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Future Trends In Home Computing

Posted by timothy on from the what-no-optical-cabling dept.

James Bell writes: "I just read an interesting article over here that talked about future trends in home computing and what is and isn't driving the home computer market. I thought it was interesting that the author said that more people where adding DVD players and surround sound speakers to their home computer in hopes of makeing it their new home theater. I think a lot of people are bringing their computer to the home theater in the family or media room and converging it that way."

5 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. Gateway had this idea several years ago by KarmaBlackballed · · Score: 4, Informative

    Gateway was ahead of its time. About 5 years ago they sold a home entertainment package built around a PC and a large screen TV. Price was steep and it did not catch on at the time.

    Perhaps now is the time.

    --

    --- -- - -
    Give me LIBERTY, or give me a check.
    1. Re:Gateway had this idea several years ago by MisterQueue · · Score: 3, Informative

      As an Ex-Gateway worker (ACK I'm OUTED!) who was working there at the time these came out, I can say that even on the back-end these things were nice. Lovely resolutions and compatability all around, the problems? Price and Support...the support teams weren't really sure of what to do with these since they weren't strictly PC units (they've ironed some of that out now I hear from colleagues who are still there). The Price was ungodly, $4,500 for one of those babies, which is nice for a 32" screen but I'll go get me a plasma screen for that price and get a Nvidia Geforce 3 or ATI with tv out and do about the same thing for less at better quality. I dunno, just seems like an unecessary hybrid to me.

      -Q

      --
      "I was not put on this earth to listen to meat! Frylock..were you?" -Master Shake
  2. Re:Comprimise by joshamania · · Score: 3, Informative

    I beg to differ on the video quality. I've got a video out (RCA/S-VIDEO either or) on my Geforce and the quality of DVD's on my television is shite. I can select 640x480 or 800x600, neither of which is suited to my television.

    When I bought my computer, I figured I'd pop it down next to my television and not have to purchase a DVD player. I watched one movie from my computer/television setup.

    I then proceeded straight to Circuit City to buy a real DVD player.

  3. Re:Comprimise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    On Linux / X Window System, you can fix this by making a custom modeline. 768x576@50Hz is PAL.

    I forget what NTSC is, but it's obviously somethingXsomething@60Hz.

  4. Re:Computer as part of Home Theater by ChazeFroy · · Score: 3, Informative

    By the time you spend large amounts of money on your new computer to act as a home theater, you could have had a lot better A/V equipment with less money.

    I'd rather have a Sony 36" Wega with a decent surround-sound system for $2500 than a beefy computer with a 21" monitor.