For one, it doesn't have CableCard support like the more than twice-as-expensive XA-3. The Core 2 Duo-packing PC does, however, have an HDMI port that we noticed around the back, making it easier to hook up to your TV and use it with its included Windows Vista Home Premium. But then, it doesn't have a Blu-ray burner.

We'll be seeing it shipping next month for $1600. Experiencing this unusually-shaped PC up close and personal made us like its looks, but wish it had more up-to-date features. We'll pass. But still, take a look at this baby. Does it look like Rumba? If you stacked up a few, they'd look like the Guggenheim Museum in New York. It was certainly eye-catching, but alas, not for us. – Charlie White

Press Release [Sony]

Sony decided to bring its rear screen TVs as well as front projectors into the Bravia fold, since they seem to be getting a lot of mileage out of that sub-brand. So now they're calling these Bravias, and with their high 1920x1080p resolution, there is no "screen door effect" to be seen even though they use those three LCDs.

Sony admitted in a press conference that its micro-display TVs were losing popularity to its hot-selling and ever cheaper LCD models, but we're still big fans of the rear screen projector, the cheapest way to get a big, sharp and bright screen in HDTV land. – Charlie White

Press Release [Sony]

We were wondering why there is only one CableCard inside the box instead of the two that are in the TiVo Series 3, enabling viewers to record two programs at the same time while watching a third, or watch one live program while another is being recorded. Their response?

Sony officials said that they realized the importance of having two CableCards, but blamed the way the tuners interact with Windows Vista, and concluded that a single stream "served our needs best" at this point.

Sony admitted that cost issues were a small part of the equation, since the XL3 PC already costs $3300, and adding another CableCard would just make that price even higher. But Sony says the main stumbling block is Windows Vista, but they vowed to work out these problems in upcoming editions of their home theater PCs. That's curious, because Windows Vista is already equipped to deal with multiple tuners. Perhaps it can't work with multiple CableCards in Sony's machine for one reason or another. – Charlie White

Also on display were Bluetooth micro systems including the $150 CMT-BX5BT that plays MP3 files and reads ID tags. It's pictured in the gallery, and a similar-looking model was the CMX-HX7BT, another micro component system that's satellite ready and has a digital amp with 50 watts per channel. It will retail for $300 in April.

See the gallery below for pics of these devices and more. – Charlie White

Sony executives called its video "HD 1080," which means it's not 1080p or else they would have said so. But then, broadcast TV isn't 1080p, either. – Charlie White

You can plug in your portable music player, too, as well as calibrate the speakers automatically using an included microphone that lets you tune the system to your listening room. Just plug in an HDMI TV and you're good to go with 5.1 sound. There were many more choices in home theater, and some of them Sony placed under its Bravia banner:

If you can follow along with these alphabet-soup model numbers, Sony's DAV-HDX500, DAV-HDX267W and DAV-HDX265 are even lower-end home theater systems with receivers and speakers in a matched set. Sony calls them Bravia because they're designed to resemble the styling of the company's TV sets. Pretty much the equivalent of what used to be called a "chick stereo," they include a receiver, speakers and a DVD changer with HDMI out that upscales video to 720p and 1080i.

The systems also make it easy to turn everything on, with Sony's Bravia Theatre Sync, where all you need to do is push one button and the system controls Bravia TVs over HDMI. Obviously, it's a ploy to get you to buy all of your home theater equipment from Sony. The upside is, now anybody in the house can turn on the TV set. This will be a welcome feature in many households.

Another user-friendly feature is a wireless rear speaker option that will be available for all three systems in March for about $130. The DAV-HDX500, with its floor-standing speakers that match Sony TVs and its XM Satellite capability is the priciest of this bunch coming in at $500, while the DAV-HDX265 will be $300, and both will ship in March. The DAV-HDX267W will be available in April for around $300. – Charlie White

Press release [Sony]

Press Release [Sony]

The linup includes three screen sizes, the 50-inch KDF-50E3000 and the 46-inch KDF-46E3000 (pictured above), both of which are 1080p sets and will ship in July for an undisclosed price, and then the cheaper 37-inch KDF-37H1000 that has a 720p resolution. Just how thin are they? To give you an idea, the 50-inch set is a mere 12.6 inches deep and its 46-inch brother is 11.9 inches thick. That 720p 37-incher will be shipping in May for $1300.

Projection TVs give you a considerable bang for your buck, but we're nonplussed because Sony's not telling us the prices of the the largest-screened members if this new line. That's the biggest part of the story for the rear-screens, so we'll wait for that price before we start gushing over these big honking TV sets. – Charlie White

Press Release [Sony]