Sony VAIO RC110G

Put Sony's new whisper-quiet VAIO RC110G in the den where it can help entertain the family just as easily as it can help the kids with their homework. You can find more powerful PCs available for the money but few in such a sharp-looking package.

Liquid-cooling system makes it extremely quiet; good-looking case; wide array of audio and video ports, including TV input; loads of software.

No dedicated audio card; dual-core Intel CPU not as fast as its AMD equivalent; no application or system-recovery discs.

The Sony VAIO RC110G is a mainstream Media Center PC that earns points for its attractive case, quiet operation, and generous A/V connectivity options, though a manual or two would greatly aid setup.