Yes, I got one on ubid. And, yes, I am returning it. Sony is refunding $500, plus tax, plus 2 months of ISP service when I only used one month. (Nuff said. Get it?)
No, I didn't try to hack it. I was first interested in seeing how it worked as an IA. It had lots of problems, but it also had a lot of potential.
In an email to me from Villa tech support (they got to know me quite well), they cited not only problems with "stability and usability," but, interestingly, "the demands of a network device on the [BelA] OS which created an unacceptable level of system disruptions." Doesn't speak too well of the highly touted BelA OS for IAs.
As to future availability, I doubt if you will ever see eVillas again (excepting the few who might keep theirs). In the email, Sony made it clear that it would not be rereleased.
I don't know how many were made, but I doubt if many were sold. Sony is a multi-billion dollar corp. It can afford to junk the eVillas, maybe after salvaging the CRTs if it's cost effective. I think they would prefer to see the eVillas disappear rather than have them floating around as a reminder of the disaster.
