[PJ G4]

I just noticed that Sony has come out with a new computer the W500GN1. It is similar in concept to an iMac. Here are the Specs:
Pentium 4 2.66 Ghz
400 Mhz system bus
512K Level 2 cache
512K PC 277 DDR RAM
160 GB Ultra ATA 5,400RPM hard drive
Integrated Sis graphics with 32MB VRAM
DVD recorder
Giga Pocket to watch and record TV & remote control
17.5" widescreen LCD attached to the CPU
USB 2 and Firewire ports
S-Video inputs
Digital Optical output
Windows XP
$2,000

Granted the Mac OS is MUCH better than Windows XP. A friend is interested in the Sony. He will be using the computer for audio, video, digital photography and web surfing. He does not use the computer for gaming. I am not very familiar with the iMac as I have a Quicksilver 800 with Apple 17"LCD.
What should I tell him on the basis of the specs. Has anyone on this board had any experience with the Sony VAIO computers especially the newer models with the Sony software. This would be the best possible comparison. Thanks in advance

[Nebrie]

I'm sure someone will answer your other questions. There really isn't much you can say about the superior specs (other than that awful graphics chip with shared memory which will degrade system performance). I and many friends have all owned SONYs. Their Desktops or laptops, in terms of build quality, are absolute garbage. They manage to find the cheapest second hand plastic and make it as thin as possible so that it'll break in about a year at which point you pay for expensive replacement parts or buy a new computer.