Sony VAIO RA-104

The extra layer of software feels cumbersome to configure and it's nowhere near the experience of using the hardware appliances this technology is supposed to replace. And this is the key problem. The system just doesn't have the intuitive integrated feel of Sony's consumer products.

Given the bespoke nature of the chassis, and the obvious care that has gone into the design of each component, it's a shame that wireless networking isn't integrated into the case itself, and the network media receiver into a single wireless package. The net result is a tangle of cables and boxes that does anything but unwire your life.

The RA-104 is an undeniably swish package. It looks fantastic, sounds fantastic, and has all the processing and storage potential we could hope for - but we just can't recommend it in this incarnation. We often use the term disappointing when something isn't as good as it could be, but in this case we really do feel let down that the system doesn't gel. Nevertheless, watch this space.

Author: Ross Burridge