Sony Vaio Tap 20 review - a family all-in-one PC with a tablet-style screen

Sony Vaio Tap 20 – a family all-in-one PC with a tablet-style screen

by Catherine West, Senior Money Researcher IFA 2012 30/08/2012

Sony Vaio Tap 20 – what is it?

Well, it’s one of two things – either a fully functioning Windows 8 desktop PC, with the keyboard and mouse that are supplied and a choice of a proper Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. Or without, it’s a hulking great battery powered tablet-style screen that can be used around the home on battery power. You wouldn’t want to venture too far though as it weighs just over 5kg.

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The 20-inch touchscreen can be viewed standing upright or pushed back at an angle using the stand. You can also use it completely flat on a desk or coffee table if you should wish. The Windows 8 operating system it uses means applications can easily be accessed on-screen with the new tile-style interface using touch.

Though not a direct replacement, it takes the place, in terms of price at least, of Sony’s most affordable all-in-one PC range – the J Series. Read more about new Sony products at IFA.

Below are first impressions based on a short time with the product, not a full review. Read our all-in-one PC reviews for full reviews of the latest PCs and to see which have the clearest screens, the best build quality and are easy to use. Read about how we test all-in-one PCs for an in-depth breakdown of all our PC tests.

Sony Vaio Tap 20 – Catherine’s first impressions

This PC is squarely aimed at families and tries to offer options a traditional all-in-one PC can’t. It certainly makes the most of the Windows 8 touch functionality with its 10 multitouch points, which Sony is keen to point out means two children could use it to play multiplayer games. The question is – would you trust a child to play with £1,000 worth of equipment…

That aside, the flexibility of the screen angle is nice and goes down smoothly – getting it up is slightly more of a job though. The screen itself really does feel heavy so I wonder how often it would be moved, or used flat on a table for example. And I’ll be interested to see how long the battery last too. As an all-in-one PC, the screen’s not bad but the stand could feel a bit stronger.

When can I buy it?

The Vaio Tap 20 will go on sale at the end of October and although official costs are to be confirmed, Sony told us prices will start at around £1,000.