The Machine Sony Tried to Erase

Killed Off in Two Months

In 2001, Sony looked unstoppable.

Its products were everywhere, and the company’s vision of a connected ecosystem finally seemed within reach.

But the internet was still too complicated for most people. Computers were expensive, and intimidating to many households. So Sony set out to change that with a machine designed to make getting online effortless.

The idea sounded right. The reality was anything but.

Just weeks after launch, it vanished. Shelves were cleared. Refunds issued. And the product was never mentioned again.

This is the complete story of the machine Sony wants you to forget, and why it disappeared without a trace.