Sony Electronics set an October ship date for its personal computer that is able to access premium cable content, through a CableCARD slot -- one of the first PCs on the market built to receive cable programming.
The Vaio LT PC/TV, running Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, is “a computer entertainment center,” the consumer-electronics company said, allowing users to watch and record analog, digital and cable TV programs, including those in high definition.
The LT standard model will start at about $1,900, while the LT HD model with a Blu-ray HD optical drive will cost around $2,900. The PCs are configured with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 gigabytes of memory.
Dell and Hewlett Packard are among the computer manufacturers that are also offering CableCARD-enabled PCs.
The Sony Vaio LT PC/TV features a 22-inch diagonal widescreen display, and has a mounting capability that allows users to mount it on a wall. The dual-function device has a power button that lets you shut down the TV function while the PC continues to run in the background.
The Vaio LT series will be available online as well as at Sony Style retail stores and other retail outlets starting in October.
