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WHAT'S HOT: This system is the latest incarnation of Sony's top-of-the-mark Digital Studio line. Like its predecessors, the VAIO PCV-R549DS performs capably and comes in a stylish silver and purple case. Powered by a Pentium III-750 processor, the unit turned in a blistering PC WorldBench 2000 score of 147--making it one of the fastest home systems we've tested. Working with multiple video files is no problem on the Sony's immense 41GB hard drive, and long-term storage is virtually unlimited thanks to the included Sony CRX140E CD-RW drive. The Sony E200/L monitor accompanying our evaluation system delivered extremely rich, detailed color. Text appeared crisp and clear at 1024 by 768 resolution. Completing the digital studio package is a complete set of video capture and video editing programs including Adobe's Premier LE and PhotoDeluxe and Sony's DVGate and SmartCapture.

WHAT'S NOT: DVD movie playback looked slightly dark, and--unlike many other DVD players, including earlier versions of the Digital Studio--this unit's DVD player software lacked a separate brightness control. Upgrading components can be a laborious process, largely because a power supply cable obstructs access to the memory sockets, and you get only two open PCI slots. The VAIO PCV-R549DS is a bit pricey at $2600, even for a system with well-rounded video-editing features.

WHAT ELSE: This VAIO handles 3D games adequately, though it's not the fastest machine we've tested. Well-marked cables and connectors and an illustrated setup poster simplify assembly. The PCV-R549DS also comes with a brief but well-written manual covering key maintenance issues. The Sony SRS-Z050V speakers sounded crisp for a pair of smallish satellites, and they produced a wide range of bass tones thanks to a tiny subwoofer in each speaker. Still, most budding Hitchcocks and Coppolas should invest in a more sophisticated sound system.

BEST USE: The VAIO PCV-R549DS makes a fast but pricey choice for people who want to dabble in digital video editing.

SUMMARY

Sony VAIO PCV-R549DS PC WorldBench 2000 score of 147, Pentium III-750, 128MB of SDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, 41GB hard drive, minitower, 17-inch monitor, Windows 98 SE, Asus AGP-V3800 graphics board with 16MB of RAM, 8X DVD-ROM drive, V.90 modem, 8X/4X/32X CD-RW drive. $2599 800/655-8246 www.sony.com/pc