kg
Original OS: Microsoft Windows 98
MSRP: ~300,000 yen
Daily Usage Today
Still usable for some retro gaming and some basic office tasks. Anything that was possible when it was released will be possible today, for example Microsoft Office etc. Keep in mind that anything modern will not run. It could definitely still be used to watch some DVDs on a TV with composite out and maybe even a bit of light web browsing if you upgrade the CPU, RAM to the max, not to mention an IDE to mSATA SSD adapter. Keep in mind that any modern websites will not run, this is just for basic static HTML pages and maybe some web archive pages. These machines are quite rare everywhere, even in Japan.
Resources
Tech Tangents Retrospective and Review of the PCV-L